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Is a prairie dog the right pet for you?

It is my opinion that having a prairie dog as a pet leads to one of the most amazing relationships possible with an animal. But they're not good for every person or every household. Available on this site, is extensive information from a professional prairie dog consultant who has helped over 30,000 prairie dogs by providing accurate, individualized, and caring plans for integrating a pet prairie dog into people's homes for over ten years.

The goal of this site is to help educate you on prairie dogs and help you decide if one is right for you.

A few things to consider:

Prairie dogs are unlike any other pet you have ever experienced and require tremendous amounts of your time and "know-how". They DO NOT make suitable pets for just anyone, you must understand the commitment you would undertake by having one. A prairie dog, regardless of age, is closely comparable to a two year old human child, but it never grows up! You can essentially plan to have this "perpetual two year old" in your home anywhere from seven to thirteen years, if cared for properly. Before making this life-changing decision, a potential owner should ask, "Do I have the time and resources to give to an animal that is similar in needs to a human child?"

Not unlike a human two year old, a prairie dog will require an incredible, insatiable, amount of attention. They throw temper tantrums, need firm but loving timeouts, and experience extreme mood swings particularly during rut season. You may be asking, "Do they bite?". The answer is...YES!!! They are wild animals which were captured humanely and made available to you as pets. It is vital that all owners are well-educated in advance about such issues as nutrition, caging, handling, bonding, socializing, maintenance and other health issues in order to keep them properly and long-term, and get off to the right start. Locating an experienced exotic vet for an initial exam is also an integral part of bringing one into your home. An emergency for a baby prairie dog requires a quick response due to their size. Having a vet in place ahead of time will be valuable if you get into any trouble.