Yeah,
prairie dogs can be nasty, but they can also be the most loving and dedicated pets one will ever have the pleasure of being owned by. I've been rescuing these guys for yrs and some I've taken in were from owners who shouldn't even be allowed to own a bug let alone a prairie dog, but these furies never cease to amaze me. Even though they have been severely abuse, with some love, patience and time I'm able to earn back their trust. They're such loving and forgiving creatures that you just can't help but see our Lord in each one.
I'm a real advocate of having both genders fixed because in the long run they are much better pets/family members for it. In the wild all those aggressive hormones are a necessity for survival, but in captivity they are not welcome. Now even if they are spayed and neutered their little bodies can still go through some changes with the seasons, but nothing near to what it could be. I feel it's a myth that males are worst during rut than females, because out of all the ones I've rescued and all who've taken a bite, the females are by far the worst bites I've ever had. Now I'm generalizing here so please forgive me, but I've noticed that males tend to give more of a warning before they bite than females do. I've had several girls give a great big smile only to reach out and grab ya with a not so loving touch. LOL I insist all are fixed before being placed so this will help insures they don't end up in shelters or being put down because of misunderstood rutty behavior. Prairie dogs can go through such a violent rut many owners can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and get rid of them before rut is over. Some of the most wonderful pds I have were rescued during rut season because their owners just didn't have the patience to wait it out. Going through rut is heartbreaking because the pd who loved and adored you no longer even knows who you are. Rut is almost like a switch and as soon as spring shows up so does your prairie dog. Rut is only one tiny drawback compared to the enormous rewards they bring into our lives.
I've taken in pretty much every type of exotic out there, but none have stolen my heart like a prairie dog. I've never seen a
wild animal domestic so well which proves to me they're meant to be in our lives and homes. Once they're a part of the family the bond is so strong they'd die to protect you. I feel so honored and blessed by God to have their love.
Rhonda 
