Are Ferrets Good Pets With Dogs
Ferrets are very high energy mischievous animals that make labrador puppies look calm.
Are ferrets good pets with dogs. But ferrets can generally be trained to get along with cats and dogs. Many dogs will be fine with ferrets but some dog breeds such as some terriers were bred for the purpose of hunting small game so they might be tempted to chase ferrets instinctively. You must carefully consider a dog s temperament before introducing him or her to a ferret. Many dogs are very protective of their food.
They can be but from a genetic standpoint are not. Despite some general misconceptions there are a lot of reasons why ferrets make good pets. Despite having other ferrets to socialize with they will still crave attention from their owners. Note however that terriers and similar dogs were originally bred to hunt.
They also require expensive cages and special diets. Dogs and ferrets can coexist very well together in the same home and frequently do but they do have a genetic predisposition to a predator vs prey dynamic that can be rather stressful and perhaps a bit dicey. Ferrets are the third most common uncaged pet in the united states behind dogs and cats. Having two or more ferrets increases the fun factor for the owner and the ferrets as they will interact and play together sometimes with wild abandon.
Ferrets love to help themselves to the dog s food. That being said it s important to always monitor your animals to ensure that your dog isn t trying to eat your ferret. These members of the weasel family are lively smart and affectionate. They ll repay you with entertaining antics and loving companionship.
If you have severe anxiety i would highly recommend finding an older shelter dog that is calm and house broken. Dogs and ferrets can become best buddies but it is important to be especially cautious with toys and food. So are ferrets and dogs good pet mates. As we stated before dogs are predatory animals by nature and ferrets to your dog would likely be considered prey in the wild.
They can make excellent pets if you are willing to give them a great deal of care and attention. It is often recommended though not essential to have more than one pet ferret. An otherwise easy going dog can become threatening if he thinks someone is after his dinner. You will need two people one to hold the cat or dog and one to hold the ferret.
If you have a dog or cat you will want to introduce them to your ferret gradually and vice versa. Dogs are easier to train than ferrets.