When I first toured my home, I remembered hearing a soft squeaking underneath the back patio. The realtor laughed away my questions about rats, and took me to see. We had to crouch to see it, but there was a grass-green dragon peering at us as we peeked into its home. There was a small horde of shiny rocks surrounded by a grass clipping lined nest of twigs. The tiny dragon huffed out a puff of smoke at us. I wish I could say I made a logical choice of home, but...having a backyard dragon was something I had dreamed of since my best friend's cousin took me to see hers. A few months later and I was moving in.
I've learned a lot about backyard dragons in the past few years, and want to help anybody else that's looking for advice on caring for your own backyard dragon:
- You have to let them feed on their own! Although they remain small, they still have a dragon's lifespan. You can't make it dependent on you for food, because it will outlive your time at your residence whether you move or pass on.
- Leaving them items for their horde is allowed and even encouraged! It's a great way to make peace with them if you ever anger them. As with most dragons, shinier objects are best, but make sure they're small enough for the horde. No use in giving them a large vase if they can't move it where it works best for them! Consider leaving out unique coins, tin cans with the wrappers peeled off, colorful shot glasses, and other small bits and bobs that the dragon might find interesting (and can carry back with them). Also, the more unique, the better. It will quickly get bored if you stay cheap and keep giving it shiny pennies.
- Don't give it a name - it already has one. It may not opt to tell it to you right away. Be polite and kind, and eventually you may gain its trust to where it whispers it to you.
- Other pets might mix well, but it's highly up to your discretion. If your dog, cat, dust mote, axolotl, corvid, or whoever doesn't play well with others, there may be issues. Like most dragons, the backyard dragons are very territorial, and won't hesitate to blow smoke (or fires, for the older ones) at you or your beloved familiars.
- Get some good fire insurance for your house.
- Look up where the closest vet is to your house. Like any creature, you never want anything bad to happen to it, but it is always best to be prepared. Make sure the vet you find is capable of handling small reptiles and dragons - some specialize in furry friends or aquatic beings, and may not be as prepared.
- Check your local Familiar Shop for some playthings! I gave my backyard dragon a tough weatherproof rubber ball, and it loves hurling that thing all over the yard. It's been a few years of work, but I've built up the trust to be sitting outside while it slaps the ball around with its wings. Some will like being on camera, but others - like mine - prefer it when your phone stays in your pocket.
Good luck with your own backyard dragon, and have fun!