Prairie Dog Lover's Burrow

I just got a young female PD (14-15wks estimated) and she is very skittish. I can pick her up sometime she is fine, usually when she is sleepy, but other times her tail bristles up and she jumps away and will try and climb the bars of her cage or climb behind anything she can to get away. Or when she runs on her wheel and I get close or come in the cage she freaks out and runs like the wind on her wheel. I thought we were getting somewhere yesterday because she was in her little pouch in my lap while I watched TV and she climbed half out and slept half on my chest half in the pouch. When I have her in the puch I can pet her but she is usually more concerned with trying to burrow and nest in the pouch by grabbing it with her teeth and moving it around. Well today she is more scared than ever and I just do not kow what to do to plactate her while trying to form a friendly relationship with her. I have PD proofed my hallway and put gates up and set out her things to run around and layed in the hall with her and read both to myself and aloud and let her get used to my voice and come to me as she pleases but I wanted to know if there was a better method to calming her down and letting her know I am her friend. I am sure much of her problems is she came from a pet store that had about 30 of them in one smallish cag together with very very little human contact but I know a person who got one a few weeks before I got mine and hers was right off the abt sweet and playful and she had her playing with her cat and dog. I don't want mine to play with my dog but I was hoping for the close bond that I saw between my friend and her PD. I know it is going to take time but anything I could do to get things sped up would be wonderful.

~Danielle & Aruba

Hi,

Here are a few things you might try. Don't know if they'll work but I've had PD's for about 6 years. 1st - if you can find a friend, they are soooo much more calm in pairs. 2nd - how old is your PD? Their first fall is the time to spay/neuter them. 3rd - Do you have a nice dark "hidy house" in the cage? i.e. a wooden nesting box? or a big pile of old sheets for you pd to burrow/"nest" in? Finally,  be patient and best of luck.

I have found that  a nesting wooden box such as the one from Exotic Nutrition that I have is great.......Throw in an old t-shirt or two.     She needs to bond to her surroundings first and then it should be easy.  Allow her to come to you instesd of going to her unles you need to. bribe her with a treat that she likes.  Day by day she will be ur best friend before you know it..   Good luck

Maria  

I have 2 pups and 2 adults......I love these guys.

I hope things are working out better now! Haven't spoken to you in a while!