Kids & Ferrets

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

Hi Everyone,

We just got a new (6 month old) ferret about 3 weeks ago and have 2 kids aged 6 and 8. We have had ferrets since before they were born but the have never been nippy ferrets so the kids have never had any reason to be scared of them. Unfortunately our new little boy's manners are not quite as good as our previous ferrets. He rarely nips my husband or myself anymore except lightly while playing. We have explained to the kids that the more upset they get when he's out the more excitable he will get and the greater chance they have of getting nipped.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for me, we use Bitter Apple spray, but that doesn't help the kids fear much.

Thanks in advance for your helpful tips.

Kate

[Johnny and Demon]

Hope I don't sound rude but .. Since your kids are scared of the ferret, why don't you simply give up ? Your ferret doesn't need to play with your kids and vice versa, especially if they don't get along. If your kids are scared, chances are your ferret is scared too ! & Young children simply can't understand that because they are simply too young.

"ferrets do have sharp teeth, and must be taught not to nip (just as one must train a puppy not to bite while playing). However, even a well trained ferret may try to nip if he or she feels cornered or threatened. Given that young children and ferrets can both be excitable and prone to rough play, interaction between ferrets and young children must always be closely supervised -- for the protection of both the children and the ferrets. For older children who are able to be calm and gentle, a ferret can be a fine pet. It really comes down to a personal choice - know your child and make an informed decision whether any pet will fit into your household dynamics. And always remember that whatever the situation, interactions between children and any pets must be supervised". (Full text : exoticpets.about.com/cs/ferrets/a/ferretfamily.htm)

[TayLa]

Keep SisKo and the children seperated. EveryBody is HaPpy : )

If you feel the need to introduce them, wait 30 days and try again.

lv TayLa

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

Thanks for the advice that is what is currently happening, I just feel bad that the kids can't spend time in the living room because Sisko is out and I feel bad leaving him in the cage until they go to bed (he is in there while we are work since we are still working on potty training), I just hope everyone is over it by winter because there will be no escaping him then. Our 8 year old is doing better than the 6 year old though, he will stay in the same room until Sisko gets rowdy and wants to play. They are just having a hard time with this because the last 2 ferrets we had were not nippers, and they were able to give them love and not be afraid of getting nipped. I know that this will pass, and that Sisko is still just a baby.

[Tressie]

I echo the advice already given.

Keep the ferret and kids separated.

You are correct that he will calm down as he gets older, however, if you put them together while the ferret is still young, you will have more problems with a ferret who may become a fear biter.

It is hard to tell a ferret's temperament in a highly stressed environment like a pet store. If he is a Real Canadian Ferret (more and more being carried by our retail pet stores) he will not have been bred for a gentle temperament.

A solution for the ferret would be to get him a companion, but then again there may be an adjustment period there.

My 8 year-old grandson visited this past summer and I let him handle and play with the ferrets I knew had a gentler temperament. The more high-strung ones were not allowed out to play with him but remained in the ferret room to play. Or he sat up on a chair and watched them, but did not interact with them.

Tressie

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

Thanks everyone for your advice! We are currently keeping them separated, it is a bit of a challenge since we live in a small house, but since it's summer the kids have been playing outside or on our deck while Sisko plays inside.

Tressie I do not think that he is a RCF because he doesn't have any tattoo markings whatsoever, no lines or dots on his ears so I'm not really sure where he is from, and he is not necessarily vicious he just kind of forgets that humans have thinner skin than ferrets. He loves going over at our friends house playing with their ferrets and we are probably going to get him a companion but probably not until after Christmas.

Kate

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

Just to add an update Sisko and the kids are starting to play in the same room together and are getting along better, if the kids forget and run around him he will give chase and jump at them but he has not nipped in over 2 weeks, it makes me happy that all my kids are getting along now.

[Tressie]

Good to hear progress has been made ;D

However, don't let your guard down, the 'kids' will have to be supervised for the next few years to make certain 'accidents' don't happen.

Tressie

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

oh we would never leave them unsupervised, we've had ferrets since before we had kids, so our kids have grown up with them and have learned how to play with them, it's just we never had a nippy one before that was the only problem that we were having.

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

I am happy to announce that Sisko is no longer having problems with our kids because he has a new brother to play with called Odo, we adopted him off of Kijiji last week and they love each other, I have even seen my daughter pick up Sisko without being nipped, so we have made incredible progress, thanks everyone for your help!

[wicket]

Great to hear your progress!!! Sometimes it just takes time and patience. Sounds like Sisko is a lucky little guy to have such great parents. Congrats on your new little one Odo.

[Tressie]

Awesome!

So happy to hear that Sisko has a new brother ;D

Congratulations on the new addition to your family

Tressie

[Sisko & Odo's Mom]

just wanted to post a pic of my boys. Odo is on the left and Sisko is on the right.

[Tressie]

Adorable! ;D