Black Tailed Prairie Dogs are one of the few mammals, outside of humans, that form towns. These highly social animals are rapidly growing in popularity in the pet trade.

The Black Tailed Prairie Dog can make a rewarding pet due to their extremely social nature. They often greet their owners upon arrival and they totally reciprocate the love their owners give them. The Black Tailed Prairie Dog also loves to be cuddled and with their adorable faces and pudgy little bellies, who could resist? Black Tailed Prairie Dogs are semi-hibernators, and are less active during the fall and winter months; however, during spring and summer they can be quite active. A great benefit of Black Tailed Prairie Dogs as pets, opposed to hamsters, is that they sleep during the night. Black Tailed Prairie Dogs can be kept indoors or outdoors, regardless, they should be kept in an escape-proof cage. Multi-level cages for ferrets are best. Keep in mind that Black Tailed Prairie Dogs build nests, so put extra bedding in their cage (see special care for bedding and litter information). The cage should be cleaned at least once a week. The Black Tailed Prairie dog itself should be bathed every three months. It is very important that items made of cotton not be placed in the Black Tailed Prairie Dog's cage, as the fibers could get into their respiratory system and they could die. Black Tailed Prairie Dogs enjoy a variety of food such as hay, rodent blocks, fresh fruits and vegetables. Hay should be kept free of moisture because it can become moldy easily. Rodent blocks are important for the Black Tailed Prairie Dog's teeth. Many feel that Rodent block should not be used as a main diet for prairie dogs as it is too high in fat and protein and does not contain enough fiber for their systems. Black Tailed Prairie Dogs like to eat corn on the cob, collard greens, potatoes (do not let them eat any green parts of a potato), green beans, plums and raisins. Don't give them too much fruit or they develop diarrhea. There are some very good commercial diets designed specifically for Prairie Dogs. It is suggested that one of these diets be used as the main food source. If the commercial diet is unavailable in your area some breeders recommend using Timothy Hay. Some Black Tailed Prairie Dogs drink more than others. They should have their water freshened once a week. Black Tailed Prairie dogs can be territorial and aggressively defend their turf. They don't like it when strangers invade their space, so it is best to keep them caged when visitors come over. In the wild the Black Tailed Prairie Dog is very social. They live in groups, which form "towns" that can range from one acre to areas over 1,000 acres. A Black Prairie dog reaching 25,000 square acres was recorded in Texas. They build and live in burrows, which contain bathrooms, bedrooms and security rooms. Their social structure is very organized with sub groups existing within larger groups. Small families of Black Prairie Dogs are called coteries. They communicate with each other through vocalizations, movement and expression. Their naturally social behavior may account for their wonderfully engaging and affectionate personalities when kept as domestic pets. It has been reported that Black Tailed Praire Dogs do best when allowed out of their cages on a daily basis.

Black Tailed Prairie Dogs are relatively small, weighing not more than four pounds. They range in length from 14 to 17 inches. Females are typically smaller than males. Their coloring is yellowish tan, with paler patches under their chins and on their bellies. Their short tails are ruddy colored at the base and the tip is black. Their ears are half hidden. They have large expressive. The Black Tailed Prairie Dog has a cheek pouch similar to those found in other rodents.

Black Tailed Prairie Dogs are found in the wild in Southern Canada, Southern Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, the Dakotas, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Their natural habitat generally consists of open, arid grass plains. They have been known to exist in developed areas and are considered a pest in some regions where they destroy crops, or cause injury to livestock with their burrow housing.

As with most exotic pets, the Black Tailed Prairie dog has many special care requirements. It is important that prospective owners always remember that these are wild animals and may not be suitable for every household.

Black Tailed Prairie Dogs go through a period called "rutting" from the end of October until spring. During this time they do not like to be cuddled and are less active. It can be dangerous to handle them without gloves because they are prone to biting while they go through rutting. It is recommended to neuter male Black Tailed Prairie Dogs to alleviate some aggressiveness (they cannot be neutered during rutting).

Black Tailed Prairie Dogs need companionship. They get lonely very easily and their loneliness could cause them to die. If you can, get two Black Tailed Prairie Dogs around the same time so they can get used to each other. Black Tailed Prairie Dogs also need to be disciplined as soon as possible because they get spoiled easily. If they bite, bop them on the nose and they will learn not to bite. Hold them until they stay still and never let them directly out of their cage to the floor. Teach them to go into our hands from the cage. The last and possibly most important thing to remember is not to overfeed your Black Tailed Prairie Dog. They can easily gain weight if they overeat, so make sure they remain under four pounds. If they are overweight for too long, it could kill them.

It is important to find a good vet with experience in dealing with rodents or exotic pets. Some vets may vaccinate Black Tailed Prairie Dogs, while others may not. The vet should check to teeth to ensure proper wear. Black Tailed Prairie Dogs are typically very healthy as long as they are not overweight. They are also more susceptible to diseases if they are kept outdoors.

Black Tail Prairie Dogs have very delicate respiratory systems. For this reason many breeders and hobbyists feel that the preferred litter for the prairie dog is "yesterday's news" which is a pelletted recycled newspaper, or commercial paper litter, which is also made of recycled newspaper. Use of soft wood bedding and litter such as pine or cedar shavings can damage their respiratory systems. Some breeders recommend using an old lint free t-shirt for their nests or you can buy lint free batting from a fabric shop. Never use towels or other items that contain a lot of lint.

The Black Tailed Prairie Dog can be something of an escape artist; many are quite capable of opening their cage doors. If yours is a little Houdini it is recommended that you clip their doors shut.

Breeding in captivity is reported to be quite rare and difficult. It is not recommended to breed Black Tailed Prairie Dogs at home as they have special needs that are difficult to accommodate in captivity.

In the wild, Black Tailed Prairie Dogs mate early in the year. Their gestation period lasts about a month. There can be two to eight pups born. They are weaned at seven weeks. Females will often begin breeding when they are a year old, while males may not until they are two years old.