Does hobbling a ferret affect its working ability?

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Does hobbling a ferret affect its working ability?

Once the animal feels the effects of its hormones kicking in, it will not be 100% focused on its job.

By Simon Whitehead

Saturday, 28 June 2008

I am having my hob ferret castrated and wonder whether this will affect his working ability during the rabbiting season?

A:
There is a common misconception among ferreters that a neutered animal will not work as well as an entire one.

In fact, the reverse is the case. Due to the change in our weather patterns, the hormonal change among entire ferrets appears to start earlier and earlier each year.

Once the animal feels the effects of its hormones kicking in, it will not be 100% focused on its job.

As more and more ferreters are using the working hob because of his style of work, neutered hobs (hobbles) can be kept with each other and among jills for the entire year without the usual scraps or an unwanted litter.

Neutering also helps to reduce the aroma of the hob during the summer.

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In this week's issue, Shooting Times joins the Deer Initiative in Suffolk to investigate how the charity is fighting back against fallow damage, while David Hudson reports on all the action at the Pointer and Setter Champion Stake.