Ferrets Quarterly - Winter 2021 - Issue No. 5

A publication of MARSHALL PET

F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY | W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 | I S S U E N O . 5

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

GET HELP FROM THIS COMPREHENSIVE G U I D E TO H E L P I N S P I R E T H E P E R F E C T N A M E F O R YO U R N E W F R I E N D

TIPS FOR NAIL CLIPPING M A K E T H I S TA S K Q U I C K A N D E A S Y

BONDING WITH YOUR FERRET WITH THE MARSHALL FERRET P R O F E S S I O N A L P H O TO G R A P H E R

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FEATURES

From developing the best practices for breeding, to developing the freshest and highest quality nutrition, to creating a catalog of products to fulfill all aspects of the ferrets’ lives and behaviors, the ferrets have guided our efforts. Our company of ferret enthusiasts works to engage and educate every household that chooses a ferret to be part of their family with the knowledge we have learned.

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

10

CLIPPING YOUR FERRET’S NAILS

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FERRET BONDING TIPS

We have seen so many animals adopted in 2020, we thought we’d help you name your new pets!

Clipping your ferret’s nails doesn’t need to be a task that you and your ferret dread. Make this monthly routine quick and easy with these tips from our experts.

Bringing home a new ferret is exciting. Make the most of your time together with these tips on how to bond with your ferret.

AMANDA ALTMAN Editor AAltman@MarshallPet.com T

800. 292. 3424

COVER CONTEST

Be on the cover of our next issue of the FQ! We will be looking for submissions the entire month of March. The winner will receive a prize package worth over $100 and will be featured as our cover image for the Spring issue of the FQ. Look for more details coming soon to our Facebook page. Follow, like and share @MarshallPetFerrets.

MARSHALL PET PRODUCTS Wolcott, NY 14590 Monday – Friday 8am–4pm www.MarshallPet.com E

T 800. 292. 3424 ferrets@MarshallPet.com FB @MarshallPetFerrets

MEET PAUL, DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

You are able to find all of your favorite Marshall Pet products in the stores and online because of Paul. For the past 17 years, he has been coordinating our sales teams, marketing efforts and retailers to bring you and your ferrets everything they need every day. Paul loves animals and is always a hit at trade shows playing with our fuzzy friends. His knowledge and experience are priceless. - photo credit: Sonja

REGULARS 8

NEWS FROM HQ

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ASK A FERRET

11

ASK THE VET

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DIETRA’S PHOTO

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#FELFIEFRIDAY

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#FEATUREFERRETS

WINTER 2021 | 3

LETTER FROM the PRESIDENT

H

appy New Year! I say that with excitement and sincerity. We have so much planned for 2021 that you are not going to want to miss. From new products, to training videos, to customer testimonials, contests galore and so much more!

2020 proved to be a challenge for us all. The good that came out of such a hard year was our time together, as a family, with our animals. Many of you have adopted baby ferrets into your business, and many more of you took the leap and started your business with one or more ferrets for the first time. Congratulations to you all! This first issue of the FQ of 2021 is dedicated to all of those families who are welcoming new furry family members into their homes.

I have such fond memories of bringing home my new pets as a child. Naming them was always such fun. I like to get to know the animal before I try to name them. The personalities of our ferrets are so individual. Take a peek at our cover story, What’s in a Name? on page 4 for some inspiration on naming your new friend. With that, there are some basics of ferret care that might challenge you. Look to us for help! Included on page 10 are Tips for Nail Clipping, and on page 12 we give you some ideas on How to Bond with Your Ferret.

Of course, quality time with your ferret is the best thing you can do for your relationship with your pet. We give you some fun ideas from our fans on their ferrets’ favorite toys with this issue’s Ask a Ferret on page 9.

Our Ask the Vet highlights something we take pride in at Marshall Pet Products, our Marshall Ferret Guarantee. Every ferret that leaves our farm is certified and comes with a guarantee of health. Read more on page 11 and check out our website for complete details.

Lastly, take note of the Cover Contest that we are running in the month of March. We love our fans and want to make you and your ferret(s) the star of our next issue. Keep an eye out for more details on our Facebook page and our monthly emails.

From our family to yours, thank you and cheers to a fertastic new year!!

Sincerely, Peter Reid

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A N I S ’ T A H W name A N I W HAT’S I N A S ’ T A W H name name A N I S ’ T A H W name

?

Choosing a name for a pet is a big decision! The name you choose says so much about you and your family’s relationship to your pet. Names tend to say as much about the family as they do the pet themselves. Getting all family members involved helps to establish a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Here are some tips to get the creative juices flowing for a name the whole family will love.

es deas m a N I

WINTER 2021 | 5

Cute

Zippy Peppy Jolly Merry Sunny Cheery Chippy Perky Frolic Bouncy Chuckles Heaven Justice Winter Pepper Hopper Coco Clementine Flora June Silky Plushie Velvet Feather

Mischievous Troublemaker Devil Trickster Imp Prankster Zesty Demon Antic Rowdy Boomer Swindler Charlatan Hooligan Scoundrel Scalawag Rogue Rapscallion Mutineer Riot Renegade Tricky

Funny Loony Hoopla Squeaker Jumper Speedster Prancer HotShot Mighty Chatty Professor Brainy Noisy

Clever Velocity Rush Snap Swift Zoom Flash Rocket Streak Sprinter Wiry

A

s if you w e r e playing a game like Pictionary, set some rules to keep creating fun and the family on task.

Some guidance here would be to choose a name that has longevity. Choosing a name based on a feature that might change as they grow would be a bad idea. Using nicknames that are hard to say or sound like training cues would not be recommended either. The nickname Bo could easily be confused with the command “no” and is a great example.

Names that are easy to say, spell and are short are helpful for family members of all ages to engage with the family pet.

If a longer name is chosen, it would be smart to establish a nickname or two that you would use more frequently.

Establish some sources of inspiration…

Inspiration can be found anywhere. Pop icons are an awesome place to start.

Favorite movie or TV characters

are very popular. Celebrity names, sports teams and athletes, band names and musicians are infinite wells of possible names for the family pet. We would assume that there are going to be a bunch of quarantine, COVID-19 and remote learninginspired pet names.

Use your everyday life as inspiration. Do you have a favorite hobby? Food? Color? Board or video game? Book or fictional character?

I personally know a Snickers, Mr. Reagan, Picachu and Dash.

And what about the animals themselves?

Their behaviors, characteristics, sounds and aesthetics can be used to spark some creativity.

The possibilities are endless.

Putting parameters around brainstorming helps to keep the family on task. Make a night of it and have fun bonding with your new family pet!

Need a little more inspiration to get you past Bandit? We’ve put together some fun ferret names to get you started.

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MY FE R R ET’S name is...

Many of you have welcomed ferrets into your families over the past year. We asked our extended ferret family to fill in the blanks name is... and the responses did not disappoint. If you are still trying to name your noodle, take a peek at these ferrets’ names and why.

MY FE R R ET’S

My ferret’s name is Laverna.

Laverna is the Roman goddess of thieves. Her middle name is Riot for the times when she becomes wild and crazy, popping around like she’s in a mosh pit of one. Her nicknames are as follows: Weasel, Wuzzer, Wuzzer of Oz, Da Wuzz, Smelly, Meller, Mell and Tiny Thing.

She’s the greatest. - Shari Strojny

My ferret’s name is Hakai, which means destruction in Japanese, because ferrets are really good at making messes. - Sarah Parrilla

My most senior ferret’s name is Inspector Gadget because when he was young and war dancing around the house, his squeaks sounded like the theme song for the Inspector Gadget cartoon. This is a rare pic of one of just a very few kisses he has ever given, he’s too busy for love. - Alicia Ricker

My ferret’s name is Yoda because when I met him I told him, “Yoda cutest.” He’s the biggest sweetheart and so gentle.

- Erica Kaye

My ferret’s name is Moose because his other name was ridiculous. When we looked at him we exclaimed, “Wow!!

He’s such a moose!!”

He immediately perked up in his cage and looked straight at me. It may sound ridiculous, but I thought I saw a smile.

He melted my heart that very moment and we adopted him on the spot without a second thought.

- Danyel Soulier

P eanut

Ozzy

Peanut was a tiny guy when he came to his forever home.

- Melissa Whitt

My ferret’s name is Ozzy because he rides the crazy train every day.

- Cindy Redden

Mowgli My Mowgli is a jungle boy who climbs up everything.

- Katie Brewer

K eiko Jane One of my ferret’s name is Keiko Jane because Keiko means blessed lucky child in Japanese. She is a stray that I rescued in my neighborhood over 2 years ago.

- Jay Hufty

If it walks like a bear, and it sleeps like a bear, and it eats like a bear, it’s a bear.

My ferret’s name is Bear because he is a lazy, energysaving, sleep-aholic that will eat all your food out of a picnic basket. - Vicky Sauer

Diesel Diesel was the biggest boy in his litter.

- Jamie Bullock

Da Vinci My ferret’s name is Da Vinci because he is smart and elegant.

- Liz Ibarra

Goob er My ferret’s name is Goober.

It’s selfexplanatory.

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NEWS from Tif fany D enice

Paul Where are all of the new products?

Can I get a ferret?

We are still getting daily requests for the direct purchase of a ferret or a special order request to a professional retail pet store.

At this time, we simply cannot accommodate these requests.

The best place for you to start is on our website.

Retailers who purchase ferrets are searchable on our ferret finder map. If you are having trouble turning up results, give us a call, and we will see if we have any newer information that hasn’t been entered into our map yet based on your ZIP code.

Even if a store near you comes up in the search, we recommend that you call before you visit. Oftentimes animals are sold before they see the floor, as the overwhelming majority of pet retailers who carry Marshall Ferrets have waiting lists.

Get on those lists! Get your name on the waiting list at multiple retailers to ensure that you are getting the next available ferret in the area.

And check your shelters and rescues! There are so many ferrets that need to be rehomed.

We do our best to educate but impulse purchases are still made to the detriment of the animal.

We support a number of shelters and encourage you to adopt an aging ferret into your family.

As always, thank you for being an awesome ferrent!

Some of you have asked where you can get some of the new products you’ve seen released through 2020. The short answer is that many of our distributors and retailers are on a new product freeze. With supply chain issues and lockdown mandates, many of our vendors will continue to carry only the staples until product freezes are lifted.

That means that the new products may not necessarily hit the shelves of your favorite big box chain until sometime in 2022.

So what can you do?

Stay up-to-date with our product releases via Facebook. We will always post updates on where you can purchase a new product in store and online.

Visit some of our smaller professional retail partners. They are more likely to have a direct line to Marshall Pet and will be able to place special orders if they do not carry exactly what you are looking for. We have increased our presence in mom-and-pop shops through 2020 and look forward to expanding our partnerships in 2021. Don’t hesitate to email us with a lead at ferrets@marshallpet.com! We would be happy to start the conversation with your favorite neighborhood pet store.

Reach out! When all else fails, we will help you to get the product you need. If we can’t figure out a way to get it to a retailer near you, we will ship directly. Email ferrets@marshallpet.com or call 800.292.3424. Note that this does NOT apply to animals. We cannot sell ferrets direct to customer, take special orders or placement requests at this time.

If you think you have missed out, you haven’t! We know what a crazy year 2020 was and that 2021 might prove to be just as isolating. We are planning to re-release all of our 2020 products throughout 2021 because they did not get the attention they typically get at trade shows. Check our website often and make sure you follow, like and share our page on Facebook @MarshallPetFerret @MarshallPetFerret..

Cheers to an incredible 2021!

Octo-Play »

No-Liner Product Development

We are proud to introduce the new and improved Octo-Play.

The best-selling octopus tunnel toy has undergone a makeover.

The new, super-durable, blue and white star plush is now liner-free!

You may have heard on social media or read reviews of our product where animals were left unattended with worn product and suffered injuries.

While there was no defect in our product and the total number of incidents was small, just one is too many in our eyes, and we made this change.

Even though all of our products and toys come with warnings to keep your ferret safe, we are listening. By thickening the fleece and removing the inside liner, we are removing potential hazards during play and snuggle time. The strong fabric and structure will stand up to daily use by multiple ferrets with minimal wear. Removing the liner exposes the sewed seams, but is safer for your ferret over time.

As we prototype new products and look to rerelease old ones, we are taking this very important detail into consideration. Look for Marshall Pet to expand on our liner-free ferret toys in 2021!

WINTER 2021 | 9

Ask a FERRET Many of our ferret families have been spending more time together than usual. They are playing with their pets more and in different ways. It’s always fun to hear how you and your ferret play together and what you are playing with. So we asked our fans... What is your ferret’s favorite toy?

Aaron Swanson My ferret’s favorite toy is absolutely my slippers. On and off my feet, Daisy attacks my slippers. It is also one of her favorite places to curl up and take a nap.

Alisa Dolff Hercules loves anything shiny he can steal from the top of my dresser. He hides all of my treasures in this little corner behind my nightstand. I will oftentimes find my keys or lipstick down there.

Robert Spants The dig box in the ferret room is Gary’s favorite thing to play with. Watching him jump and burrow makes me and the kids laugh. The kids will often hide his toys in there for him to find.

Jannifer Lennon One of our favorite Marshall toys is the Super Thruway. We have a bunch of them.

We’ve tied and twisted them, connected them and have run them through our living room furniture. Our business of four chase each other through the tunnels for what feels like hours.

John Augustus Henry’s favorite toy, by far, is the Super Thruway. He wears himself out running through the ribbed tunnel and will usually end up falling asleep in there! He’s got a couple of knots in the tube that he stashes his treats in.

Heidi Sinellia Our ferrets Sam and Ella enjoy time in their ball pit. They toss those balls all over the place with their noses and paws. They chase each other through the holes and wrestle in the balls. They are so cute!

Jeff Smith My dirty socks. I don’t know why, but it’s his chioce over all others.

Wendy Henry My daughter’s ferret Stinkerbelle has a favorite spoon. I know this sounds insane, but she carries this spoon around as this cherished toy. She wrestles with it and hides it in her cage. I’ve tried to switch the spoon out with a different kind of spoon and there is no interest.

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TIPS for CLIPPING your Ferret’s NAILS Nail Clippers »

CLIP ONCE A MONTH

Your ferret’s nails will continually grow like a dog’s. They need to be clipped once a month.

This keeps your ferret safe from catching them on things as they play and accidentally injuring themselves. Short nails will make it less likely that they scratch you or one of their business mates.

CATCH THEM SLEEPING

This tip works for children as well as ferrets. Some ferrets slip into a deep sleep that’s called dead sleep. When they are in a dead sleep, it seems that no matter what you do to wake them, you can not disturb their slumber. A perfect time to zip through clipping those nails.

KEEP THEM BUSY

Ferrets have a ton of energy and rarely will sit still long enough to allow you to clip their nails safely. A great way is to distract your ferret with a treat. Chew sticks or any other treat or toy that takes focus works well. A dollop of FuroVite on their belly will do the trick too.

SCRUFF THEIR NECK

This doesn’t hurt them! It is how their mothers carry them as kits.

Scruffing their necks almost paralyzes them to the point where it becomes easy to clip their nails. In this photo, the owner is able to scruff with one hand while clipping one-handed with the other using these helpful Marshall Nail Clippers.

« Furo-Vite

WINTER 2021 | 11

Ask the VET Many families have welcomed ferrets into their homes in 2020. We’re here to support you and make sure you have all you need to make your ferret happy and healthy.

While we could write a book on the subject, there are many books out there already that do a very good job of educating on life with a ferret. We highly recommend Ferrets for Dummies for the first-time ferret owner. The new edition will be available March 2021.

Why does my ferret have two dots in its ear?

To avoid pet overpopulation and prevent health problems, every Marshall Ferret is neutered (spayed/castrated) and descented before being shipped. Two tattoo dots on the right ear identify that these procedures have been performed. By neutering our ferrets, problems that occur during normal mating season are avoided.

Is there a guarantee of health?

Every Marshall Ferret shipment is accompanied by a USDA Veterinarian Health Certificate and a Baby Ferret Guarantee Card. The Marshall Guarantee certifies that the ferret is neutered, descented and covers congenital health problems for one year. Register your ferret online at marshallpet.com to print out an Official Marshall Ferret Birth certificate for your new pet. This Birth Certificate is not needed to make a claim and is for entertainment only. The Baby Ferret Guarantee Card and original sales receipt are needed to make a claim.

The guarantee is only valid if the ferret remains on the diet it was bred on, Marshall Premium Ferret Diet. If you have any questions about your ferret, please email, ferrets@marshallpet.com or call 800.292.3424.

Marshall Ferret GUARANTEE.

Do I need to vaccinate my ferret?

Canine Distemper Vaccination • Prior to shipping • Vaccinations at 11 and 14 weeks then annually are recommended.

Rabies Vaccinations • Vaccinations at 12 weeks are recommended.

• Then annually.

Distemper is an airborne virus that, without vaccination, is almost always 100% fatal. Distemper can be contracted from a variety of surfaces and sources: i.e., grass, weeds, trees, shrubs, or animals that you come into contact with. The incubation period can be up to 10 days long, so it is important to isolate any new pets from the household until such time has passed.

Some people believe that if they always keep their pets indoors they will never be exposed to distemper. This simply isn’t true, because any time you venture out of your house and back in, you carry all sorts of germs on your shoes and may indeed be exposing your pets to deadly viruses. It is best to vaccinate!

It is extremely important to keep your ferret’s vaccinations current, otherwise your ferret is susceptible to contracting serious illnesses, such as distemper or rabies.

Every Marshall Ferret comes with the Marshall Ferret Guarantee.

We guarantee that your ferret is neutered and descented and free of congenital defects. Congenital defects are abnormalities that are present at birth and are not considered hereditary.

The following are not covered by the Marshall Guarantee: colds, influenza, bacterial conditions, viruses, acquired diseases, growths, tumors, cancers or any condition caused by parasites or unknown loss. The guarantee is effective for one year from the date of purchase, only up to the purchase price. Your ferret must remain on Marshall Premium Ferret Diet to keep the guarantee valid.

Register your ferret at marshallpet.com and receive a link to a PDF of your birth certificate that you can print for your records.

Visit https://www.marshallferrets.com/our-ferret-guarantee/ for more information.

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BONDING WITH YOUR FERRET Bringing a new ferret into the family, whether the first or the fifth, is always exciting. It is easy for us to fall in love with their little noses and tender kisses... but do they feel the same about us? Like any relationship, trust builds over time. Be patient!

Make bonding with your ferret easy and fun with these tips:

LET THEM LEAD. When you first

bring your new ferret home, it is best to give your pet time to get acclimated.

Show them their cage, food and litter. Give them and you a small, enclosed and ferret-proof space to allow your ferret to explore you. Just sit there. Occupy yourself with things other than the animal and allow them to figure you out. Let them climb and snoop, sniff and taste.

Familiarity is the first step in building that bond.

TREATS & PRAISE are a good way to establish you as the caretaker.

Give them treats and praise to reinforce good behavior. Get down on their level to feed them and stick around for a minute while they dig in. Once they understand that they can trust you for the things they need, they will start to let down their guard and show affection in return.

LEAVE THEM YOUR SMELL.

Bond with your ferret even when you are not there. Leave them with a dirty shirt or pillowcase to curl up in while you are gone. Sleeping with your smell comforts them and instills a sense of safety associated with your smell.

Sneaker Toy »

GROOM YOUR FERRET. It is

likely that your ferret is young. Groom your ferret as if you were its mother.

Take a warm washcloth and start at the ferret’s face. Gently wipe their eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Continue to clean them with the washcloth from the top of their heads down their backs. Turn them over and get their bellies. If your grooming session doesn’t end with them napping in your arms, be sure to return your ferret to the warmth of its cozy bed.

GIVE THEM TREASURES. It’s well known that ferrets love to steal and hide treasures. That’s why the most popular ferret name is Bandit. Give them treasures that are associated with you. Choose things that they cannot chew through or break apart in their mouths. Choose toys that are durable enough to hold up to their play yet small enough for them to stash. Things that are shiny or sparkly are especially cherished.

PLAY WITH THEM. It seems like a no brainer, but many first-time ferret owners don’t know how to play with their new pets! Ferrets like to jump and run.

They like to burrow and explore. Dig boxes and teaser toys are an extremely entertaining way to have fun with your ferret and strengthen your bond. Ferret-proofing a play area is imperative to keeping your ferret safe during play time.

(See page 10 of FQ Summer 2020 for more fun ways to play with your ferret.)

You and your ferret will soon be best friends. The bond between a human and a ferret is like no other.

By: Dietra DeRose

WINTER 2021 | 13

Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

A ferret has stolen my heart.

How about you?

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#FELFIEFRIDAY

Alyssa Daugherty

Emily Arnett

Jennifer Lee Reid

Danyel Soulier Heather Kandzior Nico Van Halen

Ellen Chien

Jay Strum

Robin Mcnichol

WINTER 2021 | 15

#FEATUREFERRETS

RENEE CANNON SMITH

ELIZABETH PIPER

This is Floki! He likes to nap in his gingham scarf.

We got Meeko and Ollie in 2018 and they have a been constant buddies to us both. I look forward to seeing them every morning when I wake up and every evening when I come home. I LOVE having visitors that tell me how disgusting and rodent-like ferrets are and as soon as they meet Meeko and Ollie their hearts and minds are instantly changed. And some have even gotten their own ferrets since! Our ferrets know when I’m sad and are instantly in my lap (and face) making sure I’m OK. They cuddle with me every night. Meeko is very wellbehaved and cuddly. Ollie is my troublemaker.

He is always trying to break the rules. I have so many videos of me catching him in the act and him doing his “guilty routine” but he shows so much love! He LOVES his big brother Meeko, and even if he is super hyper he will stop and lick your face and ears to show affection. They are the most affectionate pets I’ve ever had and I love proving people wrong about that.

KATIE KELLEY

MEAGAN BROWN When I first got Felix he was almost all black.

Almost overnight his face changed to mostly white. He almost died as a kit. It took three weeks to nurse him back to health and to this day he’s the best ferret. He comes to me to be held, can go bye-bye with me, and overall,does great. He’s truly my best friend

This ginormous Floof is Oogie. He’s only 9 months old and already bigger than both of his older brothers. He was tiny and being kept in a hamster cage with overgrown nails and fleas. I bought him from the “owner” and brought him home that day. With love and care he’s grown so big! He’s so loving and has rescued me just as much as I rescued him!

Four ferret noses in this picture... They like to cuddle with each other to stay warm. Who doesn’t love a pile of ferrets?