Question
Oscar
hey, i got an 11 week old hob called Oscar, i was wondering if you could tell me his breed or if hes a mix of anything specific? theres alot of debate going around even my grandad who used to keep ferrets for years hasn't seen one with only one color hardly, says hes 'alittle strange looking' haha, hes got a cream color around his mouth and on the tips of his ears are cream too and his ears are pointy, like a square shape, the picture shows some of this, Also, hes a typical 11 week old, loves to nip and bite, I'm using the scruff method and saying NO, its working alittle but i was wondering if theres any other kind methods that are more effective? hes taking it in sometimes but other than that he doesn't want nothing to do with it. And also ways to keep him alittle under control? as soon as a take him out, it seems he wants to get into atleast some harm and trouble. I'm a first timer so any tips would be a huge help xD thanks :) x
AnswerHello Sarah!
What a cute little black sable!! Ferrets are not classified into breeds like cats and dogs, and only distinguished by color. All ferrets are domesticated and use the scientific name Mustela putorius furo. There are no sub-categories for these guys.
There is the possibility of ferret-polecat hybrids, but this is extremely likely. He looks like a cute regular ferret to me!
Below is a link to a ferret color chart.
http://www.ferret.org/events/colors/colorchart.html
(Edit forgot to add the link to the chart.. here it is sorry!)
From the picture, he looks like a black sable, much like my little girl, Nixx! I included pictures so you can see what my black sable looks like.
http://www.gfxferret.com/10kits/sage/black_sable_jill_4.jpg
http://www.gfxferret.com/10kits/sage/black_sable_jill_1.jpg
(copy and paste the url into your browser if it does not link properly)
As far as nip training, it is always a challenge! Below is an excerpt from http://www.ferretcentral.org/ that describes various methods to try.
How do I train my pet not to nip?
Like kittens and puppies, ferret kits must be taught not to nip. A ferret which has been bred to be a pet shouldn't be vicious or bite, but ferret play does include mock combat, and young ones won't know how hard they can put their teeth on you without hurting you. A playing ferret may run at you with his mouth open or even put his teeth on your hand, but if he presses down hard enough to hurt, you need to discipline him. Just remember, ferrets aren't malicious, they just need to learn what behavior is acceptable.
A very few otherwise calm, gentle ferrets will react in an extreme way to a high-pitched noise such as a squeaky toy (perhaps only one particular toy) or the sound of rubbing fingers on a window or a balloon. Nobody's quite sure why that sets them off, though it seems to be a protective instinct of some sort. If your ferret is one of those few who bites wildly at the source of such a sound, my best advice is, don't make that sound around them.
Sometimes a ferret which has been mistreated will bite out of fear, or an older ferret might bite because of pain, either in the mouth or elsewhere. In either of these cases, strict discipline isn't going to do any good. For an animal in pain, of course, take it to the vet. For an abused ferret, try one of the alternatives mentioned below, and have a lot of patience: the ferret has to learn to trust someone when all it has known before is abuse. Regina Harrison has created a Web page about caring for and rehabilitating such "problem" ferrets.
In all cases, positive reinforcement (giving treats and lots of praise when the ferret does well) works much better than punishment, but if you need one, use a "time out" for a few minutes in a cage or carrier. Similarly, don't set the ferret down when he struggles and nips -- you'll be teaching him that that's the way to get what he wants. Finally, whichever method you use, consistency and immediacy are very important.
Alternatives to nose-flicking
Flicking the ferret's nose while his teeth are on you is a pretty common form of discipline, but it might not be the best. Your ferret might end up associating you with bad things rather than good ones. Also, it's a very bad idea to use nose-tapping or other physical discipline on a ferret who has been mistreated or who acts unusually aggressive or frightened. There are several alternatives, which you might want to try in combination:
* If the ferret is biting too hard in play, try using a signal he already understands: a high-pitched "Yip!" (or "Hey!" or whatever), like the noise one kit makes when another is playing too roughly. On the other hand, if the ferret seems to interpret that as a sign of weakness, switch to a deep, commanding voice and act as stern as you can.
* Stopping the game by gently pinning the ferret down until he gets bored can work well, too.
* Confining the misbehaving ferret to a cage and ignoring him for a few minutes can be very effective, especially if there's another ferret wandering around conspicuously having fun.
* You can cover your hands with Bitter Apple, either the spray or the paste, so nipping tastes bad.
* Some people have had good luck with either pushing a finger into the ferret's mouth (sideways, behind the back teeth) or holding the mouth open from behind (being careful not to choke the ferret) immediately after a bite. Most ferrets find either of these uncomfortable, and it associates the unpleasant feeling with the taste of finger.
* If you need the ferret to let go, try covering both his nostrils with your fingers. If he still hangs on, don't keep them there long, though.
* If the ferret isn't one of those who absolutely hate to be scruffed, that can help. You might also shake the ferret gently by the scruff, or drag him along the floor while you hiss. Both these mimic the way mother ferrets reprimand their kits. Obviously, don't be so rough that you hurt him. You can also cover his face with your hand, which he probably won't like.
I hope this answers your question! Good luck with your new kid, and if you have any other concerns please do not hesitate to ask.
-Cindy P
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