My ferret runs from me and hates being held. Is he afraid or playing?

It could take Lyla a few weeks to get use to her new surroundings. I would make sure she is in a low stress location in the house. Also, allow her to have some space she can get away and relax. I recommend finding a special treat only you or your boyfriend gives her. that way she starts to look forward to you being around.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ferrets make excellent pets as they like to interact with humans and other ferrets, are naturally playful, and accept a variety of foods. However, it is important to keep their home cage clean as they have a faster intestinal transit time (meaning up to 4 bowel movements per day) and make sure that your home is “ferret-proofed” to avoid foreign body obstructions and injuries. You should also make sure that your city allows ferrets to be kept as pets, as they are illegal in certain areas. Good luck with your potential new pet!

Ferrets can be very scared when brought into a new home. I would make sure that Major has a nice cage to give him room to play and hide. After a few days of him getting use to his cage you can allow him to play out side the cage with supervision. I would recommend trying to find a treat that he really likes and have you be the only person that gives it to him. That way he associates something yummy with you. The most important step is to move slowly but most of the time Major will start to relax. I hope that helps

Sorry you are having this issue with Eddie. My two suggestions would be to make sure you have the right type of harness and try a different type of treat that he REALLY likes that will distract him for at least 30 seconds. Harness suggestion: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6067+11281+17391&pcatid=17391 As you can see, it does not go between the front legs. That may be the issue you are having. For a treat, try some canned cat food. He may like that better. Here is a good reference article on training. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=2064 Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Thanks for reaching out about Bubba and including photos. Behavioral training in ferrets is often difficult. Is he young or older? If older, did he used to play nicer? Older ferrets (3+ years) can sometimes develop adrenal tumors that produce testosterone, and increase aggression. Otherwise, it is probably behavioral and just plays hard. Shorter periods of play time, and stopping prior to "rough" play might help alleviate problems. Consulting an animal behavioralist might have better ideas. Good luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would be extremely careful with this as Reese could accidentally hurt or even kill your ferret. If you’re going to do this, hold onto your ferret at all times to pull him out of harms reach if needed. If your puppy is particularly exhuberant, it might be a good idea to have a friend or family member hold on to his collar while you hold the ferret. Make sure they are closely supervised together until you know that Reese will play gently. Best wishes to you and your pets!

Thanks for reaching out about Hoss. Behavioral training is similar to that in puppies. Training to know what is chewable (their toys) and what is not (fingers, furniture) is by a combination of positive and negative reinforcement. A good guide to training in puppies might be useful. Putting something like bitter apples or Tabasco sauce on your fingers might work some, but also don't want to make then hand shy. Good luck.