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Post by colorguarder08 on Apr 25, 2020 18:30:49 GMT -5
What's a good age to introduce puppies to ferrets?
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Post by caitmonster on Apr 25, 2020 21:16:49 GMT -5
What breed might the puppies be? I would not trust terriers or other breeds intended to hunt rodents since the hunting instinct for small fast moving creatures is too strong.
I don't have any experience with puppies and ferrets together so hopefully someone else will have a better answer for you. I've only dealt with adult dogs around them, and after having one ferret be injured--by accident, I trusted them otherwise but it proved things can happen--I don't have them together anymore.
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Post by colorguarder08 on Apr 25, 2020 21:30:22 GMT -5
Husky and Rottweiler
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Post by Charlie on Apr 26, 2020 15:36:12 GMT -5
I had a dog that was great around other animals, the most gentle dog ever inside but outside she was a hunter. I would trust her with the ferret but never had them interact whatsoever. The ferret would try to bite the dog's paws which in turn could have turned out to be a disaster. I never took the chance or even tried. Accidents happen and you wouldn't want to lose your ferret because a husky and a rottie grow up to be bigger dogs and their bite would kill your ferret. You would be heart broken. Don't take the chance, not worth it.
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twiggim
New member
"You named your ferret after a branch?" yeah
Posts: 3
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Post by twiggim on Dec 29, 2020 11:35:58 GMT -5
Puppies can be introduced to them at any age. Honestly, what really matters is your individual dog's prey drive and tolerance level. Can you supervise both pets to ensure they are comfortable? Will your ferret pester your dog? Will your dog give chase? I rarely trust puppies with small animals until they have a basic understanding of existing in the same space first and foremost (remaining calm and neutral is best). Only then can introductions safely start.
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 29, 2020 14:04:54 GMT -5
no no no never. I would not let a husky near my ferrets, too hyper and unpredictable, and Dar24 (wife) had her first ferret accidentally killed by her rottie. The ferret was playing with the dog, and in a flash the dog snapped at the ferret and it was over. They had been together a couple months and played before. I did have a 130 lb chocolate lab mix that loved all 9 of my ferrets at the time. We've had a yorkie we got at 10 weeks and played too rough with them, and Maine Coon Cat mix kitten that was the same as he grew up. our current 18 wk kittens that were born here play with the ferrets, a little rough at times, but Bobo likes it and the kats back off when told. |
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Post by colorguarder08 on Jan 1, 2021 19:55:59 GMT -5
no no no never. I would not let a husky near my ferrets, too hyper and unpredictable, and Dar24 (wife) had her first ferret accidentally killed by her rottie. The ferret was playing with the dog, and in a flash the dog snapped at the ferret and it was over. They had been together a couple months and played before. I did have a 130 lb chocolate lab mix that loved all 9 of my ferrets at the time. We've had a yorkie we got at 10 weeks and played too rough with them, and Maine Coon Cat mix kitten that was the same as he grew up. our current 18 wk kittens that were born here play with the ferrets, a little rough at times, but Bobo likes it and the kats back off when told. They never interacted. By the time the puppies were big enough to start actually playing they were over 10lbs and I didn't want to risk it. These guys got really big really fast. At 4 months the one we kept was bigger than his mom. At 5 months he was 65lbs. Now at 8 months on his hind legs he is as tall as me. |
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Post by unclejoe on Jan 3, 2021 19:50:01 GMT -5
the problem is the huge difference in size and strength. Dar's rottie didn't intend to hurt the ferret at all. it was just a reflex response from a 100 lb dog.
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Post by peacexlovexpets on Jan 13, 2021 11:16:42 GMT -5
Be incredibly slow - it can easily take a month or more to introduce your pet safely.
I had my ferret cage in the middle of the living room, so my coonhound (about 1.5yrs old at the time) could smell them whenever he wanted. If the ferrets were out, the dog was in his kennel in a separate room - ultimately got to the point where I could put a baby gate up to separate them and they could be out at the same time. After about 3wks of this, I started to slowly introduce the dog to the ferrets (ferrets were free roaming, dog was on a very very short leash) for a few minutes at a time. Eventually went to a longer leash for the dog with the ferrets (still had control of the dog, but allowed him to get more confident around the ferrets/direct his interest). After about 2wks of leashed interaction, we got a "bad dog" collar (vibrates) for the dog for added security, and allowed him to be out with them when supervised. I think I only had to vibrate him once or twice when he tried to play with his mouth (we have a no mouthing rule for the dog with our other pets - ferrets and cats).
I only leave them out together when closely supervised (i.e., loading the dish washer is not closely supervised). Honestly, my dog is more cautious of the ferrets (lays down and rolls over for them to sniff him, gets anxious if they want to chase him around) so he prefers to be on the other side of the gate when they are war dancing around.
This is coming from training a coonhound who is actively used to hunt squirrels. It can be done, but you have to be mindful of how readily a dog could injure a ferret, and how easily a ferret can tick off a dog (they bite hard).
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