Hi Hazel, I am a four year old cocker spaniel named Mandy. I share my home with 3 furry things Mom calls ferrets. Those furry things drive me nuts! They bite at my feet, my butt, just about anything! So I understand what you are going through! Mom tried bitter apple but it diden't work, I have found a better way I bark like crazy and Tara & Dutch take off running! I also steal Mitzi's rubber toys, which drives her crazy until she can find them all again! I kinda liked my other way of dealing with them, I used to roll on them, I really was not hurting them, but Mom did like that idea too much, Dad thought it was funny. As for the food, they don't eat my food, I love their food, so when the cage is left open I sneak some. They also love to play in my water bowl, yuck ferret fur! I won't even touch the bowl till someone gives me fresh water. They like to steal my toys too, which Mom and Dad thinks is funny, they hide them under the couch, under the bed, where I can't get them, they have plenty of toys of their own, which they could care less about. Mom did not think it was funny when they hid her purse behind a stereo speaker the other day, and it took her awhile to find it! They never leave me alone, as soon as I am ready for a nice long nap, here they come rolling down the stairs! I try to tell them to leave me be, but they just do that dook, dook thing and run off! Maybe they have a course in ferret talk somewhere, in general I like them, but I would like them to see my point of view sometimes. Well let me know if you guys are going to take that vacation I could use one too! I also learned how one good swat with my paw knocks them off the couch, boy do they get mad! Maybe you should try that! Mandy [Posted in FML issue 1243]