Article By Lia J. Mittelstadt

Last year, my husband and his friend went on a fishing trip to Canada....leaving my daughter and I alone with the checkbook! One particularly rainy day, we decided to drive to a pet store that I haven't visited in a while. It was there that I saw a cage filled with cute, cuddly-looking Prairie Dog pups. I had been reading a lot about them for quite some time on the internet, so I figured that we were ready to take one home! The Prairie Dogs that were for sale were hand caught in New Mexico. I whipped out my credit card and came home with the little bundle..who was nervously scratching at the box!

I named him Oscar and we had an old ferret cage with tunnels and lots of places to explore that I thought would be perfect for him later on! But, for the time being, I put him in a smaller holding cage in my bedroom so that he could get used to me. The first time that I attempted to pet him, he promptly bit me! I won him over with small treats like raisins and cheerios and eventually, he came around. I decided to get a second prairie dog pup before my husband returned and took away my plastic, so I rushed down and came home with Daisy. She was much friendlier than Oscar. I think that she must have been a few weeks younger than Oscar. I fed them a diet of rodent blocks mixed with a small amount of dry dog food. They also get plenty of soft hay. Not only do they eat it, but they also love to make nests out of it. Once everyone got settled in...and my husband got over the credit card bill, we brought out the old ferret cage with all the tunnels and they just loved it. I would plug up several of the tunnel holes every day with hay and they got to pretend that they were digging! After about one month, they were able to be picked up and cuddled.

They loved to romp around on the floor and jump into my lap. Prairie Dogs are rodents... and although, it's really hard to look at that face and see a rodent, they are. I made a big mistake one day and I let one of my ferrets out to play while the Prairie Dogs were out. My ferret, Emily, latched onto Oscar's neck and would not let go. I went in there and tried to separate them and it took me a good five minutes for Emily to release her hold on Oscar. When she finally did let go, Oscar swung around to bite her, but instead bit my thumb...severing an artery! There was blood spurting out everywhere. I still have a small scar from that incident. They have a way of communicating that is very unique. They "bark", sounding like a dog in the distance. Whenever someone coughs in our home, they respond by getting up on their hind legs and barking a call back! Everything went back to normal and my Prairie Dogs were getting friendlier by the day....then, I got my first taste of how Prairie Dogs can become master escape artists. They learned to pop open the tunnels and all of the sudden I would feel someone tugging on my leg and I would look down and see two prairie dogs ready for play! My husband reinforced the tunnel connectors using super glue and duct tape and that solved the problem...until Daisy learned how to pop the latch door open.

We had just put a bid on our new farm and we were packing up all of belongings into boxes when we suddenly had a missing Prairie Dog. We looked everywhere and could not find her. We assumed she had gotten out of the house somehow. We were very sad, but we were in the process of moving and we constantly went back to the old house to look for her in the yard. We had given up hope....then one day, 1 1/2 months later, we went to the old house to do some dusting to get ready for an open house...when I coughed and we heard that familiar "bark" over our heads! Daisy was in the wall!!! We went up to the attic and we heard her scurrying around. I called her and she kept barking. We had to leave because the open house was going to start. We desperately hoped that no one would hear this Prairie Dog clumping around the attic walls! They would probably think we had rats! We came back that night with live traps. That little devil would steal peanuts from the traps without setting them off! Two weeks passed and I stopped hearing her bark. We were terrified that she had died. Then, one day, I went up to the attic alone and I heard the familiar scurrying. I saw a head pop up out of the insulation and here came Daisy running up to me and jumping in my lap! We were so happy to see each other! I ran outside to tell my husband that I had her and she was ALIVE. Two months had past since she first escaped and she was extremely thin and sallow-looking. We rushed her to the vet and he said that despite being thin, she was healthy.

We kept her away from Oscar for two weeks and nursed her back to health. When we finally introduced the two of them back together, it was like they never were apart! They were jumping around and chasing each other like crazy. My Prairie Dogs are neither neautered or spayed. Our intention was to raise a captive-born litter of pups. Right now, both of them are smack dab in the middle of "rut" season. A rut is a period that they go through from Fall to early Spring...a.k.a. mating season. They are extremely hard to handle right now and I can barely clean their cage without getting bit. I have been assured that once Spring arrives, they will be back to their cuddly, old, lovable selves. I really can't wait until then! If you want a Prairie Dog as a year-round pet, it is advised to get them spayed or neutered as soon as possible before their first heat. The surgery should cost about as much as it would for a dog or a cat, but it is well worth it. I am suspecting that my female is pregant and if she successfully has a litter, I am going to keep one and get it spayed or neutered.

One word of caution...Prairie Dogs can tend to overeat and become obese.That can take years off of their lifespan. I have heard of people that have had Prairie Dogs in captivity for 11 years or longer. However, an obese Prairie dog rarely lives past five. Food should be fed in small amounts. There is also several commercial diets available just for Prairie Dogs. They are naturally chubby creatures, but if they start getting too round, cut back on their food and give them more floor time.

I believe that Prairie Dogs can make great pets if you are willing to spend time with them, get them spayed or neutered and invest in an escape-proof cage. The ferret tunnel home works great once the tunnels were reinforced and we put an extra latch on the cage. When you get your little bundle home, it might be good idea to give him/her some time to get used to their surroundings in a small cage. Then, introduce some time playing on the floor by limiting them to a small room with YOUR supervision. A small bathroom works great

Positives of Prairie Dogs as pets?
BCC: I personally feel that prairie dogs are one of the best if not the best pet to own. They are small, easy to feed, not smelly and they love kisses and hugs.
KK: Prairie dogs are very loyal to their people if raised right, they are extremely affectionate as a general rule. Some can be aloof, but even then prairie dogs are entertaining with their antics. Always up to something, busy little creatures. Always remember, you get out of your prairie dog what you put into it-that's especially true with time. As a bonus, prairie dogs are very cheap and easy to feed.

Negatives of prairie dogs as pets?
BCC: They need a special cage, they should not be left out of the cage unsupervised. They are not an animal to throw in a cage and ignore. They NEED to be out with their owners playing, helping and being a part of the family.
KK: Prairie dogs have a serious need to chew, they must gnaw on hard objects to keep their teeth worn down. Rodents teeth continually grow, so in order to keep them from growing up into the nasal cavity chewing keeps them the proper length.

Anecdotes/stories about your Prairie Dog pet?
KK: All individual prairie dogs are different, some like one thing while others don't. My PD, Kizzie, loves water. She will swim with me in the pool when its warm enough, and she even showers with me! Not all prairie dogs are as tame as Kizzie, but she allows me to cut and file her claws, I once even painted them. She closes her eyes while I clean her ears and scratch behind them. I have brushed and flossed her teeth with no problems in the past too- but I don't suggest just anyone trying these things.

Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell?
BCC: Yes and no. They do have a scent gland under their tail. Sort of like a stamp pad. The smell has been compared to an old sock. Pds release use their “stamper” when extremely excited (both scared or happy). The smell does not linger.
KK: Male and female prairie dogs both have an anal scent gland. When the prairie dog is frightened or excited the scent gland protrudes out of the anus. Its white and has 3 "petals" looking similar to a flower. The smell is somewhat like that of an old dirty sock, the prairie dog "stamps" this scent and it dissipates quickly. That is really their only offensive smell, and it doesn't last long at all.

What is their average lifespan?
BCC: Properly fed and cared for pds can live to 11-13 years.
KK: The longest lifespan Ive heard prairie dogs can reach in captivity is around 12 years, where in the wild the lifespan is around 6 years max.

Do they enjoy interaction?
BCC: They cannot live without interaction. They want to be an active part of the family. Prairie dogs should not be kept as “just another caged animal”. They will adore you.
KK: Prairie dogs thrive on interaction! They are not the type of pet you can forget about and leave in a cage. In the wild prairie dogs are very social animals, they have their own "towns" and every dog has a job. Whether that job be digging burrows or being the sentry, they all interact like little people. In captivity they just cant live without the interaction. It will drive them insane.

What is their general personality, disposition, and attitude?
BCC: Personalities vary with each animal—but as a rule they are curious, loving, playful, funny, inquisitive. They can be stubborn, especially if not raised properly.
KK: Prairie dogs are generally happy, playful, affectionate little animals always wanting attention and love. Very curious little things. They must always know what their person is doing. If they cant participate they want to at least watch.

Are they sweet and petable, or mischievous and playful?
BCC: They are all of the above, PLUS.
KK: At different times all prairie dogs are mischievious and playful, most of them are sweet and petable. Even the sweetest prairie dogs cant resist temptation to go run off and nip their persons toe to initiate a play session. That's just typical prairie dog behavior.

How destructive are they for an average household?
BCC: Left unsupervised they can destroy sofas, chairs, wood work, chew wires, etc. When out of the cage they need to be in a pd safe room with a responsible person.
KK: In just a few hours they can turn your favorite couch or computer desk into a PD sculpture, they love chewing wires, they love to dig and chew on carpet. They can cause quite a bit of damage due to their wild instincts.

Do they climb or tear up furniture?
BCC: Yes, they do both. If left unsupervised.
KK: Yes!! They will climb up anything they can - this is dangerous because they have no depth perception so they can fall and injure themselves. Tear up furniture? Definitely, whether by digging or chewing.

Are their any problems associated with their claws?
BCC: No. Their claws are for digging, not for scratching. They are extremely gentle with their claws when hugging or kissing their people.
KK: At times, prairie dogs can and do lose a claw, from injury, which leads to massive bleeding but most of the time it looks worse than it is. They will grow back! Being prairie dogs love to dig, and the claws are long, this can cause damage to whatever it is they decide to dig. Pet prairie dog's claws should be trimmed.

How messy are their droppings?
BCC: Not at all. They are dry hay pellets, similar to rabbit droppings.
KK: Droppings are dry and hard, very easily swept or vacuumed away. Very light odor, barely noticeable.

Can they be litter box trained?
BCC: They usually self train themselves at about 5 months of age to use their cage litter pan. They tend to be very clean animals. And will usually go back to the cage to go potty even when they are out playing.
KK: Yes, litterbox training isn't hard and prairie dogs naturally have a designated potty spot in the wild so most prairie dogs take to litter training well.

Can they be trained?
BCC: They learn, if that is what you mean. They learn certain things quickly. But they do not perform tricks.
KK: Yes, they can be trained to walk on a harness and do small tricks. Probably more than that, I just haven't heard of it being done.

How are they with other pets, larger and smaller?
BCC: Usually they are quite good. It depends on the pds personality as well as the other animal. They tend to accept everyone and everything thing in the house as part of their family.
KK: Prairie Dog pups have no fear of other animals so they will get along with just about anything, but the other animal may have different ideas. Adult prairie dogs may not be as friendly with other pets if not introduced when the prairie dog was a pup. Interaction with other animals should always be supervised very closely.

What size cage do they need?
BCC: I prefer a two story cage 24 deep by 36 wide x 36 high cage. The levels must be completely closed except for the tunnel to the other floor (s). They can easily be hurt in a cage with open flooring or wire with large openings.
KK: Minimum cage size should be no less than 24" x 24" x 24" for 1 prairie dog. Bigger is always better. Beware of cages with balconies(half levels) and steep ramps. Prairie dogs can easily fall off a balcony, and steep ramps will lead to the prairie dog possibly slipping up and falling. Full levels are always best. Flooring should be no more than 1/2" x 1/2", cage itself should have bars no larger than 1" x 1/2".

What bedding do you use?
KK: I don't use bedding, because Kizzie sleeps in bed with me, which is common among prairie dog owners. Other people use old t-shirts for bedding. Nothing linty, and never use terry cloth. You need to try and avoid anything that will get up the prairie dogs nose. They have extremely sensitive respiratory systems.

What do you feed them?
BCC: Pds main diet is timothy hay. Alfalfa is quite bad for them.
KK: A prairie dogs diet should consist of Timothy hay fed free choice because they will eat this and use it for bedding. Raw sweet potatoes can be cut up and fed, a little cereal like Kix or shredded wheat squares works great for a healthy treat. They can also have prairie dog pellets made specifically for prairie dogs. They key to a prairie dogs diet is "Low fat, high fiber". This is especially important because the prairie dog will become overweight and its heart will enlarge- this leads to an early death. Low fat diets are very important. Also- remember do not feed alfalfa, its too rich! Other hays to offer for a variety are Oat hay, Brome and Orchard. Never, ever give straw!

Some pups are very small when captured and they will need to be "bottlefed" with a syringe. The formula is made up of 2 parts evaporated milk, 1 part babyfood sweet potatoes, and 1 part water. Feeding this to adults occasionally helps strengthen the bond.

What vaccinations/vet care do they require?
BCC: No vaccinations. Neutering or spaying their first fall and a yearly check up.
KK: No vaccinations are required, but vet checkups every 6 months, to a year are important. The vet you pick out should, amongst other things, be able to do a spay/neuter as SPAYING and NEUTERING is EXTREMELY, MAJORLY important in pet prairie dogs. Prairie dogs go through a breeding season which is called "rut". It lasts from Oct to about Feb or March. Both male and female intact prairie dogs can become more aggressive and bite more often and without warning. Females will be stealing things to build nests for her "invisible babies". All spaying and neutering should be done at about 6 months old, the year of the pups birth, before Oct 1st and never done through rut as this could lead to serious internal bleeding due to rushing hormones.

What sounds do they make?
KK: Prairie Dogs have a variety of different sounds they make. They do a yahoo, which sounds like "YIP- HAA". This is accompanied by the throwing up of arms and sometimes falling backwards if they get too excited. Its a happy sound- a greeting. They have another sound, it sounds like "err err". Its a happy sound they make when playing, it can get loud but its a short sound. They make a chirping sound when made angry, sounds like "chirp chirp". When they make this sound its best to leave them alone. They make another sound, which sounds like a motorboat, they click their teeth and blow air through them. They do this when they're ready to bite and usually they will have their tail all frizzed out. They have a warning bark which sounds like a yip, they do this when they hear or see something that scares them. They also have this happy chitter. They grind their teeth when they are contented and it makes it sound like a chitter.

At what age would it be best to get one?
BCC: A young animal is always preferable, but older pds are able to become quite close to their owners.
KK: The best age to get a pup would be about 8 weeks. Some need to be fed with a syringe, some don't.

Other Consideration for owners of prairie dogs?
BCC: You need to pd proof your home or the rooms you will allow your pup to play in. Prairie dogs want and need to be an active member of the family.
KK: Do not give the pup run of the floor when you get it. Make sure you can pick it up and hold it, cuddle it, and it accepts that before you give it free time to play. Also, when you get a prairie dog, ask how it was caught. You don't want a pup caught with a vacuum. Vacuum caught pups tend to have injuries that can shorten life span and lead to huge vet bills. One pup at a time is a better idea than taking on 2 or more at a time.