Hi All, I see a lot of posts about keeping dogs and ferrets together and
what type of dog is safe with ferrets.  In the UK most ferret owners work
their ferrets to rabbits and most of us have dogs which work with the
ferrets.  It does not matter what type or breed of dog as long as it has
the brains to be trained.  Some dogs are so unstable that training is near
impossible.  If you can train your dog to sit, stay and leave ( don't bite
it ) the only problem is training the ferrets NOT to nip the dogs toes.
Vertuly all dogs were bred to work, ratters, rabbiters or stock control,
this is using the hunting skills and it's not very far below the surface.
All dogs will kill if the right conditions are met ( hunger fear or being
wound-up ) size and breed are immaterial.  I have always found it harder to
get the ferrets to leave the dogs alone than the other way about, kits
brought up with dogs do not seem to have this problem.  Their mother nips
them when they bother her, the hobs bite them when they are trying to sleep
in peace, the dogs give them a good wash which they hate so they leave
the dogs alone and go back to using the hobs as a spring board.  Keeping
ferrets with any dog is all down the their personalities but with careful
introduction and observation nearly all will live together with few
problems.
 
Chris
 
P.S. for hobs read 3 whole polecat hobs AH the aroma.
 
My business pack      www.btinternet.com/~chris.lloyd2/my_ferrets.htm
Wessex Ferret Club    www.wfc.cwc.net
[Posted in FML issue 3214]