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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2011 16:57:26 GMT -5
I was wondering if a ferret could be trained, if given the option, not to go outside by itself? Or is the curiousity just too strong?
I'm going to begin training on this because I'm afraid of losing her. Since I've had her I've forgotten to close my bedroom sliding door, and the living room door once each. She didn't go out the first time, but did the second. I caught her in time.
I'm going to try and teach her that only when she has her harness on is she allowed outside.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2011 17:04:57 GMT -5
Biggest thing about training is the treat, the reward. If there is no one there to give the reward, where is the incentive to stay inside? Ferrets have short attention spans and are more like toddlers than anything else.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2011 19:27:16 GMT -5
Keep us posted how to go. I dare say she'd bolt if you where not there to reward her.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2011 20:40:14 GMT -5
I'm new to ferrets, or training any animal for that matter, but I'm thinking if I ingrain it in her over and over it might stick, at least for a short while. Might be enough time for me to realize the window might be open and go check. It may take years for even that to work, but if it does it might save my ferret from the horrors of the outside world. I'll give her tests once I'm well into it.
She already seems naturally predisposed to it. I've tested her a bunch of times and mostly she'll just look out and turn around.
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Post by Heather on Oct 11, 2011 21:06:50 GMT -5
I have trained dogs for years...ferrets ....training them not to follow their instinct is going to be very difficult. It's rather like herding cats  Ferrets train for treat and for the love of you...but what you're asking them is to not follow their natural instinct and curiosity. Even a ferret that comes when it's called won't come when it's preoccupied. Your thoughts are honourable but getting a ferret to "not" run off when he/she finds themselves outside is next to impossible. They probably won't wander off, if you're standing right there....but....if they were to find their way outside, alone, they will just continue to follow their feet. If you've watched a ferret outside you'd understand. One thing just leads to another and the next thing your wee little furfriend is miles from where they started. It's a heartbreaking fact. If you figure it out I would ask you to please teach it but knowing the wee creatures the way I do....don't rely on this training to keep your wee one home. There is a reason why people who hunt with their little charges use radio tracking collars and satellite tracking systems. ciao |
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Post by nanners on Nov 25, 2011 14:27:03 GMT -5
I think the curiosity is too much. Although, when I take my albino for walks he always runs home when he wants to go back.. So there might be some hope!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 14:48:49 GMT -5
Yeah I kinda gave up on this before even trying. Mika tends to run when we're heading in the direction of home too (a "lets go home!" last night sent her running for pretty much a kilometer straight).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 21:05:51 GMT -5
You'll never train a ferret to be 100% obedient - they ENJOY being naughty. Just look at all the threads on litter box training and habits....they know better, but they're ferrets - not dogs.
-jennifer
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 2:34:34 GMT -5
Rather than trying to teach the ferret to NOT do something they can't help themselves from doing; why not as others have mentioned encourage her to come home after an outing? My guys all seem to know how to get back to the front door - once they get past the vehicles in the driveway. For some reason they always want to try and climb up into the cars and trucks. If I get them past the vehicles, they'll make a beeline for the front porch.
They enjoy going outdoors, but do seem to know the right way home. Josie could pick out our motorcycle from hundreds parked along the road. She'd also retrace our steps back to the vehicle if I simply turned around during treks through the city!
Encouraging them to come home may prove easier than stopping them from scampering out an open door.
Windows in my house are never opened if ferrets are out.
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Post by Thérèse on Nov 28, 2011 5:37:23 GMT -5
I wouldn't rely on it no matter how good she seems to be at it, a lost ferret is a heartache you want to avoid
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