The band was signed to XL in the UK since 2005 and were later signed with Thurston Moore's label, Ecstatic Peace in the US. Be Your Own Pet originally released early singles and EPs with Nashville-based Infinity Cat Records.
Side projects
All of the members of Be Your Own Pet are involved in various other musical projects. Jonas Stein and John Eatherly play together in a band called Turbo Fruits, along with their friend Max Peebles. Their debut album was released in 2006 in the UK and they also played at the Reading and Leeds Festivalsin the summer of 2006. Nathan Vasquez plays in a band called Deluxin. Jemina Pearl also has side projects: although no longer a member of Cheap Time, she is notably a member of Rare Form. Former member Jamin Orrall plays in JEFF the Brotherhood, along with his brother Jake Orrall. Jake Orrall was never a member of Be Your Own Pet, although he is often mistakenly believed to have been.
Break up
On August 1, 2008, the band announced on their website that after finishing a small tour of England, they would be breaking up. The band posted the following message on their website; "To all of our fans, we are sad to bring you the news that our upcoming shows in the UK are going to be our last as a band. We thank you for all your love and support these past few years. It's been a blast, but the time has come for the four of us to go our separate ways."
Final shows
During both the Dingwalls and Liverpool Carling Academy shows, there have been reports of "official looking cameras" in between the crowd and stage. Their final show as a band was at Dingwalls in London in August 2008.
Post-breakup
released her debut album Break It Up on October 6, 2009 by Ecstatic Peace Records. The album is co-written by John Eatherly and has guest appearances from Thurston Moore, Iggy Pop, Dave Sitek and Derek Stanton. As of 2012, Jemina Pearl was performing out of Nashville in another garage-punk band called The Ultras S/C, alongside Ben Swank and Chet Weise. Jonas Stein focused on his side project, Turbo Fruits, which he formed before the split of Be Your Own Pet and had previously included BYOP drummer John Eatherly. Turbo Fruits released several albums after Be Your Own Pet's disbanding. John Eatherly is now the drummer of the Virgins, and has played drums with bands such as Smith Westerns, Emma Louise, and more. He is currently a member of the band Public Access TV, in which he sings, plays guitar, and writes songs.