Make Your Ferret Happy
There are many ways to dook your ferrets. Dook means the little giggle that ferrets make. You can also get them to do the 'weasel war dance' and here is how.
Steps
- Nip train your ferret so that he knows how to interact with you gently, and you don't have to fear using your hands to "wrestle" with him.
- Roll the ferret on to their back and tickle their tummy gently. If they grab you with their arms rock them back and forth on their back and maybe slide them a bit.
- Know that if you have two ferrets, you can do the "double dook". An alternative is to get one ferret all happy and dooking, place said ferret on top of calm ferret. Enjoy.
- Drag a vinyl tube on the floor for your ferret to chase. When they catch it, pick up the other end and drag in the opposite direction.
- Billow a sheet on the floor for your ferret to jump on and crawl under. Tickle them through the sheet with your hand or toe.
- Ferrets love chasing things! (Items needed; old sock, shoestring, and a dog or cat) Get a sock and tie it to the shoestring. Tie the string to your dogs tail, sit back and enjoy the show!
- Buy sturdy cat toys to drag and bounce across the floor. (Do not let your ferret eat the toy, obviously!)
- Build a ferret castle out of cardboard boxes by cutting holes in the sides just large enough for them to squeeze through and fill with tunnel toys and towels or sheets.
- Make or buy rattle toys. Handmade "Crochet eggs" that can be ordered online are especially fun. Empty child-proof prescription bottles filled with beads (or what have you) make good rattles. Always ensure rattle toys are well sealed.
- Give your ferret a treat in your lap after playtime. It's both encouragement and a thank you.
Tips
- Ferrets love to hide and explore tight places, they love to cuddle in (and escape from) towels and/or play tubes.
- Play "magic carpet ride". Take a towel, place ferret(s) on towel, quickly (before they run off) slide the towel across the floor. This generally makes them go nuts.
- Ferrets also love playing in the water so before you pull them out empty the water but leave a little behind enough for them to swim but not enough where they can drown & see them swimming, after they play for a bit give them a treat so they know that they are very much loved!!
- If you lose your ferret in the house, a good way to find them is to get a plastic bag and shake it, making the crinkle noise. Wait a few minutes, and if you hear it crinkle, you can grab the ferret.
- Get them a dig box, and fill it with some long grain rice, preferably not the instant kind.
- Quickly lift up the towel so it floats for a second or two (like you do at the beach) and let it land on the ferret. Quickly lift up towel from ferret (careful not to make them go flying across the room) and enjoy.
- Ferrets also love playing in the water so before you pull them out empty the water but leave a little behind enough for them to swim but not enough where they can drown & see them swimming, after they play for a bit give them a treat so they know that they are very much loved
- Get a crinkle sack, ferrets love to hide in things, you can toss the sack (gently) on the bed.
- Some ferrets love water, some hate it. If they love it let them go for a swim every once in a while. Hey, maybe the one who hates water might get jealous!
- If you want to travel with your furry friend, buy a travel case. You can buy them at any pet store. When you do, put a small blanket or towel down in it. Then throw in a few toys, a miniature water bottle (for pets), and a small cup of food. Dixie Cups work well.
- Ferrets like a bath every once in a while. You can put them in the bathtub, but a sink works just as well. You can buy animal shampoo, but baby shampoo works too. Dry them in a regular towel, but don't rub them! Just wrap them up in a towel and cuddle them. Let them run around for about an hour after their bath to let their fur air-dry.
- Some ferrets may even like music so try out different songs and instruments to see what make them happy.
- When playing, ferrets often get bored with toys or a game quickly. Generally within 5-15 minutes. You can prepare 3-5 different activities for them before letting them out to play. Make a tunnel system, put their toys in different boxes/tunnels, put your ferret in the bathtub with rug/towel/blanket and add toys, among other fun activities. This will help keep them occupied and help them bond with you.
- Fill a box with foam peanuts and put your ferrets in, they always go crazy about it.
Warnings
- The dog may injure or even kill the ferret. Always supervise ferrets with other pets.
- In some places, such as big cities, ferrets are illegal. In New York City, they have a list of illegal animals as pets there. You can Google search it. Check with the local laws before buying a ferret. Ferrets can be confiscated and/or put to death if you are caught with one where it is illegal.
- Be careful when permitting your ferret to play with a plastic bag. They are as susceptible to suffocation as another small animal or a child if they get stuck in the bag.
- Be careful when introducing any new toy; make certain that your ferret won't ingest any part of it. Avoid soft rubber, Styrofoam, and fur, as most ferrets find them delicious.
- If your ferret gets a bristle tail then give him some time to calm down, as he is scared or overstimulated, not happy!
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- Clean a Ferret's Ears
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Sources and Citations
- For more ways to make your ferret happy, see: http://www.ehow.com/how_4541556_ferret-happy.html
