Prairie Dog - High Maintenance Exotic Pet

The average person does not usually have a prairie dog as a pet. Prairie dogs are very large rodents and they are very cute. They are very strong, furry and playful as well. Prairie dogs are very demanding and they require a lot of attention. A prairie dog can live to be over ten years old in captivity. They are curious little creatures that need to be watched or they will get into a lot of things. Most states will not allow you to have a prairie dog as a pet because it is from the wild. You cannot keep wild animals that you find. Some states will allow wild animals as long as you have a permit for it but you will need to check with your area to find out all the rules and regulations.

Due to a certain illness, the sale and trading of prairie dogs has been permanently cut off. You can no longer purchase a prairie dog. You have to find your prairie dog and you have to find it as a baby in order for it to be well behaved. If you raise a prairie dog from a baby it will be a loving pet much like a cat. Prairie dogs are a lot like little children because they require a lot of attention. Once you have a prairie dog you cannot just leave the pet alone all day, you will need to spend a lot of time with your new pet.

If you are planning on having several prairie dogs you need to keep them separated until you are familiar with them and they are bonding with you. Once the prairie dogs are familiar with you then you can introduce them to each other gradually. If you keep them together right away they will bond with each other and you will be left out. If you are a very busy person with a lot of things going on in your life this might be the route for you but if you want to socialize with your prairie dogs and keep them well behaved you will have to introduce them to each other after you have established a bond with them individually.

Remember that before you decide to keep a prairie dog you will need to spend a lot of time with the animal. You will need to check your local laws about wild pets. Even orphaned pets are not acceptable in most states and areas. If you need to have a permit, make sure that you get one before you have the animal or right after you have gotten the animal.