Can a Ferret Kill a Dog?

As a proud ferret owner, if you’re wondering, can a ferret kill a dog?

Yes, a ferret can kill a dog, but it’s not always.

There are times and situations when ferrets can kill dogs and there are times when they can’t.

In this article, I will give detailed answers about ferrets killing dogs and other questions like why ferrets are aggressive to dogs? can ferrets and dogs keep together? and more.

As a ferret owner myself, it took me several years to understand various traits of ferrets.

So, according to my experience and knowledge, I will be answering why ferrets get angry, how to stop them from getting aggressive, when ferrets kill a dog, how to understand the mood of ferrets, and so on.

Sounds great?

So, let’s deep dive into the article.

Can a ferret kill a dog?

There is no direct answer to it, that can ferret a kill a dog, but in major cases, ferrets live comfortably with dogs.

Compatibility is the strongest pillar between the two living things and the same applicable to ferrets and dogs as well. Once they develop this rest is taken care of itself.

The friendly nature of ferrets makes them favorite home pets and they love being around people.

However, it’s also true that sometimes a ferret is uncomfortable with a dog, which could become a major threat.

It depends on the age, health, and personality type of ferrets and how dangerous they could be.

There are higher chance that they can bite, scratch, or even kill a dog. So, as a ferret owner, you must be highly aware when keeping a dog near a ferret.

Other than dogs, a ferret can kill a snack, rat, and cats as well

Would a dog kill a ferret?

I had have very heartbreaking experience when my dog killed my ferret. It was later that I got to know where and how ignorant I was to understand them.

See both, dogs and ferrets aren’t verbal so you need to communicate with them by their action.

As dogs a predatory animals which makes them go wild very often, you need to monitor their action very closely so that it’s not harming your ferret.

If you ever notice that your dog is doing a lot of skulking or crouching around your ferret then its clear red alert.

If you see him stiffening his tail, and standing up the hairs on his back then your dog is wanting ferret body rather than its companionship. At this stage, your dog will kill your ferret.

Factors affecting dog’s compatibility with ferrets

There are many factors but, I’m mentioning the major ones:

• Breed
• Personality Type
• Age & Health

What is smarter a dog or a ferret?

Before giving a direct answer to who is smarter a dog or a ferret. Let’s see various parameters on which we can easily understand which pet is smarter than others.

According to research, ferrets have higher problem-solving ability than dogs which you can notice in their action.

For a more precise answer, you can put the same obstacle in front of both and you will see its ferrets who figure out it more quickly and act accordingly.

When it comes to memory retention both dogs and ferrets have the same level.

The research also proves that ferret has a much better ability to communicate with the human being. Dogs usually communicate via barking and sometimes through eyes and faces.

While ferrets communicate with us via body language and scent. In my personal experience, my ferrets frequently surprise me with their smart actions.

Can both the ferret and the dog keep together?

If you want to keep your ferret and dog together then there are a few things you need to follow from the beginning.

If you have a new pet either a ferret or a dog, don’t plan to keep them together, it would be quite dangerous as they are not much mingled.

To keep them together, start introducing them to each other slowly. Start with keeping them near each other in a cage so that they can see, observe, and smell each other, repeat this for a few weeks.

After accomplishing the above steps, you can keep them together in an open space. But never leave them alone, always have your supervision.

See, the truth is no matter how comfortable they get with each other, you never know when instinct will take control. So be careful during the whole time of their interactions.

What makes ferrets aggressive?

As a ferret owner knowing how to handle ferret aggression is good, but understanding the reason for their anger is even best.

It would be best if you understood what are things or reasons for the aggressive behaviour of your ferret.

As a happy ferret owner myself I got to understand why my ferret gets angry and that helps a lot to take care of him in a much better way.

As we know, a ferret is a socially active pet, but often your ferret shows some strange behavior in front of new people in your home. Sometimes it could turn into a strong anger.

One of the major reasons for the aggressive behavior of your ferret is hormonal disorder.

You can identify a disorder in your ferret if he/she starts losing weight, and hair, and has a pot-bellied appearance.

The other main reason is losing eyesight, as a ferret it’s for you to identify especially when your ferret is quite familiar with the surroundings so if all of sudden your pet ferret shows anger you also check on its eyesight.

Pain is one prime reason behind your ferret being aggressive. As a ferret lover, you must know that your ferret is quite good at hiding mild to moderate pain.

So, if it shows any new or strange behaviour way of anger do contact your ferret doctor.

Keep tracking activities such as drinking, eating, playing, and urinating, and give these stats to the doctor so that he/she identify the exact reason for aggressive behavior.

Reasons make ferrets aggressive

• Hormonal Disorder
• Pain
• Eyesight
• Social Interaction

FAQs

Are ferrets OK with small dogs?

Yes, ferrets are quite playful with small dogs. Having said that you must have to identify the personality traits and breed of your dogs before putting them together.

Can you put a ferret in a dog cage?

As long as the size of the cage is big enough you can put a ferret in a dog cage. Multiple-level cages are the most popular cages for ferrets and dogs. But, they can’t live freely in the same cage.

Can a ferret kill a snake?

Ferrets are obligate carnivores and they are predators to snakes as well. So, yes a ferret can kill a snake and eat them too.

Can a ferret kill a cat?

Yes, a ferret can kill a cat. However, it’s possible in rare cases, when the cat is a small kitten and the ferret is aggressive.

Conclusion

Now I believe your question- can a ferret kill a dog? has been answered.

So, as a ferret owner, you must be taking proper care of both of your pets. It’s best to keep them in separate cages.

Even if you are well familiar with the behavior of your ferret and dog, precautions must taken because you never know whose nature changed when.

If you are keeping them together then always have a strong supervision.

Still, if you have any questions feel free to comment, I will help you in the best possible way.