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Post by James on Jan 17, 2014 20:09:23 GMT -5
Hello! I am thinking of buying a ferret (maybe 2 if I can afford it.) but I have a couple questions that I need answered before I commit to getting a ferret. I have 3 other animals in my house. I have 2 cats and a dog. The 2 cats are usually laid back, but one is cranky and if anything gets close he hisses and claws at it. My dog on the other hand is 11 months old and is a wild puppy. She is a terrier mix and she tries to play with the cats but they wont accept her because she is so large and wants to play with them do much. My dog also chases squirrels and has killed a chipmunk. (I felt so bad but I knew it was not her fault because it is natural.) I was wondering what you all thought about this situation and if I can introduce a ferret into the mix. I have always wanted one yet I don't know if I can make it work or not. Any suggestions, ideas, or comments? Also what can I do if I get one to make sure it stays safe walking around with a medium sized dog?
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Post by Heather on Jan 18, 2014 0:00:31 GMT -5
I hate to rain on your idea but your dog should never, ever be near a ferret. Terrier breeds do not make a good mix with ferrets. They can work together (some hunters use terriers and lurchers to hunt rabbits with ferrets) but your pup has already proven to have an over the top prey drive. You would have to be able to guarantee that your pup would never, ever come in contact with your ferrets. The meetings would probably be detrimental to the health of your ferrets. Think you felt bad when your dog killed the chipmunk, what would you feel if he killed your pet ferret. I would say no, unless you can guarantee they won't meet.
As far as the cats go....ferrets can and do get along with cats. I've got 3 cats and as long as the cats can have a place to escape an over the top hyper ferret they should be fine. Tiny kittens are not recommended but you mentioned cats. The cranky one might cause you problem....my cranky one cost me a fair bit in vet bills after one day splitting my one boy's tongue (no I've no idea how it happened only know it did). It of course had to happen after vet hours on the weekend...ouch. It didn't end there. The ferret then hunted the poor cat until finally the cat one yet again...slashing and blinding Mad Max in the left eye. Mad Max isn't the first ferret I've had who has hunted cats. I've also had a number of ferrets who have just ignored the cats or have enjoyed the cat's company (the cat's are less fond of them)
Thank you for doing your research before getting your ferret
ciao
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Post by Sherry on Jan 18, 2014 0:22:13 GMT -5
^^^ fully agreed!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 1:09:35 GMT -5
When I bring my ferret to my parents house (they have two cats) that like to say outside one is terrified of my ferret and the other is sweet to him but prefers him to not come near her he is waaay too hyper for her I also would not trust her in a room alone with him! Your dog is a terrier their instinct is to hunt small animals. Bad idea don't do it you don't want to put the ferret in possible danger.
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Post by RedSky on Jan 22, 2014 5:15:24 GMT -5
Hi James, I'm in a similar situation to you, I have a large staffs cross who has grown up with small animals (guinea pigs, rats, gerbils ect) but will chase rabbits! Not sure what he will do once he caught one but it doesn't look play orientated.
I figured there is a chance he would accept/ignor the ferrets I wanted to get but why risk it. I've got all my life to get ferrets, so for now I'm happy reading about them, learning and looking at photos and videos, while spending as much time as my dog wants with him! And my gerbils, snakes, snail and hamster too!
Basically I'm saying enjoy the pets you have and maybe in the future (when he's calmed down or your in a better place to allow the time and space hey need separately) you could look at adding to your furry family.
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Post by msav on Jan 22, 2014 10:08:20 GMT -5
My ferrets like to attack my 50 lb 8 year old Siberian husky. She is generally gentle with them and will not bite them. but she does step on them. when they bite her she will lower chest on them turning her head away from them. She has laid on Mogwai a couple of times and started to crush him. We never leave the ferrets and the dog unsupervised. You never know what can happen. I know it will be accidental but she is too clumsy and gets too hyper when the ferrets want to play with her.
She knows which ferrets attack and which ones avoid her so when one that attacks walks behind her she turns around to keep an eye on them. She is not bothered by the ones that avoid her.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 15:07:57 GMT -5
We have coonhounds and with this unsually cold weather we have been having lately we have been bringing them inside more than usual. Since we moved Hank's cage into the living room they can go up to the cage. Well I was terrified to introduce him to our hounds due to them being bred and used to hunt raccoon. I thought how will they know the diffence between the two. So I took him out and held him and let our dogs smell him and see how Hank reacted. Neither seemed overly impressed or interested in the other, so I put him down to let him play and watched, very closely, they did fine and the hounds went back to lounging on the couches. Granted I would NEVER EVER leave them together alone since again these dogs were bred and are used to hunt raccoons.
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