[Yawn] �Where in the world did you ever get the idea that we care about ferrets?�
Oh, be quiet! Maybe you don�t care but I have other readers that do.
[Snort] �Yeah, right...there are readers that care...zzzzzz�
Of course they do. They come for Bailey. She�s the most famous ferret in the...um...blogging world.
�That�s because there aren�t that many blogs writing about ferrets because NO ONE CARES�
Just go away...
�Fine! Wake me up when it�s over�
Hmmm... Now, where was I?
Ah, yes. The last time I added a ferrety Friday on my blog, I wrote about where you can actually get a ferret, which included 1) Pet store, 2) Shelter, 3) Private breeder and 4) Classifieds. And since the information for the pet store was getting a little long, I decided to place the different subtitles together in another post or each one in its own. Well, after some research, I�ve decided to break the remaining three into at least two separate posts. Today, I will write about private breeders and in the future I will add some information about the other two.
So.
The first thing you must do if you�re interested in getting a ferret from a breeder is to find a good one � a breeder, that is. Well, a ferret too, but you still have to start with a good breeder. Good breeders breed good ferrets. What I mean by a good breeder is a reputable one. And the way to go about finding one is with some research.
Now, like any other type of breeder, there are good and bad ones. Some breed because they really love ferrets, others breed only for profit. Not that the ones that love ferrets don�t breed to make money. Obviously they do or else they�d be giving away the baby fuzzies instead of selling them. But the former is concerned about the health and welfare of the animals (this motivates them to provide good care) while the latter raises ferrets in substandard conditions (this can affect the long-term health of these fragile animals). If you�ve ever visited a breeder (I have once, when I was searching for a Siamese cat), you�ll get a feeling for them just from the conditions you�ll find the animals living in.
But I digress. Let�s just say that there are good and bad breeders, and concentrate on how to go about choosing a good one.
One of the best methods for selecting a reputable ferret breeder is by word of mouth. Try to meet people locally who have acquired a ferret from a breeder. They will be able to assist you in your search by sharing their own experience. Hopefully you�ll meet people who are happy customers that can recommend a good breeder. You can also find reputable breeders in ferret-specific magazines or by meeting some people in online ferret communities, such as forums and such where you can ask for advice and suggestions.
When you do finally settle on a specific breeder, make an appointment for a visit. You�ll want to drop by and see how the little fuzzies are being kept. Once you�re there, pay attention to the living conditions of these little animals. Are their cages clean? Are they spacious? What type of food do they have? Do they have enough food? Is their drinking water clean? Are the ferrets alert and active? Are they allowed out of their cages to play and exercise? Do they have regular human contact? Are they picked up, petted, held and offered affection? Ferrets that are hand raised are more likely to grow up docile, friendly, happy, eager to be held and highly-sociable.
A good breeder will have no trouble accommodating your request to stop by for a preliminary visit to check out their place because they�ll have nothing to hide. In addition, a good breeder won�t just hand their fuzzies over without asking a few questions; they�ll want to make sure that a ferret is the right pet for you and that you are right for a ferret. They may inquire about you, your home, your lifestyle, what knowledge you have in caring for this furry critter and whether you are prepared to dedicate time and effort to its care, which may include supervised play time. Feel free to ask questions of your own, such as how long they�ve been in this business, whether they offer some type of guarantee and whatever other information you feel is pertinent.
Once you�re comfortable with a specific breeder, it�s time to select a ferret. The breeder will show you the available pets, and may even try to match you with one that best suits your personality and lifestyle. After you�ve decided on a fuzzy and finalized all the details, including payment and whatever paperwork needs to be done, it�s time to take your pet home. The absolute best way to get your fuzzy home is in a small pet carrier that is padded to make it more comfortable.
That�s all there is to it folks. Choosing a ferret from a private breeder with a very good reputation is often much better than choosing one from a pet shop. Good, caring breeders provide optimum care, which in turn produces healthy and highly-sociable ferrets.
Now before I wrap this up, let�s hear from Bailey:
[Blush] Shhhhh Bailey! We don�t have to air our dirty laundry. And anyway, the pet store where we got you from was walking distance from our home, so we didn�t feel that a carrier was necessary.
Great, now I have guilt...
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