if your having biting problems with your ferrets, using gloves is a bad idea! As if they do start to bite, just command NO in their face, as if you wear gloves, they are not getting a change to get to know the scent on your hands, therefore biting further and harder:-) hope this helps x
Very cute video... how old were they when you got him? All three of our ferrets (one who has since passed away) never bit... but we got them all as kits. It looks to me as if yours were a little older? LOVE your accent! :)
@GulfVetSAF - They were 10-12 weeks when I got them, and about 14 weeks when I took this video. So they weren't much older than kits! I do agree that handling them as kits can really reduce their 'bite instinct,' sadly mine were found as strays so I have no idea how they were treated when they were younger- my guess would be that they weren't mistreated but definitely weren't handled much.
@Solstisol - Thank you :) I'm actually hoping to upload some better training vids in December, but only if I get the time.
These were my first ferrets, and they're the only ones I've got so far so no I've never been lucky enough to experience that haha I do speak to a lot of other ferret-owners and some have had ferrets that never bit at all, but it is a rare occurrence! Usually you get a few nips until they are used to you.
Personal favorite way to teach ferrets not to bite is lemon juice.
My past ferrets i've had would nip and chew allot too "personalty i didn't mind this,but my friends couldn't stand it".
What i would do is soak my fingers in lemon juice "something sour" and with time the critter would learn that fingers don't taste good and would hesitate to nip em ^^
Super cheap resort if your someones whose uncomfortable with hissing or buying overpriced paste.
@GingaFreak23 - I did actually resort to some nasty-tasting stuff for a while, but I don't like to post that on my videos because it's not right to use it in all biting situations. When they're just being naughty little £%**!?$ like mine it's fine though haha
Although I agree that the paste is expensive I buy is regardless of whether or not I'm training them. It's a brilliant treat and it makes them really happy, also makes trips to the vet so much easier!
@TvFuzzie - I agree, the gloves weren't a good move. I mainly used them to get them out of their cage (they would lunge at my hands otherwise and I didn't have much room to manoeuvre lol) or in emergencies when I needed to grab them quickly.
@ILUVMagic1000 - They are brilliant now. Never bite me in anger, and they know how hard they can bite if I am play wrestling with them so that they don't hurt me. The only areas they still bite are ones they are not used to, so if I wore shorts my legs would get bitten, and I am very cautious with them around my face. I've had my face nipped a couple of times and while it wasn't a hard nip it was still really sore! Lol :D
@ShesSoLucky317 - Yeah dogs are always difficult. It just takes one wrong move and everything can go horribly wrong. If he's been ok with ferrets in the past then he'll probably be ok again (unless they are nippy little kits haha) but as you said being careful is always a good idea.
My ferrets love my dog but unfortunately she doesn't like them haha She runs away and hides behind our legs if they come near her :D They've never been anything but nice to her but she just won't make friends.
@ShesSoLucky317 - Sorry to hear about your ferret, it is so sad to lose a pet but at least you can be sure you gave them a happy life :) Why not get two this time? Watching them play together is great fun.
My all-time favourite ferret name (not mine, met someone on a forum with a ferret called this) is "Mr Winterbottom" :D I thinks it's adorable & also true because they do get huge bottoms in the winter lol My second favourite was a jill called "Little Miss Naughty Mittens" I like silly names!
@Dinkyfish666 Thank you for your quick reply, I was actually playing with them when your reply popped up. They climb all over me when they are out of the cage, they certainly aren't timid anymore. I have a pair of builders gloves for when I have to handle them but they bite them more than my bare hands (they are those orange type with the rubber webbing) They don't hiss at all, all dook a lot so I think they think I'm playing and they want to play rough
@Dinkyfish666 CONTINUED (they are rougher with each other than I am used to with ferrets). I just took one out (I think they get over excited when they are both out) and tried offering them a treat and stroking whilst she ate it, seemed to work nicely, and she let me pick her up with a bare hand but after about five minutes she was back to her old ways. I think I'm just going to have to persevere until they get the message.
@samsharp2002 - You're welcome, you just caught me as I came online :) Well that's a good sign then, dooking would indicate that they do indeed want to play with you. I would recommend keeping doing what you're doing, short play sessions one at a time. As soon as they start to get too rough put them away for and try again in an hour or so once they've calmed down. Try squealing if they bite too hard, some ferrets (though not all) will react to this quite well and stop biting so hard.
@Dinkyfish666 I was wondering if you had any advice, I've had a pair of jills for about 3 weeks. They were rescued by the RSPCA as they had been abused (only survivors from a group of 7). They are up to full health and they are fine with me touching and stroking them but when I let them out of their cage to play they always bite when I try to pick them up or try to stop them climbing on something. I use hissing and time outs in a travel cage but nothing really seems to work. Thanks in advance.
@samsharp2002 Hi there! Glad to hear you've given those ferrets a second chance :) If they are hissing at you this means they are frightened (undoubtedly because of what someone has done to them before, poor things) I would take the 'slowly slowly' approach and let them come to you rather than going to them (difficult when they are getting into things they shouldn't). It will take time and lots of patience but eventually they will come around. Join the British Ferret Club forums too... tbc
@samsharp2002 (continued) ... they are very helpful (that's where I get all my advice when I need it). Perhaps you could keep a pair of gloves handy just for when you HAVE to pick them up, but otherwise just sit on the floor with them and let them approach you when they are ready. Be kind, gentle and give lots of (healthy) treats. Obviously don't get angry or shout as this will just bring back awful memories for them. I wish you all the best :)
i jsut got my ferret 1 hour ago, and his biting is horrible, i cant pick him up with the glove, he bites the glove and locsk his jaw so i have to take my gloves off and put on different gloves, im wondering if this is caused from teething he is 14 weeks old, will i need malt paste to help him stop biting
@rika57bitches - You need to leave him alone and give him some time to settle in. He'll probably be very stressed out at moving to a new home. I wouldn't try to handle him at all until tomorrow at the earliest, and even then I would just let him out in a ferret-safe area to run around and play for a while without you interfering. He's probably very scared just now, so pop him into his cage and just let him do his thing. Talk gently to him when he's a bit calmer but leave the handling for now :)
@rika57bitches dont lessen to her dont use gloves because the ferret need to know the smell of of then it wont bite if it does bite you ten just give it a tiny not hard flick on the nose or on top of the head trust me it works i have had ferrets my hole life
@MRALFIE464 your not suposse to flich your ferret or strik it in any way, it ruins the bond and it damages their nose, since ferrets have poor sight they depend on their sight and smell so im going to stick with listenign to her and not you
@MRALFIE464 i may ahve only had him for bout a week now, but i know whats good and whats bad for him, im not a crule person, i dotn care if tis how you punish them, i wil never ever EVER, hit or strik my ferret or even flick his nose, no ferret deserves the, i want him and me to have a bond, not him to be afraid of me when he does something wrong, and dont be calling me fucking names like really, just because i dont wanna flick his nose cuz i dont wanna hurt him, means you gotta be a jackass
Do they bite others when you train them not to bite you? Mine doesn't bite me anymore,but bites my family members really hard,how can I train him not to bite them?
@bmxcukurs1 - Funnily enough this is the exact problem I am having just now! They don't bite me at all but they will bite everyone else :/ I'm trying to get someone else to do the training with them, hopefully once they've been trained for a couple of people they'll stop biting altogether. But finding someone brave enough is proving difficult...
@MRALFIE464 - You should never, ever flick any ferret on the nose. They have very sensitive noses and even a light flick can cause serious injury. And that is no way to build a bond with your ferret.
@Dinkyfish666 well i do it for mine and mine never bits me and i dont do it hard only a little flick.ii can put my fingers in my ferrets mouth so that must mean that it works.
@MRALFIE464 - It's amazingly easy to damage their nose with even a light flick. They have very fine bone structure underneath so you can cause fractures/breaks without realising. I'm sure it does work, but my point is not that it won't work, but that it is cruel. I have read about people who would burn their ferret with a cigarette every time it bit, I'm sure this worked to stop the biting but, like flicking, it is NOT a suitable method of training
@Dinkyfish666 yeah well i dont care as long as my ferret dont bite me and it goes down a rabbit hole and gets me a rabbit then thats classed as a god ferret to me !
I have a ferret the same colour as yours.the person I bought my ferret recommended spitting on your nuckel,crab your ferret and put your nuckle next to him/her and it should lick it and soon as it bites force your nuckle into it's mouth and keep it there for around 15 seconds,trust me it's harmless and works a treat
@picken2001 - That sounds a bit harsh, as you're encouraging him to bite then punishing him for it. I use a similar technique in the video but I only use it if they bite first, and only press into his mouth until he lets go. It does work quite well though
my ferret is about 3 months old, she bites me till i bleed.. she aims for my fingers and when i grab her neck she twirls and tries to strike again.. is she too old to still be training on? she also bites my toes, i walk around in my apartment in shoes and garden gloves.. DESPERATE FOR HELP!!
@xjanibananix - That's the same age as mine were in the vids, so definitely not too old. You just need to be firm but gentle. Every time she bites, scruff her, say NO! loudly and put her back in her cage for 5 minutes. Then let her out and start again. You need to build trust with her, so offering her a treat like malt paste or cooked chicken when she is being good will also help. She needs to learn that you are a friend.
Most ferrets are obsessed with feet though. Invest in thick slippers lol
@xjanibananix - Also, if she's going for your fingers then use the trick of pushing gently into her mouth when she gets a hold of you. It hurts a bit but I found it highly effective, and it's easiest to do it they've got a finger in their mouth (as opposed to your wrist or whatever else lol)
@Zaphyr1276 - I'm not really the person to ask on this, as I've never actually had to do it. Getting them a companion is a great idea though, they're much happier in pairs (or more).
I'd ask for advice on online ferret forums (I'm a member of the British Ferret Society and they're brilliant help) or try to find someone in your area with experience to talk to. Wish I could help more but I don't want to give out advice on something I don't know much about.
@zhaster - I only paid £5 each for my two because I got them from an SSPCA rehoming centre. You do have to budget for a cage (£100+), getting them neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, buying food (very specialised food, so it's quite dear too) and assorted other things too so they're certainly not cheap! And you need to double most costs (other than the cage) because you should always keep at least 2 ferrets.
@katoudupuis - it's just a treat that they really like. By giving it to them they learn to lick my hands instead of biting, and they also learn that I am a nice person and can be trusted.
@daniel5ed - No he's lovely now and only occasionally gives me a light playful nip (but it never breaks the skin). He is a very licky ferret and loves getting his back scratched :)
@cippy1232 - They have a very animal-y smell, if that makes sense. Once they are neutered it decreases dramatically though. I find it quite pleasant :)
Your best bet is to go visit some ferrets (don't forget to check any local rescue and rehoming centres! There are hundreds of ferrets abandoned every year - I always think it's better to rehome an animal than pay a breeder extortionate prices) and find out first-hand what the smell is like.
is this the best way to stop a ferret from biting i have two young and they bite so hardly always wen they see my hands but i always wear a hard leather glove so they dont hurt me and i dont know how to get that thing u give him to eat i only give them cats food and water =[
@Dxb0y9 - Well the first thing you need to do is get them on a good diet - cat food often isn't good for them. Can you not get any ferret food where you stay? If not, high quality kitten food (with a minimum of 32% protein) is your best option. Or raw meat, but you'll need to move them gradually onto that if they are used to eating dry food.
As for the gloves, you do need to take them off otherwise they will never learn. Take them out 1 at a time, just for 5-10 minutes to handle them...
@Dinkyfish666 ok thx but wont raw food make them crazy or wild like dogs or cats sometimes? and they are used to dry cats food. Do you know the name of any high quality cat food? or they will right on food ingridient 32% protien? how do i know sorry i ask to much =S
@Dxb0y9 - No, raw food (especially raw chicken wings) is very good for them, & helps clean their teeth when they gnaw on the bones. Ferrets that are fed only on dry food often have dirty teeth & can have (very expensive) dental problems later in life. Mine are fed on dry ferret food & get chicken wings once a week. They actually tend to be more relaxed after eating meat.
If you go to any supermarket and look through the kitten food it should tell you on the side how much protein it contains :)
@Dxb0y9 - Again, patience. Whenever you see your ferret going to poop somewhere other than the litter tray lift them up and quickly put them in it, then give them lots of praise if they go to the toilet there. If they get out and try to go to the toilet somewhere else, just keep lifting them up and putting them back in the tray. Until they've got used to using it you should try to keep a small amount of poop in the tray, so they know that is their toilet. Don't leave it too dirty though!
@Dxb0y9 ... and be gentle and patient. Don't ever hit your ferrets or get angry as this will just make them more likely to bite. It will take time to get them trained (kits are the worst for biting) but it is worth it in the end :)
@Dinkyfish666 the problem with me i get angry with them i thoat it would work but now ill be patient as you say and wen they bite me i always scruff them and say hissand sometimes i put them in a basket and close it at them but there are holes in it to breath i wanted them to feel its bad but it wont work........does its bite hurts in the video?
@Dxb0y9 - Yes getting angry with them just makes them get angry back. As soon as they start to bite badly put them back in their cage for a time-out. Saying "No!" each time they bite and speaking to them in a gentle voice at other times will help too.
I get a few sore bites in the video but nothing major.
How often do you let your ferrets out to play? They need lots of time to burn off their energy daily - otherwise they'll bite because they are bored. Have a separate 'play time' for them too.
@triplethreatsmooth - Thank you very much :) I am really glad I took the time to train him and didn't give up, he's such a lovely ferret now. He has actually just been sleeping on my lap until about 10 minutes ago haha So sweet :)
@andyman210 - Just be firm and say "No!" in a loud voice, then put her down and ignore her for a minute or two. Be patient and she'll learn soon enough. Pretzel is a cute name btw :)
i have an 8 month old girl and when she gets hyper i can't pick her up till she calms herself down.... i'm so afraid to try to touch her when she's like that! it's so depressing! (do you know anything that is less painful then what you did?)
@MagnetMagicGirl - I can assure you that if there was a less painful way then I would have done it haha Probably best to avoid her when she gets hyper like that (I know EXACTLY the mood you mean) and just let her run around and burn off some energy. To be honest mine still occasionally bite when they get into one of their silly moods, but now they usually go to bite, then stop with their teeth around my finger and look guilty lol
@MagnetMagicGirl - Haha I'm absolutely terrified here, you just can't see my palms sweating in the vid ;-) A big part of my problem was actually the lack of confidence I had, but that was caused by the biting so it was a kind of vicious circle! They're lovely now (most of the time lol) so I'm really glad I put up with this phase
@charmedjames - Not 100% sure because he was a rescue ferret but probably around 14 weeks here :) He's nearly doubled in size since this was taken haha
@SixPack10000 - Well their jaws are powerful enough to crush bone if they want to so... yes, yes it is! :D Good luck with your new ferret (although they are VERY social animals so you should really get a pair at least, otherwise you risk him/her getting lonely) just remember to be very patient and build up trust with them. My two are lovely now they're used to me :)
lol honestly i find it funny when people use gloves n shit with ferrets cuz they may bite i know a ferret can do some serious damage if they bite for real but i got a male ferret that bit me once n messed up my finger but it was the last time he ever did just hold your finger in it mouth DONT HURT YOUR FERRET my finger was messed up but i put him up 2 my face n he just licks me we are best buds n he attacks my hands for playing but never bites hard just rolls n puts my hand in his mouth
Thanks for the advice. When I commented I actually had that apple bitter spray but didnt really use it as much. Up until today she stopped biting my feet and fingers, the only thing she likes is to try and get into the trash can lol. Overall shes a joy to have, everyone who comes over loves her.
continued... Its not like a dont pay attention to her but she is consistent with anything. If she bites, i push her away and she comes right back, if she gets up on something she goes back to the same thing she was doing. The main thing is when she bites wires I have to just put her in her cage. Is it strange that my ferret doesnt know how to sleep in a hammock?
Wow Im a little jealous. I just got my ferret "sammy" last week and all she does when i let her out of the cage is bolt to my toes. Apparently she loves to hide under the couch and bite every single wire/cable she can find. I let her out for about 6 hours a day to run around. The bad thing is recently she found out how to crawl up the side of the couch, and if im there, she just attacks my belt or bites my fingers. I set her down off the couch and she gets right back up...continue
@gohomeimigrants - Hmmm... very strange to have a ferret that chews wires, I've never heard of that. You need to get that behaviour stopped asap though before she chews through something live and electrocutes herself, not to mention the risk of her starting an electrical fire. I suggest getting some Grannicks Bitter Apple spray, it tastes horrible to animals so it's used to prevent them chewing stuff. You can also spray a little into her mouth each time she bites you as a deterrent but... tbc
@gohomeimigrants ... I wouldn't recommend that just yet as you need to build up trust with her first. Get a treat she loves like the malt paste in my video, and give her a little on your fingers while petting her and speaking to her gently. If she bites, scruff her and hiss at her. If she comes back and does it again, put her away for 10-15 minutes. And be patient. It took me a good month to get the worst of the biting stopped with my two, and they still have the occasional nip :)
Hey saw your video. I just got a 4 month old ferret 2 days ago and she bites me like crazy. I try scruffing her but cant grab hold of her properly cause she turns around and goes nuts on my hand. Ive used gloves so far because thats the only way im confident to even grab her. She really scares me :(
@savannahsmom1985 - Sorry to hear about that, where did you get your ferret from? Wherever sold you her should have warned you that ferrets can be really bad biters at first, and it can take quite a bit of time and patience to get them to stop. From the sounds of it she sounds like she could be frightened of you, give her a few days to settle and make sure she's getting plenty of food and exercise before you try again. Also, buy some malt paste. It's great for building a bond between you and her
hi Dinkyfish! I like ur video :) u and benny look like ur having an ok relationship... on the other hand theres me and heffalump. she hates me.. like Pleki666 she came to me 3 days ago and every bite is for blood the wounds are really bad and its not playful nipping its full on rage bite drawing blood every time. I havent had gloves so far she was god with her last owner and never bit him.. i just think she hates me and likes the taste of blood. i also have the ferret toothpaste!
Nice vid. I have to admit you have a lot of patience and a high pain tolerance! :D I recently got ferret and he is still biting like mad. There is some progress but there isn't a day he doesn't drew me a blood. Main problem is he doesn't nibble or gently bite, its always full power to the bone bite, and sometimes quick jerk around with jaw, like he want to tear a part of meat. :) Hissing doesn't do much and also if i don't scruff him good and fast he will go berserk on my hand.
@Pleki666 - Hmmm... that does sound bad. Judging from his behaviour, is he acting in a way which is aggressive or do you think he could be scared of you? My main advice would be to be patient, keep up the scruffing and try to handle him after he's had a big feed because he should be a little sleepier (and less likely to try to eat you lol).
If you think he's being bad/aggressive then you could try getting some Grannick's Bitter Apple - it's a spray that tastes HORRIBLE to ferrets/cats/dogs
@Pleki666 - (continued from previous comment, ran out of room) and spray a little into his mouth whenever he bites - he'll soon get the message that biting you results in a very nasty taste. I had to get some for Frankie eventually and it worked a treat :)
Wow, I got lucky with my two ferrets. They're very sweet and have never bitten unless I provoke them into playing rough and even then they never break the skin. And they tolerate my two young nieces who came over and handled them.
@Aquahutch - It all really depends on how they have been raised. My 2 were a rescue pair that were found abandoned so they hadn't exactly had the best start in life, and had spent quite some time in an SSPCA rehoming centre where they wouldn't have been getting handled much (although I'm keen to point out that I'm not criticizing the SSPCA in any way, they do their absolute best for all the animals that come into their care).
They're much better now I've had them for a while :) Lovely boys!
@RatherEccentric - thank you very much :) They definitely do get the best care possible and lots of attention. I laugh if I see these videos now because I think it's really obvious how nervous I am around them, I'm much more confident now (because they bite much less lol)
@kaytizate - Oh dear, good luck with getting her trained! Try giving her a big feed then handling her afterwards (they tend to be a little sleepy and less savage then haha). And definitely get some malt paste! It works wonders - mine are great now and only bite when they get over-excited
La verdad le presté más atención a tu Hurón que a ti xD porque no te entendí nada :B
felicziana 1 week ago
if your having biting problems with your ferrets, using gloves is a bad idea! As if they do start to bite, just command NO in their face, as if you wear gloves, they are not getting a change to get to know the scent on your hands, therefore biting further and harder:-) hope this helps x
Flumpyflump888 3 weeks ago
Very cute video... how old were they when you got him? All three of our ferrets (one who has since passed away) never bit... but we got them all as kits. It looks to me as if yours were a little older? LOVE your accent! :)
GulfVetSAF 1 month ago
@GulfVetSAF - They were 10-12 weeks when I got them, and about 14 weeks when I took this video. So they weren't much older than kits! I do agree that handling them as kits can really reduce their 'bite instinct,' sadly mine were found as strays so I have no idea how they were treated when they were younger- my guess would be that they weren't mistreated but definitely weren't handled much.
Glad you like the accent lol
Dinkyfish666 1 month ago
y is she wearing gloves??
codysimspsonrox 1 month ago
wow your beautiful :)
woody869 2 months ago
Turn translate audio on, it is freaking hilarious.
TheRealCoryAwesome 2 months ago
My ferrets have never bitten. Must be lucky. They are great.
L10ne55 3 months ago
Tenerife, Spain.
'Good, informative vid.
Did you ever have ferrets that just naturally never bite?
Solstisol 3 months ago
@Solstisol - Thank you :) I'm actually hoping to upload some better training vids in December, but only if I get the time.
These were my first ferrets, and they're the only ones I've got so far so no I've never been lucky enough to experience that haha I do speak to a lot of other ferret-owners and some have had ferrets that never bit at all, but it is a rare occurrence! Usually you get a few nips until they are used to you.
Dinkyfish666 3 months ago
Personal favorite way to teach ferrets not to bite is lemon juice.
My past ferrets i've had would nip and chew allot too "personalty i didn't mind this,but my friends couldn't stand it".
What i would do is soak my fingers in lemon juice "something sour" and with time the critter would learn that fingers don't taste good and would hesitate to nip em ^^
Super cheap resort if your someones whose uncomfortable with hissing or buying overpriced paste.
GingaFreak23 4 months ago
@GingaFreak23 - I did actually resort to some nasty-tasting stuff for a while, but I don't like to post that on my videos because it's not right to use it in all biting situations. When they're just being naughty little £%**!?$ like mine it's fine though haha
Although I agree that the paste is expensive I buy is regardless of whether or not I'm training them. It's a brilliant treat and it makes them really happy, also makes trips to the vet so much easier!
Dinkyfish666 4 months ago
Nip trained our little biter the same really but never used gloves. Only confuses them.
The hissing was the key but she didn't like the paste so was a bit more awkward. Good vid though.
TvFuzzie 4 months ago
@TvFuzzie - I agree, the gloves weren't a good move. I mainly used them to get them out of their cage (they would lunge at my hands otherwise and I didn't have much room to manoeuvre lol) or in emergencies when I needed to grab them quickly.
Dinkyfish666 4 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 are they good with you now ?
ILUVMagic1000 4 months ago
@ILUVMagic1000 - They are brilliant now. Never bite me in anger, and they know how hard they can bite if I am play wrestling with them so that they don't hurt me. The only areas they still bite are ones they are not used to, so if I wore shorts my legs would get bitten, and I am very cautious with them around my face. I've had my face nipped a couple of times and while it wasn't a hard nip it was still really sore! Lol :D
Dinkyfish666 4 months ago
@ShesSoLucky317 - Yeah dogs are always difficult. It just takes one wrong move and everything can go horribly wrong. If he's been ok with ferrets in the past then he'll probably be ok again (unless they are nippy little kits haha) but as you said being careful is always a good idea.
My ferrets love my dog but unfortunately she doesn't like them haha She runs away and hides behind our legs if they come near her :D They've never been anything but nice to her but she just won't make friends.
Dinkyfish666 4 months ago
@ShesSoLucky317 - Sorry to hear about your ferret, it is so sad to lose a pet but at least you can be sure you gave them a happy life :) Why not get two this time? Watching them play together is great fun.
My all-time favourite ferret name (not mine, met someone on a forum with a ferret called this) is "Mr Winterbottom" :D I thinks it's adorable & also true because they do get huge bottoms in the winter lol My second favourite was a jill called "Little Miss Naughty Mittens" I like silly names!
Dinkyfish666 4 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 Thank you for your quick reply, I was actually playing with them when your reply popped up. They climb all over me when they are out of the cage, they certainly aren't timid anymore. I have a pair of builders gloves for when I have to handle them but they bite them more than my bare hands (they are those orange type with the rubber webbing) They don't hiss at all, all dook a lot so I think they think I'm playing and they want to play rough
samsharp2002 5 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 CONTINUED (they are rougher with each other than I am used to with ferrets). I just took one out (I think they get over excited when they are both out) and tried offering them a treat and stroking whilst she ate it, seemed to work nicely, and she let me pick her up with a bare hand but after about five minutes she was back to her old ways. I think I'm just going to have to persevere until they get the message.
samsharp2002 5 months ago
@samsharp2002 - You're welcome, you just caught me as I came online :) Well that's a good sign then, dooking would indicate that they do indeed want to play with you. I would recommend keeping doing what you're doing, short play sessions one at a time. As soon as they start to get too rough put them away for and try again in an hour or so once they've calmed down. Try squealing if they bite too hard, some ferrets (though not all) will react to this quite well and stop biting so hard.
Dinkyfish666 5 months ago
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samsharp2002 5 months ago
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samsharp2002 5 months ago
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samsharp2002 5 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 I was wondering if you had any advice, I've had a pair of jills for about 3 weeks. They were rescued by the RSPCA as they had been abused (only survivors from a group of 7). They are up to full health and they are fine with me touching and stroking them but when I let them out of their cage to play they always bite when I try to pick them up or try to stop them climbing on something. I use hissing and time outs in a travel cage but nothing really seems to work. Thanks in advance.
samsharp2002 5 months ago
@samsharp2002 Hi there! Glad to hear you've given those ferrets a second chance :) If they are hissing at you this means they are frightened (undoubtedly because of what someone has done to them before, poor things) I would take the 'slowly slowly' approach and let them come to you rather than going to them (difficult when they are getting into things they shouldn't). It will take time and lots of patience but eventually they will come around. Join the British Ferret Club forums too... tbc
Dinkyfish666 5 months ago
@samsharp2002 (continued) ... they are very helpful (that's where I get all my advice when I need it). Perhaps you could keep a pair of gloves handy just for when you HAVE to pick them up, but otherwise just sit on the floor with them and let them approach you when they are ready. Be kind, gentle and give lots of (healthy) treats. Obviously don't get angry or shout as this will just bring back awful memories for them. I wish you all the best :)
Dinkyfish666 5 months ago
i jsut got my ferret 1 hour ago, and his biting is horrible, i cant pick him up with the glove, he bites the glove and locsk his jaw so i have to take my gloves off and put on different gloves, im wondering if this is caused from teething he is 14 weeks old, will i need malt paste to help him stop biting
rika57bitches 5 months ago
@rika57bitches - You need to leave him alone and give him some time to settle in. He'll probably be very stressed out at moving to a new home. I wouldn't try to handle him at all until tomorrow at the earliest, and even then I would just let him out in a ferret-safe area to run around and play for a while without you interfering. He's probably very scared just now, so pop him into his cage and just let him do his thing. Talk gently to him when he's a bit calmer but leave the handling for now :)
Dinkyfish666 5 months ago
@rika57bitches dont lessen to her dont use gloves because the ferret need to know the smell of of then it wont bite if it does bite you ten just give it a tiny not hard flick on the nose or on top of the head trust me it works i have had ferrets my hole life
MRALFIE464 5 months ago
@MRALFIE464 your not suposse to flich your ferret or strik it in any way, it ruins the bond and it damages their nose, since ferrets have poor sight they depend on their sight and smell so im going to stick with listenign to her and not you
rika57bitches 5 months ago
@rika57bitches welll you have only had your ferret for a day u dumb shit peopl dont even know hoe to look after there animals you twat
MRALFIE464 5 months ago
@MRALFIE464 i may ahve only had him for bout a week now, but i know whats good and whats bad for him, im not a crule person, i dotn care if tis how you punish them, i wil never ever EVER, hit or strik my ferret or even flick his nose, no ferret deserves the, i want him and me to have a bond, not him to be afraid of me when he does something wrong, and dont be calling me fucking names like really, just because i dont wanna flick his nose cuz i dont wanna hurt him, means you gotta be a jackass
rika57bitches 5 months ago
@rika57bitches yeah like your nan u paki cunt
MRALFIE464 5 months ago
@MRALFIE464 im canadian you failure, whya re you geting so pissed, jsut cuz i dont wanna follow your advice? how old are you 7? get a life
rika57bitches 5 months ago
Do they bite others when you train them not to bite you? Mine doesn't bite me anymore,but bites my family members really hard,how can I train him not to bite them?
bmxcukurs1 5 months ago
@bmxcukurs1 - Funnily enough this is the exact problem I am having just now! They don't bite me at all but they will bite everyone else :/ I'm trying to get someone else to do the training with them, hopefully once they've been trained for a couple of people they'll stop biting altogether. But finding someone brave enough is proving difficult...
Dinkyfish666 5 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 Yeah,finding someone brave enough is difficult for me too.But anyway,good luck! :)
bmxcukurs1 5 months ago
flick it on the nose thats how you get them to sto biting
MRALFIE464 6 months ago
@MRALFIE464 - You should never, ever flick any ferret on the nose. They have very sensitive noses and even a light flick can cause serious injury. And that is no way to build a bond with your ferret.
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 well i do it for mine and mine never bits me and i dont do it hard only a little flick.ii can put my fingers in my ferrets mouth so that must mean that it works.
MRALFIE464 6 months ago
@MRALFIE464 - It's amazingly easy to damage their nose with even a light flick. They have very fine bone structure underneath so you can cause fractures/breaks without realising. I'm sure it does work, but my point is not that it won't work, but that it is cruel. I have read about people who would burn their ferret with a cigarette every time it bit, I'm sure this worked to stop the biting but, like flicking, it is NOT a suitable method of training
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 yeah well i dont care as long as my ferret dont bite me and it goes down a rabbit hole and gets me a rabbit then thats classed as a god ferret to me !
MRALFIE464 5 months ago
@MRALFIE464 you lost me at ferret
chris5272001 5 months ago
It's not harshs at all,I only used the method when he bit hard after licking.
picken2001 6 months ago
I have a ferret the same colour as yours.the person I bought my ferret recommended spitting on your nuckel,crab your ferret and put your nuckle next to him/her and it should lick it and soon as it bites force your nuckle into it's mouth and keep it there for around 15 seconds,trust me it's harmless and works a treat
picken2001 6 months ago
@picken2001 - That sounds a bit harsh, as you're encouraging him to bite then punishing him for it. I use a similar technique in the video but I only use it if they bite first, and only press into his mouth until he lets go. It does work quite well though
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
my ferret is about 3 months old, she bites me till i bleed.. she aims for my fingers and when i grab her neck she twirls and tries to strike again.. is she too old to still be training on? she also bites my toes, i walk around in my apartment in shoes and garden gloves.. DESPERATE FOR HELP!!
xjanibananix 6 months ago
@xjanibananix - That's the same age as mine were in the vids, so definitely not too old. You just need to be firm but gentle. Every time she bites, scruff her, say NO! loudly and put her back in her cage for 5 minutes. Then let her out and start again. You need to build trust with her, so offering her a treat like malt paste or cooked chicken when she is being good will also help. She needs to learn that you are a friend.
Most ferrets are obsessed with feet though. Invest in thick slippers lol
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
@xjanibananix - Also, if she's going for your fingers then use the trick of pushing gently into her mouth when she gets a hold of you. It hurts a bit but I found it highly effective, and it's easiest to do it they've got a finger in their mouth (as opposed to your wrist or whatever else lol)
Don't give up! You'll get there :)
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
how would you intoduce a ferret to another. like if you have one and you want to get him/she a friend?
Zaphyr1276 6 months ago
@Zaphyr1276 - I'm not really the person to ask on this, as I've never actually had to do it. Getting them a companion is a great idea though, they're much happier in pairs (or more).
I'd ask for advice on online ferret forums (I'm a member of the British Ferret Society and they're brilliant help) or try to find someone in your area with experience to talk to. Wish I could help more but I don't want to give out advice on something I don't know much about.
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
@Dinkyfish666
oh okay, love the video.
thanks anyway.
Zaphyr1276 6 months ago
what do you keep your ferrets in:)
picken2001 6 months ago
how much did he cost? like 15 or 30?
zhaster 6 months ago
@zhaster - I only paid £5 each for my two because I got them from an SSPCA rehoming centre. You do have to budget for a cage (£100+), getting them neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, buying food (very specialised food, so it's quite dear too) and assorted other things too so they're certainly not cheap! And you need to double most costs (other than the cage) because you should always keep at least 2 ferrets.
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
hey i dont really understand what the past does ???
katoudupuis 6 months ago
@katoudupuis - it's just a treat that they really like. By giving it to them they learn to lick my hands instead of biting, and they also learn that I am a nice person and can be trusted.
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
hi there i'm dan dose benny still bite u
daniel5ed 6 months ago
@daniel5ed - No he's lovely now and only occasionally gives me a light playful nip (but it never breaks the skin). He is a very licky ferret and loves getting his back scratched :)
Dinkyfish666 6 months ago
im interested in a ferret but i hear they have a strong odour is that true?
cippy1232 7 months ago
@cippy1232 - They have a very animal-y smell, if that makes sense. Once they are neutered it decreases dramatically though. I find it quite pleasant :)
Your best bet is to go visit some ferrets (don't forget to check any local rescue and rehoming centres! There are hundreds of ferrets abandoned every year - I always think it's better to rehome an animal than pay a breeder extortionate prices) and find out first-hand what the smell is like.
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 thank you very much for the help :)
cippy1232 7 months ago
dont give ferrets drie cat food
jlbksmith 7 months ago
is this the best way to stop a ferret from biting i have two young and they bite so hardly always wen they see my hands but i always wear a hard leather glove so they dont hurt me and i dont know how to get that thing u give him to eat i only give them cats food and water =[
Dxb0y9 7 months ago
@Dxb0y9 - Well the first thing you need to do is get them on a good diet - cat food often isn't good for them. Can you not get any ferret food where you stay? If not, high quality kitten food (with a minimum of 32% protein) is your best option. Or raw meat, but you'll need to move them gradually onto that if they are used to eating dry food.
As for the gloves, you do need to take them off otherwise they will never learn. Take them out 1 at a time, just for 5-10 minutes to handle them...
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 ok thx but wont raw food make them crazy or wild like dogs or cats sometimes? and they are used to dry cats food. Do you know the name of any high quality cat food? or they will right on food ingridient 32% protien? how do i know sorry i ask to much =S
Dxb0y9 7 months ago
@Dxb0y9 - No, raw food (especially raw chicken wings) is very good for them, & helps clean their teeth when they gnaw on the bones. Ferrets that are fed only on dry food often have dirty teeth & can have (very expensive) dental problems later in life. Mine are fed on dry ferret food & get chicken wings once a week. They actually tend to be more relaxed after eating meat.
If you go to any supermarket and look through the kitten food it should tell you on the side how much protein it contains :)
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 ok thanks =]
Dxb0y9 7 months ago
@Dxb0y9 - No problem :) Never be afraid to ask questions, most people will do their best to help.
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 do you have any tips on litter training?
Dxb0y9 7 months ago
@Dxb0y9 - Again, patience. Whenever you see your ferret going to poop somewhere other than the litter tray lift them up and quickly put them in it, then give them lots of praise if they go to the toilet there. If they get out and try to go to the toilet somewhere else, just keep lifting them up and putting them back in the tray. Until they've got used to using it you should try to keep a small amount of poop in the tray, so they know that is their toilet. Don't leave it too dirty though!
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 ok thx again =]
Dxb0y9 7 months ago
@Dxb0y9 ... and be gentle and patient. Don't ever hit your ferrets or get angry as this will just make them more likely to bite. It will take time to get them trained (kits are the worst for biting) but it is worth it in the end :)
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 the problem with me i get angry with them i thoat it would work but now ill be patient as you say and wen they bite me i always scruff them and say hissand sometimes i put them in a basket and close it at them but there are holes in it to breath i wanted them to feel its bad but it wont work........does its bite hurts in the video?
Dxb0y9 7 months ago
@Dxb0y9 - Yes getting angry with them just makes them get angry back. As soon as they start to bite badly put them back in their cage for a time-out. Saying "No!" each time they bite and speaking to them in a gentle voice at other times will help too.
I get a few sore bites in the video but nothing major.
How often do you let your ferrets out to play? They need lots of time to burn off their energy daily - otherwise they'll bite because they are bored. Have a separate 'play time' for them too.
Dinkyfish666 7 months ago
your hot and hes fully cute
aidan21 7 months ago
benny loves you so much..... great job being patient and consistant. benny is adorable!
triplethreatsmooth 8 months ago
@triplethreatsmooth - Thank you very much :) I am really glad I took the time to train him and didn't give up, he's such a lovely ferret now. He has actually just been sleeping on my lap until about 10 minutes ago haha So sweet :)
Dinkyfish666 8 months ago
mmmm
phunkmasta66 8 months ago
Benny "your fingers are numy!" :P
wolfsrainkiba100 11 months ago
My little Pretzel only rarely bites hard, but when she is being naughty and I scruff her she seems to think I'm playing, any tips?
andyman210 11 months ago
@andyman210 - Just be firm and say "No!" in a loud voice, then put her down and ignore her for a minute or two. Be patient and she'll learn soon enough. Pretzel is a cute name btw :)
Dinkyfish666 11 months ago
i have an 8 month old girl and when she gets hyper i can't pick her up till she calms herself down.... i'm so afraid to try to touch her when she's like that! it's so depressing! (do you know anything that is less painful then what you did?)
MagnetMagicGirl 11 months ago
@MagnetMagicGirl - I can assure you that if there was a less painful way then I would have done it haha Probably best to avoid her when she gets hyper like that (I know EXACTLY the mood you mean) and just let her run around and burn off some energy. To be honest mine still occasionally bite when they get into one of their silly moods, but now they usually go to bite, then stop with their teeth around my finger and look guilty lol
Dinkyfish666 11 months ago
@Dinkyfish666 lol! OK I'll definitely let her burn off that energy when she's playing. thanks for the info. =)
MagnetMagicGirl 11 months ago
wow you are like THE most fearless person when it comes to ferret biting!! (me i'd be WAY more scared then that!)
MagnetMagicGirl 11 months ago
@MagnetMagicGirl - Haha I'm absolutely terrified here, you just can't see my palms sweating in the vid ;-) A big part of my problem was actually the lack of confidence I had, but that was caused by the biting so it was a kind of vicious circle! They're lovely now (most of the time lol) so I'm really glad I put up with this phase
Dinkyfish666 11 months ago
Why does she pull her finger away when he tries to get a hold of her? That's just about the only thing u shouldn't do. -.-"
yeahlikeyoucare 11 months ago
How old is he?
charmedjames 11 months ago
@charmedjames - Not 100% sure because he was a rescue ferret but probably around 14 weeks here :) He's nearly doubled in size since this was taken haha
Dinkyfish666 11 months ago
Hey does it really hurt that bad when he bites? im looking forward to getting one tomorrow
SixPack10000 1 year ago
@SixPack10000 - Well their jaws are powerful enough to crush bone if they want to so... yes, yes it is! :D Good luck with your new ferret (although they are VERY social animals so you should really get a pair at least, otherwise you risk him/her getting lonely) just remember to be very patient and build up trust with them. My two are lovely now they're used to me :)
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
@Dinkyfish666 thanks for the reply and love ur 2 ferrets
SixPack10000 1 year ago
lol honestly i find it funny when people use gloves n shit with ferrets cuz they may bite i know a ferret can do some serious damage if they bite for real but i got a male ferret that bit me once n messed up my finger but it was the last time he ever did just hold your finger in it mouth DONT HURT YOUR FERRET my finger was messed up but i put him up 2 my face n he just licks me we are best buds n he attacks my hands for playing but never bites hard just rolls n puts my hand in his mouth
Aero8591 1 year ago
@sushiamelo Not yet. Just used gloves and left her in her cage. So far she seems to not bite the gloves but shes not trusted yet
savannahsmom1985 1 year ago
When I got my two ferrets. Yesterday. They natrually don't bite!! But it's good to watch this if they every start!
cottontail2001 1 year ago
Thanks for the advice. When I commented I actually had that apple bitter spray but didnt really use it as much. Up until today she stopped biting my feet and fingers, the only thing she likes is to try and get into the trash can lol. Overall shes a joy to have, everyone who comes over loves her.
gohomeimigrants 1 year ago
continued... Its not like a dont pay attention to her but she is consistent with anything. If she bites, i push her away and she comes right back, if she gets up on something she goes back to the same thing she was doing. The main thing is when she bites wires I have to just put her in her cage. Is it strange that my ferret doesnt know how to sleep in a hammock?
gohomeimigrants 1 year ago
Wow Im a little jealous. I just got my ferret "sammy" last week and all she does when i let her out of the cage is bolt to my toes. Apparently she loves to hide under the couch and bite every single wire/cable she can find. I let her out for about 6 hours a day to run around. The bad thing is recently she found out how to crawl up the side of the couch, and if im there, she just attacks my belt or bites my fingers. I set her down off the couch and she gets right back up...continue
gohomeimigrants 1 year ago
@gohomeimigrants - Hmmm... very strange to have a ferret that chews wires, I've never heard of that. You need to get that behaviour stopped asap though before she chews through something live and electrocutes herself, not to mention the risk of her starting an electrical fire. I suggest getting some Grannicks Bitter Apple spray, it tastes horrible to animals so it's used to prevent them chewing stuff. You can also spray a little into her mouth each time she bites you as a deterrent but... tbc
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
@gohomeimigrants ... I wouldn't recommend that just yet as you need to build up trust with her first. Get a treat she loves like the malt paste in my video, and give her a little on your fingers while petting her and speaking to her gently. If she bites, scruff her and hiss at her. If she comes back and does it again, put her away for 10-15 minutes. And be patient. It took me a good month to get the worst of the biting stopped with my two, and they still have the occasional nip :)
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
Hey saw your video. I just got a 4 month old ferret 2 days ago and she bites me like crazy. I try scruffing her but cant grab hold of her properly cause she turns around and goes nuts on my hand. Ive used gloves so far because thats the only way im confident to even grab her. She really scares me :(
savannahsmom1985 1 year ago
@savannahsmom1985 - Sorry to hear about that, where did you get your ferret from? Wherever sold you her should have warned you that ferrets can be really bad biters at first, and it can take quite a bit of time and patience to get them to stop. From the sounds of it she sounds like she could be frightened of you, give her a few days to settle and make sure she's getting plenty of food and exercise before you try again. Also, buy some malt paste. It's great for building a bond between you and her
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
hi Dinkyfish! I like ur video :) u and benny look like ur having an ok relationship... on the other hand theres me and heffalump. she hates me.. like Pleki666 she came to me 3 days ago and every bite is for blood the wounds are really bad and its not playful nipping its full on rage bite drawing blood every time. I havent had gloves so far she was god with her last owner and never bit him.. i just think she hates me and likes the taste of blood. i also have the ferret toothpaste!
veryvickers 1 year ago
Nice vid. I have to admit you have a lot of patience and a high pain tolerance! :D I recently got ferret and he is still biting like mad. There is some progress but there isn't a day he doesn't drew me a blood. Main problem is he doesn't nibble or gently bite, its always full power to the bone bite, and sometimes quick jerk around with jaw, like he want to tear a part of meat. :) Hissing doesn't do much and also if i don't scruff him good and fast he will go berserk on my hand.
Pleki666 1 year ago
Ill have to try and find that paste, though I am not sure we have it here. :(
Pleki666 1 year ago
@Pleki666 - Hmmm... that does sound bad. Judging from his behaviour, is he acting in a way which is aggressive or do you think he could be scared of you? My main advice would be to be patient, keep up the scruffing and try to handle him after he's had a big feed because he should be a little sleepier (and less likely to try to eat you lol).
If you think he's being bad/aggressive then you could try getting some Grannick's Bitter Apple - it's a spray that tastes HORRIBLE to ferrets/cats/dogs
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
@Pleki666 - (continued from previous comment, ran out of room) and spray a little into his mouth whenever he bites - he'll soon get the message that biting you results in a very nasty taste. I had to get some for Frankie eventually and it worked a treat :)
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
Wow, I got lucky with my two ferrets. They're very sweet and have never bitten unless I provoke them into playing rough and even then they never break the skin. And they tolerate my two young nieces who came over and handled them.
Aquahutch 1 year ago
@Aquahutch - It all really depends on how they have been raised. My 2 were a rescue pair that were found abandoned so they hadn't exactly had the best start in life, and had spent quite some time in an SSPCA rehoming centre where they wouldn't have been getting handled much (although I'm keen to point out that I'm not criticizing the SSPCA in any way, they do their absolute best for all the animals that come into their care).
They're much better now I've had them for a while :) Lovely boys!
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
@RatherEccentric - thank you very much :) They definitely do get the best care possible and lots of attention. I laugh if I see these videos now because I think it's really obvious how nervous I am around them, I'm much more confident now (because they bite much less lol)
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
Good video your really great with Ferrets. Nice to see someone who cares so much =]
RatherEccentric 1 year ago
haha I have to wear welders gloves, she has sliced my hands to bits!
kaytizate 1 year ago
I have a new ferret and she locks on, nothing will make her let go! I am going to try pushing back into her mouth, cheers for the video!
kaytizate 1 year ago
@kaytizate - Oh dear, good luck with getting her trained! Try giving her a big feed then handling her afterwards (they tend to be a little sleepy and less savage then haha). And definitely get some malt paste! It works wonders - mine are great now and only bite when they get over-excited
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago
I love that Rick Astley is in the related videos.
riry0ku 1 year ago
@riry0ku - lol well you never know, maybe ferrets are a big fan of his music :D Not going to subject mine to it though lol
Dinkyfish666 1 year ago