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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 11:05:44 GMT -5
I've had Percy for a week now, not long at all and I realise this. His only been handled since I got him as my uncle has ferrets for rabbiting etc. He is around 11 to 13 weeks old. going with 12 weeks old!
So a week in, Percy is still biting. He has good days and bad days. We did go a whole 24 hours without a painful bite.
The holding the back of his neck theory has never seemed to work. He appears to get more angry with me as upon release after a yawn he goes straight in for the bite. Hissing, has for the last two days had no effect what so ever he just runs of and comes back for more biting!
Currently I am going for the time out method. I've decided every time I get bitten his going in his cage for 2 mins.
I have tried "yelping" when he bites, but I will admit my normal reaction is a swear word rather than a yelp!
Give him his due his bites aren't as hard as they once where!
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Post by racheld on Aug 28, 2014 11:07:54 GMT -5
Try picking out a small carrier for time outs, rather than using his normal cage. You want his cage to feel like home, not like a punishment. If he associates the cage with having done something wrong, he'll be confused every time you put him away after normal playtime.
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Post by msav on Aug 28, 2014 11:24:38 GMT -5
Like racheld said, puting him in his cage you will be creating a cage rager. he will not like his cage.
the fact that the bites are getting less hard is a normal progression. It means he is starting to realize that he does not need to bite that hard to get his point across (whatever that point may be)
the first thing we need to know is why he is biting. a normal kit will bite because that is how he interacts with the world or he is stress or just getting used to his new family. they may also bite to assert dominance that is why scruffing does not work and teaches him to bite back for dominance. Is he biting only when you try to hold him or is he initiating by coming up to you and biting you?
when I first got Bleu (waardie) he would bite break skin and lockjaw. This means to get him off you had you had to pry his mouth apart to get your hand out. as he settled in to his new home he started to bit less and less to the point where he would not break skin anymore, but it still hurt. (needle teeth) Now (10 month old) he still latches but it is not painful and it is in play. he will release after a few seconds. It takes some daily time to work with them. If he is biting while you are trying to play with him, when he bites all play and interaction needs to stop. Say "ouch" and Ignore him for a few mins. then try again and repeat as often as needed. He will learn that biting ends play and if he wants to keep playing then he can't bite. If
he is deaf you can keep a stuffed animal near you when you play and when he bites shove the stuffed animal in his mouth. the stuffed animal work with my deaf ones. even now when i am playing with them and they get really hyper and lose control they will stop playing with my hand and jump on a stuffed animal and really tear into it and them come back to play with me.
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Post by Heather on Aug 28, 2014 13:29:32 GMT -5
I'm guessing as you've said a hunter's kit that you're not from the US so I'm going to guess that you've got a UK kit? 12 weeks....I've got 3 who are 15 weeks. You're doing right, time out, 2 minutes (try using a tiny cat carrier instead of his own cage) when he bites. Kits learn everything by tasting. If he's biting less and with less intensity, you're winning. Try offering some chicken wings if he's really chewing on you. I find my hob kit is having a harder time learning gentle than my two jills. He seems to forget himself. I yelp or hiss when I get bit...profanity would work too  . He just has to realize that he stepped out of the boundaries. My wee ones jump out of the cage into my arms and they're a bundle of fur and teeth. The teeth never break skin, it's just their way of saying hi I've missed you, lets play. Kits initiate games with teeth. Check to see how you play. Hubby is inconsistent, he will play with them and allow them teeth then he gets angry with them when he's busy and they want to play, which they of course initiate by biting. Crossed messages. Kits aren't real good at that, anymore than 3 yr old skin kids. Keep at it, be gentle, don't scruff (as you've found out, it just makes them angry and eventually he will be big and strong and you don't want to argue with those jaws) You're doing great, really  ciao |
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Post by racheld on Aug 28, 2014 13:35:53 GMT -5
You also don't want to use scruffing as discipline too often because vets often use scruffing to hold a ferret still during exams, so that's another thing you don't want him to have negative associations with.
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Post by Heather on Aug 28, 2014 13:43:54 GMT -5
I stopped scruffing many years ago and that was one of the reasons. You scruff when you give meds, when the vet checks them, gives implants or does teeth, sometimes even when you're force feeding or syringe feeding. I don't want my guys to associate being bad with being scruffed. I've also done enough rescues and had enough hard core biters who associated violent discipline with being scruffed so would naturally attack when scruffed. The babies all bite after being scruffed, we're working on that one. I scruff and they get a treat....they do not associate being scruffed with being bad
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 14:12:48 GMT -5
I think the biting it mainly in play, best way to describe it, he turns into a teenager, runs up to me and bits me runs off hides or is onto the next "toy" He did bite my ear the other day while exploring my head!
His also got a thing of trying to get down the back of my jeans.. Is this also normal?
His not biting me when I pick him up, and I keep telling him not to bite the human!
Right I shall get another cage/box for time outs..... Ouch just this very minute his bitten my lower back.... Now his in my handbag having a root around.... His like a hypo teenager....
I am sitting on the floor when his has come up to me I have stroked him picked him up kissed him showed attention I then put him down and he bite really hard.... :/
Yes I'm in the UK, I don't think he is deaf as stops when I say No to him... Well sort of stops... also hears the squeak in one of his toys and loves the noise a carrier bag makes
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Post by msav on Aug 28, 2014 14:21:49 GMT -5
so he does not have any fellow ferrets you are is only source of entertainment. He wants your attention, he is trying to engage in play.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 14:32:49 GMT -5
so he does not have any fellow ferrets you are is only source of entertainment. He wants your attention, he is trying to engage in play. Yes he is an only ferret... I will be playing with him with a toy or stroking etc and he will bite me mid play.... |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 14:55:11 GMT -5
I think the biting it mainly in play, best way to describe it, he turns into a teenager, runs up to me and bits me runs off hides or is onto the next "toy" He did bite my ear the other day while exploring my head! His also got a thing of trying to get down the back of my jeans.. Is this also normal? His not biting me when I pick him up, and I keep telling him not to bite the human! Right I shall get another cage/box for time outs..... Ouch just this very minute his bitten my lower back.... Now his in my handbag having a root around.... His like a hypo teenager.... I am sitting on the floor when his has come up to me I have stroked him picked him up kissed him showed attention I then put him down and he bite really hard.... :/ Yes I'm in the UK, I don't think he is deaf as stops when I say No to him... Well sort of stops... also hears the squeak in one of his toys and loves the noise a carrier bag makes Just like msav said, he is inviting you to play. He doesn't want hugs or kisses, he wants to play. Waggle a toy at him. Get a teaser toy (like for cats). Put a blanket on the floor, let him hop on it and pull it. Chase him around the room. Put an upside down box on the floor and make a big deal out of it. Keep your hands away form him and distract him with other things but keep playing. You have to pick your battles, if he gets a little too excited and jumps on you, that's okay. If he grabs your hand and bites, then simply walk away. Ignore him for a minute or two, no more or he will forget why you went away. Then come back and dangle a sock or pillowcase at him. Plastic bags are tons of fun. If he jumps into it, pick it up and gently swing it. Then carefully put it down and watch him go crazy. The best toy is still another ferret. If that's not possible for you, you will be his playmate and he needs to play alot. Mine play in the morning for around an hour and in the evening for another hour. They are free roam, so they are always wandering around or exploring. They nap in the middle of the day and play hard in the early morning and early evening. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 16:59:06 GMT -5
Thank you for the top tips.
I tried the carrier bag swing, he didn't like it. He got out and looked at me as to say why did you just do that! will try again in a few days.
What about when you are in mid play ad he runs up too you bites you then runs off?
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Post by msav on Aug 28, 2014 17:05:18 GMT -5
he want you to chase him. if he gently nips then chase him. if he bites hard ignore him.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 17:22:01 GMT -5
he want you to chase him. if he gently nips then chase him. if he bites hard ignore him. Thank you, So obvious when you put it like that! He did have a super cute moment earlier. I was sitting at the dining table eating my dinner he managed to climb up my legs onto my lap and from there after working it out, he got onto the table. Thankfully I had just finished eating. I had a salad for dinner, otherwise if I had meat of some sort he would of got a treat. |
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Post by Sherry on Aug 29, 2014 8:13:37 GMT -5
Never give them any meat that has been spiced. Much too hard on their kidneys.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 12:33:26 GMT -5
Never give them any meat that has been spiced. Much too hard on their kidneys. I wouldn't dream of giving him meat with any type of spice or sauce on it! His currently 3/4 of the way through a whole pigeon feathers n all! Thank you for the top tip though  |
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