biting problems

Question
This is a common problem with younger ferrets however, I have tried and tried to keep my ferret from biting. I have tried grabbing him by his scruf and hissing or yelling no when he bites to letting him bite me until he gets tired of it so he stops and does something else but no matter what I do, he always bites so hard. Hes so cute but his biting is really coming between me and the ferret and I am thinking about giving him away to someone better suited to train him if this goes on much more. I love him but he is never affection to me. Is there any way that I can make him stop biting? I really don't want to get rid of him but if theres nothing else I can do, I don't have much of a choice. Please help, I want to keep him if thats at all possible. Thank you for the help. I really appreciate it.

Answer
Dear April,

I once had a kit, Jasmine, that would lick lick lick lick lick the skin on my arm and then WHAMMO!!  She'd not only bite, but latch on and shake her head to and fro like a rabid dog.  It hurt, plus she'd nip anything anytime if she wanted attention.

Here's what I want you to try:

1. When he nips you, pick him up and give him a loud, sharp NO!! then put him down on the floor and ignore him.  He'll learn, over time, that the nip was the source of your anger and stop doing it.

2. Alternatively, you can behave like a mother ferret.  When he nips, scruff him by the skin on the back of the neck and hold him this way until he calms down.  Then drag him across the floor about 2-3 feet on his back, holding firmly to the scruff.  When you let go, you ignore him for 5 minutes.

3. Put a few drops of FerreTone or FerretVite on his favorite nipping spot once a day and let him lick it off.  He'll learn that that spot tastes delicious when licked, but he'll get yelled at or scruffed when he nips it!

4. If these don't work in three months, try giving him a five minute time out in a carrier.  DO NOT give time-outs in his cage; his cage is her home and her safe-haven, don't turn it into punishment.  And no more than 5 minutes, they won't understand anything beyond that.

My ferret Jasmine stopped nipping after 6 months of patient training.  Sometimes they get the message right away, other times it takes a lot of patience.  But it WILL get better if you are consistent in your training.

Sincerely

Stephenie