Ferrets in cars:

Just like dogs they like to stick their heads out when the car is moving.  Unlike dogs they don't know their limits, or have the right kind of balance; you should have a strong leash on them tied off with out too much slack if you want to do this.  Seems ok when you have a passenger that is looking out for them....alone it might not be too safe...

Found toys:

Not all toys work well for ferrets.  They are prone to bowel obstructions, which may have to be operated on.  ( Laxative sometimes works ) Puck, the sable, who is so very picky about what she eats, shat out a part of a thick rubber band.  I could not imagine how that wormed it's way through her small SMALL intestines.  I know I am really lucky.

Newspaper:

While I was out walking snowy ( above ).  A reporter caught up with me. So there was nothing for it but to bring puck out and get photographed.  Lately some skater teens seem to be calling me ferret man.....should I get a costume?

frustrations

Look...
If you are a person who gets frustrated easily, please don't get a ferret.  They really try your nerves.  They seem to discover things that we can't accept...and take a long time to train to not do.  Like digging in our folding couch, ( can kill them accidentally), digging up anything and everything flowers carpet, getting into walls, chewing on electric wires, somehow missing the litter box.  Seriously; they go right next to the box......

I love them to pieces but knowing what I know now, I was not ready for them....

Buying a ferret

Ok so you have considered a ferret and it's place in your life, and you have decided to get one......
Where and what to look for?
I have not seen nor heard of any breeders around here, that means getting yours from a pet store.  They mostly come from marshal farms and are de-scented (still smell a little ) and neutered.  Now training is difficult and if the pet store hasn't gotten started it could be a nightmare.  Females can be really hard to re-train if not initially trained.  So ask how long they have been at the pet store and judge accordingly....

1)  Are they litter trained? 
They may not be perfect, but hopefully you'll see the majority of poo in the litter tray and not scattered everywhere.  Step one is to get them litter trained in the cage, and step two is to get them to use a litter outside the cage....

2)  Are they bite trained?
Ask to handle them for a while....if they nip at you a little and it doesn't hurt that's their way of playing.  If it hurts, then they have not been fully trained.

It really helps you enjoy your ferret if they aren't pooing everywhere and biting everyone.  Unfortunately too many get to this state and no one has the patience to try to untrain it. 

The manager at metrotown used to own ferrets so he knows what he's doing, and a lot of the Mr.Pet's have staff that know.  Bonus is if someone has leash trained them....

So it'll be about 200 per ferret.  You need a big case ( or not if you are going to free range them, but get some valium ).  I wish I had bought a ferret nations case rather then the adequate superpet one.  ferret food, ferret tone, get some natural peanut butter, 3 to 4 litters with the high back, bitter apple ( a must for cords and electricals ), food tray and water tray ( remember they like to tip those over ).  

restaurants and supermarkets

Apparently there is a law against animals near food service.  This law seems selectively enforced if you ask me.  But if indeed, as is my case, the ferrets serve a legitimate medical purpose they can be therapy pets and should be allowed everywhere, even maybe on a plane.....

Taking them on a walk.

Nope they don't walk like a dog.

First off they need to become familiar with the leash.  Hopefully the pet store started them.  If not you just have to put it on them a few times.  I like the H style leash.
like this one:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753509
The coat like one seams too easy for them to slip out.  A simple collar is dangerous.  There are many times you want to yank the ferret out of danger, or they fall.  The H style will keep them from getting hurt.

They probably won't ever walk like a dog.  They love LOVE to explore.  It seems to be their reason for existing sometimes.  They want to smell everything.  Partly cause they are hunters, partly cause they have bad vision and need to smell to 'see'.....

So on the way out:
1) you can carry them, or shoulder them.
2) patiently go forward wait until the come forward enough to give you the slack to move forward again...sighhhh....

On the way back:
The more familiar they are with the way the faster they will walk.  They seem to want to get back home or to the car....then it can be like walking a dog...

More Faqs:

Are they affectionate?
Mostly in the way cats are.  They'll climb on you, lick you, and sleep on you....They'll play with you ( more the males then the females ).  They aren't like dogs, they just seem to busy exploring to care too much about humans.

How are they with dogs?
Integration with dogs can be tricky....The issue seems to be that ferrets will play with dogs, and they have these really sharp teeth.  They playfully bite the dog and the dog bites back; tragedy!

How are they with cats?
So far cats don't seem to want to know....


A good pet for kids?
Probably not, they require a lot of time and care.  They don't really like being picked up, they sleep A LOT, and are very destructive.  On the other hand, they interact well with kids after nip training.  I'd supervise them carefully with young kids though.  Kids under three might be really problematic, as even the best nip trained ferret might nip some kid if they have just eaten.  And they seem to get trampled a lot by toddlers....

Training to the shoulder.


Start out with treat training.  Give them treats for staying on your should.  Put them on your shoulder, if they stay on for 30 seconds give them a treat.  When they slide off, put them back on.  Take your hands down, and give them no easy way down.  Once they get the idea, move around a little until they realize they need to use their claws to stay on.  It's usually too far for them to just jump.

A hoodie gives them a good place to hang out when they are tired.

Tips:

Nails on neck suck, use a high collar shirt or scarf.
They may want to burrow into your shirt.  Just put your hand there, if their heads are there, then they will drag it out as they don't like their heads to be controlled.
If they insist on getting down, you may have to hold them or pluck at their fur, this will show them that it's better on your shoulder.  Plucking their fur a little is not harmful, as it helps them with their shedding, but some don't like it......