Ferret Training Tips – How to Train a Ferret Not to Bite

Baby ferrets are called kits. And just like puppies or kittens, kits can be mouthy and will love to bite when you first get them. They will use their teeth to nip and explore their new world. But when they are babies, their teeth are very sharp and small, which can be a painful experience when they bite you. However, ferrets can be trained not to bite with their teeth.

If a rowdy ferret bites you with its teeth, you can respond be scruffing. Scruffing is when you pick up a ferret by the loose skin on the back of its neck and hold its mouth closed with your thumb and forefinger. You should yell “NO” loudly to show that you mean business. You can also lightly drag the ferret across the floor to show your dominance.

Do not shake, squeeze or press on the ferret in any way because you can harm them. They might try to wriggle free or even hiss, but you must stand your ground to show that you are more dominant than the animal. Depending on the ferret’s personality, this could be easy or difficult to do.

Ferrets who have bonded with their owners or other animals will want company. They hate to be alone, so isolating a biter for a few minutes is another good way to punish them and encourage behavior modification. You can also distract them with a toy to help reduce the biting. Do not give them too many treats, however, as this will cause them to gain weight and possibly cause future diseases.

There are also chemical aids that will help them to stop biting. You can find a type of bitter apple spray that will safely keep them away from things to bite on. They will associate their biting your finger or certain areas of the house with that bitter taste, staying away from it in the future. If your ferret is especially aggressive, you can spray some on a tongue depressor, let them bite it and yell “NO!”

The spray will not work with all ferrets. Different animals will react to different techniques better. These animals are unique and while some will react better to the positive reinforcement, others will only change after negative behavior, such as yelling “NO.”

Ferrets are intelligent animals, however, and they will quickly get the concept of biting. They might require repetitive actions, but they will eventually get it.

These animals feel pleasure and pain. They will also know happiness, loneliness and sadness. Ferrets will become emotionally attached to their human owners and can be affected by the attitude and personality of their human owners as well.

You should consequently never subject your ferret to physical punishment beyond what was detailed above. You need to just adjust their natural behavior so that it doesn’t harm you or other humans. Harsh punishments will scare them and make them fearful. Fearful animals are very difficult to reckon with in the long run as they will become aggressive.

Patience is key with the ferret. They will get it eventually.

More Articles on Ferret Care: