Keeping Ferrets in Close Proximity to Dogs

[Ceramic 0]

I am due to aquire two Jills in a month or so and am in the process of building a hutch for them. I have a 2yr old daughter and I am keen to protect the ferrets from her by keeping the hutch inside my secure dog run. Is anyone aware of any reason why dogs and ferrets cannot live in close proximity for example will one my infect the other with some kind of disease. Regards Mike

[sue 1]

carnt see a problem unless the dog wees on the cage or the dog chews the cage up and kills the ferrets

[Kay 3,709]

Jesus you make your daughter sound like the bride of chucky the ferrets will be fine if you teach her to respect them the younger they start the better , its good that kids are taught how to handle animals with respect

[Leeview 791]

fix the cage well up off of the floor, so the dogs are n't losing floor space the dogs will be able to see and smell them thus getting used to them(if they're not already steady with ferrets) and they re out of your daughters way, there are diseases that can be passed twixt ferrets and dogs but these can be limited with good husbandry

Y.I.S Leeview

[noddy6560 0]

ferrets are escape artistes, what would happen if they got out ? The dogs could certainly kill them, that happened to some one I know when the ferret got out despite being locked in its hutch and got into the kennels

[Kay 3,709]

ferrets are escape artistes, what would happen if they got out ? The dogs could certainly kill them, that happened to some one I know when the ferret got out despite being locked in its hutch and got into the kennels

 

I think thats a very valid point & worth thinking about

[paulus 26]

i have always given the kids the kits to play with. does both the world of good, ferrets get well used to being handled and the kids gain confidence in the ferrtets.

[The one 8,511]

Ive got me hutches on the outside of the dog run out the road and there they dont take nothing away from the family part of the garden and the dogs give extra security if anybody tries to touch my ferrets .

[stubby 175]

I too would have said, why shut them away from kids, my daughter has two of her own pet ferrets, and still comes ferreting and handles my rabbiting ferts

[Sighthound 49]

My ferret court is in my dog run, never had any problems, indeed it's good cos they get used to each other. ie ferrets are on the same level as the dogs with only the wire seperating them.

If they did get out (they never have) my dogs would not kill them

[sikastag_1 689]

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Edited August 29, 2019 by grant_c

[Kaiserdog 20]

wouldnt be a problem if your dogs are broke to ferrets, but theres a very small mesh you can buy mate i use it on my hutches even a child cant get their finger through, just use bolt locks and put a wee padlock on so she cant open it if your worried shel let them out, if you dont want them in your kennel that is, iv got a 22 month old son but he doesnt bother on 2 of my hutches its bigger mesh and even when he puts his finger in he just gets licked anyway as long as their handled regularly that aint a problem either.

 

I've never had a problem with dogs & ferrets living in close proximity the dog is well broken to the ferrets since puppyhood & has a healthy respect for them.

[ferreterni 29]

I keep my ferrets in with the dogs, keeps them friendly. Jrt kips under the cage more than in her box.

[Ceramic 0]

Many thanks for All of your advice. Some very valid points. Have decided to lodge them up high inside the kennel run which can secured with lock and key. My daughter is not so bad. I was more concerned that she would kill them with kindness rather than anything else! Regards Mike

[fireman 11,000]

Having the ferrets where the dogs can see them even sniff then through the wire helps with keeping them used to each other ,having them low also doesn't wind the dogs up wanting to know whats in the cage and stops them jumping up at them.I have had a couple of escapes and my ferrets can walk about all my dogs unharmed,it's not hard to break dogs to ferrets and i can't belive how many folks keep both but can't work both together.Adult dogs are harder to break to ferrets,sometimes impossible and i'm no dog trainer but i've never failed to break any sort of pup to them be it lurcher or terrier.