Small Pets

Chinchilla - they look very cute, and might suit your lifestyle. No ratty tail either. African Hedgehog?

Spent some good time today around quite a few different animals - and I am pretty sure I will wind up with two Cockatiels...or two Parakeets but I think I prefer the 'tiels :)

The Chinchillas were cute - but I found I really don't want a rodent. People keep telling me that rabbits can be fully house-broken but I've seen too many friends over the years that had house rabbits who were far from that...nope. They had a large number of rabbits of all sizes, shapes and colors.

They had two pair of 'tiels that I am interested in. A bonded male/female pair and a set of females. It was interesting to watch the male warn me when he got nervous with me getting too close - though he was very curious. The two females were less colorful, but more relaxed and I really enjoyed watching them. We will see, I can't get anything for a month or two, so I've time. They have had most of their birds for quite some time so there isn't a rush. They can stay home alone for the weekend, and I already have a place to drop them off for care while I am on vacation.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

I used to bike with my Maltese in a pack on my back. He loved it. He was a good apartment dog too - the only downsides were 1) health problems and 2) monthly (at least) groomer visits.

I would not, however, train a dog to use pads. Our experience was that it took longer to house train, and our dogs got really confused - they thought it was OK to go anywhere in the house if they could go in one spot. I know our experience is unusual - I just wanted to throw it out there.

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Mental image of someone biking with a little dog in a backpack--cute! I would second the pad thing...friends of mine have a Maltese who was trained to go potty on newspapers, but he sometimes goes in other places in the house instead. I wonder if something more like a litter box would be different/better...more of a specific place to go.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Spent some good time today around quite a few different animals - and I am pretty sure I will wind up with two Cockatiels...or two Parakeets but I think I prefer the 'tiels :)

The Chinchillas were cute - but I found I really don't want a rodent. People keep telling me that rabbits can be fully house-broken but I've seen too many friends over the years that had house rabbits who were far from that...nope. They had a large number of rabbits of all sizes, shapes and colors.

They had two pair of 'tiels that I am interested in. A bonded male/female pair and a set of females. It was interesting to watch the male warn me when he got nervous with me getting too close - though he was very curious. The two females were less colorful, but more relaxed and I really enjoyed watching them. We will see, I can't get anything for a month or two, so I've time. They have had most of their birds for quite some time so there isn't a rush. They can stay home alone for the weekend, and I already have a place to drop them off for care while I am on vacation.

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It is great that you are getting two birds, cockatiels especially need the company. The female pair sounds great if you don't want babies! Either way, both pairs sound like they get along well together. I miss my sweet birdie. :(

Brewer had a pair of female cockatiels that lived long and prospered. We called them 'the sisters' which they were not biologically, but perhaps spiritually. By the time the first one left the building, I had a random flock going and the surviving sister happily joined that motley cage to live out her days.

If you are considering getting budgies, or a small parrot such as a cockatiel, please consider a rescue or sanctuary near you that will adopt out. They are filled to capacity with birds that have lost their homes due to no fault of their own, such as their owner's serious illness or economic reasons such as foreclosure.

Many rescues will work with you to find the perfect match in regards to noise level, temperament, and personality.

We have 2 rescued birds here (a macaw and moustached parakeet), and they are wonderful birds!