Condolences to those with lost, sick, or angeled wallet wranglers... (Quick! Sumbuddy get the fone and call Pizza Hut...I gotz his wallet!) Nicole Thorpe mumbled something about: >Well, all will be fine until Daisy come over and starts licking my hand. >Yeah, I thought it was sweet too. Until, with no warning, tries to take >a chunk out of my hand! Unfortunately, you're misinterpreting what is happening here. You are assuming that the licklicklick deal is a sign of affection. It isn't. It's a prelude to a kiss--with the fangs! It is a habit of many ferrets to prepare the intended bite-site by licking it several times, first. I think *they* think that their tongues have tenderizer on them or something. Anyway, your best bet to stopping her from biting, is to interrupt the behavior before it gets painful. You *know* you are going to get bitten. It's a foregone conclusion. Therefore, you have to show your superior intelligence and stop her before she can bite. What this means, is that you have grab her the moment she starts the licking process (yes, I know you think it's cute and that she is giving you 'lovin', but it isn't and she isn't), lift her up so you can see her eye-to-eye and say loudly and firmly "NO BITE!" Stare at her for several seconds and put her down. WATCH HER CAREFULLY to see what she does next. If she heads for an ankle or wrist, wait until she starts to lick and do the same thing with the eye-to-eye and firm command thingie. Repeat as necessary. The thing that most of us forget, is that ferrets have a brain the size of a peanut. We have a much larger brain and can figure things out much faster and to a much-greater degree than a ferret. We are also (when we put our mind to it!) much faster than a ferret. That means we should be able to recognize a pattern in a ferret's behavior and react before they get to the conclusion of that pattern. If you know that a wasp landing on your arm is more than likely going to get you stung, you tend to move your arm before it can land on it, right? It works that way with ferrets, too. For those of you with the problem of a ferret staring you right in the eye and pooping in a non-poop place, this also works. Immediately rush over to the ferret, pick them up and put them where they need to be. You may not be successful the first few times, as they will probably continue the process as you are moving them. However, if done enough times, they get the point and will be less-likely to use the wrong area. Not always successful, but then, that is what keeps us on our toes, eh? (That was for the Canadian ferrets out there!) Todd and the Fuzzbutt Rodeo Clowns! --- mailto:[log in to unmask] http://www.netconex.com/toddl/page2/ [Posted in FML issue 3896]