Trained Ferrets anyone??

[Sterry 0]

I'm just interested in know whether anyone else has trained ferrets to come on command using a dog whistle?i've done it with all my ferrets and my uncle before me and neither have had to dig one out. When i've spoken to people about this, i've simply been ridiculed and called some not very desirable things.

[Flying Ferrets 0]

I don't hunt, but I've spent all my day looking for a ferret some idiot set out in the forrest because he didn't want it anymore.. (didnt find it, probably dead by now...).. Wish that ferret had been treined that way...!

 

Does it really work with a dog whistle? In that case I think I'll try it.

Edited December 6, 2008 by Flying Ferrets

[stealthy1 3,964]

It's a handy trick if you can make it work for you at the right moment, but when they don't want to play ball, it's out with the spade.

[Sterry 0]

Obviously if a ferret is very very stubborn then im afraid its out with the spades, but fortunatly all my ferrets have been willing.

 

All i did to train my ferrets was every time i feed them i give them 2 short toots on the dog whistle, i've done this since they were weined and know they associate thos 2 toots with grub. every so often i give them a bit of a practice and let em wonder around the garden and the neighbourgh's for a minuite or so then calling them on the whistle. its amazing seein two ferrets boundin along the lawn completely ignoring the chickens and quails.

 

when im out hunting and ones takin its time or has layed up, i blow the whistle down the hole and usually within 5-10 mins of this they are out, if its a bit longer i get some cheap smoked salmon (yes their is such a thing Lidls) and let that waft down the warren. my two love the stuff (who can blame them). the thing to keep in mind is never cheat your ferret, every call on the whistle = a treat. even the one in the box should get a treat if only ones layed up.

 

i'll be happy to answer anymore questions if you have any.

[Brimmer 220]

Must admit, i'm not one to riddicule people, but any hard working ferret is not going to be swayed by a whistle, smoked salmon, or a nuclear bomb for that matter.

A ferret will come out when it's good and ready, and usually when it's killed everything down there. If it comes out before then, either the bunny's stopped up, running scared or dead.

Is this another wind up?

[Sterry 0]

i assure you its not. But the reason i trained my ferret was not to get one or two extra rabbits but to get my ferret back, and seeing as i use two small jills for hunting i would imagine killing more than two rabbits, would leave them knackered and ready to come back.

[stealthy1 3,964]

I would like to see you perform this trick, but I doubt my most loyal ferret would bale a warren full of rabbits for a salmon treat, it would more than likely throw me a blank un!

[Brimmer 220]

I'm sure if the ferret was trained, it would take it no more than 30 seconds to show on the surface. The fact it takes 5-10 minutes shows this is just normal behaviour of a ferret, especially one that is not willing to get stuck in properly.

I'll tell you what is going on really underground shall I? (If you had good collared up ferrets you would see this.)

Your jills are bieng put underground with something 4 times there size, when getting within biting distance of the rabbits, they are getting kicked senseless, and are deciding that what they thought was fun, is suddenly, no longer fun.

They then return to the surface, it's a safer place.

The rabbit stays down, the jill does not want any of it, and it comes out 5 minutes after a whistle is blown?

Is this a trained ferret?

They are not that clever believe me. Association with things yes, whistle maybee, but if instinct takes over, nothing in the world will stop a propper ferret from doing what it wants.

[Sterry 0]

What your describing may not be a trained ferret but one being called back blind after obviously poppin out of a hole 100yrds away is. This is my point many people have very set veiws on the intelligence of animals. may i ask what you call a "proper" ferret, from what i read it seems you mean a killer i dont want that kind of ferret . By all means if you have found a method that work for you, then that is the best method. The method of training my ferrets works for me. this was only confirmed when they escaped and they were called back on the whistle both arriving at my feet from diferent direction with in seconds.

[Kay 3,709]

What your describing may not be a trained ferret but one being called back blind after obviously poppin out of a hole 100yrds away is. This is my point many people have very set veiws on the intelligence of animals. may i ask what you call a "proper" ferret, from what i read it seems you mean a killer i dont want that kind of ferret . By all means if you have found a method that work for you, then that is the best method. The method of training my ferrets works for me. this was only confirmed when they escaped and they were called back on the whistle both arriving at my feet from diferent direction with in seconds.

 

Rattling your keys, whistling or simply calling the ferrets name would also be exually enticing for the ferret to return to you if your a hands on keeper , this kind of thing isnt a new thing its been described in books from well over 50 yrs ago .

[Kay 3,709]

Out of interest how does this salmon thing work, do you mean once the ferrets in sight you tise it with salmon or when its underground ?

[stealthy1 3,964]

Put a vid up on youtube, this I would like to see, you could make a fourtune with a circus

[Brimmer 220]

What your describing may not be a trained ferret but one being called back blind after obviously poppin out of a hole 100yrds away is. This is my point many people have very set veiws on the intelligence of animals. may i ask what you call a "proper" ferret, from what i read it seems you mean a killer i dont want that kind of ferret . By all means if you have found a method that work for you, then that is the best method. The method of training my ferrets works for me. this was only confirmed when they escaped and they were called back on the whistle both arriving at my feet from diferent direction with in seconds.

Ferrets are inquisitve by nature, any sound or movement will create attention.

I see your point on not wanting a killer, If you only want to skim the easily scared few out of the holes then thats in your favour, and i have nothing against that.

These are not trained animals, they just realise that running away is an easy option, and thats all they are doing.

If a ferret took 5-10 minutes to get up through a bury once whistled, i'd think there was something wrong with it!

[Sterry 0]

i use salmon purely because of the stong smell and the ferrets seem to like it. it works on my ferrets, i used to use condenced milk but opted for the salmon after a spilage, and the strong smell could only be a good thing when coupled with a whistle.

[Kay 3,709]

i use salmon purely because of the stong smell and the ferrets seem to like it. it works on my ferrets, i used to use condenced milk but opted for the salmon after a spilage, and the strong smell could only be a good thing when coupled with a whistle.

 

But is it while the animals are underground or on the surface ?