Ferret training

[pmatty77 26]

What are peoples opinions on pet ferrets and working ferrets mine are a mixture of both, i do believe that they are better workers the tamer they are as they still have the basic instinct,has anyone tried clicker training them ....click the clicker and then reward them eventually they associate the clicker with treats and seem to respond when working...has anyone tried this or any other ways to get them to return easier when underground?

Edited August 12, 2008 by pmatty77

[Netter 0]

Yes mate I did this, sit and stay were quite easy to master, but I struggled with training my ferret to retrieve, but I found if you turned it into a game and kept the ferrets interest, she came on in leaps and bounds.

[pmatty77 26]

Yes mate I did this, sit and stay were quite easy to master, but I struggled with training my ferret to retrieve, but I found if you turned it into a game and kept the ferrets interest, she came on in leaps and bounds.

 

Well you wont need a gun dog then if yours can retrieve...well done

[andy s410c 61]

Never heard of ferts trained to a clicker meself but it may be possible or have been done For me the fert will come up top when it,s work is done,failing that it,s out with the magic box & spade if your a fan of digging...

[pmatty77 26]

Well mine certainly know the click means reward and if it means they may respond instead of staying underground then its worth a try...least till i can afford a Deben...

[Kay 3,709]

Most peoples ferrets are pleased to see them when they go to them to feed , the humans the clicker , they soon learn that human = food & fuss

[andy s410c 61]

Don,t get to hung up on ferts laying up,yes it does happen but take actions you have control over ie:feed & water them before,sometimes during the working day,noise discipline the rest of it is down to the ferts & rabbits.A well fed fert will quickly lose interest in a dead bunny below ground & move on....

[will.f11 24]

My friend trains his to a whistle. Everytime he goes to feed them he will keep whisling. this makes the ferrets associate the noise with food and once he put his ferret at one end of the yard and he stood at the other and whisled and he came to him really fast. I have never tried but it may work

[Dan_Jones 7]

when i want mine to come to me or 1 of my hutches i do a little squeek in the hutch or down 1 of the pipes ... they come flying at me haha ( put my lips in a kissing style and sucking short and sharp lol ) best i could describe it lol

[The one 8,512]

One of my old jills retrieve a ball from the run into her sleeping compartment as every day when i feed her i throw it back out to the run and next day its back in her bed .but she's never done that with a rabbit shame think of the digging that would have saved

[scothunter 12,609]

Interesting thread.I have never attempted to train a fert.I get them to stop biting and thats where it ends.I might buy meself a clicker

[gilly-93 31]

mine sit and roll over at the minute there coursing rabbits soon they will be on hares

[scothunter 12,609]

mine sit and roll over at the minute there coursing rabbits soon they will be on hares

 

lol

[deanflute 550]

One of my old jills retrieve a ball from the run into her sleeping compartment as every day when i feed her i throw it back out to the run and next day its back in her bed .but she's never done that with a rabbit shame think of the digging that would have saved

 

 

my albino hob does this with tennis balls..if i put 1 ball in the run he will pick it up and take it to bed..if i put 3 balls in he will take all 3 to bed, i'l film it 1 day and post it on here

[The one 8,512]

So if your ferrets deep in a bury on a rabbit you click and it leaves the rabbit and comes out ,i really hope mine never do