Fred said yesterday: >I think this is an indication that Canadian Frets tend to bite a bit >more than say the Marshall Farms smaller leaner type of frets.... >Not that they are mean but just that they play a bit more on the >rough side than other frets seem to. More ferret like to me... As a fellow Canadian, I don't think that this generalization can be made either. As a matter of fact, I just babysat a large group of Marshall Ferrets and I found them to be a lot more bitey than the RCF that I have had the pleasure of having company with. Mind you, I have also had the pleasure of MF ferrets that were sweethearts. Size is also a non-consistent factor. Even the breeder here in town has produced litters where the sizes have reached the full gamut and her breeding ferrets are Canadian and American. I think that as much as we "want" to believe that certain lines are better behaved, more energetic and less bitey, the bottom line seems to always be the same thing, which you also stated in your post yesterday... human interaction with the ferrets. Early handling than encourages gentle mouthing, and learning the difference between what is not acceptable (ripping my flesh apart) and what is (licking and biting that feels like grooming, bonding or even acceptance as part of the sibling group). I don't think that there really is a ferret farm that is 100% consistent 100% of the time in the handling of its kits. Mind you, a small breeder *may* have more success. But we mustn't forget that the kits themselves seem to be a great deal like other youngsters with unique personalities. Besides, as we have seen in the past, ferrets can quite easily be passed off as MF or PV or RCF is the seller is willing to imitate the right markings and copy letters of "authentication". So do we really know that we are getting a particular breed from any of the larger farms? Anyone with a half decent scanner and a photo manipulation program could pull it off. Even an inexpensive printer can do a good job with good quality paper. But I digress... betty and her blur o'fur for the love of ferrets Cuddle them, love them, forgive them, spoil them. [Posted in FML issue 5359]