Handling your ferret safely
Written by AniMed.org
Congratulations on your new ferret. Bet you can't wait to get to know all about your little guy. And once he settles in, he'll want to know all about you, too. To earn his trust and affection, it's a good idea to begin handling him.
Proper ferret handling
To tame your pet, you will need to pick him up frequently and, most importantly, correctly. Keep in mind that small animals like ferrets are prey in the wild, so a hand swooping down on them from above can be very frightening – and may result in the animal running away, hiding or even attacking. When you're ready to give it a go, make sure he's bright-eyed and alert. If you wake him up from a snooze, he's less likely to be receptive.
- Speak to him in gentle, encouraging tones
- Grasp him with both hands, using one to support his chest and the other to hold his hips and back legs
- Next, you can gently lift him and cradle him in your arms
You can also try holding him on your lap. Don't be surprised if he gets a little squirmy; most ferrets must acquire a taste for being handled and/or cuddled by humans. And remember, heaps of praise and a little treat will go a long way with a ferret who behaves during handling!
Never grab your ferret or pick him up by his tail. If you need to control him during grooming or your weekly inspection of his teeth and ears, scruffing can be very effective and, if done properly, completely safe. Just grasp the thick scruff of skin behind his neck with your hand and lift him, while carefully supporting his bottom half.
Ferret behavior during handling
Don't be surprised if your ferret nips you during the initial taming period. Young ferrets may nip to show that they don't quite like being held, but you will have to let your pet know that this behavior is not acceptable. Experts recommend that you don't just put your pet down after a nip (that's what he wants, after all!) but firmly tell him "No!" and put him in his cage. You may have to do this several times, but he will soon learn that nipping puts an end to playtime and attention from you. Never, ever hit your ferret for nipping or for any reason. Not only will this frighten him, it can lead to aggressive behavior.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Join Now
Customize your pet's page and receive eNewsletters
Free pet Newsletter
Chat with owners
Comments
Hello, I'm a relatively new ferret owner and I have a question about how "cuddly" I can expect my ferret to become. I have a young female ferret of about 4 months old, so I expect her to be playful and squirmy, but I wondered if at any point she will tolerate or enjoy being held/cuddled for any period of time exceeding about a minute or so. She is a delight and loves to run and jump around and play, but I wonder if I can expect her to want to be sweet and affectionate, too (aside from giving her coveted ferret kisses!) Basically I don't want to hold her too much and make her unhappy if that is something she will never enjoy, but if handling her more will "tame" her as you say, or allow her to see that hugs and things aren't so bad, I would try to do that. Thank you!