Do Prairie Dogs make good pets?
My answer to that is....do humans make good owners? We are as good as our owners are to us. We are naturally friendly and sweet tempered. When Mom has taken me into the pet store, I hear about Prairie Dogs that have gone "bad". They bite and are just generally mean. But it turns out it's because their adopted families didn't treat them right, or they just didn't know how to care for them correctly. We really do make good pets, but you have to know a lot about us and our needs and the way our minds work.

What do Prairie Dogs eat?
We eat all kinds of things...like blankets, couches, newspaper, power cords. In the wild we eat things like hay, grass and flowers. In our adopted homes our diet should consist of rodent blocks, timothy hay and monkey chow (this is considered a treat). Of course we love our treats but we can't have too many of them. Other treats that we really enjoy are hamster treats like yogurt drops, carrot chews and the like. Fruits and vegetables are important too. Some of my favorites are: plums, apples, grapes, carrots, fresh corn on the cob (I like to let it sit until it dries out, but I want it fresh when it's given to me), lettuce...no iceberg please, and sometimes oranges. Oh yeah, I just learned I like Oat Thins too. Two very important things to keep in mind, is we can't have too many of these foods as we could get sick, and be sure to wash the fruits and veggies.

What do Prairie Dogs like to do?
We like to do all kinds of things. We like to run around the room and show off. We have a very important job when we are adopted into a family and that is to keep everyone protected and entertained. We can learn to do tricks, but you have to have incredible patience. We love to borrow in just about anything (one of my favorite places is the dirty clothes basket) and fall asleep. Then our owners get to play our favorite game, Hide-and-Seek. We also love to explore. For this reason, keep an eye on the doors and windows. Our curiosity is so high that we are drawn to these places and we might get lost if we get out. There are plenty of places to explore in the house! We do like to go outside, but it is much safer for us if you put us on a leash.

Where can I get a Prairie Dog?
First you have to decide if you really want a critter like me in your home. I am quite adorable, but don't let that fool you. We demand a LOT of attention!!! One of the most important things to know is ... we are CHEWERS. We chew anything. I accidently chewed through the phone cord not to long ago while Mom was on the Internet. All of a sudden her connection was gone. I hightailed it back to my cage. She couldn't figure out what happened. She decided to check the cord...and there was the proof of what I did. Ya know what? She didn't get mad at me because she KNOWS what I can do. And you have to adapt to us getting up at the crack of dawn. It's the perfect time to start playing!!! If you decide you really do want one of us, check with your local pet store. We are becoming quite popular as pets and are becoming more available.

What is involved with the care of a Prairie Dog?
The most important thing involved in caring for us is LOVE and UNDERSTANDING! You have to be willing to give us many hours of attention. We aren't like fish where you set them up and leave them. We love human interaction....we DEMAND it! And I will again emphasize UNDERSTANDING. You have to be aware that we get into things. And you can't get mad at us. Getting mad won't help...it will only raise your blood pressure.

How long do Prairie Dogs live?
In captivity, it is said that we are expected to live up to 12-14 years. I can't testify to that yet but if it's true, I look forward to living with my Mom for a very long time!!! Of course it's your job to be sure to take good care of us, protect us from all the dangerous situations we can find ourselves in, and to make sure we eat a good and balanced diet.

Are Prairie Dogs destructive?
:::Chuckle-Chuckle::: Oh we can be!!!! Because we are rodents, it's necessary for us to chew and gnaw to keep our teeth trim. We will chew on just about anything we can sink our teeth into. Even though Mom gives me lots of wooden toys in my cage, I find it to be a lot more fun and tasty to chew the couch, carpet and hutch. Mom is always yelling at me to stop. She found something new to spray on the places I like to chew. She used to use something called "Bitter Apple", but that didn't stop me. Now she gets "Hot Chili Oil" from the grocery store and puts it in a spray bottle. Now she sprays that on my favorite spots and I can't go anywhere near that spot. That stuff is just awful. Just the smell brings tears to my eyes...and I won't even tell you about the what I did the first time I tasted it.

How hard is it to tame a Prairie Dog?
We are already pretty tame. If you buy one of us at a pet store, it is best to find a place where we have been give attention and handled a lot.

Are Prairie Dogs nocturnal?
No! I can't speak for everyone, but I sure do like to sleep at night...and I am not very tolerant of being disturbed when I am asleep (unless it's Mom tucking me in before she goes to bed.) Normally we get up at dawn and go to bed about dusk. During the day we eat, play and take a few naps.

Do you have to vaccinate a Prairie Dog?
We don't get the diseases that cats and dogs do. Therefore, we don't necessarily need to be vaccinated. But it is best to check with your vet. NOTE: We are still fairly new as pets and not all vets are familiar with our care. If you have other pets in your home now, check with the vet you currently use. If s/he isn't familiar with Prairie Dogs ask for a referral to someone who is or get a copy of "Prairie Dog Pets" by Pat Storer. If you can't find it at your local pet store, see my Prairie Dog Links page to find out out to get a copy.

Do Prairie Dogs suffer from any particular ailments?
Mom and I are doing research on this question right now. We will update this as soon as we have the answer. Please be patient.

Do Prairie Dogs bite or scratch?
This is kinda tough to answer. I guess the answer is Yes and No. It depends on many things. First of all, it depends on how the prairie dog was handled when captured and in the pet store. It it was mistreated in any way, the prairie dog could become agressive. I started to get agressive in September. I nipped at Mom and her friends. She quickly figured out what was happening. I was going into "season". She solved the problem real quick by taking me to see Dr. Kraft. As far as scratching...be forewarned...we have long sharp nails. This nails are not for grabbing or clinging. They are meant for digging. You have to keep our nails trimmed because they can become long and sharp.

Should Prairie Dogs be neutered/spayed?
YES YES YES! If you go to a vet and ask this question and they tell you there is no need if they aren't around other prairie dogs....find another vet! There are a couple of things involved here. As the males get older, our male hormones take over. Mating becomes the only thing on our mind. Because of this, we are pretty miserable. We can get agressive. Females can get agressive too. If you have only had your Prairie Dog for one season and it seemed to be okay, don't let that fool you. We come of age by the second season. The mating season is from October to early spring. It is highly recommended that you DO NOT get the Prairie Dog altered after the end of September, due to possible bleeding problems. When the Prairie Dog is neutered, the vet will probably remove the scent glands too. Talk to your vet about it. If he is not familiar with Prairie Dogs, PLEASE ask him to recommend someone that is, or ask him to contact Pat Storer or my Mom for information on treating Prairie Dogs. (Fortunately, Mom found a vet that specializes in exotic pets.)

Are Prairie Dogs legal as pets in all areas of the country?
I would recommend contacting your pet store and the city you live in. We aren't allowed as pets in some places, but you can find out by checking with your local Wildlife Bureau. I can tell you we are popping up all over the place...including Canada and Japan.

How do Prairie Dogs get along with other animals?
I would say this depends on the individual prairie dog's personality. In general, we are very friendly and playful. I get along great with my brothers and sisters. Well, except for Amie...she doesn't like me too much...but I can't take that personally...she doesn't like anyone too much. If you get a Prairie Dog and you have other animals, introduce them SLOWLY and keep a very close eye on them.

Can Prairie Dogs run loose in the house or do they require a cage?
From my point of view, we should be allowed to roam free in the house. But Mom doesn't see things the way I do. I think she is afraid I will chew through a wall or something and get away from her. Doesn't she know I would never intentionally leave her? Mom set me up with a real nice cage. It has all my personal stuff in it and no one bothers it. When I am allowed to run in the house, I always know my cage is home. Sometimes I go to it without even being asked to do so.

Can Prairie Dogs be housebroken?
In a single word...YEP! Some Prairie Dogs use litter pans, some just use their cage. Mom is still amazed that she never finds any of my "droppings" around on the floor when I am out of my cage. In our borrows in the wild, we have a "potty chamber". Same thing in our cages. Personally, I like litter pans...to play in. My cage has a pull out bottom filled with shavings. Every thing drops through the wire bottom into the shavings. Mom just cleans it out!

What kind of a cage should a Prairie Dog live in?
A SECURE ONE....Mom made me write that. I have a cage that is about 1.5' deep x 3' high x 3' wide. It has three levels so I can climb up and down and it has plenty of room for me to play in when I am "confined". It's made all of wire and metal and has no sharp edges. A plastic or wooden cage won't work too well for us, because we can chew it to bits. I have tested every single wire in my cage and I can't bite through any of them. I keep trying hoping one will become loose, but no luck. My cage sits against the wall in the living room away from "direct" sunlight and out of all drafts. It's important for us to be in the middle of the family activity center. You will enjoy watching us, no doubt, but we enjoy watching you and being a part of your life just as much. Don't worry about putting us in a quiet place. Noise doesn't bother us. When we go to sleep, we tune everything out. My cage contains my bed (a terra-cotta flower pot and receiving blankets), my food bowl, my water bottle, lots of toys, and a hay rack. Mom also tied some nylon sting to my cage so I can "floss" my teeth.

What is Mischief's favorite TV show?
Little House on the Prairie

Do Prairie Dogs hibernate during the winter?
We don't really hibernate, but we aren't quite as active during the winter. I tend to sleep a lot more during the day. Also because it gets dark earlier and light later, I tend to sleep in.

Do Prairie Dogs like to have their picture taken?
Well, it depends on the camera....personally I hate Polaroids. They scare me with the noise they make. Mom's 35mm isn't so bad, but it has a bright red eye in the middle of it. That is kind of spooky. I don't mind her video camera though. It's neat seeing me on that big box with moving pictures. I love to show off, remember?

Can Prairie Dogs learn their name?
Yes, we can learn our names and we are very proud of our names. You should know something though...we are very good at IGNORING our names when we don't want to listen to you.

I'll be adding to this list of questions as we get more. Just Email me if you don't find the answer to what you are looking for.