6/March The Tantrum

My ferrets all get 7+ hours out most days. 
Sometimes I am quite busy, but even then I find the time to let them out for a good play.
Even when I'm incredibly busy, but am home, I let them out so they can at least go to what ever they like, maybe play with eachother or get into mischief. Anything really as long as they get their freedom to let their energy out and have fun. I feel bad for having to cage them up, but for my reasons I find it necessary. I feel more at ease knowing that they aren't getting into anything while I am out of the house. I become so over paranoid and over think things, its a bad habit of mine, but at least I can leave the house knowing my babies are asleep and considerably safe. I know, it sounds so selfish, but I only think of my ferrets well being. Goodness, I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't feel my ferrets were safe from harms way. They mean absolutely the world to me.

Today, I wasn't feeling too well, I haven't been feeling all too well for a couple of days. I'm possibly becoming anemic again, which wouldn't surprise me. I'm due for a check up and a blood test anyway.  Anyhoo, I had to put the ferrets to bed alittle earlier than usual because I wasn't feeling up to playing with them and Beavis wasn't all thrilled about it. He struggled against me, like he was saying "Noo, I don't wanna sleep yet!" I found myself apologising to him repetitively and felt quite bad about putting him away when they all deserved a long play day. Once in the cage, he threw a huge tantrum. Scratching at the cage floor, knocking over food plates, attempting to turn the litter pan upside down even though it was attached to the cage... He then got under the litter pan and scratched, scratched, and scratched. Here I am, standing there feeling dizzy and sick, but also feeling horrible and having the urge to let him back out-- this was the one thing I know not to do. So what i did, regardless of how I personally felt, was turn around, walk out of the room and gently closed the door behind me.

He continued his tantrum for 10 minutes. I could hear him from the other room and found myself thinking how selfish and horrible I was for doing this. Of course, I will make it up to him tomorrow. In fact, I'm going to spoil him tomorrow with some fresh rodents.

Giving into tantrums, I have noticed since adopting ferrets into my life, is the most HARDEST thing I've ever had to restrain myself from doing. If I didn't hold myself back, I would have let them have their way, and we all know how bad that would turn out in the end. For their sake, it is always best to not give in. Even though this reason was all my fault, I couldn't exactly help the fact that I wasn't feeling up to it today, but at least I can make it up to them tomorrow. These things happen and as much as I think I should be beating myself up about it, I really shouldn't. 

The best thing to do when faced with a tantrum, is to ignore it.
I know. It's absolute torture for us humans. But once they calm down and relax, then you reward the good behaviour. You don't ever want them to associate a tantrum with getting their own way. You want them to associate the reward with good behaviour. Ferrets are smart and manipulative when they want to be. 

Tomorrow is a new day, I hope I feel alot better and I promise to give my dumplings all the play they need. Along with some yummy fresh food and a cuddle session like they deserve.
As for me, I'm going to keep trying to be healthy and hopefully feel better. :)