Putting Your Ferret through Basic Training: Easy as 1-2-3?

 Ferret Biting Behavior

In This Chapter

  •  Discouraging biting
  •  Heading to the “bathroom” for toilet training
  •  Going for walks

Like a dog, a fuzzy doesn’t come preprogrammed for use. You teach a dog how to sit, come, and heel; you must teach a fuzzy certain things, too — like how to mind his manners, use the litter box, and tolerate a harness and leash. These are basics of ferret life that every furkid should know. Some ferrets take to basic training quite quickly, but others need constant reminders of who’s the boss. Teaching the basics of good manners means putting on your professor’s hat and doing a little home-schooling with your new fuzzy. If your new ferret is an adult, chances are someone else has already home-schooled him, so you just need to keep him current on his skills.

As with any animal, including humans, patience and consistency are the keys to training success. You’ll see what I mean when you bring your furball home. But just remember that the patience and effort are well worth it, because nothing can compare to the joy a socialized and greatly loved ferret will bring into your household. In this chapter, I cover the three basic training areas that require your effort, patience, and consistency: eliminating biting, bathroom training, and harness and leash socialization.

Just Say NO to Biting

Ferrets are similar to kittens and puppies in that they need to be trained not to bite. If you watch a human toddler closely, you’ll be amazed at all the stuff that ends up in the kid’s mouth. Chewing is how babies, human and animal, explore their environments and ease the pain of teething. Eventually the toothaches go away, but the nipping lingers on. Although the urge to nip lessens with age, an untrained adult ferret can be dangerously bold and aggressive with his chompers. Your job is to let your fuzzy know while he’s young what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. If you begin proper socialization and training when your ferret is young, you decrease the chances of him biting as an adult. (In this section, I talk about training baby ferrets, not adults that haven’t been properly socialized. I cover getting help for the difficult adult carpet shark in Chapter Dealing with the Behaviorally Challenged Ferret.)

Remember

Sometimes, training a youngster not to nip takes a lot of time and patience. The key to being successful is consistency. It can seem so cute at times to get the little guy all riled up and allow him to play-bite your hand. But you can’t let your ferret bite during play and expect him to know that it isn’t acceptable at other times and with other people. He won’t understand that nipping is okay only when you’re in the mood, so don’t confuse him. Teach him one thing — not to bite — and stick to your guns. Believe me, if you have multiple fuzzies, the other ferrets will tell the kit just how far he can go with them. You should do the same!

Remember

It’s important that you pay special attention to the do’s and don’ts of nip-training your ferret. The following list presents some suggestions to help with training your fuzzy not to bite:

  • Provide plenty of hard chew toys.
  • Use a toy to wrestle with him rather than your hand.
  • Mist a bitter pet spray on your hand when playing with him.

After he gets a taste, he probably won’t come back for seconds. Bitter spray is a nasty-tasting but harmless substance used to deter chewing in all kinds of pets. The substance is clear, too, and won’t harm your furniture or fingers. Most pet stores carry it.

  • Correct a nip immediately by scruffing the kit and very loudly saying “No” or “No bite.”

Scruffing is when you firmly grasp the loose skin on the back of the ferret’s neck with your thumb and fingers and dangle the ferret. Hissing (not screaming) loudly at the ferret after you say “No” is also very effective. Hissing is the tool a Mother Ferret or other ferrets would use to discipline kits. You can also lay (not tap) your finger gently across his nose after you scruff, say “No bite,” and then hiss at him.

  • If you’re holding the kit when he nips, don’t reward him by giving him his freedom (in other words, don’t put him down to roam free).

Instead, place him in jail (cage him).

Remember

  • Don’t ever hit your ferret in an attempt to discipline or train him, because aggression leads to aggression.

Your fuzzy may also think that you’re encouraging him to play harder. Hitting is an ineffective technique and frequently leads to bigger behavioral problems.

This Way to the Bathroom

If you read the other chapters of this book, you’ll notice that I talk rather frequently about the ferret’s bodily functions; that’s because ferrets seem to poop about every 15 minutes or so while they’re awake. And most ferret people spend more time telling animated stories and jokes about their fuzzies’ notorious bathroom habits than they do cleaning up after their kids. (Okay, I’ll admit it, that’s a little weird.)

Mother Fuzzy, if given the chance, will teach her kits to use the litter box. However, because many kits are delivered to new homes or halfway houses before mom gets the chance to teach them, the new human caretakers must do this dirty deed.

It’s pretty simple to train a furkid that the litter box is his designated toilet. Although teaching ferrets the purpose of the litter box is pretty easy, getting them to use it consistently is a crapshoot. Ferrets, unfortunately, don’t have the greatest toilet habits. The following tips should help (for more on effective litter boxes and incorporating them into your ferret’s kingdom, check out Chapter Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters):

  • Keep your fuzzy’s litter box in the corner of his cage. A corner area is a magnet for a fuzzy butt. Ferrets prefer to back into a loading zone and unload.
  • Limit baby ferrets — or any ferret that’s just learning to use a litter  box — to smaller cages and play areas until the bathroom concept has sunk in. Move your ferret to a larger cage only after he’s potty trained, and add litter boxes to the higher levels if needed (see Chapter Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters for more on ferret cages).

Tip

As you expand your ferret’s out-of-cage play area, increase the number of litter boxes you put in it. If a litter box is close by, your ferret will be more likely to use it. If you pay attention, your fuzzy will show you which corners are the best spots for litter boxes. Frequently pick him up and place him in a box until he goes. If he refuses, let him play for a few minutes and then repeat the process.

  • If your ferret is tiny (or ill), make sure his litter box has a low side or is small enough for him to climb in.
  • When you wake your ferret for playtime, place him immediately in his litter box and wait until he does his duty. When he does, you can let him come out. Don’t be fooled by a faux poo; make sure he’s really gone to the bathroom.
  • Until your fuzzy starts going consistently in his litter box, keep a little poo in the box as a reminder that the litter box is a toilet.
  • If you catch your ferret straying from the plan (by backing into a corner, for instance), pick him up, firmly say “No,” and then place him in the litter box until he goes.
  • Always praise your ferret for a job well done. Use verbal schmoozing as well as petting.

Now that you have some tips in your potty-training arsenal for getting your fuzzy to use his box, you need to know the don’ts of bathroom training. The following list presents these don’ts:

  • Never hit your fuzzy for having an accident. Just be thankful he isn’t a Great Dane!
  • Never rub a ferret’s nose in his waste when he has an accident. This practice is abusive and serves no purpose. (It doesn’t work with dogs, either.)
  • Don’t offer your fuzzy food rewards for going in his box. You’ll just teach him how to fake a poopy to get a treat.

I have some ferrets that back up to the edge of the litter box and then poop outside on the tile. This just proves that even when you do everything right, things can still go wrong. Go figure!

Harnessing Your Fuzzy for a Walk

Fuzzies are explorers by nature and can cover a lot of ground in only a few seconds. A fuzzy loves to wander around the backyard and explore outside, and it’s nice for a ferret and his human to explore the outside world together. Unfortunately, without the proper restraint, it won’t take your fuzzy long to get beyond your safe reach and into trouble. If you want to take your ferret outside to play, I advise you to always keep him leashed.

And nothing goes better with a ferret’s leash than a harness for his long, slender body. I suggest that you choose an H-shaped harness designed specifically for ferrets (see Chapter Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters). A tight collar (but not too tight) works, as long as you keep a close eye on your traveling ferret and he doesn’t attempt to escape. I personally don’t like using collars. A tug on a collar can send the startled ferret into a frantic roll to get away from you. Also, a struggling fuzzy can often slip right out of a collar and scurry for freedom. I prefer harnesses because ferrets need less time to adjust to these new articles of clothing, and they’re much more secure and safe.

Tip

As an extra precaution, you should consider fastening an identification tag to your fuzzy’s harness in case he does escape. Some people even attach bells to the harness to keep track of the fuzzy’s whereabouts.

The sections that follow show you how to familiarize your fuzzy with his harness and give you basic rules to follow when taking your fuzzy to the great outdoors to explore.

Getting fuzzy used to a harness

Before you take your ferret outside, get him accustomed to his harness and leash inside. Most ferrets struggle when you first put on the harness or collar, but after awhile, most go about their business of exploring. Once in a while, though, I come across a rebellious carpet shark who takes more time to get used to the new constraint.

Start off slowly by following these simple steps:

1. Get your ferret used to wearing his harness in the house while you supervise — but without a leash attached.

His harness should be just tight enough to prevent him from slipping out during a struggle.

2. When he begins to forget about his new piece of clothing, add the leash and walk him around the house.

3. When he seems to accept his limited freedom, you can move to the outside world.

I like to have my ferrets get all their struggling out inside the house, just in case. There’s nothing like the panic that races through you as you’re trying to catch a loose ferret outside.

Wah-lah. There’s little more to this training than just harnessing your little guy. Some ferrets may need time to get used to having dead weight holding them back, but I’ve never seen a ferret revolt the way a puppy sometimes does. Ferrets don’t heel or walk peacefully by your side like a pooch. The harness-and-leash method is merely a convenient way to tow you behind them as they go on their merry little ways.

Warning!

A lot of people keep harnesses or tightly fitted collars on their ferrets all the time. Perhaps they leave the harnesses or collars on due to frustration or anxiety about having to put them back on later. I think this is a dangerous practice. Ferrets can and will get into everything and like to squeeze into small places. I advise you to never leave a collar or harness on your ferret while he’s unsupervised, because it’s very easy for him to get caught up on something and either get stuck or strangle himself, even in his own cage. If you have to battle to get the harness on, simply practice more often.

Following basic rules when you’re out and about

The following list presents some basic rules for safety and sanity when you’re outside with your fuzzy:

  • Never tie your tethered ferret to something and leave him unsupervised. Besides being an easy target for predators, your ferret will get bored and frustrated and do everything he can to escape, and he may just succeed.
  • Never let your leashed ferret wander into shrubbery. He can become entangled in the branches, and it will be difficult for you to rescue him. Worst-case scenario, he can get stuck and wiggle his way out of his harness or collar.
  • Never use stretchy collars. This collar variety is easy to pull off.
  • Never use plastic collars or harnesses. Your fuzzy will be tempted to chew on them and swallow the pieces. Even if the ferret wearing the collar doesn’t chew it, a visiting playmate may.
  • Never ignore the temperature. You wouldn’t walk your fuzzy across hot coals, so don’t walk him on hot pavement. The fuzzy’s paw-paws are very sensitive, you know. Likewise, those of us who’ve hopped frantically across a sandy beach know how brutally hot sand can get, and they don’t make sandals for carpet sharks! Walking on snow is okay as long as your ferret isn’t in it for too long.
by Kim Schilling

Related Posts:

  • Have Ferret, May Travel In This Chapter Preparing to take your fuzzy on vacation Reviewing your travel alternatives Exploring alternatives to taking fuzzy with you Some people think a vacation gives them time away from the kids… Read More
  • Cleaning Time: Not All Ferret Fun and GamesIn This Chapter  Addressing the mess in fuzzy’s cage Washing your furball Checking the ears and nails Performing the dental checkup Brushing your ferret’s coat Wouldn’t you like to have a bu… Read More
  • Should You Breed Your Ferret? Looking at the Big Picture In This Chapter  Considering the emotional, financial, and time commitments of breeding Understanding the ramifications of careless breeding Being able to breed ferrets responsibly and successfully require… Read More
  • Understanding What Fuzzy Is Trying to Tell YouIn This Chapter  Responding to various ferret sounds Reacting to your ferret’s dance moves Recognizing your ferret’s body language Considering other ways your ferret communicates Ferrets are extrem… Read More
  • Ferreting Out Ferret Pests In This Chapter  Eradicating external pests Zapping away internal bugs Simply put, a parasite is an organism (or person) that feeds off another organism without giving anything back. You may even know one … Read More
  • Filling Your Ferret’s Belly In This Chapter  Hydrating your fuzzy Scanning the dietary requirements for ferrets Giving your ferret a traditional dry or wet diet Supplying an alternative (natural) diet Adding supplements a… Read More
  • Introducing Fuzzy to His New Family  In This Chapter  Assessing your fuzzy’s social tendencies Helping your new pet adjust to his new environment Making all your pet introductions Showing your kids how to safely interact with the fer… Read More
  • Helping Your Hurt Ferret: First-Aid Basics In This Chapter Previewing a ferret’s minor afflictionsActing in the event of an emergencyCaring for your fuzzy in-houseArranging a room for your sick ferretGetting your sick ferret to eat You must face the fa… Read More
  • Enrichment: Yours and Your Ferret’s In This Chapter  Understanding enrichment and its purpose Getting the scoop on a ferret’s senses Developing your personal ferret enrichment program Hooking up with a ferret club Showing or comp… Read More
  • Handling Viruses, Infections, and Other Conditions and IllnessesIn This Chapter  Addressing many common ferret diseases and conditions Finding out what you can do to diagnose and treat your ferret No matter how hard people try to stay healthy with good eating, exercise, and … Read More
  • Ten Common Ferret Myths and Misconceptions In This Chapter  Debunking incorrect views of the ferret’s nature and history Clearing the air in terms of diseases and hygiene tendencies Telling the truth about the ferret’s eating and sleeping habits … Read More
  • Saying Goodbye When the Time Comes In This Chapter  Knowing when to let go Ordering a postmortem to get answers and further fuzzy science Putting your deceased pet’s body to rest Mourning for your lost pet Coming to the aid of your … Read More
  • Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters In This Chapter  Getting your ferret’s house ready  Organizing fuzzy’s bedroom and bathroom  Picking a food dish and water bowl  Adding all sorts of accessories that you and your ferret will love … Read More
  • Dealing with the Behaviorally Challenged FerretIn This Chapter  Knowing the reasoning behind your ferret’s aggression Handling and taming the biting fuzzbutt Some potential ferret owners, even after reading many books and magazines on ferrets, still aren’t p… Read More
  • Putting Your Ferret through Basic Training: Easy as 1-2-3? In This Chapter  Discouraging biting Heading to the “bathroom” for toilet training Going for walks Like a dog, a fuzzy doesn’t come preprogrammed for use. You teach a dog how to sit, come, and heel;… Read More
  • Setting Up Your Ferret’s Health Plan: Vets and First-Aid KitsIn This Chapter  Choosing a good ferret vet Taking your fuzzy for routine checkups and preventative vaccines Filling your fuzzy first-aid kit with the essentials Preparing for emergencies Health is… Read More
  • Unmasking the Details of Ferret Love In This Chapter  Reviewing the fertile fuzzy Understanding the unbred ferret Caring for your ferret during her pregnancy Dealing with easy and difficult deliveries Recognizing and taking care o… Read More
  • Finding and Treating the Big C and Other Lumps In This Chapter  Surveying the top three ferret cancers Identifying and removing skin tumors and chordomas Reviewing your treatment and manageability options Unfortunately, whether you own one ferre… Read More
  • From Birth to Bundle of Energy: Walking a Fuzzy’s Timeline  In This Chapter  Raising your fuzzies from newborns through their terrible twos Surviving adolescence and the teenage years If you make it through the pregnancy and birthing ordeal — hey, it’s stressful … Read More
  • Ferret - Proofing Your HomeFerret - Proofing Your Home In This Chapter  Taking care of trouble spots in your home to make it ferret-friendly Altering your habits to prevent a tragedy Finding a qualified vet  At first, you… Read More
  • Ten Recipes Your Ferret Will Love In This Chapter  Whipping up gourmet dishes with chicken and tuna Getting creative with snacks and stews Giving your fuzzy the BARF treatment Recipes in This Chapter  Bob’s Chicken Gravy&… Read More

0 comments:

Post a Comment