Importance of Noise Calling

[K10Widow]

It is very important that you have a certain 'call' for your fuzzies. If you lose your ferret you need to be able to call them, whether inside your house or outside.

The best way to do so is to associate treats/food with a noise.

Some people will shake the treat jar, crinkle the treat package or create a call.

Others will use a certain squeek to toy to get their fuzzies to come get a treat.

Personally, I use a ducky soup call. When I feed my boys their ducky soup I call "Soupy Soupy Soupy" in a high pitched voice and they come running.

[lovferrets]

I shake the box of treats, Nyx and Nala come running. Newt I shake his ferret treat bag he also come running. It is a great idea to train your ferrets to come.
Hugs
Liz

[george]

And what do you suggest for deaf ferrets?

[lovferrets]

Now that is a good point. K10 may have idea's
Hugs
Liz

[K10Widow]

george said:

And what do you suggest for deaf ferrets?

You could try pounding on the floor 3 times, as long as you don't live in an apartment. I've also heard you could try turning he lights on and off. Just remember to always reward them for coming with a treat. However, none of these things would help you find them if they got outside.

[george]

LoL, i live in an apartment, with a cement floor, covered with carpet. Banging wont work. Strange thing is, when i open the refrigerator, when he is in the other room, he comes running. BUT, I think he is just following me.

[AlienMando]

george said:

LoL, i live in an apartment, with a cement floor, covered with carpet. Banging wont work. Strange thing is, when i open the refrigerator, when he is in the other room, he comes running. BUT, I think he is just following me.

Try a vacuum? It would create vibrations that could get the lil ferts attention?

[koolbean87]

I have Blaze trained to thumping on the floor and when she is in sight I tap my fingers on the ground and she knows to come to me but I guess those wouldn't work outside unless she could see my fingers... Never really thought of that... hmmm this will take some thinking!!!

[funkyferret]

Raider is clicker and name trained. I take him on walks in the neighborhood and as soon as we turn back to go home, he's way ahead of me and knows the way home. I have to run to keep up. Do you think by knowing how to get home if he ever got out it gives him a better chance of returning and not getting lost?

[Calvin_and_Hobbes]

Hobbes is trained to come when I call his name and shake the treat box. Seriously, he will stop whatever he's doing, look up at me, then come running over.
Sometimes Calvin will follow Hobbes to see what he's doing, but most of the time I either have to go get him or I have to pound the floor.

[wizzyrhino]

With Ike i just have to yell his name (depending on where he is)
I tried a variety of ways of getting Bray and Eddie to come but they just look at me like yeah whatever

[sandyr]

What do you use for treat. I am a first time ferrett owner and have two girls. I had some dried fruit that comes in a can for ferretts, but they went to the vet yesterday for well check/shots and he said not to give them anything sugary. He stated most of the treats on the market are sugar laced and too much sugar in fruits is not good. He said sugar to ferrets is like feeding them crack. What do all of you use for treats?

[ferretopia]

Xanders trained to come to any squeak toy....I have them everywhere, including my keyring. He always comes looking for the source of the squeal straight away.....yet never has.
Not to confuse things, he has NO squeal toys in his cage or out. I only them for calling him when needed as I agree, its important to have some method to get them in cas eof emergancy etc.

[zatchbell322]

Okay I read on a deaf ferret website that you can train them to come to a flashlight. And if they get out you can just take the flashlight out and beam it around. Myabe it wont work to well but I cant think of anything else :/

[frackru]

Is it ever too late to train them to come when called? I have a crew of 4 that are between 1-3 years old. Shoudl I train them together, separate and how?