New Ferret Buyers Guide For Lazy People!
Your friend just got a ferret and now you want one. You read some information online and checked out some You Tube videos and you’re hooked. They have a strange odor and can be trained new tricks. But before you adopt one of these fascinating animals, you need to prepare yourself.
Before you introduce your new pet to his new home, make sure that your place has been fully “ferret proofed.” In case you don’t know, ferrets are natural troublemakers. Born explorers and persistent, they have the ability to squeeze into the tiniest openings and steal any object they find interesting. Even if they aren’t made for climbing, you can catch your ferret in the most unusual places. They are professional thieves and con men. So keep an eye out on these little guys. Close off any gaps that lead into any potentially dangerous situations. Check under sofas, beds, refrigerators, washers and dryers to make sure they can’t get squished. Get rid of any reclining chairs. Too many stories of mangled ferrets in reclining chairs. So I wouldn’t even entertain the idea of trying to ferret proof one. Ferrets love to chew on things, so hide any exposed wiring, and small objects, especially Styrofoam, rubber, sponges or anything that can tear easily. Gastrointestinal blocking causes a large percentage of fatalities among ferrets. You get the idea.
Introduce your new ferret to his new home and let him get acquainted with you. Don’t send out an email to your friends to come on over to check out your new pet. Save it for a later date. Feed your ferret some treats by hand through the cage at first. Do this often and be patient. In the next few days, open the cage and have him feed from your palm while you stroke him. Eventually, you can let him out and carry him in comfort.
Scruff training is essential. A firm grab right behind the ears can calm your ferret down. This is done naturally by their mothers, and should be practiced by you regularly.
Play tug of war with him, role him around and grab his tail. If he plays too rough, meaning that he nips too hard, keep him in check by grabbing him by the scruff and give him a firm “no.” Do this early and be persistent. In a short time, they will instinctively know not to bite you too hard, but they don’t mean harm, so don’t get upset. When trimming nails or cleaning ears, grab him by the scruff with one hand and support his lower body and feet with your other hand. This should put him in a relaxed state.
Litter train your ferret as early as possible. You should already have a litter box placed in the cage. Ferrets naturally do not want to soil their sleeping area and will back into any corner to do their business, so this can help you out. But you will want to slowly expand his enclosure and discipline him for doing using the restroom in the wrong spot.
All of these tools will socialize your ferret in a healthy manner. Finally, when you’re comfortable, invite your friends over to meet the new member of your family.