The ferret is a relatively new arrival on the pet scene, though it has been kept by humans for probably in excess of 1,000 years. This apparent contradiction has been brought about by the fact that over much of its association with humans the ferret was, and still is, used as a hunting companion rather than as a household pet. No doubt a number of them were pets, because often a sportsman may have a need to handrear these small carnivores. However, it's only over the last couple of decades that the ferret has really taken off in a big way as an accepted household companion.
Probably more than any other pet, including the mouse or rat, the ferret has had to overcome many prejudices in order to gain acceptance as a pet. The vast majority of stories about the ferret being a nasty tempered, foul smelling creature that would just as happily bite you as look at you, are untrue. But there is rarely smoke without a fire.
Although the ferret has such a long history of association with humans, it can be surprising that it's reputation was such a bad one. However, when you consider how it was invariably kept and treated, it's all too obvious just why this reputation was acquired. As with just about all domestic animals our knowledge of them really only started to become in depth in modern times. For most, possibly excluding the dog, they were greatly misunderstood. The working ferret was often starved before it was sent down a burrow to scare out rabbits, in the mistaken belief that it would work better. In other instances, it's canine teeth were broken so that it couldn't kill the rabbit. Others had their lips temporarily sewn together, or they were fitted with tight muzzles. Some were actually blinded, all in the belief that this would prevent them from harming the rabbit.
Less physically cruel, although actually just as bad, was the practice of fitting bells to the ferret before it hunted. The obvious notion was that it warned the rabbit of the oncoming ferret (as if the rabbit wouldn't be aware of this by its own powerful sense of smell.) The bell idea seems a sound enough idea until you stop to consider that many ferrets may not have actually come out of the burrow, and so would be left by its owner! Wearing the bell, it would have little chance of catching live prey, and it would have to subsist on carrion and invertebrates, or risk starving to death.
Once back home, the ferret would be placed into a small cage and given only a Spartan diet, such as the entrails of the rabbit, some break and milk, or kitchen scraps. The ferret received little consideration on very hot or cold days, for the ferret pens were often totally inadequate homes with little insulation.
All in all, life was hardly a bed of roses for most ferrets!
Given the way they were treated, it's no surprise to hear that they were very quick to try to bite the hands of their tormentors. This would result in the owner using heavy gloves when handling the ferret, which reduced the owners sensitivity. A strong grip would be used pick up the poor ferret so that it wouldn't bite or escape, and with this rough treatment, the fearful ferret would release it's scent... at this point, you have a very aggressive and frightened animal - thus the smelling and biting reputation!
It should be noted that not all owners treated their ferrets this way. Enough did, however, to foster the animals reputation. In truth, a well cared for ferret was a superior working animal, and the same can be said for ferrets who are kept as house pets!
