Can Dogs and Reptiles Live Together?

There are thousands of reasons why people have pets, especially dogs. They are loyal, they increase happiness, and decrease the feeling of loneliness. Most breeds are adorable, and some can be easily trained to guard your home. Reptiles as pets, on the other hand, are a rarity given that most people are afraid of them; whether they are lizards, snakes, chameleons, or any other type of reptile.

The list is vast and so are the number of reasons as to why you should have them. They are a pure work of art for one, they are also quiet and do not require a lot of work or effort. If you happen to have both a dog and a type of reptile, then read on below to learn whether or not they can live together harmoniously or not.

Dogs and Reptiles

The general answer is, yes, dogs and reptiles can absolutely live together. Contrary to popular belief, reptiles are, in most cases, more afraid of humans than humans are of them. This applies to large creatures in general, which includes dogs. So, although they can live together, your reptile can be quite scared of your dog. especially at first. On the other hand, dogs are either curious and scare easily, or curious but are calm and collected. If your pet reptile is in a cage, then your dog will most likely want to inspect every part of it, but if they get frightened they will start barking nonstop or veer/shy away from going where your reptile is at all times.

Types of Reptiles

Not all reptiles are scary for dogs or humans. For instance, tortoises are among the most popular pets to own as not only are they easy to take care of, the most that happens when they get frightened is retreat into their shell. Not everyone puts tortoises in cages as besides losing them, there is no harm in letting them roam around freely unless they bite. Turtles are also common reptiles that people have but are aquatic animals, and are most likely kept in the water at all times so there is no damage. The reptile experts from Reptile.guide suggest that there are certain reptiles that can be owned as a beginner that are not difficult to take care of. Snakes, geckos, iguanas (depending on its size), lizards, and crocodiles, do not mind being handled but given their capacity to get lost in your house or apartment, it is better to keep them in a large enough cage in order for them to roam around relatively freely.

Types of Dogs

It is essential that you note that if your dog has a temperament and is anxious or panics quickly that that can be very harmful for your reptile. Some breeds are naturally fearful so you will have to be on the lookout for that. Those include Australian Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, and King Charles Spaniel.

When dogs are alarmed they too have a fight or flight mode; smaller dogs will most likely run away, but larger dogs like the Australian Shepherd may attempt to attack or fend off whatever it is that is intimidating them. Either choose a breed that is not fearful or train your dog to get along with whichever reptile you may own.

Caution

Before having a dog or reptile as a pet at the same time, be sure to know how they will react when introduced to a new species. Dogs, since they are the larger and louder species are what you should be on the lookout more for. Even though your reptile can bite your dog, the ability to do so while in a cage is little to none. On the other hand, with large dogs, they can break the cage you have put your reptile in, even if they just think they are playing with them. With tortoises, keep an eye on both of them as one of the most common issues is pet flipping over tortoises and them not having the means to flip back over. Some breeds like Pugs are a little fearful, but are also harmless and get over their fears faster than other breeds, so if they get scared they will bark a little but eventually get used to the existence of the other species and do no harm to it.

There are many signs that will show you whether or not your dog and reptile can live together or not. A large tortoise can harm your dog just as much as a dog can harm the tortoise. Snakes that have venom if not kept in a cage can also be a danger to your pet. Keep an eye on them at all times at first, and if you have to leave your home, get a camera and watch them whenever possible. Your pets can absolutely live together simultaneously but only if treated with caution.