Bite training

Question
I just adopted a ferret from a shelter that was abused when she was younger.  She is very affectionate but has a horrible biting problem.  My wife and I have narrowed it down to fear biting but I just can't tell.  We will pick her up and love on her and then she will just ripp into us.  She just relocks on and we don't know what to do.  She is a very good ferret and we want to get this biting problem under control.  We have tried to tell her comley No then we won't let her down after she bites us.  Do you have any advise for us?

Answer
hello,
Thank you for your question. The behavior you are describing sounds like simple dominance on the part of the new ferret. This is compounded by the fact that she may have been mistreated. Fear biting is not usually the case with ferrets, they usually will bite in a way to "communicate" that they want down, want to play, etc. If not corrected as a kit, nipping turn to biting. And a ferret bite is a big bite, and they usually will clamp down hard. So hopefully the below advice will help you.
Now, you have to basically establish that you are in charge. If you  reach in to get her and she nips, do not pull back. If necessary get some bite deterrent and put it on your hands. The sprays seem to be the most effective bite deterrent. I recommend the BITTER LIME in big biters, because it is more pungent. "BITTER APPLE" OR
"BITTER LIME" spray can be found at your local petstore. This comes in a green/white bottle, and is probably in the "dog training" section, as it is also used to keep dogs from chewing. spray on your hands, and you will need to  "Teach" the ferret not to bite: Spray it on your hands and fingers, and let it dry. When she bites you stick you finger in her mouth,(gently) and say "NO BITE!!!" ( say it FIRMLY) ... . Keep this up every day until she turns away when you offer your finger, the PRAISE : "GOOD girl!!!"
Also, when she is out to play, every so often take her and lay her gently on her back (on a soft carpet). I can guarantee you the first time you do this, she will have a FIT!
But what you want to do is to GENTLY hold her on her back on the soft floor and keep her there until she learns to relax. This technique is used a lot of times with aggression in dogs, and I have used it on dominating ferrets, and it really works well. I cannot stress enough that this needs to be done gently, not harshly. This is not a punishment, it is simply to establish dominance.
I had Ivan, who was the biggest dominator to come to my group. He would just torture my other male ferrets who were all SO genlte.He took sheer pleasure in dragging a sleeping ferret out of the hammock, and down the ramp of the cage, the poor ferret screaming the whole time. Biting to him was a hobby.
I started this technique with him, and the first time, I simply laid on the floor where they were playing, rolled him on his back, and gently held him there. He squirmed and threw a massive fit. I kept the other ferrets back, and waited. he finally, after about four minutes, relaxed, and I gently stroked his belly and said (good boy). Then I let him up. I did this every night for about two weeks, until he got to the point when I rolled him on his back, he just immediately would relax into the belly rub.
It is important to know, the first few times you try this with a dominant ferret, they will cry, and squirm, and may even nip. This is why you need the "Bitter Apple" or "Bitter Lime" spray on your hands. But they are releasing a lot of pent up aggression, and you female may have a lot of that. Don't talk while she is in her "fit," don't say "its OK" or try to soothe her. That basically is the same as coddling a child who is in the middle of a tantrum. It is better to stay firm until they stop the tantrum then allow her up, and simply allow the play to continue. But do not let her up until she is laying CALMLY. Otherwise, she will hop up and be mad as a wet hen! If she starts to be dominate or too rough, down she goes again. It is sort of a "time out" to reestablish the rules. Once she is calm on her back, she's allowed up again to play.
Once you are able to break the cycle of her dominance, she should begin to trust, and be a much calmer ferret.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you need anything else.
amy