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Post by Brynne on Apr 22, 2017 17:25:57 GMT -5
Hi my name is Brynne, last week I adopted a 7 month old male ferret from a shelter. The shelter advertised him as housebroken and very friendly, He was very well behaved his first 2 days home but now all h*ll has broken loose with him! He refuses to use his litter box and will urinate and defecate on everything! I try to let him out twice a day for playtime, with playtime lasting as long as he doesn't pee or poop on anything, but he wont stop, he has also started biting hard, (he gets scuffed and I use bitter apple to stop the biting but it doesn't seem to phase him). Also he has been terrible about knocking over food and water dishes, (he has ceramic bowls with a grip on the bottom) but he still manages to make a moist soggy food paste all over the bottom of his cage. I'm not quite sure what to do with him anymore, I've tried different litters, I've moved litter boxes around (he has two now to encourage him), I've tried different food and water dishes, I've tried scruffing and ignoring him but nothing seems to help, he has gotten extremely frustrating to the point where he is more of a chore than a pet, I've owned many female ferrets in the past and I have never had this much trouble with them, I don't know if him being a male has something to do with it?
If anybody has any advice please help, I'm desperate!!!
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Post by LindaM on Apr 22, 2017 21:31:37 GMT -5
First of all, never use scruffing to discipline, it's only going to make it a lot worse. We recommend using the sin bin method. Place the ferret in an empty carrier or cage for no more than 3 minutes, and then let them out, you can tell them "no" and whatever they did, when you let them out. Sometimes they will repeat this right away, and back in they go. Sometimes some will spend more time in the bin, than out, until that message starts to stick. But remember, no more than 3 minutes, they are like eternal toddlers.. more than that and they no longer recall why they are in there. Bitterants work only rarely and only on some, it's often not worth the bother, and some even like to bite that even more. As for bowls, start using lock croc bowls ( For Example) that adhere to the cage with a wingnut. If I may ask, what litter box are you using? If it's one of those stupid corner ones the pet stores always try to advertise, throw it in the trash. Almost ALL ferrets despise those things, and prefer to have a litter box that they can fit most, if not all, of their body into. Some prefer them to be enclosed too, and with a low lip so they can back up into it. Also, a lot of them dislike cat litter boxes too. I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions. And remember, you've only had your little one a while, they take time to settle into their new homes and get used to and start trusting their new owner. Often they are under a lot of stress because of it. It gets better with time, love, and patience.
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Post by Heather on Apr 23, 2017 3:17:23 GMT -5
How long does he actually get out to play? A bored ferret is a disobedient ferret. He's claiming territory. He's in a strange place where he's not sure of himself, so he's scent marking. This is not uncommon in new ferrets. He may very well have been a good boy at the shelter where he had become accustomed to his surroundings but your house is new. He's stressed, everything is new. As suggested if you're using corner boxes ditch it and get a full sized litter box. Most ferrets like to be able to get all their feet in the box, it's next to impossible with the corner boxes. Biting....he's 7 months old, he's reaching sexual maturity (even if he's altered), he's going to test you. He's a teenager. He's just a baby who's known no real home, he needs to be taught what is acceptable. He's not being bad, he's just testing you. How you react is going to be his conditioning. Do not scruff, this boy is obviously going to give you trouble with this method. I never use it as a method of discipline, in most ferrets except for the more milder mannered ferrets will rebel against this. As far as the bitter apple sprays, they don't work and they're rather harsh method of discipline. Try ignore, or use a small cat carrier as a time out space and when he bites harder than you like, he goes into the sin bin for 3 minutes. This is not something you're going to repair overnight. This is going to take time. He's known nothing but shelters, he's going to rebel about another change in his life. I use lock on bowls. This helps prevent bowl dumps but doesn't prevent him swimming in the water bowl ciao
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Post by Sherry on Apr 23, 2017 9:39:18 GMT -5
Definitely stop scruffing immediately. It is making the biting much worse. Use a 3 minute time out in a small empty cat carrier. He needs to learn he can trust you again. In his mind, he's been thrown away from another home yet again, so he is also very angry and acting on that. Use gentleness, treats, etc but NEVER physical punishments because it only reinforces that they have a reason to be afraid or angry. Don't use bare hands to play just yet. Use a stuffie or towel in between you. Interact with him only in a positive fashion. As for pottying, like Heather said- he is in a new place. He needs a lot of out of cage time, with lots of large boxes/potty pads around. When you see him backing up, put him in the closest box, and treat when/if he does anything. Again, positive reinforcement.
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Post by crazylady on Apr 26, 2017 12:06:19 GMT -5
Hi Sherry and Heather have given you good advice even though fixed he does not know this ( his brain wont let him realize he is no long a stud lol) the missing boxes etc will be him leaving his scent trail all over your house ( this how they attract females a female follows the scent trail and hey presto the patter of tiny feet 42 days later lol) he is basically being a typical teenager and seeing just how far he can push his boundary be firm but gentle rewarding him when he gets things right good luck take care bye for now Bev
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Post by bitbyter on Apr 26, 2017 14:54:13 GMT -5
A key to litterbox training is that ferrets generally need to use the litterbox shortly after they wake up. When you get home and he is sleeping, wake him up and watch him like a hawk for about 20 minutes. As soon as you see him backing up with his tail raised, grab him and put him in the litterbox. After he uses it, give him praise and a treat. He will soon start associating using the litterbox with treats.
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Post by Patrícia oWinn on Jun 25, 2020 18:51:23 GMT -5
Hi Sherry I got “Ferris” at eight weeks at a per shop , I love animals and treatise the horrors of animal shelters. He constanstanly bites me I turn him over and say no the fetal position and time outs haven’t worked, Help! I don’t want to give Him away he’s a helpless animal who will get passed around and euthanized worse yet a scarf, I love and give to the ASPCA, IHe has bitten and attacked my stomach, wrist, arm ,leg and feet I literally run from him. My cages got delayed what do I do? His eyes turn evil and he attacks me?
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jun 25, 2020 22:32:55 GMT -5
Patrícia oWinn Guest Have you ever had a ferret before? Babies are NOTORIOUS for biting. They will bite out of fear---new people and new surroundings and losing their buddy that was with them at pet shop doesn't help. They love to bite when playing too. So when your little one chases you, are you sure he is not playing? They r just mouthie little critters when young. However, I did get a 1 year old from craigslist who would attack my hand every time I reached in cage to change potties and blankets. So I just took her out of cage and cleaned it that way. She would come across the floor and try to attack my hands when I changed potties in the corners of the room too. If she heard any racket, here she'd come. I never put her in time out. I figured that would wear me out before it did her. One person here said when their ferret did something bad it would put itself in time out. I guess it was put in carrier so much.... LOL. Things not to do that you may have read on internet that is ok for discipline is blowing in face, hollering at or scruffing ferret---I would not hold your ferret down either. You want to establish trust and let it know that good things come from you. Arm yourself with a lot of patience and love because your ferret is not going to change over night. It took a few mos for mine to quit biting. She just got better and better over time. She still had that spunk when we played with her while on her back. she would clutch our fingers really tight. We always thought uh-oh here comes a bite. 1. You can try getting some of that energy out by playing with him with a cat chasing toy. My biter loved cat toys 2. Put an H ferret harness on him and take him for a walk. But please be aware they will slip out of the door behind you. Mine got caught between storm door and front door, and I didn't know she was there until I heard scratching. 3. You can make up a bowl of gadgets that he can get into--- things that are safe. Do things with him that involves exploring because they are curious as a cat. I know it may not hold his attn long, but every little thing you do with him will help in my opinion. I do believe in gloves for a little while anyway, but got used to my biter nailing me holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/ferret-toys/holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/common-behavior-problems/holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/ferret-proofing-and-safety/
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