niping

Question
QUESTION: How long does it take to teach not to nip...our little guy loves white socks and i think he see's mine and thinks its a toy. nips any way. he's very young! thanks

ANSWER: Ferrets usually have foot fetishes anyway, but especially when feet are in socks! He probably thinks it's a toy, so either get used to it or take your socks off, because he probably won't be able to tell the difference between your socks on your feet and a biting toy. When your feet are bare he will be able to tell they belong to you; disguised in socks it's harder for a ferret to tell it's you. Oops.

It's very normal for babies to be nippy, partially because they're teething and it hurts them, also because they just don't know any better. If he bites you too hard, gently scruff the back of his neck where the loose skin is and hold him up. This should relax his grip on you and he should yawn, signaling his submission to you. Say NO really loud when he bites. Handle him often, and try not to be afraid of his teeth. I've found that ferrets often out grow biting all on their own with regular interaction. After a few months he should be getting better, when he's between 6 months and a year old he should not bite you.

Keep in mind that ferrets will bite each other as an invitation to play, and many ferret owners allow their ferrets to bite gently when they wrestle with them. I do this, and it's very fun. A ferret is smart, he will soon learn how hard not to bite if you wish to allow him playful nibbles.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your imfo. about nipping. My next question is about training. Our little guy does not like any treats, so when we try to train it's without rewards..will training still work?? Any ideas?? thanks so much, Fran

ANSWER: You're welcome. Yes, you can still train your ferret without treats, but it may be harder. Try really hard to find him a treat that he likes, it will make it that much easier. If not though, you can always reinforce positive behavior with lots of praise and affection. If he does something bad (like scratching at the carpet) scruff him and say NO, and if he persists try giving him a few minutes of time out in his cage.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We found something for a treat!  We have tried everything and he fell in love with beer. Started going after my husbands bottle when he was holding him. It is the only thing that this ferret has any intrest in besides his food! So, What do you think of using nonalcohol beer for his reward? I know its weird but we have offered him everything with no luck. I do wonder if its  o.k. health wise.. Thanks again, Fran

Answer
Ferrets love human food, especially anything sweet, like soda, beer or chocolate. Unfortunately, this does not mean they should be allowed to consume them. If ferrets are given anything with sugar in it on a regular basis, they will develop serious health problems.

So no matter how much he loves beer, DO NOT give it to him as a treat. I'm not even sure what the alcohol will do to him, but it can't be good, since he is so small, it could very well put him in something close to a coma. Just to be on the safe side, don't give your ferret any human food!