Ed, I think it is obvious, based on your elaborate details, that you wanted to evoke a response from the readers of this list. Who, besides you, would EVER squirt ice cold water from a water gun into their ferret's ear?!? I enjoy your contributions to this list because you often present a point of view that deviates from the accepted norm. But to punish a ferret that poops in a corner by squirting it in the ear with ice water?!? Come on. I know that you know how ferrets work. They poop in corners. You either successfully train them using positive reinforcement to use a litter box, or you adjust your expectations by putting newspaper or another litter box in their chosen corner. I only have one ferret, so I can't speak from much experience, but when he chooses a corner, he religiously uses that corner and no other. That is just the way it is. He is caged when I am gone, and he uses his litter box. But when I am home, he has free roam of the apartment, and he uses his corner in front of the front door. I would never consider punishing him for doing something he considers completely natural (pooping in a corner). So, Edward, you have been successful. You have evoked a response from me. Not so much anger, but awed at your rather ridiculous idea to litter-train Jenny's ferrets. Congratulations. Regards, Melanie [Posted in FML 6292]