>I did not know that all ferrets will always bite as i was recently >informed. From what I read I thought they could be trained not to bite. >I guess the information I read was wrong. Broomie, I don't know who told you that ferrets can not be trained not to bite, but they had no idea what they were talking about. Shelters do this every day. They train their ferrets not to bite, to use the litter box, etc., so they will be more easily adoptable. That has often been cited on this list as one reason to adopt from a good shelter. I have a daughter who is about to turn 2, and we have 3 ferrets. We had the ferrets before we had a baby. (well, 2 of them anyway.) She has been taught how to treat animals, and they were introduced to each other very slowly. They are NEVER around each other unsupervised. We have never had a problem. She likes to "pet nicely" while we hold the ferrets; she likes to watch them play; Sterling will play chase with her when he is in the cage - she will run to one end of the cage & he will "chase" her, then she giggles & runs to the other end, etc... Sterling has never bitten her or anyone else either. He nipped very lightly a few times as a kit, but easily learned not to. Jasmin has never bitten anyone, and in fact, he gives our daughter kisses, much to her delight. Pandora had to learn not to bite - she had been through 3 homes when we got her and she was only 7 months old! (she was one we had before a baby) - but she still will nip a little, so we do not let her up close to our daughter Christine. My recommendation to you, since you have a 4 year old, is to handle the ferret you get before you choose him, & make sure he (or she) is not a biter. But most ferrets certainly can be taught not to bite or even nip, with a little love, understanding and training. Shannon Sterling, Pandora, & Jasmin [P.S.] Sorry to double post, I responded to Broomie's post without reading the rest of the posts on that subject. I feel that ther's a few things I need to add. >But you have a four-year-old child and that child WILL play with the >ferrets (or attempt to play with them) and the ferrets WILL bite him, at >which point the The child will only play with the ferrets as much as the parent allows. Again, I have a 2 year old & in her whole 2 years of life we have never had a problem. It is not due to luck either; we closely supervise & do not allow her access to the ferrets just any time she wants. We take appropriate, responsible measures to ensure the safety of both child and ferrets. >If, as you say, you won't let the four-year-old play with the ferrets, >then when do YOU intend to 'play with the ferrets'?? I play with my ferrets during my daughter's nap, and I also play with them after she goes to bed at night. As a result, my ferrets are able to run around in a single room by themselves for about a hour each morning, then they get to play throughout the house with me for a couple of hours each afternoon, then again with my husband, myself, and my 2 near-teenagers for about 2 1/2 hours at night. >Ferrets have very distinct waking / sleeping patterns and if you attempt >to force a ferret to adjust its instinctive patterns to YOUR patterns, >you WILL SERIOUSLY SHORTEN ITS LIFE. Almost everone on this list has ferrets adjust to their own patterns since they work or whatever, & are not available to play with their ferrets 24/7. Not only are ferrets adaptable & love to get to play with you, but there has never been any evidence presented that it "shortens their life." My ferrets are so used to our routine that they usually wake up on their own & hop around expectantly to be let out at the times I mentioned. And, as has been brought up before on this list, ferrets' closest wild cousins, the european polecat, have a life expectancy of only ONE YEAR when left "to their own patterns" & not made to adjust to human lifestyles. >They hate, absolutely HATE!, being caged. With the exception of a few previously abused/neglected ferrets, I have never known a ferret who minded being caged, as long as they get plenty of time out too. Many even prefer to go into their cages on their own to sleep. (My Jasmin included) As to the rest of this person's comments, I think they say enough that brings serious doubt to their credibility anyway. As long as you are responsible and make sure you are able to make the necessary adjustments for both your child's and a ferret's safety and all needs to be met (including attention, etc.), then I commend you and encourage you to enjoy the love a ferret has to offer. [Posted in FML issue 3754]