Are you considering getting a rodent as your new pet but you are afraid it won’t be doing good with your dog under one roof? Don’t be afraid, dogs and rodents can do great together. It is important to teach your dog from an early age that other animals are not an inconvenience. Then, it is not important if you had your dog as the first or second animal in your family.
Are you considering getting a rodent as your new pet but you are afraid it won’t be doing good with your dog under one roof? Don’t be afraid, dogs and rodents can do great together. It is important to teach your dog from an early age that other animals are not an inconvenience. Then, it is not important if you had your dog as the first or second animal in your family.
If you are afraid that a dog will not stand a rodent, you don’t have to. Dogs and rodents can handle it well under one roof. Every dog with good upbringing should be also able to respect other pets in the household. If you choose the right method of upbringing it is possible even for breeds which were created to hunt rodents. Moreover, if you teach your dog to get used to other pets from its early age, their life together shouldn’t pose any threats.
Dogs can take any animal to their pack. Moreover, they are naturally obedient which is a characteristic feature you can work well with. Therefore, it is not only about the nature of the dog but also about the approach an alpha takes, i.e. that you take. It is then unnecessary to worry about your dog hunting a small pet. At home, we are also experiencing a developing “friendship” of a dog and a brown rat. And our bitch is already three years old. We taught them to get used to each other gradually and now, they are almost inseparable companions.
What would I recommend you based on our fresh experience?
Trust your dog. Thus, you will strengthen its healthy self-confidence.
Don’t rush, everything needs its time. The friendship between a dog and a rodent as well.
First, let your dog to have a look at the little animal when it is still in a terrarium or a cage.
Prepare some treats. A dog always likes to be complimented. And a rodent will also like some reward.
If the dog stays calm, proceed to the next step – sniffing.
Both of them will be curious about the other one. Read the body language of your dog.
Have a rodent in your hand at first.
Observe their reactions to each other and intervene if necessary. Calmly, not rashly.
Don’t be afraid, the animals can feel your fear. Moreover, your dog may want to protect you.
Do not expect the little pet to be cautious. Natural instincts have been lost particularly at lab rats and similar rodents.
Talk to your dog all the time. You can help it to get to know what’s going on and get the impression that the little furry animal is really a friend.
But don’t let your little mouse to do anything to your dog that might be uncomfortable. For example, gnaw its paws or muzzle.
But never punish your dog if it for example hits the rodent in the reaction to an uncomfortable situation. The dog would then associate this experience with negative emotions. Warn him by a simple command “no” or “don’t”.
Once your dog gets used to noises, movements and odour of the new member of its pack you can let them both freely move in a room.
If the dog loses its interest in the rodent fuss in a while, it’s a good sign.
Don’t ever let your dog with the rodent alone even if you know the dog really well.
It is definitely necessary to know your dog really well. That’s why I wouldn’t bring a rodent when the dog is still an impetuous puppy. Observe the pose the dog gets into when seeing the little animal. If it has its tail down, ears pulled to the back and bristled back, it is probably afraid (yes, there are some dogs who behave like this), it can get frightened and hurt the rodent. Ears turned to the front, head leaning to the side, a raised tail or crouched legs, it may mean the dog is willing to play which is a good sign. Some dogs simply can’t get used to living with a rodent but you may see that already in the stage when you have the rodent in your hand.
If you are afraid your dog wouldn’t stand a long-term living with a rodent, try it at first. You can arrange a visit with your dog at some friends’ who keep a rodent. You can see your dog’s first reaction and choose the next steps accordingly. It’s often new experience for the dog and it needs some time to get used to it.
What is your experience with the co-existence of a dog and a rodent under one roof?
Allegedly, fast is instinctively practised by both wolfs and wild dogs. This has led many people to that assumption, that our dog on the couch should, once in a while, be fasting as well. A wild animal surely knows what it is doing, nature is wise, you...
In this cycle, we will get to know interesting dog personalities. Dogs play an important role in our life, so let us take a look what they have already achieved during our life together. We should find Hachiko in the dictionary next to the phrase...
Markéta is my long-time friend. We got to know each other through a shelter, from which I took my first dog and where I then started to help out. Under this association, Markéta runs a depository for cats in Prague, where I like to go when I have a bit...
Have you ever wondered how much movement is healthy for your dog and when it can be harmful? Or that not every movement is beneficial? Most dog owners never think about this. It’s said that the more you move, the better. But this is not always true.
As I mentioned in previous articles, I occasionally help out my friend Markéta, who runs a cat shelter. I had the opportunity to take part in several humane trappings for stray cats and would like to share the experience with you today.
Did you know that even your pet dog can suffer from depression? As with people, we shouldn’t underestimate the mental state of our dogs. How to recognize it and what to do about it?
In this cycle, we shall take a look at how cats and dogs are getting along in the world. Where people nurture and spoil them, or on the contrary they suffer and their situation is critical. Today I would like to introduce you to the cats of Greece,...
The approach of warm sunny days will surely entice many people to go for long walks. Many of us take our four-legged companions on vacation. It’s during these times that we should be careful about sunstroke, both for us and our dogs. How can we prevent...
Just like with people, being overweight can have a negative impact on a dog’s health. Preparing the right diet and amount of food to give them can sometimes be, however, like pure alchemy, and so your dog can start to become obese. If this is the case...
There seems to be more and more ticks year after year. Fortunately, the ways to protect our furry friends, whether dogs or cats, against these parasites are growing. Everyone can choose what product fits best for them and their four-legged companions.
Until recently skinny guinea pigs were relatively rare in our country. Word about them is quickly spreading, however, and they have become a sudden hit among breeders. What’s it like having these guinea pigs and what do they like to eat?
The kidneys perform one of the most important functions in the body - cleaning the blood. Due to their small intake of water, cats are more burdened than other animals and therefore suffer quite often from kidney problems the older they get.
