Most ferrets are sociable critters that love to get out and about, meet people, and see sights. Walking them outside on a leash can be a great way to do that!
Most ferrets love to get outdoors for a daily walk. Well, maybe walk is a bit of a misnomer — a daily sniff and snoop is closer to the truth. However, before you taking him outside to pound the pavement, you need to get your ferret accustomed to a harness and leash inside.
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Buying Your Ferret A Harness & Leash
First, take a trip to the pet store, in-person or online, to size up the harnesses and leashes. For leash walking, your ferret must have a harness, not a collar, because a ferret can wriggle out of a collar far too easily. There are lots of harnesses on the pet shop shelves, so what kind is suitable for a ferret?
An H harness is the best best. They’re easy to put on and take off, they’re difficult to escape from, they come in a variety of sizes, and, for the fashion-conscious ferret, they come in an array of fun colors. You should find a good selection in both the ferret section and the kitten section/category.
Another possibility is a figure-eight kitten harness. This type isn’t quite so easy to put on or to adjust unless you have a pretty placid pet, but it is fairly escape proof when properly fitted.
A third type is a ferret-specific harness/leash that combines a leather body harness with a cord and toggle.
Whichever kind you choose, it’s the fit that counts. Not so loose that your ferret can escape, but not so right that it’s uncomfortable. The rule of thumb is that you should just be able to squeeze the top of your pinkie under the harness.
Most ferret harnesses come with a matching leash. If you’ve chosen a kitten harness, you’ll probably have to buy a leash separately. Anything lightweight, 3 to 4 feet long, will do. A swivel hook on the end will help prevent twists and tangles when walking.
Do you have two ferrets to walk? A lightweight couples attached to the end of the leash allows you to walk both of them together, side by side.
Getting Used To The Leash & Harness
Now it’s time for some indoor practice to get your ferret used to the harness and leash and to make ure you have the harness fit correctly so that he can’t escape. For the best results, don’t try this until you and your ferret have bonded.
The first step is to harness up your ferret. Some fuzzies comply without a fuss. Others fight the fitting tooth and nail. Do you have a resistant ferret on your hands? If so, it’s a good idea to use a harness with Velcro fastenings, which is quicker and easier to put onto a fighting ferret.
When your ferret’s buckled up, let him run around his play area to get used to the feel of his new gear. No leash yet, please. Some ferrets will go about their business as usual, completely oblivious to the harness. Others will fret and fight, rolling around on the ground, trying to ditch the new equipment.
If your pet is a harness hater, don’t force the issue. Don’t insist that he wear it for hours on end. Get him used to the offending equipment gradually. 5 minutes a day is good for starters, then increase the wearing time bit by bit until he’s desensitized to the harness. Only then is it time to attach the leash and get in some indoor walking practice.
Indoor Leash Practice
Guide your ferret gently with the leash. Never yank him, jerk him, tug him, or haul him off his feet. The idea here is not for you to walk him around, but for him to lead you around.
As soon as your ferret feels comfortable on the leash, it’s time to dispense with the indoor practice and head for the great outdoors.
Starting To Walk Your Ferret Outdoors
Right at the outset, you have to realize that the critter on the end of your leash is a ferret, not a dog. So there’s no point in shouting out the orders “Heel,” “Sit,” or “Stay” — they’ll go right over your ferret’s head. He’s just not programmed to understand those words. So forget the owner-walking-pet dynamic. To a ferret, to walk is to wander.
However, with repeated practice, many ferrets learn to stay to the left or the right of their owner’s feet. Encourage this so that your pet’s less likely to crisscross in front of you and trip you up for be trodden on. But don’t expect that your obedience training will go much further than this. Again, gentle guiding is the way to go.
Do you have an uncooperative walker? One that scoots backward instead of heading forward, or a reluctant one that stubbornly refuses to move? Try this technique that exploits your ferret’s natural instincts.
Set him down where buildings and sidewalk met, or where grass and sidewalk meet, or, if you live on a quiet street, where curb and street meet. Ferrets have a tendency to follow along a raised boundary.
Things To Avoid On Your Ferret’s Walk
When you’re out on your walks together, there are a few things that you have to be on guard against. For example, dogs on the loose are a real hazard where ferrets are concerned. They can appear out of nowhere and pounce on your pet if you’re not keeping your eyes open.
Other Pets
Any time an unleashed dog appears on the horizon, don’t wait to see if it’s ferret friendly. Treat any stray dog as a potential threat; scoop your ferret off the ground and scurry out of sight. In fact, it’s a good idea to scoop your ferret up even if you meet a leashed dog. Why take any chances?
You have no guarantee that the dog’s owner has complete control of his or her canine.
Loud Noises
Some ferrets are more skittish that others when it comes to noise. So, the strategy here is to start with very short walks every day, and, if your ferret shows any phonophobia (fear of noise), pick him up and and reassure him. Carry him home if necessary, and try again tomorrow.
Noise is another potential problem. Your ears are accustomed to street noise, but are your ferret’s? If your pet’s a reluctant walker, it may be because he’s afraid of honking horns, backfiring cars, rumbling trucks, wind in the trees, stomping feet, or any number of unfamiliar sounds.
Most ferrets will become desensitized to the noises by repeated exposure to them; others will always be fearful. If yours is a sound-sensitive soul, it’s kinder to forget the outdoor walks and restrict exercise to the indoors.
Chemicals
There are also environmental hazards to consider when you’re out and about with your speed walker. In the summer, watch out for grass that has recently been sprayed or fertilized. In the winter, watch out for sidewalks that have been salted. Herbicides and pesticides can poison your ferret, and sidewalk salt can burn delicate footpads.
Extreme Temperatures
Never take your ferret outside when the temperature’s too hot or too cold. Ferrets are prone to heatstroke — keep them home when it’s hot. And although ferrets can tolerate cold much better than heat, don’t be fooled by their fur coats. A ferret that’s raised indoors doesn’t develop a thick-enough coat to withstand freezing temperatures for long.
No matter where you’re planning to walk your pet – on the concrete sidewalk, on the grass in your yard, on the gravel paths at a local park – try to expose him to a variety of walking surfaces so he won’t balk at unfamiliar ground.
However, in the summer, be wary of pavement that’s too hot for ferret feet. Also, keep your eyes peeled for foreign objects that could tempt your ferret’s weird taste buds. He won’t turn up his nose at a bag of trash, so it’s up to you to steer him clear of any debris that could be detrimental to his health such as cigarette butts, foam cups, wads of gum, animal feces, or discarded food.
It’s also up to you to make sure he doesn’t add to the debris by leaving his own poops. No matter where or when your ferret’s walking, always carry a pooper scooper and put it to use!
Ferret Leash Walking Frequently Asked Questions
Some ferrets love walking on leashes, and others hate it! However, I’ve seen more ferrets come to love a little leashed outdoor exploration time than ferrets that dislike it. If a ferret is introduced properly to leashes, then there’s a good chance they’ll be fans.
If your ferret is in nature and off-leash, it’s possible they may try and run away. Most likely they’ll just wander off slowly as they explore the area around them, but you definitely do not want to experiment with this!
It’s recommended that the earliest you start leash and harness training your ferret is around 3 months of age. At this point they’ve grown significantly, are fairly comfortable, and more easily trainable.
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