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Post by bitbyter on Oct 31, 2012 10:05:45 GMT -5
Is he biting when you wear socks? If so, try taking your socks off. Once of my girls is down right vicious with socked feet (why I named her Socks). Bare feet she totally ignores.
Do you have a room you can ferret proof and use that as a play area? Ferrets really do need more time out of the cage than that (for mental stimulation and exercise) especially if he is a single ferret. Could you perhaps run some tunnels from the cage so that he has more room to explore when caged? Maybe mount a nest box or two on the walls attached to the cage via tunnels?
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Post by crazylady on Oct 31, 2012 16:55:23 GMT -5
Hi at this age they get bored easily as others have stated is she a raw meat eater ? if so when you go out to work pop in something she can chew on to keep her occupied while your at work this will tire out the jaw a little it does sound like she is trying to use her hunting skills ( your feet are her prey ) something simple like a carry box ( that you take them to vets too ) can be used as a time out cage when not in use simply pop in your cuboard lol its important along with rewards you use sounds to get through to them right and wrong if she bites look her square in eye and shout NO when she doesnt bite reward with a little treat and talk soft baby talk to her they soon learn the shout and time out = bad reward soft baby talk and no time out is good they soon learn that the treat stuff is better lol good luck with your baby take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by Guest on Oct 31, 2012 22:17:21 GMT -5
Hii sounds very much like my Sierra.  When she first came to me, i was absolutely afraid of her! She still have some biting and nipping issues too but it has stopped a h*ll lot when she first came. I live in an apartment too, the living room and one of the rooms are her playground. As for the rest of the rooms, when she is out.. the doors are closed shut. She has a huge 3 storey cage but she still shows signs of boredom when she is cooked in it for long hours. So try to find space and get your baby a better bigger cage. Sierra is about 6 months old right now, so she's extra playful. And knowing ferts at these age, they tend to play with you by biting! They nip a lot harder at this age too. You will need them out to play more. Just let them terrorize your living room let them dook here and there.. make a mess and sorts. You can be elsewhere doing something else or watch the tv and ignore her for a bit. If she wants attention, your wee one will seek you and demand attention.  Also from observing my girl, i noticed.. SHE DOES NOT LIKE TO BE HANDLED when she has just came out of her cage! I usually let her out and let her do whatever she wants and burn off her steam! I work like 8 hours a day and i come back around 830pm. By 9pm she's out of her cage, but i will be taking my shower or ill be in the kitchen preparing her soupie or doing something else. But shes still out terrorizing the living room  minding her own business. 45 minutes later ill be in the living with her. Playing  Trust me.. there is so many ways to get the wee one to stop biting. Just need to be persistent. I think many members have given their ways of how to stop the hard biting. Just give it more time Don't give up so easily. They also don't bite much when they are pretty full in the tummy reward with treats when they behave! That is important too I have been making slivers of her favourite meat. When she behaves or not bite, she gets a treat! Ferretone comes in handy too! |
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Post by Guest on Nov 1, 2012 18:24:46 GMT -5
Haha I'm mythed, all ferrets I've ever had, had a foot fetish, and tried to "kill" my toes lol I thought its just what all ferrets do? All 4 of my girls will want to nibble my feet (or anyone's) if I don't wear slippers. Archimedes (the new boy) is the only one that licks instead of nibbling (so I thought he's weird)! Lol
I had a girl a few years ago that bit, properly! All the way through my hand or anything else she got hold off. She was kept alone in a small cage and not let out a lot by her owners at the time, they wanted rid of her because of the biting. So I took her. Put her with my other girl at the time in their room (as I don't use cages) and after a month... She was the sweetest thing (and I did worry shed never stop) so I wi have to agree he's likely to be frustrated ... He will somehow need more time outside the cage :/ or maybe a playmate... Good luck I know how painful those sharp little teeth can be I do feel for you.
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Post by Heather on Nov 1, 2012 21:34:28 GMT -5
Hunting toes is indeed a ferret thing. Why else did they aquire the name "toe-sharks". It doesn't make it hurt any less though  One thing and I think it was already mentioned perhaps attaching tubes to the cage giving him places to run even if it leads back to his cage or another cage in another room would offer him more stimulation. I did this for my wee ones when they had to spend 30 days in quarantine after coming across from the UK ciao |
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Post by crazylady on Nov 2, 2012 15:00:11 GMT -5
Hi Fear is also something else they pick up on they can sense by smell if your afraid of them and once they know that your doomed then they play you like a fiddle lol always show them you are in charge you are the boss but do it with respect and once you do that they will respect you back and begin to calm down when you have chosen a means of time out stick with it dont chop and change as it confuses them but the key is patience and eventually you will be rewarded good luck take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by jarethlover on Nov 2, 2012 20:48:19 GMT -5
well, iv started the 3minute time outs in an empty and somewhat-small cage, whenever he bites... hes already bit me 5 times in the 45min iv had him out so far, but every time i put him in, he doesnt bite when i bring him back out... so, its not stopping him, but its calming him down until i bring him back out.
so far, its working a little bit... hopefully after doing this more often it will work better lol
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Post by Heather on Nov 2, 2012 21:27:13 GMT -5
Keep at it. It's not an overnight fix. Make sure you reward him for not biting. For Mad Max, I clicker trained him because if he didn't get his reward in a timely fashion (when he thought he'd been good then he bit me   ) The clicker told him I was in the process of getting his reward. He was always good about it, when done that way. ciao |
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Post by Sherry on Nov 2, 2012 22:10:17 GMT -5
It will take a while, but keep up with it. It can take a few weeks sometimes. Sooner or later he will equate biting= boredom(time outs). Took a couple of months with our fear biter. And she needs a reminder every now and then ;D
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Post by Guest on Nov 3, 2012 2:03:54 GMT -5
Well i think im coming in 2 months! The little terror we have has calmed down a lottttt! Keep doing what you are doing! You will get there! She now comes on to my legs to ask for tone hehe. |
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Post by jarethlover on Nov 3, 2012 8:21:02 GMT -5
how do i clicker train my guy? what is clicker training anyways?
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Post by Guest on Nov 3, 2012 8:55:10 GMT -5
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Post by jarethlover on Nov 4, 2012 23:06:42 GMT -5
OMG iv been doing the 3minute time outs, and treats for not biting, for only 3 days..... AND HE IS BEHAVING AMAZINGLY!!!!!
normally hes biting my feet when im walking... hasnt once tonight!
normally he wont let me touch his neck (for putting his bell collar on) but tonight he let me NO PROBLEMS!
normally while i scruff him (which i used to do in order to get the collar on) he tries to bite my hands... he didnt at all, he even let me stroke his face for a good minute without moving!
idk why its working so quickly, i expected weeks before i saw ANY improvements!
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Post by Sherry on Nov 4, 2012 23:15:47 GMT -5
That is wonderful news! Such a smart little one you've got Now, do expect some backsliding. It happens. But just continue with the time outs and you will both be just fine |
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Post by Heather on Nov 4, 2012 23:46:28 GMT -5
Congratulations  that is so fantastic. Wonderful...keep it up, don't let him get away with any behaviour you don't want. ciao |
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