Kay, I have never laid a finger on my kids, I dont feel its neccersary as I can communicate effectivly with them and I feel most of the time people who slap there kids do it not to teach the kids a lesson but because there angry......but a ferret is an animal, not a child and it can't be reasoned with, I would never hit a ferret but wull still give them a tap on the nose and a "no" if they were to bite me, Its just the way I do things, not saying its right or wrong, just my way and I have never had a hand shy ferret, mine rush to the front of the cage to be played with..................