- Z - : The *chomp* does NOT necessarily have to follow the *lick* *lick* *lick*, as my Bart will testify. And, Bart has been licking me a lot lately, too, with no *chomp*. They are very smart, and a strict regiment of cause-and-effect has given him new insight on the *chomp* part; he knows that if he bites like that, he'll get scruffed, hissed at, put back in the cage very abruptly (end of playtime) and get no treat (but he will get to watch the other get her treat). A few episodes of that, and he no longer bites. Yet, he has also figured out that if we are "playing hands" (mock ferret nipping), that that is perfectly okay, and he even keeps that under control. It's almost as if a little play biting helps get it out of his system. And, if he gets too rough, gently holding the lower jaw works as a reminder of who's in charge. Meanwhile, Victoria has licked me thousands of times, but NEVER bites at all; she just isn't inclined to bite like that. I wonder what makes them so different? The only times she has ever "bitten" was when *I* got in the way of their play; she does bite Bart and they can get quite rough. Otherwise, she just doesn't bite. :o) Gary [Posted in FML issue 4308]