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One of the most common questions among pet parents is, “do bearded dragons and dogs get along?” Well, as a loving pet owner, it’s only natural to question whether or not your dog and beardie can coexist in the same environment.
The fact of the matter is that humans have been keeping dogs for thousands of years. Also, bearded dragons are quickly gaining popularity as household pets.
As such, there is a possibility that you may find yourself keeping both animals under the same roof. This will solely depend on your love for dogs and bearded dragons.
Nonetheless, we hope that it won’t get to a point where you have to choose between keeping a bearded dragon and a dog because both make excellent pets.
So, do bearded dragons and dogs get along?
Yes, bearded dragons and dogs can get along; however, it will all depend on how you introduce the two animals to each other. Additionally, your dog’s personality and demeanor will determine whether the pair gets along or not. You should also consider your bearded dragon’s temperament—always be on the lookout for signs of aggressive behavior.
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Can Bearded Dragons and Dogs Be Friends?
Bearded dragons and dogs can become the best of friends if the animals get along. If you introduce them to each other the right way, your furry friend and beardie will be virtually inseparable.
Besides, most pet parents report that their bearded dragons and dogs spend long hours playing together.
However, it is important to keep in mind that so many things can go wrong when beardies interact with dogs. Moreover, both animals are territorial and are also driven by instinct.
In addition to this, not all dogs will get along with bearded dragons and vice versa. As such, there are several factors that you should put into consideration before introducing your bearded dragon to your dog.
As stated earlier, your dog’s personality and demeanor can impact the relationship greatly. Dogs have different personalities, depending on their breed and the environment they are in.
Some dog breeds are docile and calm, while others tend to be aggressive. If you notice that your dog is not comfortable around your beardie, you should consider keeping the two animals apart.
The same applies to bearded dragons, especially those of the male species. Some bearded dragons can easily get aggressive when they feel threatened by large household pets such as dogs.
How to Introduce a Dog to a Bearded Dragon: Tips to Safely Introduce Your Dog to Your Bearded Dragon
With all factors considered, you can safely introduce your dog to your bearded dragon without worrying about anything.
Nonetheless, you have to do this gradually as this will enable you to determine if your furry friend can get along with the bearded dragon.
Here are some helpful tips that can guide you on how best you can introduce your dog to your bearded dragon:
1. Choose a Neutral Ground
Dogs are territorial by nature and can easily get aggressive when they notice that another animal is trying to invade their space.
To avoid this, you should consider introducing your dog to a beardie in an open space. The best way to go about this is by choosing a spot that the dog does not visit frequently.
That way, you will be able to prevent your furry friend from displaying territorial or aggressive behavior.
You should consider doing this repeatedly until your dog gets used to seeing the bearded dragon.
If you are worried about how your dog will react, you can keep them on a leash. As such, you will always be in control in case something goes wrong.
As for the beardie, ensure that you hold the little guy tightly in your hand when presenting them before your dog.
Ensure that you don’t squeeze the lizard too tight while at it as this will make them uncomfortable.
This will greatly lower the chances of the lizard leaping off or running away. If this happens, your dog can easily get spooked and may even get into attack mode.
2. Observe Body Language
This requires you to know both dog and bearded dragon behavior. You should be on the lookout for any signs of aggression exhibited by your dog and beardie.
If your dog is interested in the beardie, it will sniff the lizard while it wags its tail. However, if your furry friend starts to growl, snarl, or bark aggressively, it could mean they are being territorial.
As such, you should take the lizard back to its enclosure to avoid stressing both animals. Bearded dragons can also get distressed when they meet your dog for the first time.
If you notice that your lizard friend is overly stressed, the best that you can do is to make them feel safe. You can place your dog in a separate room or put the beardie in the vivarium.
Some signs that your bearded dragon is stressed include their beard turning black, opening their mouth, or hissing.
Always remember that bearded dragons have different personalities. Some may take a shorter time to get accustomed to dogs, while others may need more time.
You need to be patient, and at the same time, persistent to build a strong bond between your dog and bearded dragon.
In addition to this, you need to be a good observer so that you can detect signs of aggression in both parties.
3. Never Leave Your Pets Unsupervised
Constant supervision is essential for the introduction phase between beardies and dogs because their safety depends on it. You should never leave your dog and bearded dragon unsupervised, especially on the first day.
Most of the behaviors in both animals are instinct-driven, so they can turn on each other at any time. Through their predatory instincts, dogs can easily chase and kill a bearded dragon, so you should be extra cautious when introducing the pair.
Your eyes should be on the dog and bearded dragon at all times since this will allow you to observe the behaviors of both animals. This also applies even if the lizard and the dog have been around each other for a while.
If you are planning on leaving the room even for a minute, ensure that you put your bearded dragon into the enclosure. Most beardie keepers report that their dogs got accustomed to seeing bearded dragons by observing the lizard through glass enclosures.
This method of interaction is a bit safe since the animals don’t come into direct contact. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about anything even when you are away. You just have to ensure that the vivarium is firmly secured such that the beardie cannot jump out.
4. The Pets Should Not Be Overstimulated
During the first meeting, there is a high chance that both your dog and the bearded dragon will be on the alert.
As such, the environment should be calm, quiet, and peaceful to avoid overstimulation. When animals are on alert, they become highly sensitive to certain types of stimuli such as color, movement, and sounds.
This will, in turn, trigger stress and may even cause your pets to exhibit aggressive behavior. Bearded dragons, in particular, can easily get spooked when they are exposed to loud noises.
The result is that your beardie may run off, thus prompting the dog to chase after it. You should also avoid making sudden movements as this may scare your bearded dragon.
To get the best results, ensure that there are no new faces in the room since this will make both the dog and the beardie more comfortable.
5. Limit the Introduction Time to A Few Minutes
The first meeting between your furry friend and beardie should only last a few minutes. This will not only save the animals from distress but will also keep them calm.
According to expert bearded dragon keepers, the first introduction should take less than ten minutes.
Also, you should give your pets short breaks in between the introduction session. Through this, the pair will have time to process whatever they are experiencing at that moment.
Nonetheless, you can increase the duration over time after the beardie and the dog have familiarized themselves with one another.
During the short period that your bearded dragon and dog will be interacting, ensure that the animals swap scents.
Besides, dogs and bearded dragons can recognize certain scents, so this can help them know each other better.
How Long Will It Take For My Dog to Get Used To My Bearded Dragon?
This may vary depending on several factors. First off, both animals need to display non-aggressive behavior during the introduction phase.
Depending on your observation, you may or may not place your bearded dragon near your dog. How the two animals interact on the first will determine the duration taken for them to bond.
It can take days or even months, so it will all depend on the animals’ temperament. In addition to this, how you introduce the pair may also affect their level of interaction.
As such, you shouldn’t force the animals to interact with each other because this will do them more harm than good.
You should understand the behavioral traits of each animal since this will make things less complicated for you, the beardie, and your dog.
Will My Dog Eat My Bearded Dragon?
In as much as bearded dragons and dogs can get along, you should not take any chances since anything can happen.
Your dog may or may not eat the beardie depending on their breed, temperament, and personality.
One thing about dogs is that they are built to hunt and kill their prey. Nevertheless, years of evolution and taming have made them less dangerous.
That does not, however, mean that domesticated dogs cannot chase, kill, and eat your bearded dragon.
Moreover, dogs are mostly driven by instinct, so they are more likely to do what their animal side tells them to do. And that is exactly why you should never leave your beardie with your dog.
Ensure that you secure your bearded dragon in its enclosure before you leave the room to prevent possible disaster.
Additionally, ensure that your dog is well fed at all times as this will prevent them from eating the beardie due to hunger.
What About My Bearded Dragon, Can It Bite My Dog?
When startled or under stress, your bearded dragon may bite your dog. And because they have sharp teeth, the bites can be very painful.
There is also a possibility that your dog may get an infection if the wound is not given proper care.
If you notice that your bearded dragon is overly uneasy when around your dog, you should separate the pair immediately.
Are Bearded Dragons Poisonous To Dogs?
Unlike snakes and most reptiles, bearded dragons don’t inflict lethal bites. A study that was conducted on bearded dragons in 2005 by Australian scientists revealed that beardies secrete mild venom.
The good news is that the venom is not as poisonous but it can cause profuse bleeding. Still, you should not allow your bearded dragon to bite your dog.
Nonetheless, there is a way in which your beardie can poison your dog as you are about to find out.
Can Dogs Get Salmonella From Bearded Dragons?
According to the CDC, bearded dragons are carriers of salmonella, a bacterial infection that can affect humans and other animals such as dogs.
However, it is very hard for a dog to get salmonella poisoning. Well, unless your furry friend eats the bearded dragon. This can only apply if the beardie in question is infected with the salmonella bacteria.
The common signs of salmonella poisoning in dogs include diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal cramps.
Final Verdict
Bearded dragons and dogs can indeed get along. Nonetheless, the pair may need time to get accustomed to each other.
Additionally, you should introduce your dog to your bearded dragon properly as this will allow them to form a stronger bond.
Dogs should be introduced to bearded dragons gradually in a neutral environment to avoid overstimulation.
But most importantly, you should never leave your dog and bearded dragon unsupervised.
Dogs can attack beardies when they get irritated, so you should always be there to contain the situation in case something goes wrong.