Ferret Bites! Bonding Should Help

Question
Okay-I got a female ferret(Missy) from petco in Hendersonville,Tennessee and she never stops biting!!!We put a chew treat,a rubber ball,and a ferret stuffed animal in there.She bites her cage,he food bowl,her water bottle,the furniture *Its not a recliner* ,and she bites my 11 year old daughter,my husband,and I.SHE NEVER STOPS!!!

Answer
Hi Janna:

Shame on Missy! Every now and then we come across a ferret who bites - whether it's their breeding or somehow they were 'mentally damaged' when very young (before you got her), it's just hard to know. Biting almost always comes from FEAR (or PAIN), so keep that in mind before you punish her...punishments will only make the problem worse).  MOST ferrets can be loved out of their biting, so don't give up quite yet, okay?  It is, however, a good idea to get a nice thick pair of gloves and use these to handle her at all times until she stops biting them. Everyone has their limit with biting and we will try to intervene BEFORE you have reached yours...but use gloves anytime you feel she is likely to bite you. NEVER flick or tap on her nose, as they have very very delicate sinus tissue that can be damaged - rather get a squirt bottle with water in it and spray a *stream* at her when she is biting at things in your home that are not her toys (hopefully she has a lot of safe toys that she can bite on, both in and out of her cage; as she probably needs to get that frustration out and/or get those teeth in).  Also, please don't limit her time out playing because of her biting - let her out for at least 3 hours a day, but keep that squirt bottle handy (set on 'stream' instead of spray and you WILL get her attention - but DON'T spray in her face; body only. It's surprising enough that it will get her attention, trust me)

There is also the possibility (if she is young) that she is teething. If this is the case, try soaking some of her food for about 15 minutes in water before giving it to her (she may be very hungry if her back teeth are not in good enough for her to eat and all she is being offered is hard food!)  Don't leave any leftover wet food in the cage - feed her at least four times a day. In a week or so, she should have enough teeth to handle dry food, but slowly decrease the amount of water so the food gets progressively drier and drier until she is eating dry kibble.

There is also the possibility that she is deaf - not uncommon in ferrets, unfortunately.  I will address this below.  Check out the websites, test her and see if she is deaf before proceeding with any other 'bonding' because this needs to be taken into consideration. You will need to learn a whole new way of communicating with her by touch, sight and vibrations she can feel (especially in a house with a wood floor).  Deaf ferrets are actually incredibly lovable once you break thru the communication barrier, so please don't think she is worth less because she is deaf - I know some people who PREFER "deafies" because they are SO loveable once you break thru that fear!

Okay...this is the "bonding" treatment you can do AFTER checking her to be sure she is not deaf.  The most effective method I've used to 'bond' with a ferret is to get a cloth pet carrier that lays up against your stomach and zips on top - has a mesh front so the ferret can see out. Lay it on the floor for a day or two and let her get the smell of it, go in and out of it, etc.

THEN...after a day or two, put her in the carrier and strap it on yourself. Your job will be to take this ferret with you everywhere you go that day. Keep kibble and a small container of water with you to offer her regularly - along with a harness (which she should be wearing) and a leash you can snap on when she has to go potty. You will know when she needs to potty because she will wiggle around a lot. Other than that, she should be pretty content to sit in the bag with a little comforting and talking to her, and look out the front.

Talk to her a lot throughout the day, rub her thru the fabric of the carrier and use her name a lot. In the car, make sure the seatbelt isnt on her - it would be too tight most likely.  Pretend she is new to this planet and just talk to her about everything, gently massaging her thru the carrier, telling her what a good girl she is, etc.

When you get out in public....make SURE that NOBODY TOUCHES HER.  You must tell them "SHE BITES, DON'T GET CLOSE" so nobody gets hurt.  What does happen, tho, is that she sees YOU as her 'protector'.  Suddenly it's her and you 'against the world' and you are keeping people away from her, feeding her by hand and offering her water regularly - in other words, you are taking care of ALL her needs.....that sends her a message that she can relax, you will take care of her.

Be sure to be in public places that day - walk her a bit at the park and let her smell all the new smells - or just walk around the block. Each time, however, she goes back into the front carrier (safety) and you keep talking to her.

This takes a whole day - although you can do your regular things pretty much - just include her. The more out in public, strange places - the mall, etc - the better. Because this sends her the message that you are the "alpha" ferret and you control her food, water, safety.

Nearly everyone who uses this raves at the instant change they see in their ferret during that day. Trust me, she's not going to bite you in a strange place - rather, she will cling to you. If you comfort her and reassure her, hold her close to you, this establishes 'alpha ferret' to her (the boss).  The week after you do this, YOU should pay attention to her, play with her, etc.

In the following weeks, have anyone else in the house you wish her not to bite do this same procedure. When they are "out" with her, she will see them as her protector, the one with the food and water, etc.  When I did this, I actually put a small litterbox behind the drivers seat of my car and when she had to go potty, I would take her out to the  car to do it, then immediately clean it up with a paper towel so the car didnt get stinky.  However, you can also use anyplace outside where she can back up against something and be able to see that she is safe while pottying (corner of a building, even the grassy area in a parking lot as long as there cars running right next to where she is to potty).

Just remember that she will be scared most of the time - especially that first day out with the first person. However, after this day, she should be bonded to that person.  As others in the family treat her the same way (protect her in public, etc), she will get the message that your family are 'alpha ferrets' and she does not have to have her guard up when around you.  The more she goes out with you and your family - the more she will cling to you and it will break thru the biting; really it will.

You may even choose to take her anytime your family goes out for a picnic, to the park, for a walk, etc. The more she is out of the house with you - and with you protecting her, the more she will bond to you.  You continue to send her the message that you are taking care of all her needs - kibble, water, potty...and she gets returned to the safety and security of the tummy-pack that you carry her in. She MUST be able to see out of this, and she should be very content to stay safe in it in public.  Just REMEMBER....DO NOT LET ANYONE OTHER THAN YOUR FAMILY TOUCH HER - EVER.  She is biting in fear most likely. Once that fear is gone, she should stop biting and will concentrate on bonding with you.

ONE OTHER THING:  Very very important.  Does she have white around her face, neck or paws?  If so, she may be deaf.  Here's a website that will show you how to test her and IF SHE IS DEAF, you will have to take that into consideration when playing with her...she will be a bit more jumpy (until you do the above bonding 'days out'). IF she is deaf, you will ALWAYS have to approach her from the front to pick her up so it doens't frighten her; learn new ways to call her such as stomping you feet (she can feel the vibrations).  Here are several websites:  

 DEAF FERRETS:
* http://groups.msn.com/Ferret/deafferret.msnw
* (wolfysluv site is sometimes down - try later)
* http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com/deaf.html -
* http://beta.communities.msn.com/littlenorwayexpansion/deafnessbyterri.msnw

Please let me know how her first 'day out' goes, okay?  BTW - good that you don't have a recliner in the room - you've done your homework well!! :-)

I will be anxious to hear from you!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers