introducing to a dog

[fieldsportsman 107]

hi all, getting a jill and hob in about 10 weeks and want to work them. I also have a 19 month lakeland terrier who is plasid and intelegent which I would like to bring to give a helping hand. Has any one got any tips on introducing the ferret to the dog.

[mexlad 189]

only ever done it from being a pup myself so wouldnt know about an older dog.might be a bit tricky mate.im sure someone will know though.

[saxonmaster 74]

hi all, getting a jill and hob in about 10 weeks and want to work them. I also have a 19 month lakeland terrier who is plasid and intelegent which I would like to bring to give a helping hand. Has any one got any tips on introducing the ferret to the dog.

 

hi mate i would let them see each other in there hutch or run through the wire mesh first of all keeping the dog on the lead and every time the dog goes to get to close say leave it or no then when u have that cracked tie the dog up or get someone else to hold him and handle the ferrets in front of the dog let them sniff each other buts its not just the dog u will have to watch its the ferrets too because if they bite your dog it might put the dog off for good or worse. when your happy with that u can put the ferrets on the floor in front of the dog but still keeping it on the lead and still saying to the dog leave it or no keep praising the dog when its doing what u want. and dont rush it u have the whole summer to crack this. this it what im doing and is going well but be careful using a terrier mate there breed to kill small furry animals. hope it all goes well mate and this helps

[scothunter 12,609]

keep him on a lead and let them start by drinking from the same bowl just be very carefull and ready to pull dog away if it turns bad.remember a dog wont die from a fert bite but one bite from a dog no more ferret.good luck mate

[tdavepat 8]

Good advice from saxonmaster and scothunter. I find it no more difficult to introduce a mature dog to ferrets as a pup. At least the mature dog understands leave and no.

[johnrthrfrd 223]

good luck mate i have a 3year old bedlington and have tried always to break him to ferrets and he won`t have any of it. atb.

[runforyourlife 361]

Well the advice given is i think just common sense, and you do this kind of thing with any kind of animals being introduced to each other. I think if you lakey is a good working strain. And bushes to anything that smells, moves or runs. Your ferrets will have a good chance of ending up stiff...(pup is totally diferent matter)

 

What ever you do at home mate is up to you but you might as well just hold ferret in one hand, dog in the other, then if the dogs pulls to the fez, let it get nipped on the nose. It will either put it off from going near them or do nothing. Theres no hard and fast rules pal..

 

And really it means nothing at home, its when your animals are in a Hunting mood, and that ferret pops its head out of the warren! Thats when you will discover wether your lakey will kill it or not, its a chance you take....

[chewton 7]

I introduced an adult lurcher to ferrets last season in the way described by saxonmaster and had no problems. I'd be a bit wary of getting them to share a bowl at first, I've done this with pups but if there is a falling out an adult lakeland will make short work of a ferret. I'd be wary of letting a ferret nip an adult terrier too, again it works with pups but most of the adult terriers I've seen would take a nip as the bell for the first round. Like saxonmaster says take it slow and gradual