Some of you may remember that some months ago I asked about dogs and ferrets - many replied with encouraging experiences. I have also read discouraging ones and my vet has told me of numerous ferrets that have come into,or not made it into the clinic that had been killed by dogs. I did a lot of research, thought about my needs in terms of breed, activity level, the ferrets needs in terms of low prey drive etc. I finally went for it and got a dog from breed rescue to try out for two weeks. Booker is a 7 yr old very well behaved calm dog who is almost perfect. I have had him for a week and have had a stomach ache for the whole time. I just can't get over the idea that I'm placing the ferrets at risk. Booker has been quite good so far, not lunging or anything. Really responds when he starts to follow them and returns to me almost instantly. However they seem to hate him - Giesela the territorial alpha bitch - whoops sprite - with elephant ears seems to be very stressed. She stalks around him stopping frequently to be perfectly still with this dazed look. She bites his feet, lunges at his face, hisses etc. I try to switch them out but as soon as I uncrate him or let him in she comes running. Boris alternately bottle brushes his tail, sniffs around and just generally disappears. No ones playing anymore! I really feel that when you work all day you need to spend time with the animals - but there's not enough time to cage and crate and swap all the time. I need them to be able to coexist when I'm home. They all want, need and deserve my attention when I'm home but with one person I'm having a tough time. Booker is especially a very loving clingy dog (which doesn't give the ferrets much chance to hang around). Right by my feet every second. I'm so conflicted, stressed and scared. Actually Booker, considering he's in a new home seems to be doing the best. The ferrets and I are the ones totally out of whack. I really felt that as a single person with a home with a big field in the back I could give a needy dog a nice home and I would really like a dog. If I give Booker back I really don't think another dog would do better (not at this point anyway) so I'll be forever dogless. Plus at 7 I'm not sure they can find another home for him and rescue was so wonderful and worked so hard, even keeping him extra long till I came back from a long work trip. Sorry this is so long but I am going nuts and needed to write it down and send it to you all who have just always been such a wonderful group who really care for your animals. In tears and fear and have no idea how I'm going to make this decision Mary, Giesela, Boris (what IS that thing?) and Booker (so far) [Posted in FML issue 1922]