HOW DO YOU TRAIN YOUNG FERRETS?

The ferrets are now growing quickly. They have gone from being soft and cuddly fur sharks, as mad as a box of frogs, to mature and adult-looking specimens. In reality, they may look like adults but they are far from it. This is a very important point to remember when thinking about getting these young ferrets working. If started too early, a large percentage could pick up some bad habits that it might be difficult to recover from.

Working a mentally immature animal may show results in the short term, but I always look at the bigger picture. Young ferrets are just that, young. When working a warren they just want to frolic about, dart from hole to hole and play hide-and-seek when you want to pick them up. This leads to you trying to grab them and perhaps the onset of the ferrets skulking at a hole. Young ferrets need time to adjust, they need nurturing through the first few outings and although some are naturals, many are not.

Time and patience are tested to the hilt when a ferret starts playing around. Not only are they not working, but they are also beginning to think that this is normal, and it isn’t. You want them to walk out or at least be in a position where you can pick them up and not have to chase them or grab at them, especially near any holes.

I have a plan to start my youngsters off slowly at the middle to end of October. Some will just crack on with very few problems, and some will no doubt have to be held back a bit or be given a helping hand. By starting them off gradually and behind experienced ferrets that they are used to, they will learn how to work and reinforce those inbred genes. Hopefully this means they will not waste any time and energy playing or scrapping with any unfamiliar ferrets.