New Ferret Harness Question

Question
Hi,
I just got my very first ferret last night. He is 3yrs old. He is very very friendly. I bought him a new harness the nylon kind, but when i go to put it on him he tries to bite. Before i can get the chest/belly area hooked he wiggles out also trying to bite. Am i doing somehting wrong. Will he ever be able to use a harness seeing he is 3.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Savannah:

Congratulations on your new ferret!  I hope you will do lots of reading so you can learn a lot about ferrets - ferrets whose mommies and daddies know a LOT will live longer because they know the kinds of things to watch out for that will hurt their ferrets.  Here are a few websites that will give you a headstart on learning:

GENERAL INFO - ALL TOPICS:
* www.thechipster.com/fert-man.html   
* www.ferretcentral.org

Since it's just the first day you've had your ferret, give him a chance to get used to you and to trust you. Then put the harness on loosely until he realizes it isn't going to hurt him. Then, when you are really ready to take him outside (be SURE he has all his shots before taking him outside - he needs his RABIES shot and DISTEMPER shots too!), you can snug up the harness, just tight enough so that you can still get a finger underneath it, but loose enough that he can breathe without any problems.  Try it out with the leash around the house before taking him outside just to be sure he can't get loose. You don't want to be chasing him out around the neighborhood with an empty leash in your hands!  Remember you can walk around outside holding him too - he doesn't have to be on a leash.  I walk around outside with mine and let him smell flowers, dig in the dirt, etc - AFTER he gets use to you and you are used to him enough to be SURE he isn't going to take off running and think he's playing "chase". Better in a yard with a solid block wall so he can't get out and get lost; then NEVER take your eyes off him while he's outside because hawks can swoop down and get him, stray cats can stalk and steal him away, or even stray dogs can attack him - so always be careful when outside! You are always safer with him INSIDE the house, especially until you get used to each other.

Hope that helps. Be sure to get reading - there's so much to learn about your new little friend!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers