Hello All, I keep meaning to post, I just never quite get there. I figured I would put my two cents worth in about dog breeds, and ferrets. I've had golden retrievers about all my life. I got my first goldie when I was 3, and I've had goldens ever since. For awhile we even raised goldens, anyway I'm getting off track. I've been around dogs, different breeds, shapes and sizes all of my life. I've worked with and trained different breeds. I would be leary of getting a beagle because there prey drive is very intense, Weimaraners are also VERY prey driven. I my self have recently been looking in to other breeds of dog, and I've fallen in love with the Newfoundlands, and I think they would be good with the ferrets, they are considered "gently giants". My goldies have always been good with my other animals though, Epically Honey Bear. She's been a WONDERFUL mother dog, and she's always been very good with any of the other animals we've introduced her to. She lets the ferrets dance and play all over her, Lilly Epically loooove to BITE honey bear, and is always trying to drag her off to her hidey-hole. This little 2 pound ferret is trying to drag off a 100 pound dog. The ferrets were just FULL of energy one evening and Lilly was determined she was GOING to drag Honey off, she attached her self to Honey Bear's hind leg, clamped down and pulled and pulled for all she was worth. Honey Bear walked in to the kitchen, and I don't think I will ever forget the look on her face, it was Priceless! She looked up at me like, "Can you please get this thing off my leg?" Lilly was DANGLING off Honey's leg, just hanging there with all her might. I started laughing, I just couldn't help my self. I leaned down to help get this elegant little fuzzy snake off Honey's leg, Lilly released her hold and looked at us like "Fine! Be that way!" and bounced away. So for breeds that would be good with ferrets, I would recommend getting a golden retriever puppy, and training it from puppy-hood that ferrets are our friends, not a snack. I have a rescue golden retriever right now, who keeps trying to kill my ferrets. He was yet another case of neglect. The lady who was getting rid of him said he was her husbands and they were divorcing, her husband didn't want the dog, and her teenaged sons didn't do anything with him, didn't play with him, walk him, train him, nothing and where she moved too had an old golden and they were scared Diesel would hurt him (his name was changed when we got him, he didn't even know his name, so we named him what we liked and what fit him better, much better). So now I'm trying to teach him not to hurt the other animals, and that there not lunch. My point to all this is, Even though goldens are wonderful dogs, if he's not trained you can still have lots of problems. I advocate finding a rescue and talking to the people running it, and see what they have to say about that breed, and how well they do with small animals. Maybe you could find a beagle that would be great with the fuzzies, but be prepared to maybe look in to another breed, or be VERY careful with having a beagle and ferrets in the same household. I lock Diesel outside while my ferrets are running around the house playing, after there play time is over, Diesel gets to come back in the house. Honey Bear does wonderfully with the ferrets, and she stays in with them, and some times even plays with them. So Though I doubt I've helped at all, I'm hoping maybe I have... but now I'm going to Shut up! --Dooks and God Bless-- --Heather and the Weasel Wannabes [Posted in FML issue 4105]