Hi, everyone, Alexandra's post explaining poofing was very informative, not to mention very funny. No, poofing is not wardancing. Yes, it is expelling a nasty odor from scent glands. All pet store ferrets and most that come from shelters are desecented. We experience poofing first hand. Our Podo and Kodo were originally lab ferrets and were never descented. When they were probably around four they were adopted out. They went through three previous owners, each of which got rid of them after about a year. I guess there was only so much poofing they could take :( Well... we brought home two stressed out, flea and ear mite infested seven year olds two years ago in August. Kodo adapted quickly but Podo was not happy for quite a while. What does an unhappy ferret do if frightened or stressed? You got it. He poofs. You immediately change clothes and take a shower if he poofs on you. It really does stink. OK, it dissipates fairly quickly and it's not as bad as a skunk, but it is very unpleasant. Poor Podo was joking called "Podo Poofster" for a little while. You can't safely desecent seven year old ferrets so the scent glands had to stay. A ferret with scent glands intact will poof any time he gets excited. Kodo is known for his "happy poofs". He's given kisses on the face and a poof to the chest many a time. He really wouldn't understand why he'd get put down after that and want to be picked up again. He was just saying how happy he was. Podo and Kodo are absolute sweethearts. We wouldn't give them up for anything. They poofed far less once they were comfortable with us and our other ferrets, but happy poofs and "we're just wrestling" poofs still happen. Old age is catching up to them which I guess you have to expect from nine year old ferrets. Their poofs, though, are just as potent as they were more than two years ago. All the best, Caity and the non-stop nine [Posted in FML issue 4278]