I've got 2, and am trying to figure out what they would like as treats.

They're prone to obesity... so no corn. I heard they like fresh green beans... but they really didn't seem interested. They'll munch on lettuce.

They really like peanuts, timothy hay and oatmeal. LOL

But if anyone has PD's and wants to tell me about them, I'd love to hear!

Oh my, I've never heard of anyone having them as pets! We've only had them as gardeners, ;) nicely digging holes in our back yard (back in New Mexico--not here)

Pictures, please!

wow I didn't know prairie dogs could be pets! What kind of cage/home are they in? Are they like ferrets? Tell us more!

Yep! I think they're called "exotic pets"... because they're pretty rare as pets.

Most of the tame ones are actually captured in the wild and then hand raised, from what I've read. I don't know why that is, but lucky them because I think that a lot of the wild ones get shot (!). :(

They make wonderful pets though! They are VERY VERY social. They'll glare at you until you come over and pet them and then they won't move a muscle (they're like little statues!) until you quit petting them. I think they'd stand stock still for 24 hours as long as you were petting them. I can stick a finger in the cage and they'll rest their head on your finger and fall asleep like that. hehe. :)

If you sneeze or cough they'll "bless you" it sounds like "Arrr.. Arrr!" (which can easily be translated to "Bless.... You..!". Too cute.

How I ended up with them was my friend Ashley got two, but then she didn't have time for them. When I met Scott he was always talking about how he wanted a prairie dog, so I asked him if he wanted them. He said "YES!!!" and picked them up the next day. Ashley gave them to us for FREE (I have no idea how much they cost, but I bet it's a lot) and a 3 story cage. So they've got a nice big cage and it has a tunnel from the bottom level up to the top level.

They're not quite like ferrets, as I believe ferrets will eat other animals (correct me if I am wrong, but won't they eat a live chicken? ::shudder::). But they are playful.

I took a picture of "Big Mama" (Uh.. Scott named them, the other is Baby Girl) last week when we tried a harness on her. Turned out to be a bad idea... LOL, she didn't like it. So when I get those on disk, I'll post it here (provided the picture turns out). Big Mama is fat! Baby Girl is a perfect weight.

They like to make beds out of old T shirts and sometimes they get *inside* the T-shirt and it's halarious when they stand up and throw their little arms up in the air and bless you. All you see is this lump jumping around in the shirt.

We found out they're good jumpers too. You wouldn't think it. They have terrible depth perception, so you can't leave them on the couch because they might tumble off. And they are FAST! When they want to be. Usually they just walk about and sit up, look around, and shake their little tails. They like to weave too... :D They take socks or whatever (curtains...!) and weave them in and out of the bars on their cage.

They are just precious as can be. :) And they're quiet other than the occasional "blessing".

Cowgal,

They sound soooooo COOL. Makes me want one........

Must not get another pet must not get another pet....

That sounds adorable, but since they're meant to colonize and tunnel over miles, I wouldn't seek one out as a pet.
Give yours a scratch for me, tho!

That sounds adorable, but since they're meant to colonize and tunnel over miles, I wouldn't seek one out as a pet.
Give yours a scratch for me, tho!

I know. I feel bad about that. :( I wish I could make them a big sand pit to dig in- I was talking to Karen about that in chat. They seem content enough but nothing is quite like the natural environment. I am sure my horses would rather be free- well no, I take that back. Miss Pretty is a barn dweller. She "glows" when she's in a stall- it makes her so happy. Strange girl. LOL She likes the room service of me bringing her food to her twice a day too. hehe.

About the digging, I'm not quite sure how they go about it, but I know what they recommend for rabbits that love to dig. If you get a great big box and put a hole in the long side, the bun will go in, and turn and dig along the box (note that this way they don't empty the contents of the box onto the floor. . well, unless they're *really* bored). You can put all sorts of things in there, whatever the bunny likes really. You can probably put other things in for prairie dogs (they don't recommend things like actual dirt since it's hard on their lungs). Anyways, I haven't tried it since my bunny is a rearranger not a digger, but you could always try it?

Good luck!

Pol

About the digging, I'm not quite sure how they go about it, but I know what they recommend for rabbits that love to dig. If you get a great big box and put a hole in the long side, the bun will go in, and turn and dig along the box (note that this way they don't empty the contents of the box onto the floor. . well, unless they're *really* bored). You can put all sorts of things in there, whatever the bunny likes really. You can probably put other things in for prairie dogs (they don't recommend things like actual dirt since it's hard on their lungs). Anyways, I haven't tried it since my bunny is a rearranger not a digger, but you could always try it?

Good luck!

Pol

Pol- is there any way you could post a picture of the bunny's box? Or is there a website about it I could look at?

What is the box filled with?

It sounds like a wonderful idea- but I am having a hard time picturing what the box looks like, and what's in it.

Thanks!!!!

Big Mama and Baby Girl bless you for your help. ;)

Your dogs sound really happy to be with you, tho, Val! I know you're the best mom to them ever.

er. . . I have never seen a picture. Hmm. . . lets see if I can describe it better.

First you need a rectangular box, so you have a long side and a short side. The key to this is that the animal should try to orient themselves inside the box along the long side (as if they were in a tunnel?). So, you cut the hole in the long side, they go in and turn so as they dig, the dirt/whatever hits the short end (either one) and stays in.

|------- hole -------|
|---------------------|

Does that make more sense? Some stuff would likely fly out, but most would stay in depending on how enthusiastic your buddy is. You have to make sure that the box is long enough to make it fun to dig in, and narrow enough that they won't turn and dig in the "wrong" direction.

As for what to dig, for rabbits shredded newspaper, hay, magazines, and anything else that can be shredded safely is recommended. I'm not sure if that would work for prairie doges, but you can definetly try!

Have fun!

Pol

ETA: grr. . .silly diagram. . . I'm not sure why it isn't working. That vertical part is supposed to be on the other side. . grr