CHAPTER VII. 



HANDLING AND TRAINING. 



flLTHOUGH ferrets naturally are of a 

 rather tame and gentle disposition yet 

 if never handled are somewhat wild and 

 shy. Many young ferrets, probably the 

 majority, sent out by those engaged in the busi- 

 ness have had little or no handling, although 

 they are fairly tame, having become so mostly 

 through feeding. All hunters know that unless 

 dogs are handled and trained they are not of 

 much use. Same applies to ferrets, however, only 

 to a certain extent for their nature is to hunt 

 and they require little training, yet the inex- 

 perienced will want to know how to proceed. 

 The following therefore is offered : 



The beginning, that is, handling and even 

 training to a certain extent not only for rabbits, 

 but rats and other pests, is so much the same 

 that no distinction for various animals will be 

 made here. The chapters treating on rabbits, 

 rats, other pests and fur animals will give addi- 

 tional instructions how to proceed. 



Most ferrets should be weaned at about three 

 months of age, which is the time to begin hand- 



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