Buzz
Ferrets make delightful and clever companions, capable of learning various tricks. While they may not be as obedient as dogs and might not excel at intricate feats like navigating obstacle courses or balancing objects, they can certainly master basic commands such as recall, sit, lie down, and even roll over. With a bit of patience, you can teach them these tricks using some tasty treats or a small piece of their favorite food, like cooked chicken breast.
Steps to Follow
Teaching Your Ferret to Respond to Your Call
Begin training one ferret in a neutral environment. If you have multiple ferrets, choose one to start with and train it individually in a space where it feels comfortable, such as your living room. Allocate about 10–15 minutes for each training session. Avoid attempting to train multiple ferrets simultaneously, as they may become too distracted to learn effectively.
Present a treat about 1 foot (0.30 m) ahead of your ferret. At this distance, your pet will readily notice the treat. When the ferret begins to move towards the treat, say 'come' clearly. Allow the ferret to approach and enjoy the treat, reinforcing the association between coming to you and receiving a reward.
- You can use an alternative command if you prefer, such as calling the ferret's name or saying “treats!”
Gradually increase the distance between the treat and your ferret. Begin by holding the treat 2 feet (0.61 m) away, then extend to 4 feet (1.2 m), 5 feet (1.5 m), and beyond. Repeat the previous steps: allow the ferret to recognize the treat, give the “come” command, and reward the ferret for approaching. Once the ferret reliably responds to the command, try calling it from a different room.
- If the ferret reaches for the treat before you say 'Come,' hide the treat and then issue the command. Show the treat only after giving the command.
- Reinforce the “Come” command by rewarding your ferret whenever it moves towards you spontaneously.
Consistently practice the training until your ferret masters the behavior. Repetition and reward are key components of effective training. Conduct training sessions with your ferret at least 5-10 times consecutively, rewarding it each time it responds to your call. Over time, your ferret will become proficient at coming to you when called, regardless of its location in your home.
- Once your ferret reliably responds to your call, gradually reduce the frequency of treat rewards.
Teaching Your Ferret to Perch on Your Shoulder
Begin the training in a safe, cushioned area. Choose a soft surface like your bed to minimize the risk of injury if your ferret falls. Alternatively, sit in a chair or on a sofa. Avoid walking on hard surfaces with your ferret on your shoulder until it is comfortable and secure in this position.
Position the ferret on your shoulders and offer it a treat. Simultaneously, firmly utter the word “steady.” Over time, the ferret will learn to associate this verbal cue with remaining on your shoulders. Show affection to the ferret by petting it and giving gentle scratches under its chin, reinforcing the positive experience of perching on your shoulder.
- While the ferret is perched, speak to it in a gentle, encouraging manner.
Use a firm “no” if the ferret attempts to jump off. Through repetition, the ferret will understand that staying on your shoulder is rewarded, while attempting to jump down is discouraged. Since learning this trick takes time, allow the ferret to dismount after approximately 10 seconds.
- Even if the ferret jumps down, refrain from yelling or physically punishing it in frustration.
Extend the duration for which the ferret remains on your shoulder. Begin by placing a treat on your shoulder, lifting the ferret, and commanding it to “steady.” Once it can comfortably stay in place for 10 seconds, gradually increase the duration to 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and eventually 1 minute. With consistent practice and positive reinforcement, your ferret will learn to perch on your shoulder for extended periods.
- At this stage, you can move around your home with the ferret perched on your shoulder.
Teaching a Ferret to Sit
Hold a treat approximately 6 inches (15 cm) above the ferret's head. Once the ferret notices the enticing treat above, it will naturally sit upright in an attempt to reach it.
- Ensure the treat is within reach but not too high to prevent the ferret from jumping.
Instruct your ferret to “sit” once it assumes a seated position. Consistent repetition of the command will help your ferret associate sitting with the verbal cue “sit.” Therefore, as soon as your ferret settles into a sitting posture while eyeing the treat, clearly say “sit.”
Immediately reward your ferret with the treat once it sits down. Repeat this procedure 10–15 times within a 20-minute timeframe (or until your ferret loses interest). With repeated practice, your ferret will grasp that the treat serves as a reward for sitting.
Offer praise and affectionate petting to your ferret immediately after providing the treat. This additional positive reinforcement will expedite the learning process of sitting on command. Speak in a loving tone and commend your ferret with phrases like “nice work!” “good boy!” or “good girl!”
Gradually reduce the use of treats as your ferret becomes proficient at sitting. Since it's not practical to always have chicken breast (or other food treats) available for rewarding your ferret, begin by offering treats only 3/4 of the time, then half, then 1/4, until eventually ceasing treat rewards entirely. However, continue to provide verbal praise and petting when your ferret sits down.
Training Ferrets to Lie Down and Roll Over
Position a treat in front of your ferret while it's lying down. Initiate this trick when your ferret is already in a prone position, rather than attempting to force it down manually. Wait for a suitable moment when your ferret is flat on the ground, then place a treat approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in front of its face.
Issue the command “lay down” and reward your ferret once it's prone. When your ferret assumes a lying position to reach for the treat, utter the verbal cue: “lay down!” while simultaneously moving the treat forward for easy retrieval. Coordinate the command with the treat delivery to associate lying down with the phrase “lay down” and a treat reward.
Reiterate the command sequence 5-6 times within a 20-minute interval. Repetition is key to your ferret's learning process, so continue the training session after your ferret lies down once. Wait for it to recline again, then repeat the process: place a treat, say “lay down,” and reward. Through consistent practice over several days or weeks, your ferret will learn to lie down on command.
Encourage your ferret to roll over by circling a treat around its mouth. Command your ferret to “lay down.” Hold a treat approximately 7 inches (18 cm) above the ground and move it behind your ferret's head. Your ferret should naturally roll onto its back to keep sight of the treat. Once it rolls over, offer the treat and say “roll over!”
Guide the treat in a complete circle above your ferret's head. This action should prompt your ferret to execute a full roll-over. Progress to this step only after your ferret is comfortable rolling onto its back and responding to the “roll over” command. As you move the treat around its head, continue to verbalize “roll over,” but withhold the treat until your ferret completes the roll and returns to a prone position.
Continue practicing these steps until your ferret consistently performs the roll-over trick on command. During a single 20–30 minute training session, aim to have your ferret execute a complete roll-over at least six times. It might require some encouragement (or multiple treats per attempt) as rolling over is more complex than sitting or lying down. However, through persistence and repetition, your ferret will master the roll-over command.
Helpful Tips
- If you've been training your ferret for an extended period, give it a short break to rest.
- Remember, praise (whether it's gentle pats or a tasty treat) is essential! A ferret is more likely to perform a new trick when it receives praise.
- Always reward your ferret with a treat after it successfully performs a trick. Even after years of practice, the ferret will still expect a reward.
