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Post by Guest on Oct 8, 2012 1:31:49 GMT -5
It's a pretty good bet that your perfume is the main reason she's biting you. Ferrets' sense of smell is excellent, so the perfume odor would be extremely offensive to her and likely hurts her nose.
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Post by Guest on Oct 8, 2012 3:09:45 GMT -5
It could definately be your perfume. It could also be the fact that she can feel you are very weary of her and a bit scared. As hard as it is you have to stay posative, consistant and stand your ground. You are the pack leaderand she needs to make sure she knows you are the boss and she bust follow and obey you. I tried to rehabilitate a 2 yo ferret and he put me in hopsital for stitches. I tried my absolute hardest to get this ferret in a state of mind that I was the boss and that he follows me and care and love him at the same time. Very very long story cut short he had to be euthanized after nearly 6 months of me trying to rehabilitate him - I was completely devostated. Ghat ferret has mentally and physically scaredme for life but he was a drug addict without a fiz. I ended up having to call the owner and fins out what he had done to this ferret. He finally admired to me (after me going mental at him, to say it plainly) that he got him from a pet store at 5 weeks old, he bit him once and he NEVER EVER touched him after that. The poor thing didn't even know he was a ferret, had no one love him or touch him for 2 whole years. You cant even imagine what this ferret was like. My worst experience ever. He made me question myself and my ability with ferrets. I am 100% sure your girl is nothing like that and I am sure you will be able to do this! You just have to stay strong, confident and consistant  we believe in you!! |
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Post by Guest on Oct 8, 2012 5:08:37 GMT -5
It's a pretty good bet that your perfume is the main reason she's biting you. Ferrets' sense of smell is excellent, so the perfume odor would be extremely offensive to her and likely hurts her nose. It could definately be your perfume. It could also be the fact that she can feel you are very weary of her and a bit scared. As hard as it is you have to stay posative, consistant and stand your ground. You are the pack leaderand she needs to make sure she knows you are the boss and she bust follow and obey you. I tried to rehabilitate a 2 yo ferret and he put me in hopsital for stitches. I tried my absolute hardest to get this ferret in a state of mind that I was the boss and that he follows me and care and love him at the same time. Very very long story cut short he had to be euthanized after nearly 6 months of me trying to rehabilitate him - I was completely devostated. Ghat ferret has mentally and physically scaredme for life but he was a drug addict without a fiz. I ended up having to call the owner and fins out what he had done to this ferret. He finally admired to me (after me going mental at him, to say it plainly) that he got him from a pet store at 5 weeks old, he bit him once and he NEVER EVER touched him after that. The poor thing didn't even know he was a ferret, had no one love him or touch him for 2 whole years. You cant even imagine what this ferret was like. My worst experience ever. He made me question myself and my ability with ferrets.
I am 100% sure your girl is nothing like that and I am sure you will be able to do this! You just have to stay strong, confident and consistant we believe in you!! Yikes.. i really did not know they are very sensitive to perfumes.. And usually i play with her when im back from work. Which by then, my perfume shud be a very faint smell. Maybe i can try taking a shower this to run the perfume down. I am amazed by the rehabilitation fert! Poor guy! awww.. I totally get you hun.. its consistency. I have to face the fears.. and definitely i think she sense i am scared of her. I used to be scared with my gliders too. But it took some time to adapt. I just have to take things slowly i guess and work my confidence! So do share how to overcome fears as well? LMAO.. god.. it seems that i have to be spoonfed on everything LOLZ!  |
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Post by Sherry on Oct 8, 2012 8:31:12 GMT -5
Generally I don't scruff at all as punishment, simply because I found it made abused/neglected ferrets bite much much worse. We have had a badly abused ferret in here, bit to the bone every single time, did nerve damage, etc. It took a few weeks to a couple months but by teaching hands held only good things, time outs, and ignores- she's now a sweetheart Heather's Fun Go took almost 3 years he'd been such a bad biter from abuse. |
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2012 10:18:15 GMT -5
Just a thought....I've been reading through these last few posts...perfume. You mention you use different ones all the time. I wear perfume, but only one kind. I wonder if all the different scents confuse her. They're smart very smart but I wonder if they start to associate certain smells with certain people. It would make sense, my hobs don't even wake up if someone else is downstairs but if I come downstairs they're awake and bouncing....I don't even have to come around the corner to where they're sleeping. If they associate certain smells with certain people....maybe your little one is feeling confused...maybe? They use their noses for so much. It's just a thought.
ciao
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Post by mustelidmusk on Oct 8, 2012 10:37:51 GMT -5
I've found that quite a few ferrets are VERY sensitive to smells, including laundry soap, lotion, shampoos, toothpaste, etc. My girls in particular have been the ones to dislike anything that "stinks" artificially. They would much prefer to burrow into dirty sweats rather than cleanly laundered clothing  -jennifer |
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Post by mikeybox on Oct 8, 2012 15:22:59 GMT -5
Smell affects my intact hob Finn quite a lot. We go to Petco sometimes and the employees ask to pet him. Normally he is OK with it but one time there was a lady whose perfume and / or lotion was strong enough that I could smell it. Well, Finn normally never bites hands, but he bit (lightly, no bleeding) her hand every time she tried to pet him! ;D
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Post by Guest on Oct 8, 2012 22:07:23 GMT -5
Generally I don't scruff at all as punishment, simply because I found it made abused/neglected ferrets bite much much worse. We have had a badly abused ferret in here, bit to the bone every single time, did nerve damage, etc. It took a few weeks to a couple months but by teaching hands held only good things, time outs, and ignores- she's now a sweetheart
Heather's Fun Go took almost 3 years he'd been such a bad biter from abuse. I dont scruff her all the time sweetie. Just when shes biting. I hate scruffing her sometimes too.. She likes to wiggle out of it like there is no tomorrow. Just a thought....I've been reading through these last few posts...perfume. You mention you use different ones all the time. I wear perfume, but only one kind. I wonder if all the different scents confuse her. They're smart very smart but I wonder if they start to associate certain smells with certain people. It would make sense, my hobs don't even wake up if someone else is downstairs but if I come downstairs they're awake and bouncing....I don't even have to come around the corner to where they're sleeping. If they associate certain smells with certain people....maybe your little one is feeling confused...maybe? They use their noses for so much. It's just a thought.
ciao Ill try keeping it to a minimum. Like today and yesterday i have been using the same one. Also i took a shower before i played with her yesterday. But yes confusion makes a little sense too. there are a lot of smells in our home. Like my daughter wears one perfume and i wear another. We also sometimes burn incense in the house. Also hubby wears another different kind of perfume.. God.. LOL~ Only my son does not wear perfume.. but then again hes a stinko everyday LOL! I've found that quite a few ferrets are VERY sensitive to smells, including laundry soap, lotion, shampoos, toothpaste, etc.
My girls in particular have been the ones to dislike anything that "stinks" artificially. They would much prefer to burrow into dirty sweats rather than cleanly laundered clothing
-jennifer I am begining to put in my dirty shirts in her cage now. Hopefully she will be better haha. Yep they probably think our lotions and perfume stink right? ahahahahah~ ;D Smell affects my intact hob Finn quite a lot. We go to Petco sometimes and the employees ask to pet him. Normally he is OK with it but one time there was a lady whose perfume and / or lotion was strong enough that I could smell it. Well, Finn normally never bites hands, but he bit (lightly, no bleeding) her hand every time she tried to pet him! 
That poor lady LOL! But its good no blood is present. I would have freaked.  So after these 3 weeks i came to a little conclusion. It's almost a month. And i know its still early.. From my point of view here is what i've sum up about sierra: - Shes afraid of me *possibly* she sometimes backs up with a poofy tail when i draw out my hand to her - I am afraid of her! *Key point* so the first meetup wasn't a really good one  Im still scarred from her first mean bite. I am generating energy that is showing to her that im scared of her EVERYTIME shes out to play. - Being scared has resulted me to put her out less. Max has been 2-3 hours. And so when shes out, she bites the heck out of me to show anger and tantrum. *Possibly* - She is possibly confused about all the smells shes come intact with for the past few weeks. - She still needs more time possibly to be a little angel. Well that pretty sums it up for now. I always have a good aura before releasing her out of her cage. Like yesterday i said to myself.. "Yes i am ok! I feel great! She can bite me all she wants today and i wont be scared!" But when shes out, god.. it just takes a toll. I guess no one can fix me except for myself?  I have contacted the breeder as well.. even she told me not to be afraid.. but its just harddddddd! Im losing faith in myself~  |
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Post by Thérèse on Oct 9, 2012 5:27:31 GMT -5
Even though things don't seem to be improving I would just like to say I think you are doing great. Many a first time ferrent who ends up with a problematic ferret who batters their confidence gives up and either immediately rehomes the wee one (often with little regard to who) or just shuts it away and the problems snowball and another abused ferret is rehomed later when the issues are so much worse.
You are showing perseverence, which speaks highly of your eventually having a great relationship with your ferret.
It is hard when your confidence is damaged and you are new to ferrets, so kudos for keeping going.
PS suggest you lay off the incense, usually contain essential oils which can have long term effects on ferrets and also as ferrets can be scent driven, Sierra may be finding it hard to settle if she can't get her bearings through scent because it is being over ridden by incense.
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Post by Heather on Oct 9, 2012 10:36:34 GMT -5
Sensory overload...totally agree. Ferrets are scent driven, they hunt by smell much more than sight. I never really thought about it much (I wear a very light scent) but one day I was in at the vet's and one of the tech who was working with me turned to me and asked what I was wearing (she loved it). That was hours after I had applied it. She could smell it after me working with the hobs, playing with half a dozen ferrets....so, think about what a scent driven ferret is trying to work through. Another thing to consider and you won't know some perfumes especially high end use natural musks to set a scent. Just a consideration. I too, would ditch the incense. Do you keep scented candles, use scent spays? These could be confusing her as well as being detrimental to her health. One thing to note....2 to 3 hrs for a kit/juvenile, isn't enough time to let her burn off steam. Lady Morgain, takes at a mininum of 4 hrs to wind down and finally find herself a place to cool down. She gets a minimum of 6 hrs of out of cage time. The hobs wind down in about 4 hrs (most days) but that wee jill is a going concern. When she first gets out she's wild and crazy. She's also most likely to bite during that time. I don't handle her much, allowing her to basically "bounce off the walls". She dashes from one end of the house to the other....at this point other than checking to make sure I'm still there she doesn't want me to pick her up or even play with her. She's just burning off pent up energy. I swear for all of her 2 lbs, she makes as much noise as any of the hobs when she's in this mood. I talk to her, she talks back but most of the first couple of hours is done in mad play, little physical interaction. I have been picking her up and giving her a bit of oil (a couple of drops), a quick rub, a kiss and putting her down again and off she goes on some wild tangent. Later, we play and she gets a massage. This is a method I learned when working with Fun-Go. I give you kudos...really. You're a good ferrant. I know a lot of people who would have returned their ferret...they don't have the patience to find the sweet little soul behind the teeth. Keep going, you are doing fantastic. Little jills are not the easiest little creatures to work with, but theirs is a different type of sweet. I really admire their strength, their stubborness and independence. I love my wee Lady Morgain every bit as much as my Lady "B"....it just takes a little time  for them to trust and love you back ciao |
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Post by bitbyter on Oct 9, 2012 11:18:11 GMT -5
I would ditch the perfume for a few weeks. If you are constantly changing perfumes then you aren't letting her learn "your" scent. If you go to handle her and you are wearing a new perfume she will probably identify you as a different person. Smell, it could be argued is a ferrets primary sense. Their vision is poor and I'm not sure if they can tell people apart by sound. Also, if you are a smoker then yes you have that smell on your hands as well (even if you wash them). She may be able to get past the cigarette smell though and just associate it as part of "your" scent as long as you stick to one brand.
I would also work on positive re-enforcement as well. Find something she likes (ferretone, ferretvite, evoo, etc) and anytime she behaves well (sitting on your lap), any interactions without biting, etc, give her a reward. You could also put a bit on your hands to associate them with treats instead of play toys.
When I first got Wilma I could tell that her previous own or the shelter had trained her as every time she got near a hand she would intensely lick the webbing between your thumb and forefinger (personally I would have chosen the back of the hand or palm). She had probably been trained to do this by having a treat placed on their hands when they went to pick her up.
Question: Is she biting your significant other as well, or just you?
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Post by Guest on Oct 9, 2012 22:13:55 GMT -5
Even though things don't seem to be improving I would just like to say I think you are doing great. Many a first time ferrent who ends up with a problematic ferret who batters their confidence gives up and either immediately rehomes the wee one (often with little regard to who) or just shuts it away and the problems snowball and another abused ferret is rehomed later when the issues are so much worse.
You are showing perseverence, which speaks highly of your eventually having a great relationship with your ferret.
It is hard when your confidence is damaged and you are new to ferrets, so kudos for keeping going.
PS suggest you lay off the incense, usually contain essential oils which can have long term effects on ferrets and also as ferrets can be scent driven, Sierra may be finding it hard to settle if she can't get her bearings through scent because it is being over ridden by incense. Awwweee thank you sweetie. I feel better after reading such nice comments~ I understand what you mean.. Oooh and yes i will be laying off the incense Sensory overload...totally agree. Ferrets are scent driven, they hunt by smell much more than sight. I never really thought about it much (I wear a very light scent) but one day I was in at the vet's and one of the tech who was working with me turned to me and asked what I was wearing (she loved it). That was hours after I had applied it. She could smell it after me working with the hobs, playing with half a dozen ferrets....so, think about what a scent driven ferret is trying to work through. Another thing to consider and you won't know some perfumes especially high end use natural musks to set a scent. Just a consideration.
I too, would ditch the incense. Do you keep scented candles, use scent spays? These could be confusing her as well as being detrimental to her health.
One thing to note....2 to 3 hrs for a kit/juvenile, isn't enough time to let her burn off steam. Lady Morgain, takes at a mininum of 4 hrs to wind down and finally find herself a place to cool down. She gets a minimum of 6 hrs of out of cage time. The hobs wind down in about 4 hrs (most days) but that wee jill is a going concern. When she first gets out she's wild and crazy. She's also most likely to bite during that time. I don't handle her much, allowing her to basically "bounce off the walls". She dashes from one end of the house to the other....at this point other than checking to make sure I'm still there she doesn't want me to pick her up or even play with her. She's just burning off pent up energy. I swear for all of her 2 lbs, she makes as much noise as any of the hobs when she's in this mood. I talk to her, she talks back but most of the first couple of hours is done in mad play, little physical interaction. I have been picking her up and giving her a bit of oil (a couple of drops), a quick rub, a kiss and putting her down again and off she goes on some wild tangent. Later, we play and she gets a massage. This is a method I learned when working with Fun-Go.
I give you kudos...really. You're a good ferrant. I know a lot of people who would have returned their ferret...they don't have the patience to find the sweet little soul behind the teeth. Keep going, you are doing fantastic. Little jills are not the easiest little creatures to work with, but theirs is a different type of sweet. I really admire their strength, their stubborness and independence. I love my wee Lady Morgain every bit as much as my Lady "B"....it just takes a little time for them to trust and love you back
ciao That is what i thought Heather. Being scared made me put her out less. Even hubby was telling me that. So this weekend, we are doing a thorough house cleaning and move some things about so she has more space to play with. And yep shes uber active when shes just out of the cage, so ill be letting her do what she wants and ignore her. It should be ok that i just leave her alone right? Ignoring her lol. Well for at least an hour or so before i go and try some interaction with her. This i have not tried before, so i hope it will be the golden ticket to let my little girl let me give her huggies! lol. I would ditch the perfume for a few weeks. If you are constantly changing perfumes then you aren't letting her learn "your" scent. If you go to handle her and you are wearing a new perfume she will probably identify you as a different person. Smell, it could be argued is a ferrets primary sense. Their vision is poor and I'm not sure if they can tell people apart by sound. Also, if you are a smoker then yes you have that smell on your hands as well (even if you wash them). She may be able to get past the cigarette smell though and just associate it as part of "your" scent as long as you stick to one brand.
I would also work on positive re-enforcement as well. Find something she likes (ferretone, ferretvite, evoo, etc) and anytime she behaves well (sitting on your lap), any interactions without biting, etc, give her a reward. You could also put a bit on your hands to associate them with treats instead of play toys.
When I first got Wilma I could tell that her previous own or the shelter had trained her as every time she got near a hand she would intensely lick the webbing between your thumb and forefinger (personally I would have chosen the back of the hand or palm). She had probably been trained to do this by having a treat placed on their hands when they went to pick her up.
Question: Is she biting your significant other as well, or just you? I can't really ditch the perfume. My work involves meeting people on a daily basis. So yeah LOL. But i have however just stuck with 1 single scent for the past few days! And also i took showers before i let her out 2 days in a row already. She loves ferretone and ferretvite we have them both. I have been rewarding her tho, when shes laying flat and still i would offer a little. Other people in the household does not handle her since i got bitten. So when shes out, my children are probably asleep or doing something in their room and hubby would be doing something in the computer room or sleep. I dint want to take chances of letting her bite another person in the house. So yeah its just me  |
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Post by Heather on Oct 9, 2012 22:42:14 GMT -5
It's not so much ignoring her....Lady Morgain doesn't want me to ignore her, she just doesn't want to slow down and be handled when she first gets out. She has lots of things to tell me and dooks constantly, never really letting me get a word in edge-wise. I liken it to a 4 or 5 yr old when they first get back from kindergarden. You move around them, they bounce off the wall all the time telling you about their day. They want you to listen, to interract with them but not give them lots of hugs and physical attention. I play with her at this time but it's more a series of "what are you doing" type conversations and acknowledging her presence. I do not wave my hands around at her, or wiggle my fingers. Does that make sense? I don't try and touch her, but I do make eye contact with her. She will roam around the house, but returns frequently to the computer, the kitchen to see what I'm doing and to interact with me. She's now putting her paws on my leg and asking to get up or to be picked up. I do pick her up when she asks, I usually give her an oil treat...I always give her a quick skritch, a hug and a kiss then I put her down. I've been getting so that I hold her longer and longer, I'm also very sensitive to her body language. We don't make this a power struggle. I want her to like this, to enjoy my company, I don't want to make it a struggle. If she shows signs of wanting to cut the snuggle short then we do. She still has to be still for the short time that is needed for the hug and kiss but it's short and she usually will dance around at my feet dooking before she runs off. Yes, she still bites but she's no longer biting hard. She does bite my husband and my son but both are intimidated by her. Neither are around much when she's out and about, so are unfamiliar with her needs and quirks. They also pull away from her when they feel her whiskers on their hands. They have firm instructions on how they treat her. She is not to be scruffed, ever and if she bites she's either to be ignored (if she's really hyped up and playing) or given a time out if she's being aggressive and naughty. It's just how things are done here ciao |
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Post by Sherry on Oct 10, 2012 9:19:32 GMT -5
I dont scruff her all the time sweetie. Just when shes biting. I hate scruffing her sometimes too.. She likes to wiggle out of it like there is no tomorrow. Also just to let you know- a ferret who bites already is frequently made worse when you try to dominate them. And to a ferret, scruffing like this IS domination. It's how one ferret rules over another. For us to do this when we are SO much bigger usually doesn't work and can turn a simple biter into a revenge biter. If you can manage her biting without ANY scruffing, so much the better. That way, once you've earned her trust you can work on the scruffing being not a bad thing, but something that means treats. |
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Post by Yurei Avalon on Oct 10, 2012 14:30:15 GMT -5
I wear just one very mild scent for the work week, and I have one bolder scent I would wear for going out on the weekends, though I am out of it (have been for several weeks now) and don't want to spend the $60 for a new bottle.
Anyway a couple of my younger ferrets really seem to enjoy the scent believe it or not. Stormy and especially Sigma like to greet me every night after work when I pick them up by rubbing their little snouts all over my face and neck, sniffing with those wet little noses before they usually end up trying to stuff themselves down into my cleavage inside my shirt. I put two small sprays on my neck every morning. (Bijou Black in case anyone wanted to know.)
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