Training Your Pet Ferret – Fun For All

Training Your Pet Ferret – Fun For All

Training your pet ferret means a number of things. You can litter train your ferret so that it uses a litter box just like a cat. You can train your ferret to walk on a leash. Ferrets can also be trained not to bite-a very useful lesson for them to learn.

Probably the first thing that you want to teach your ferret is to use the litter box or newspaper to “do his business”. This will keep your home and his cage clean. These animals are intelligent and eager to please, so training your pet ferret to use a particular spot should be fairly easy. It will require a little time and patience, but you can expect success.

To begin litter training your pet ferret, confine him to a small area of a room or, preferably, inside his cage. Place the litter box or newspaper in a particular-and private-corner. If you do use newspaper, secure it with tape or the ferret may think it’s a blanket. If he doesn’t figure out on his own that this is where he should do his business, try placing some of his feces in the box or on the paper. He’ll get the idea.

When you discover he’s done the right thing, praise him and give him a treat. It’s similar to training a puppy to go the bathroom outside. You’ll want your ferret to know that he’s pleased you.

Training your pet ferret to walk on a leash is fun. First, make sure that it is legal to own a ferret in your state or town. In fact, this is something you should learn before adopting a ferret. If prohibited, you could be cited and your ferret will be confiscated and euthanized. But, if you live in an area that welcomes these loving and loyal pets, feel free to walk them out in public.

First, make sure you have a comfortable, well-fitting harness and a strong leash. Do not use a collar, as ferrets can easily slip out of them. Good luck in catching a runaway ferret! Practice walking the ferret indoors for several days. Training your pet ferret to feel comfortable wearing a harness and then walking on a leash takes patience. When practicing, be alert to your pet’s mood. If he becomes annoyed by or frightened of the leash or harness, remove them and let him roam around for a while before trying again. Eventually, he will get used to them.

When walking, adjust your pace to that of your pet. That could mean an uncomfortably slow pace for you. But remember that his legs are much shorter than yours and, while he can move relatively quickly, he might not be able to keep up if you march along at a fast clip.

Biting is a natural thing for ferrets, but training your pet ferret not to bite isn’t too difficult. It’s easiest, of course, to teach them when they are young but even adults can be taught not to bite. When your ferret bites, loudly tell him “No!” But don’t strike him. That is abusive and could seriously harm your pet. You might try tugging on his whiskers-but gently. You can also keep a spray bottle of water handy and squirt him in the face when he bites. If you are consistent when training your pet ferret, he will eventually get the message.

Training your pet ferret can be fun. But prepare to be patient. As with a puppy, ferrets may take some time to get the message. But once they do, life will be lovely for him and for you and your family.