Tammy, I'm sorry if it's cruel, but I laughed so hard I almost cried at your tails about Randy. I assume that's okay since you say he makes you laugh, too. Looks pretty funny though when I'm sitting here laughing hysterically (but quietly) at my computer up here at the front desk of our library. Anyway, about Randy, I'm sure plenty of others will answer, but yes, ferrets and indeed any animals can be `slow'. A classmate of mine has a cat named Ruprect who got that name for precisely the same kind of cute but not-all- there behaviour. But I would say that even with a learning disability, if your consistent enough, you should at least be able to teach him where the bathrooms are and that biting is not acceptable (if he hasn't bitten in 6 months, I should think that's good evidence he can figure things out). The trick is consistency. When we think someone has a disability, we often allow inappropriate behaviour more often than we normally would. Trouble is, even the slowest ferret interprets that as `oh, that action must be okay'. So whenever you catch him in the act of going in the middle of the floor (I know that's hard if he doesn't back up), scruff him, yell `no' in his face, and even flick him in the nose if you think he needs the extra point. Same thing with biting (which deserves the nose flick just so he realizes something that hurts isn't nice). Remember he may be as stubborn as he is slow. Don't let him trick you! You may never get him 100% potty trained, but you should be able to keep him not biting like he has been. On the other hand, I guess there's no way you can teach him the common sense not to fall face first! :) Laura Laura L'Heureux Kupkee, Trella, and Tribble U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96 [log in to unmask] P.S. -- IMPORTANT -- Can anyone update me on the Kansas State rabies shedding study? Whatever happened to it? [Posted in FML issue 0975]