I recieved this question in my email. And although I "sort of" had an answer, I thought I'd bring it to the forum in case any of you had any better answers: "I had a question about disciplining my ferret. My husband and I figured out our ferret, Ash was deaf when she was about three months old (she's 1 year old now). Ash is extremely determined to scratch under doors and to get into cabinets despite all attempts to ferret-proof. In fact she is very avid about de-ferret-proofing. For instance, we got baby locks for our cabinets and she squeezed her way back into them. We now have weights sitting in front of the cabinets, but she bites and scratches at them to the point of damaging them. When I discipline her for this via scruffing and put her in a timeout, she will throw a fit in her hammock, become depressed, and isolate herself; she'll do her death stares and won't want to come back out of her cage once her timeout is up. I eventually I'll pull her back out of her cage to play with our other ferrets, but she will immediately go back to doing the same thing that got her in trouble in the first place. I feel like she isn't getting it. Do you have any advice to help me correct her behavior?" I replied: "I have some very bad news for you lol. There is absolutely nothing you can do to stop these sorts of behaviors. They are hardwired into the ferrets brain (instinct) and so you really can't extinquish them. If by chance you could, it would be harmful psychologically to the animal, ya know? There are just some things you can't or shouldn't change. So in those cases, you need to try to stratagize around the behaviors. Unfortunately, while ferrets are as intelligent as the tiniest of primates (puzzle solving), they also have the attention of a gnat. And boy this presents a challenge! Believe me I've tried it all. Before I was on the internet and had extensive expert advice available, I was going on experience alone. I had grown up with ferrets so I did have quite a bit. I tried using water guns for ferrets who dig under doors or scratch carpets. I thought if I sat and consistently squirted one whenever they tried to go under a door, it'd stop. I mean it makes sense. It works for some species. I tried all of the things you have. Those didn't work either. I dont know if a ferret is stubborn or is hopelessly obsessive. So how to work around behaviors? There is something called Ferret Off by Marshall Farms (I think thats how makes it). Supposedly, sprayed on surfaces, the ferret gets repelled. I used it on furniture and didn't have any luck. But furniture really soaks it up. And my husbands ignorant boss taught mine to dig into the couch. I never had a problem with that before. It was very upsetting. Anyway, it didn't work. Now if the ferret is actually mouthing, chewing, or licking something in the process of what it is doing, I can testify to the fact that Bitter Apple does work. Ferrets hate it. There used to be a "cream" version so you could put it on wires and such and it would last. You'd have to google it and see if its still out there. I have no idea how long the spray works. But gosh if its 24 hours even, that would help. I"m wondering if you put a fine amount of Cayanne pepper (which keeps squirrels away), if that would help at all. It all depends on how close your ferret puts his face to what he's digging at. Usually when a ferret goes after wood to get into a crack, they are using their mouths, not just their feet. So some of these things might help. Let me go ask some other sources and see if they have any ideas for you. But that should be a start. I'm really sorry your ferret is doing this. In any case, I'd really stop scruffing and/or the time outs. Its not working, it never worked for me when I was younger. In your case, your ferret is showing stress and sadness about it, so ... I'd stop taking that course. I'll get back to you with some answers (hopefully)" I'm exhausted, its the end of a Friday. I hope I gave okay advice. I wanted to get back to her immediately tonight whether I was prepared or not, because it sounded like their baby was sensitive and getting pretty upset. I wanted them to stop until I could find something better for them to try. Thank you very much! Da Wolfy Ps, I HATE it when I don't know the answers, I feel so stupid. ::Banging my head on the desk like Dobby in Harry Potter:: [Posted in FML 6985]