Introducing ferrets to a new pup

[ianrob 2]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

[Rolfe 2]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

Ian..........put the ferret cage at a low level so dog can sniff right up to the cage wire and go nose to nose with the ferrets........they will soon get used to each other.........always works for me. My beddie whippet and the ferrets quite happily work with each other and i have never had a problem in any way over many years of working dogs and ferrets together.

 

Regards

 

Rolfe

[scothunter 12,609]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

 

I'm gonna get same dog soon aswell.As for intoducing ferts to dog.All i did was watch her carefully and if she seemed a bit shady or curled a lip.I just gave a firm command "NO". was quite funny at times when the ferts gave a nip and the dog was lookin at me as if to say can i kill it lol..My ferts stopped nippin her and now she dont bother with them at all.Just remeber to watch them like a hawk until your totally confident they are bonded.A bite from a ferret on a dogs ear or whatever is no great deal.However a bite from a dog is a very dead ferret.Good luck and it will all come good.Get them drinking out same bowl it works to build confidence.

[ianrob 2]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

Ian..........put the ferret cage at a low level so dog can sniff right up to the cage wire and go nose to nose with the ferrets........they will soon get used to each other.........always works for me. My beddie whippet and the ferrets quite happily work with each other and i have never had a problem in any way over many years of working dogs and ferrets together.

 

Regards

 

Rolfe

 

 

Thanks Rolfe, I respect your opinions and heed all of your posts , thanks ian.

Edited October 4, 2008 by ianrob

[ianrob 2]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

 

I'm gonna get same dog soon aswell.As for intoducing ferts to dog.All i did was watch her carefully and if she seemed a bit shady or curled a lip.I just gave a firm command "NO". was quite funny at times when the ferts gave a nip and the dog was lookin at me as if to say can i kill it lol..My ferts stopped nippin her and now she dont bother with them at all.Just remeber to watch them like a hawk until your totally confident they are bonded.A bite from a ferret on a dogs ear or whatever is no great deal.However a bite from a dog is a very dead ferret.Good luck and it will all come good.Get them drinking out same bowl it works to build confidence.

 

Thanks so much mate, I have a bit of experience with both ferrets and dogs, but not together. Your advice is appreciated,.

[tote 870]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

Ian..........put the ferret cage at a low level so dog can sniff right up to the cage wire and go nose to nose with the ferrets........they will soon get used to each other.........always works for me. My beddie whippet and the ferrets quite happily work with each other and i have never had a problem in any way over many years of working dogs and ferrets together.

 

Regards

 

Rolfe

 

That reminds me of something that happened over 20 years ago. I'd just been given a big hob and when I say big I mean big, anyway my lurcher bitch at that time was used to ferrets and they were used to her and it was quite normal for her to walk from hutch to hutch nosing the mesh.

 

One day when she touched her nose against the mesh of the hutch that the new hob was in, he grabbed her by the tip of her nose and was locked on fast. As you can imagine she was far from happy but she couldn't pull free. I had to open the hutch and grab the hob and eventually managed to seperate them.

 

That's why I would be a bit wary of letting a dog get too close to a hutch if the ferrets inside are not used to a dog.By all means let the dog see and watch the ferrets in the hutch but keep a close eye on it.

 

The way I've always introduced any dog or pup to a ferret is to put a bowl of milk down and let the ferret drink out of it as you hold the dog on a lead. You will be able to gauge what the dog wants to do by how he reacts,most of the time it will want to drink the milk aswell. Do this on a regular basis and they will soon get used to being in each others company.

 

[victor 10]

get a ferret that WONT bite the dog and just let them play with them, it is a pup so wont want to kill it yet.

[ianrob 2]

I've got two fine albino hobs now about 18 month old and coming on grand. I'm gonna get a Bedlington-whippet pup and was wondering about the best way to introduce them. Will the ferrets bother the dog? will the pup bother the ferrets? what's the best way of making sure all goes well.

Ian..........put the ferret cage at a low level so dog can sniff right up to the cage wire and go nose to nose with the ferrets........they will soon get used to each other.........always works for me. My beddie whippet and the ferrets quite happily work with each other and i have never had a problem in any way over many years of working dogs and ferrets together.

 

Regards

 

Rolfe

 

That reminds me of something that happened over 20 years ago. I'd just been given a big hob and when I say big I mean big, anyway my lurcher bitch at that time was used to ferrets and they were used to her and it was quite normal for her to walk from hutch to hutch nosing the mesh.

 

One day when she touched her nose against the mesh of the hutch that the new hob was in, he grabbed her by the tip of her nose and was locked on fast. As you can imagine she was far from happy but she couldn't pull free. I had to open the hutch and grab the hob and eventually managed to seperate them.

 

That's why I would be a bit wary of letting a dog get too close to a hutch if the ferrets inside are not used to a dog.By all means let the dog see and watch the ferrets in the hutch but keep a close eye on it.

 

The way I've always introduced any dog or pup to a ferret is to put a bowl of milk down and let the ferret drink out of it as you hold the dog on a lead. You will be able to gauge what the dog wants to do by how he reacts,most of the time it will want to drink the milk aswell. Do this on a regular basis and they will soon get used to being in each others company.

 

 

 

 

Thanks mate all the info is welcome

[ianrob 2]

get a ferret that WONT bite the dog and just let them play with them, it is a pup so wont want to kill it yet.

 

 

 

 

 

cheers mate for the input.