elizabeth and pixie- i was in the same situation as you - school and work
and only a few houes of ferret playtime.  when rascal was in his cage all
he did was sleep and sometimes he wouldn't even want to wake up to come
out and play. lazy boy! so i got him a friend, mocha, and she is the same
way.  if they aren't out of their cage they just sleep in a big pile.
they play together when they come out but they use their time in the cage
to crawl in the hamock and sleep.  i think that is natural for your
ferret to sleep a lot, it's not boredom.
 
diane - as for you and your puppy and your ferret i commend you on your
courage.  that will be a lot of work, but it will be fun, fun, fun!  i
have 3 cats two ferrets and a puppy.  morgan, the puppy, is about 7
monthes now, but ever since she was 6 weeks she's been playing with the
ferrets.  i introduced them slowly and used a infant gate inbetween 2
main rooms pulled up from the floor enough for the ferrets to get under
it but not the puppy.  this was really helpful because it gave the
ferrets the upperhand, they could come and go as they pleased and tease
the puppy.  i found that they have about equal advantages.  the ferrets
are fast, small, and can bite, and the puppy in larger and therefore not
as delicate to a ferret.  so they play and if a ferret gets out of line,
morgan pins it down (gently) with a leg, and if morgan gets out of line,
a ferret will just latch on to an ear or face.  i let them play this way
and noone has ever gotten hurt, both animals play roughly naturally.  so
there is hope!
 
christie, rascal, and mocha
[Posted in FML issue 1404]