Newly bought ferrets

[jackiboi 7]

Hi, i have just bought my first 2 ferrets.. There brill.. I have a nice setup for them to, spending alot yesterday lol. they are very tame as the bloke who i got the off handled them all the time, they are 9 weeks old.. ive just got 1 problem i have a 1 and a half yr old jack russle, he's a hunter too also very hyper active.. i was wondering if they will ever get on as there not to good at the min, he just wants to eat them .. any help on how others have done it would be great.

thanks

[longdog13 36]

Hi, i have just bought my first 2 ferrets.. There brill.. I have a nice setup for them to, spending alot yesterday lol. they are very tame as the bloke who i got the off handled them all the time, they are 9 weeks old.. ive just got 1 problem i have a 1 and a half yr old jack russle, he's a hunter too also very hyper active.. i was wondering if they will ever get on as there not to good at the min, he just wants to eat them .. any help on how others have done it would be great.

thanks

 

Hi mate,

 

From my own experience, I have a paterdale terrier, 6yrs, brought up wih ferrets about, a great fox dog, rats etc too. She will happily work all day with ferrets, even ignoring them at the mouth of holes, All sounds good right?

Well, she managed to kill 9 ferrets , this was two jills and their litters, the patt was loose in the garden and nobody there to see anything. She'll go through a cage to get to them.

So you'll have to see how yours goes, Best of luck.

 

PS ferrets now kept in a dog proof enclosure

[theferreter 311]

if ur jackrussel has killed rats then hel kill ur ferrets i cant see him ever getin used til them the mate just lost a ferret till his terrier

[wrenyboy 0]

if ur jackrussel has killed rats then hel kill ur ferrets i cant see him ever getin used til them the mate just lost a ferret till his terrier

cool dog

[theferreter 311]

whats cool about a dog killing a ferret

[stubby 175]

if ur jackrussel has killed rats then hel kill ur ferrets i cant see him ever getin used til them the mate just lost a ferret till his terrier

 

 

it all depends on the dog, we have an 11yr old JRT bitch thats a great ratter, yet she knows not to go for the ferts

and plays with my daughters two pet ferts in the front room all the time

 

get yourself a tube of ferret malt paste, ferts and dogs love it, squeeze some onto the bars of hutch, so ferts and dog, lick it off at same time, dont expect results overnight, but doing stuff like that, plus a stern NO, if the dog ever gets to near/looking like it might attack

at a year and half though your dog is probably still in the "puppy frame of mind"

[comanche 3,132]

Lots of JRs work with ferrets . Like Stubby says yours is still a pup but unless you start training him for general obedience he'll be a bit of a liability around any livestock -not just ferrets . Then you are not going to have much luck getting permission.

Get the pup calmed down ,get him on a lead,get his attention and start training . Your dog and your ferrets are young -you have plenty of time to get it right. Eventually the dog will come to regard the ferrets as his little mates who bolt the rabbits he marks and you will have a team . Good luck.

[lilpip1234 62]

my little old russel bitch was a demon on rats and to ground yet she never once touched any of my ferrets

[max abell 196]

My old jack never touched the ferts either he seemed to know when the ferts went in

the box he was going out rabbiting

But on saying that i wouldnt trust him 100% if we wasnt keeping an eye on him so be very carefull

lost him about 2 yrs ago now to old age RIP george

[jackiboi 7]

hi.. thanks every1 for the replys, been trying hard at it since i have bought the ferrets .. its all good fun tho.. ive been putting the ferrets in my dogs vet cage and putting it on the garden leavin my dog out there with them tryin to get the smell for ech other.. good way???

thanks again!!!

[stubby 175]

dunno about putting them in "his cage" he may see that as them invading his terrotary if dogs think like that?

[Brimmer 220]

Time is the key with the terrier/ ferret combo. You will need to keep on top of them to start with. You may have to be 'hard' with the dog, but they come around with a lot of work.

[Halfinch 51]

You may have a problem getting your jrt used to ferrets at 18 months, although not impossible. perserverence and firmness will probably be the key.

 

My Border can be a bit funny with my ferts sometimes when they are in the garden, it starts off as a play thing but gets rougher, and she was bought up with ferrets,

But when we are out working she doesn't bat an eyelid at the ferrets, Too keen to grab a rabbit i think, lol