Small Pets

[Trek-chick]

When I was younger (still living at my parent's house), a neighbor had a pet duck.

They also had a golden retriever, and sometimes I would see the dog and the duck playing (seriuosly--I am not kidding ) in their front yard. I have always thought it would be really cool to have a pet duck. I imagine they would be a messy pet but they are soooooooooooooooooo darn cute!!!!!

[Catrin]

When I was younger (still living at my parent's house), a neighbor had a pet duck.

They also had a golden retriever, and sometimes I would see the dog and the duck playing (seriuosly--I am not kidding ) in their front yard. I have always thought it would be really cool to have a pet duck. I imagine they would be a messy pet but they are soooooooooooooooooo darn cute!!!!!

They really are, aren't they? I suspect that my apartment complex would consider them an "exotic pet", which aren't allowed. Another nice thing about choosing a bird or a small animal that would be caged when I am not home would be I wouldn't have to pay a large pet deposit, nor pay "pet rent" every month.

I just renewed my lease early to avoid an increase that happens on Jan. 1, and just realized that all cats must be declawed...another reason not to have one. I understand why they have that provision, and each pet owner has their opinion on that, but I consider it cruel. There are other options.

[Biciclista]

oh that's terrible. Forcing people to declaw their cats? I couldn't live there. Sheesh.

[Veronica]

oh that's terrible. Forcing people to declaw their cats? I couldn't live there. Sheesh.

I couldn't either. My babies desperately need their claws clipped now. Tucker gave me a nice, inch long gash on my middle finger, while playing "hide under the blanket." My fault for not clipping his claws this weekend.

Veronica

[Blueberry]

Me three. We regularly trim claws, and I have used soft paws (nail caps) before when a kitty was scratching a raw place on himself. There are awesome alternatives. There is no reason for that. Pre-kitty, I refused to live in apartment complexes that had that rule - on principle.

[alimey]

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

[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.

[TsPoet]

I go camping with my small dogs all the time. I take them with me on hikes. The only trail I've ever not been able to take them was the Pacific Crest Trail.
I think the dog for you is an Italian Greyhound
They are 25 mph couch potatoes. The negative for camping is that most people find them unreliable off lead. I let mine off lead all the time - but I also work her recall every day without fail.
Second negative for your lifestyle is that they "break easily". Mine does amazing athletic feats and has never broken. But, I was holding another IG and dropped him on a bed - and his leg broke! But, I built up Tari's bones/muscles with walks from a young age.
One advantage/disadvantages for you is that they are litter box/potty pad trainable. Tari does her business in the winter on potty pads (IGs have little hair and no fat, so they don't like to go outside in the cold.) This is actually really nice, once you get over the icky thought of a dog pooping in your house - I can take her to hotels and camping, or leave her locked in a room if I have guests with a potty pad down. Don't misunderstand me, I spoil my dogs, I don't leave her locked up! and, this is the same as you'd have with a cat, rabbit, etc.
I would guess that there are other "toy" dogs that might fit what you want (a Yorkie? I have a friend with a Boston Terrier that is a little dynamo). Please avoid "teacup" dogs.
I don't think there is any pet you could just leave in a tent, but there are some little dogs that you can take with you and can sleep in a tent just fine. I have Tari (Italian Greyhound - 12 lbs), Murphy (20lb mutt, who Tari can stand over), Finn (22 lb Mutt). I take them all many places with me.

[Catrin]

oh that's terrible. Forcing people to declaw their cats? I couldn't live there. Sheesh.

First time I've noticed that in THIS lease, it is, however, a common lease requirement for every complex I've lived in for the last decade. I have not seen one since I moved to Indianapolis that did not have it and I tried to find one that did not. Having it, and enforcing it, are two different things. I've never seen it enforced or even asked. I think it is there in case your cat does damage from scratching though I can't imagine why it would be considered necessary since they all charge such high pet deposits. I paid over a deposit that was more than $500 at my last apartment.

Frankly this will be my last lease renewal here, I will have 17 months to save up and consider where to move next time (there is an advantage to such a long lease, plus I HATE to move). Someplace where I can still ride to my beloved country roads and that will have lower rent. At least that is my plan. I have to stay in the county to keep my job as I am a local government employee, it is a matter of a local ordinance.

There is a local pet rescue that takes in many types of pets, this includes small mammals and birds. I think that I will visit them and see what I think. I am leaning toward a set of parakeets or love birds, but we will see. I had them as a girl, and have wanted them as an adult - but not with a cat around. No rush, but I've time to consider my options,

[Catrin]

TS Poet, that is interesting about the Italian Greyhound - wouldn't have considered training a dog to use a pad. I had forgotten that my sister's little Maltese used to do that when she was younger. I do like little Corgis, and love hounds, but I don't think they are suited to life in a small apartment - they are working dogs.

[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.

[TsPoet]

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.

I think it's very breed specific. Lots of toy dogs are potty pad trained - the smaller dogs often don't like to go out as much and they have smaller bladders (supposedly, don't know how true this is). When I wanted to switch Tari to going outside when she was a puppy, I just moved the potty pad a few feet toward the door every other day, then out the door, then onto the lawn. She figured it out very quickly.
My other 2 do their business 100% outside. I was afraid Tari's potty pads might un-housebreak one of them, but didn't happen.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Birds are particularly sensitive to temperature/sun/drafts/humidity changes. I don't think birds should be taken camping. Actually, I'd be leery about taking any animal camping if you are going off hiking and leaving the animal unattended in a campsite. There are some weird people out there- is it really fair to leave an animal vulnerable to unknown strangers passing by?
So then if not a dog, and not leaving it unguarded in a tent, what animal could you actually take hiking up a mountain with you...bumping around in your pocket or backpack for hours?

I sympathize with your yearning for a pet, but taking pets tent camping is perhaps not safe or fair to them. We should consider the quality of life we can offer to the animal as well as our own needs.
I'd suggest getting the kind of pet that doesn't mind being left alone for a week or two (maybe leave a soft radio on for a warm blooded pet). I used to get a lot of fun and satisfaction from various small creatures as pets- mice, turtles, hamsters, snakes, rabbits, tarantulas (don't laugh, they are fascinating!), fish, finches, crayfish, toads, praying mantids, etc etc.
Even a Venus flytrap plant can be an interesting kind of 'pet'. All these creatures will 'interact' with you, maybe not always on an emotional level.

[Jolt]

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.

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.