I am no ferret expert as I have only one at this point but I did happen to start out with a pretty difficult, defiant baby. I noticed very quickly that scruffing only made my Rocky come back and bite twice as hard. That might be what's happening with Lizzy. Other than saying "NO!" I don't think reprimanding is such a good idea. I used Bitter Apple for a while then switched to Ferretone. Rocky learned very quickly to not bite everywhere except the foot, which he only does now if he is under the covers on the bed with me. Also, sometimes he does it when I'm on the computer to get my attention. It doesn't really bother me, but does bother other people who visit and with whom Rocky is more tempted to taste their toes. I found the most success with Ferretone--if he comes over and licks my feet instead of biting, I put Ferretone on and he licks some more and forgets about biting. Sometimes when I don't have the patience to deal with it, I put him in his cage for a short time. But this never really works; he either takes the opportunity to eat or goes into his hammock. In general, I don't think punishment, especially physical, is a good way to train any living creature. Maybe you could put Ferretone on your hands before picking up Lizzy, but my main advice to you is to stop the scruffing, as I think it makes a defiant ferret even more defiant. Rocky says, "I'll show you. You think you can scruf me? Just because you're bigger than me? Nobody scruffs me! I don't have these sharp teeth for nothin! Nobody's gonna push me around, not even my mother; not even my ferret mother, let alone my human mother. I'll only be good if you show me love, not anger and bigger species bullying." (Quote straight from the ferret's mouth.) [Posted in FML issue 3826]