They will only learn to fear you, and will not associate something they did 5 minutes earlier with why they are being hurt. Bathing and Ear Cleaning Ferrets are just like cats in that they groom themselves. Ferrets do not need to be bathed for cleaning reasons, they will clean themselves. Ferrets do have a light musky odor though, that will be removed temporarily by bathing. 2 weeks after a bath, the odor will return, ten times stronger, as the oils in the body try to compensate for the drying effect from the bath.
Frequent bathing can tend to dry out a ferret's skin.
If you do decide to bathe your ferret, you will need to use some kind of conditioner afterwards. Humilac, available only from a vet, is an excellent choice. There are also some over the counter conditioners that will work. Ferrets have high body temperatures, so warmer water will make for easier bathing times. Ferrets frequently have ear mites, these can be treated topically using Tresaderm, or orally using Ivermectin.