How do you get a ferret to release your hadn from mouth?

Question

My girl ferret was on a play date with her friends and I reached in to pet one and my girl ferret latched on to me to play... it didn't hurt and I tried to get her to let go but she didn't. so I scruffed her (grabbed her like mama ferret did when she was a kit...its what the ferret books said to do being as it doesn;t hurt them) but she didn't let go just yet. She saw another playmate and then let go. But how do you get one to release if nothing else sems to work?

Answer 1

If she won't let go, you can use something like bitter apple. You shot a SMALL spray into her mouth to get her off. My guy bit when I first got him. If he was too rough I would put him in for a time out, while saying "don't bite!" He was gently after that because he wanted to stay out and play. But the bitter apple (or you can use bitter yuck!) should cause her to release, and then put her for a time out

Answer 2

i scruff them, then blow in their faces if one is latched on to my hand. so far, it's worked -  it startles them enough that they stop and look at you. (like yours, it's never been a painful bite, but i have a young ferret who hasn't quite learned all his manners yet, lol.)

EDIT for kerri: i highly doubt the average person reading that is going to start trying to do CPR on a ferret, lol. not to mention that it would be very difficult indeed to overinflate a ferret's lungs when half their face is holding onto your body parts. i stand by it...as does my veterinarian boss who also owns ferrets (i'm a vet tech). i'd have a harder time suggesting someone squirts a liquid into their ferret's mouth, given the possibility of it inhaling a liquid into its lungs. and i'm of the "don't give positive reinforcement for bad behavior" camp with the ferrevite...these critters train better with positive reinforcement than anything else, and that may just teach them that if they want a nice bit of that tasty stuff, all they have to do is bite your hand to get it. they will learn you are their friend at other times, like when you play with them or when they get their treat as reinforcement for doing good stuff.

personally, i think prevention is the best policy with this, and is what we are using most with our young bite. we rub bitter apple, tobasco sauce or lemon juice on our hands BEFORE getting our boy out. one taste is usually enough for him to not latch on at all.

Answer 3

The bitter apple spray is a great anti-bite training aid. Ferrets generally hate the taste and will release right away.

I totally disagree with blowing in a ferrets face. Some people may read that and actually put their mouth on a ferrets and blow, instead of just doing a small puff of air at them from a distance of at least a foot.   If you don't use this tactic correctly, you could very easily over-inflate their lungs and kill them!

Another thing you can do is to have a tube of Ferretvite handy. Ferrets often just need a distraction.Some people believe that giving them the Ferretvite may be rewarding the biting. Others, including myself, believe it teaches them that you are a friend, not an enemy.

Answer 4

First, don't use tabasco sauce, can do more harm then good. If she is ltched on a slight tug (not yank) on the whiskers will do the trick. Prevention, use vinegar. Less traumatic on the fuzzy. Next, when you see her go to latch a firm NO and remove your hand. I had a VERY bad biter, she bit to draw blood....now, she still nips (not hard) but a firm NO she stops.

The ferret might just be over anxious to come out and play.

Answer 5

I've never worked with ferrets, but I would assume they would be similar to a dog or a cat when it comes to that kind of stuff. I would say just pry it's little jaws open.