How do I teach my ferret its name? Well, it is possible to teach your ferret its name, because ferrets are really intelligent animals. Their nature of solving problems and loving mysteries keep their brain active. Therefore, they are also very quick when it comes to learning tricks and recognizing their names.
They can learn most things very quickly, you don’t have to wait for months. If you put a little effort into it and treat them with love, they can astonish you with their intelligence. It would be quite easy for you to teach their name and mannerisms.
It is hard to believe that animals, who can’t understand our language, can learn their names. But it is possible for ferrets. With enough time and training, they will come to you when you call them.
Can A Ferret Learn Its Name?
Yes, as we have mentioned before, ferrets can learn their name quite easily. However, there are a few things you should know about them.
All ferrets don’t have the same intelligence level. If your friend has a ferret and he learns or recognizes his name fast, it doesn’t mean your pet ferret will recognize his name fast too.
Some ferrets do take time to associate the sounds with a name. But they can still learn it sooner than most other pets.
When it comes to teaching ferrets their name, remember that they respond to both verbal and visual commands. For example, if you just call them using a hand sign they will come running at you. If your hand sign tells them to stop, they will stop doing whatever they are doing.
You can make them learn their name verbally and through hand gestures as well.
Most people use both verbal and visual commands. Since deafness is quite common in ferrets. They use hand gestures to talk to a deaf ferret; the visual commands help the owners greatly when their ferrets become old and lose their hearing power.
Of course, it will be a challenge at first to use both visual and verbal commands, but slowly your ferret will recognize the ways you call them.
How Do You Teach A Ferret Its Name?
There are several ways to teach your ferret its name. The handiest trick that works most of the time is the treat trick.
The treat trick is very simple. You call your ferret from a small distance, it comes to you, and you give it a treat for doing a good job. Many ferret owners use more unique ways to help their ferrets understand their name with this trick… For example,
- You can take your ferret to an open unknown space, like a park. Go to a small distance and call your ferret’s name out loud. Ferrets are crazy good at recognizing smell so they will most likely try to follow your scent. As soon as they notice you, you call their name. Once they come running at you, give them a treat as a reward.
- Stick a treat to a stick and let your ferret sniff on it. Then slowly drag the stick away from them and let them follow you. Increase the distance and call your ferret’s name. This will help them understand their name in no time. Keep repeating these routines and grow the distance between you and the ferret little by little.
Ferrets love their treats. When you give them treats while training them, they take more interest in the training and do whatever it takes to get the treat.
For that reason, always use treats as rewards when you are trying to teach them their name.
Keeping in mind, training your ferret outside is tough. If your ferret isn’t good with the outdoors and the outdoor environment makes them panic, don’t try to teach them their name. They won’t listen to you, as they will be in an anxious state.
Choose a method that your ferret loves the most; you have to work according to his comfort.
What Treats Should You Give To Your Ferret?
Choosing the best treats for your ferret can be tough. It has to be something your ferret loves and also something that is not toxic to them.
Ferrets love some treats like boiled or raw eggs, poultry, and fish. You can make bags full of these tiny treats and freeze them for training.
Don’t give these treats to them on a random day. They should know what exactly they are going to get on the training day. This compels them to take more interest in the training.
Benefits Of Teaching Your Ferret Its Name
Teaching your ferret his name has many benefits.
It can be useful in more ways than you can imagine.
Most pet owners think teaching them their name is fun, but it is not just for fun. The name can be used to save your pet’s life in a difficult situation. For example, if your ferret ever gets lost in a crowded or open area then you can call his name. On hearing its name continuously, your ferret will follow the voice and finally reach out to you on its own.
That is why it is a must to give your pet a name. The more you call them by their name, the more they will recognize it. Hence they will know someone is calling out to them if they ever get lost in an unknown area.
Many ferrets also look the same, so if you ever get confused you can always call out its name. It will recognize you for sure.
What Tricks Can You Teach Your Ferret?
The other fun things you can do for your ferret are unlimited. Once they learn their name you can move on to teaching them small tricks.
For example, you can use their name as a trick to make them roll over their belly, come over to you, sit down, or stop when you tell them to stop doing something.
All in all, teaching your ferret its name is beneficial in many ways.
Ferrets make a lot of different noises as well. Read about the various types of ferret hisses next.