ferret transportation

Question
QUESTION: Hello. Last month me and my friend bought a ferret together. We were wondering if it would be okay if every now and then we kept the ferret at my house and every now and then if we kept it at his house. I was wondering if this would cause him to be confused, depressed, etc. We asked a few local pet stores and they said he would like the change because there so curious and adventurous, but i just want to make sure. Thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Kevin, this is an interesting question and one I've never gotten before.  The pet store is partially right (as usual).  It depends on the age of the ferret. For ferrets over the age of 3 or so (geriatric), I would strongly say no because of the stress involved. Of course, it depends on how often you plan on doing this. If the ferret is young and becomes accustomed to both places as his "home," and as long as he gets the same food at both places (very important not to keep changing a ferret's diet around due to their very sensitive digestive system & intestinal tract) then I don't see a problem if it's just every now and then as you say. Keep an eye on his behavior (and his poops) and if anything suddenly changes, there's a problem.

Good luck,
DG

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QUESTION: Thank you very much. Our ferret is around 12 weeks old, so he's nowhere near 3 years! I just wanted to make sure he wouldn't be depressed, but we'll keep an eye on his behavior. Oh and one more thing, I was wondering if ferrets remember people by there face? or if they even remember them at all? haha it's just a question i havn't found anywhere.
ANSWER: He'll probably be too busy playing, exploring, eating, and sleeping to be depressed.  The stress of being moved around all the time is associated with old ferrets who have become attached to their home over a long period of time.

Not necessarily their faces, since ferrets don't see very well, but definitely by their smell and the sound of their voices. Ferrets can bond very strongly with their humans. In some instances they even get protective and jealous of their humans. I sing to my ferrets, believe it or not. Try it - he will learn to recognize your voice. Sing something with his name in it. It'll help him bond with you.  :)

Good luck,
DG

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

QUESTION: Hello, this is a completely different question. How do you tame a ferret, because our ferret seems to be aggressive when he's playful and gets a little nippy. He doesn't try to hurt anyone but sometimes he  is just nippy and i was wondering how to prevent this.
thank you!

Answer
There are two ways:

(1)  Make it clear to the ferret that this behavior is unacceptable. When he nips or gets too rough when he's playing, firmly say "no bite!" while you scruff him by the back of the neck, then hiss at him. Do not shake him or hit him. The scruffing and hissing is part of natural ferret mother/child behavior. You have to do this consistently every single time it happens until he gets the message. If he doesn't get the message, put him in time out in his cage. A ferret that wants to play does NOT want to be put back in his cage. Keep repeating this process until the gets the message. It takes patience.

(2) Spray Bitter Apple (available at pet stores) on your heels, toes, arm - whatever his favorite nipping places on you are. This works better with some ferrets than with others. Some ferrets take the hint right away, others only get it after they calm down a bit. Never spray it directly on or at the ferret.

When he starts behaving or responds to what you want, put some Ferretone or Furotone on your finger and let him lick it off and he will realize instantly that fingers are for treats, not for nipping & biting. :)

Good luck,
DG