Anyone else have curious helpers?

[dakski]

My dogs like to be near me, but none of the four seem to care at all about the reptiles. I often sit in my reptile area, even if I don't have any of the reptiles out, as it's kind of my spot in the house other than my office. The dogs love to come cuddle on the big chair, etc.

When I walk around with the reptiles, the dogs don't get jealous, or even seem to register the animal I am with. When I first moved in, the littlest dog, Moxie, who is 10 pounds, wanted to meet everyone. He would go nuts and try to guard the reptiles from the other dogs. I showed him, carefully, Frank the Blue Tongue Skink, who also could care less, and let him smell Shayna, the BP. After that, he didn't seem to care either. It's now anticlimactic for him.

A lot of people say other animals and reptiles should not be mixed. I agree, in many circumstances, especially if they are alone together or one can eat the other easily . However, letting Moxie sniff the back of Shayna and Frank didn't do anyone any harm. In fact, it got him to chill out and calm his curiosity. In that instance, with both me and Katie there, and in control of the situation, I think that was okay.

I never leave reptiles and dogs alone and wouldn't. I also have no intention of letting the Boas, when full grown, near my little dogs (10 pounds, and 2X 15 pounds). There is risk for instinct to kick in and the dogs to get hurt, although probably a small risk, why take it?

Anyway, I digressed.

Very cute cat, GoingPostal, and nice of you share.

I think it's good for people to see that in many circumstances, having them in the same area is harmless.

I will add that I never leave the dogs in the reptile area unattended or while feeding. The former, because I have 3 males who like to mark, and I've had snakes in the past freak out because of the urine smell and get very defensive. The latter because I don't need to be tripping on them while trying to feed snakes!

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but cool thread.