Last updated 10:28, Saturday, 05 July 2008

For Carlisle pet-owners, dogs have had their day. That’s according to Judith Nicholson, manager of Nu Pets in Lowther Street.

Lauren Harrison with Coco the ferret

Since she started stocking ferrets a year ago, they have become her best-selling small pet.

She said: “People are buying them as a family pet, instead of cats or dogs. It used to be just for hunting.”

Ferret breeder Judith owns 20 of the creatures, selling 40 in the last two months.

She recently paid £250 for a studio photograph of her own favourite, a ferret called Mitch.

“They enjoy going for walks, they’ll play with chew toys and they’ll chase you,” she said.

“While you’re at work they can stay in a cage, then when you get home they can go for a bomb round the house.”

To tackle the distinctive ferret smell, she gives hers regular baths and douses them in deodorant. However, other traits are trickier to deal with.

She said: “They can be a bit vicious when you first get them, and they don’t think they can trust you. You just have to teach them who’s boss!”

Like all good pets, ferrets can come with a range of accessories. As well as leads, harnesses and tracking devices, Judith owns various tiny jumpers and bandanas.

She added: “I used to be terrified of them. I was off work for eight weeks, and when I came back, there they were.”