Anyone else have a high prey drive animal and a bird?

Rocky has a high prey drive and is an amazing ability to hunt. I stopped taking him on trails known to have rabbits because he without fail will kill one everytime on or off leash. He also has never been used as a hunting dog. Making it even more remarkable to me that he is able to do that without straying more than 20-30 feet from me. Now because of this him and Riley are NEVER out together. If Riley's out Rocky's crated if Rocky's out Riley's caged. Rocky has obviously spent time checking out Rileys cage but he's never jumped on it like I'm always worried about him doing. He hasn't even accidently bumped it. Which I'm thankful for but what really interest me is he will sniff it especially when Riley is at her food dish but thats it. I always am cautious of him trying to do anything but he never does. How does everyone else handle their high prey drive animals and birds.

There are different components in prey drive. There is Chase drive, kill drive, and play drive. I have two dogs that are very high Chase drive, and one that has a high kill drive. I crate my high kill drive dog or send her outside or close the door when I'm working with the birds. With my high Chase drive dogs, I put them on place. All of my dogs have emergency downs on them, and an emergency drop that has been proofed with high value items.

I have 4 cats, and one has little interest, one has moderate interest and two are very interested. They don't care about the birds in the cages, but I don't trust them one bit out of the cage. They all get locked into another room when the birds are let out of their cages, to prevent any chances. That's how I manage the birds and the cats together.

YES i have been there ,done that. However i always had the bird first and the dogs grew up with a bird.Even having hunting dogs (bird dogs) and having pet parrots. Don't missunderstand , some of my hunting dogs would kill a parrot in a heart beat but you have to be responsible. My house dogs are all jack russel mixes. They are death on anything that doesn't belong in my yard. I have chickens, turkeys ,parrots ,etc and they are all safe around the dogs. They (the dogs) grew up with birds and include them in the "pack". They protect the birds and the parrots actually "feed" them. The hunting dogs are what they are. You couldn't have them around anything that resembles their natural prey. The bottom line is how responsible of a owner you are.

haha YES, I have a red tailed hawk. Very very high prey drive, and I only push this with training. Training him made me worry for those who free fly even the largest of parrots, since I know now how that he can catch prey much larger than himself. I try to not even let them see each other, it's cruel to all three. Shaymus because he see's unobtainable food, and the parrots because they see a natural enemy.

Once when Shaymus wasn't as prey driven I was free flying him in front of my house for a neighbor, he landed in the tall tree in front of my house and I heard kenji let out a high pitched CAG alarm peep call. Luckily they're used to all sorts of birds landing in that tree and don't completely freak out(crows and coopers hawks are common). But needless to say I closed my blinds next time he was out flying. Now he's to dangerous, he could attack someone's small dog so I stick to the hills or fields to fly.

none of my dogs are really prey driven, but doesn't mean I would trust them alone with Rosie or Kenji on the ground lol

Daisy, my White German Shepherd -RIP- Was the best dog i have ever had. She was a high chase drive dog. Rabbits, Squirrels, Deer, you name it.

The only things that she had killed were rats and unfortunately, a Red Fox, which made me cry. it was quite beautiful.. I examined the fox and it was maybe 2 yrs old. Really Sad. Anyway back to my story. We moved away from the farm and into the burbs, where she was, expectedly, miserable. At the farm we had 29 acres + all the surrounding farmland/woods in the area to trek every day. I never recall trained her, she just did. I'd let her go out of eyesight and all i had to do was whistle and boom 45 seconds to a minute later there she would be on the horizon kicking up dirt like a bat out of hell. Waiting or the sound barrier to break. (Might i mention that we got her when she was one, i took her from home where she was kicked and beated by a drunk every day)

So, with just a yard and daily walks, she took to -as soon as i open the back door- lunging outside and gunning down any squirrels that were invading her turf. Well one day she caught one. And she was bewildered. I don't think she expected to catch one, those suckers are quick. She had no idea what to do! So i walked over, inspected it, a nice plump juicy squirrel. But i don't live in 19th century France so i just let the thing go. I wasn't that hungry..

Anyway to my point. Daisy was about 5 years old when we moved to the burbs and had to settle down in an uncomfortable, foolish lifestyle with perky neighbors and the dangers of traffic. This is when i got my very first parrot. A Cockatiel named Jack -RIP-

One day Jack was out of his cage and Daisy was inside! Oh No right? Nope. Daisy bolted over to him (where he was on the ground like a doofus) and she settled down right on her tummy in a crouched position, with him in between her two front legs, but not touching. Right in front of her mouth. All she did was tilt her head back and forth. From that point on, Jack loved Daisy, and Daisy loved Jack. We'd let him out and he would fly right onto her back, right at her collar where he would hold on and ride around. Daisy loved this. Jack would whistle. like he was in love or something.

Oh and about 2 months ago, one of my breeder lovebirds got out of the cage while i was cleaning in between clutches, and he got out. He was flying around and my newest cat got him. Jumped like 6 feet in the air and took the bird in his mouth. I freaked. After chasing down the cat, i got the bird, who was miraculously unscathed, and in perfect health afterward said the vet (He got a nice bath in case of any germs)

So i really just wanted to tell that story. (Which i got halfway through and instead of Capitalizing my W (Shift+w) i Closed my tab and lost half my post (Ctrl+w)

And i guess the moral is every animal is different. You may never find out what yours will do unless there is an accident. Oh and i don't trust the cat at all. I can't even leave a glass of drink on the counter cause he's a meanie

Edit: Oh and German Shepherds are the best dogs in the world kthxbai.

Yeah I have no intention of allowing an accident to happen. I will always keep them seperated because I'm not taking any chances I know my dog and know him very well and therefore know he likes to chase and kill things. I have mini pad locks on all the doors of the cage including feed doors so that the dog can't open the doors which one of my previous dogs did with Halloweens cage which had similar doors to Rileys. and because Rocky knows how to get out of his crate I have 2 of the same mini pad locks on each of his crate doors. Not taking any chances.

Colorguarder08 said:

Yeah I have no intention of allowing an accident to happen. I will always keep them seperated because I'm not taking any chances I know my dog and know him very well and therefore know he likes to chase and kill things. I have mini pad locks on all the doors of the cage including feed doors so that the dog can't open the doors which one of my previous dogs did with Halloweens cage which had similar doors to Rileys. and because Rocky knows how to get out of his crate I have 2 of the same mini pad locks on each of his crate doors. Not taking any chances.

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Yes! Oh man, glad you thought about those feeder doors!

Our lovebird Munch knows how to open those and the slide up doors.. One day I left for work and when I came home, the door of her old cage was open and she was no where to be found. The door was wide open, the cats were in the room... but no Munch! I about had a heart attack! Where was she? Sleeping in a tube on her old playgym! Scary scary day that could have been terrible.

Since that incident, all sliding doors on any of my cages remain clipped shut. Munch has a new cage since that incident as well with a secure latching door that she cannot open whatsoever, no matter how hard she tries.

We tend to forget some birds figure out those doors. So good of you to have them locked!

After waking up to Halloweens cage door (which was a latching one) being open I take no chances because like I said Rocky knows how to get out of his crate it's only a matter of time til he figures out how to unlatch her doors (if I don't watch him) this way even if he does unlatch the door he still can't open it.

I have 4 dogs and 3 cats. One of my dogs is a red tick coonhound. We don't hunt with her...she is just a house dog (albeit a LOUD one). I would NEVER trust my cats/dogs with the birds out unsupervised of course. But, they (dogs) listen to me very well and I have no issues with them and my birds when I am home (which is the only time my birds are out). My cats are older and lazy and really don't care about the birds. I think they view them as too much work. Sassy will actually chase them away if say, they are laying on the couch and she wants to be on the couch.

Copperarabian said:

haha YES, I have a red tailed hawk. Very very high prey drive, and I only push this with training.

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Oh my gosh...you mean you have a red tail as a pet? I didn't even know that was possible. My husband would LOVE that! Too much bird for me but kudos to you!

Oh and i'd also like to mention that my cats are scared to death of Maya, my B&G Macaw

4dugnlee, Check out http://www.parrotforums.com/others/47576-photos-shaymus-free-flying.html and http://www.parrotforums.com/others/47492-meet-shaymus.html These are links to CopperArabians pics and details of Shaymus, really interesting!

My 3 dogs are moderately "interested" in my birds, thus precautions are taken. I can walk about the house with selected birds on the shoulder confident that should they fly to the ground the dogs won't "rush" them but rather cautiously approach with interest. Of course they'd be picked up in an instant.

In the past I had dogs that were high prey-drive, thus absolute and utter compartmentalization was required. The track record was perfect until a family member left a flight cage unlocked inside the garage and let my male Bouvier inside when it was raining. I was horrified, saddened, and angered to learn the male ventured out and was killed. :5_sad: That dog was re-homed the next day.

You just cannot be too careful......

Since I'm not currently working I rotate them but I also limit Rileys time out of the cage so that it will be about the same when I am able to go back to work.

[sub]I have a husky named Zero. He spends his days mostly outside though{because he loooves staying outside. He only comes in during the nights, while Kiko is in. Zero is also NEVER allowed upstairs ever.[/sub]

Timothy said:

Oh and i'd also like to mention that my cats are scared to death of Maya, my B&G Macaw

4dugnlee, Check out http://www.parrotforums.com/others/47576-photos-shaymus-free-flying.html and http://www.parrotforums.com/others/47492-meet-shaymus.html These are links to CopperArabians pics and details of Shaymus, really interesting!

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I just looked at the pics and video...BEAUTIFUL!! I can't wait to show hubby...he will be amazed! Thanks for the link!

Dear Colorguard A word of warning. The gentleman I bought Paddy's cage from had a large beautiful Parrot. He also had a large dog the dog was very gentle never any sign of aggression. The owner lit the bird ride on the dogs back, they were mates. Till one day right in front of the owner the dog snapped his head off, for no reason. There was no warning. The owner blames himself and says he'll never have another bird. Never assume you can train heritity out of a dog. Please keep your dog and bird separate. Blessings Bonita

bonita said:

Dear Colorguard A word of warning. The gentleman I bought Paddy's cage from had a large beautiful Parrot. He also had a large dog the dog was very gentle never any sign of aggression. The owner lit the bird ride on the dogs back, they were mates. Till one day right in front of the owner the dog snapped his head off, for no reason. There was no warning. The owner blames himself and says he'll never have another bird. Never assume you can train heritity out of a dog. Please keep your dog and bird separate. Blessings Bonita

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Dont worry I never let them interact