>We would like to know if anyone has had experience, good or bad, with >Aussies and ferrets. Aileen - I have an Aussie/Heeler mix dog that we adopted this year from animal control. These dogs have some prey drive, but they have a very strong pack drive as well. They were bred to be herders, and can be very protective of their flocks and families. When we introduced Maille to the ferrets, I supervised very carefully and let her know the ferrets were part of the "pack." Basically, I held her while they crawled and sniffed all over her, and praised her when she was calm and quiet. After several intro's, I allowed her to interact without me holding her, and she did just fine. She dances with Tammas <g> and doesn't mind when Perian plays "catch the tail." She'll freeze, and wait for me to detach one if they grab and hold on to a sensitive spot. She's also protective of them, and whines whenever she hears a squabble coming from the ferret room. She's never tried to bite them, but has been known to gently "mouth" and pick one up - usually resulting in a very soggy, indignant ferret. Heh. Needless to say, I still supervise - she's never allowed in the ferret room unless I'm with her, just because she is so big (53 lbs) and she could hurt one accidentally. Maille's favorite thing, though, is when I let her in the ferret room and tell her to "vacuum." She clears up the food that had gotten spilled or thrown out of the cages since the last time I swept. (Note - she doesn't get to do this every day, since it would make her a very fat dog in no time at all!) I also have a friend who had a blue heeler and ferrets... it was funny watching the dog try to herd the ferrets without getting her own toes nipped by the "herdees!" If you're adopting a puppy, that's even better since the dog will grow up accepting the ferrets as part of the pack. I was extra careful with Maille, since she was already 3 years old when we got her, and we had no idea what her experience with other animals had been in her past. Carla Smith <>< WhyNot? Ferrets http://www.whynotferrets.com ICQ: 29478475 member, Rio Grande Domestic Ferret Club, El Paso, TX "Every pet deserves to be loved, and to have someone cry over them when they're gone." [Posted in FML issue 3245]