Dogs and 4 month Old Amazon - Advice Please

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

Hi everyone. I'm in my first week of having an Amazon. Although I have had parrots before with a dog...a big dog, it's been a long time. I currently have 2 small dogs that are extremely curious and chase lizards, snakes and squirrels. Mango the amazon arrived last week. It was like a UFO landed in the living room. I'm super fortunate that Mango is quite relaxed as a baby but the dogs need to learn not to come around. I have purchased an electric puck that when placed by the cage and they come too close they get a warning and if they don't step away they get zapped. So far they are just trying to figure this out. I kind of feel bad for them as it looks like they are super scared. I had a situation where Mango flew to the ground the other day and they both went running towards him. Very concerned so that is why the puck is near the cage now. I don't want the dogs near him. How long did it take others to have their dogs get used to the dogs? These are the dogs...darn cute but I don't trust them.

 

[wrench13]

Sorry friend but some dogs just have that hunting instinct so strongly ingrained, I would never trust them around a parrot. Our dog a Cairne terrier, was deathy afraid of our amazon and would run and hide when he was out of cage. My daughters small dog, some designer breed, would NEVER stop trying to get into his cage, to the point where we could not doggy-sit for her anymore.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

I knew someone with a budgie and shit-zu. She left the room and the dog killed the budgie in seconds. There was blood everywhere. It was very graphic and traumatizing.

 

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

They are highly responsive to the ecollar...as you can see. Each day it gets better. The first day they were standing on two feet looking into the cage. We are getting training this week and I think they will understand. Mango is out on the perch and the pups are relaxed on the couch. Big change in the house and they will learn....of course I would never leave them unsupervised. I do think there is a big difference between a dog that comes over and is not used to the parrot vs the dogs that live there.

 

[rheashard2]

It will take time. Some dogs never adjust. No matter what. The urge to chase is too strong. If possible create an area around cage where dog isn't within jumping, sniffing distance. Pick a command, mine is; leave it. When they do something wrong use this command. It doesn't matter what they are doing wrong. Then immediately put them in a time out zone that is their safe place. Leave them there at least 3 minutes but not more then 10. My dogs are kennel trained. That is their voluntary go to for naps, quite time etc. The command must trigger an automatic stop and do not move response. In addition to your device (I used similar for daughter's dog) use this command before they touch device. Don't depend 100% on it. For safety confine or leash dogs for out of cage time. Some dogs just have a strong chase response. They will never be trustworthy. Caution and awareness are your best choices. You'll need to be aware that this applies to parrots too. Some will lure dog or cat close. Mine does it to get them in bite or hacking range. Others may feed dog.

 

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

It will take time. Some dogs never adjust. No matter what. The urge to chase is too strong. If possible create an area around cage where dog isn't within jumping, sniffing distance. Pick a command, mine is; leave it. When they do something wrong use this command. It doesn't matter what they are doing wrong. Then immediately put them in a time out zone that is their safe place. Leave them there at least 3 minutes but not more then 10. My dogs are kennel trained. That is their voluntary go to for naps, quite time etc. The command must trigger an automatic stop and do not move response. In addition to your device (I used similar for daughter's dog) use this command before they touch device. Don't depend 100% on it. For safety confine or leash dogs for out of cage time. Some dogs just have a strong chase response. They will never be trustworthy. Caution and awareness are your best choices. You'll need to be aware that this applies to parrots too. Some will lure dog or cat close. Mine does it to get them in bite or hacking range. Others may feed dog.

Thank you....this is good advise. I will need to always be on alert and my dogs are crate trained.

 

[onamom]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new baby!

I have three dogs, 4 until I recently lost one earlier this year. Some of my dogs I’m able to leave out with my birds because they are very old - 14+ - and low prey drive. One of my dogs is young with very high prey drive and is never allowed near the birds - ever. If the birds are out, he’s separated in another room. I have baby gates and curtains to prevent the birds from flying into that room.

Personally, I don’t like the shock puck. I believe in positive reinforcement training. I think if anything this is going to make your dogs afraid of the bird and more likely to have very negative associations with him. And there is no guarantee prey drive won’t take over despite the puck. For now, they need to be separated when your bird is out. It’s more manageable then you might think.

Eventually, you could work with your dogs to be safer around the bird but it will always be a risk and will require a lot of training and time. They would need perfect recall.

 

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new baby!

I have three dogs, 4 until I recently lost one earlier this year. Some of my dogs I’m able to leave out with my birds because they are very old - 14+ - and low prey drive. One of my dogs is young with very high prey drive and is never allowed near the birds - ever. If the birds are out, he’s separated in another room. I have baby gates and curtains to prevent the birds from flying into that room.

Personally, I don’t like the shock puck. I believe in positive reinforcement training. I think if anything this is going to make your dogs afraid of the bird and more likely to have very negative associations with him. And there is no guarantee prey drive won’t take over despite the puck. For now, they need to be separated when your bird is out. It’s more manageable then you might think.

Eventually, you could work with your dogs to be safer around the bird but it will always be a risk and will require a lot of training and time. They would need perfect recall

I agree on the puck...it's scary for them. There is a feature that just makes a beep. I am going to be working with a trainer as well. Thank you for your comment.

 

[Jcas]

Congrats on your cute new Amazon! Birds and dogs do require diligence. I agree with teaching a “ leave it” command. My dog knows this and it’s useful in many circumstances. You can train “ leave it” using lots of different high value items; toys, food etc. Gently block the high value item with your hand and say “ leave it.” As soon as the dog stops trying to get at the item and looks at you, give a praise command ( I say “ yes!”) and give a small food reward. Do this consistently until the dog understands the command and then slowly build distance. Eventually, you should be able to say “ leave it” from across the room and the dog will automatically leave whatever they’re interested in and come to you. Hopefully the trainer will cover this in detail for you.

The shock puck will work ONLY if the dogs understand WHY they are getting shocked. This is another place where teaching a “ leave it” command is useful. If the dogs head towards the bird, you give them the command you’ve taught them to “ leave it” and they don’t listen, then bam, the shock and they recognize there is a consequence for not listening. Again, something you could address with the trainer.

My dog has been taught to ignore the birds completely. If they land by her ( very rarely happens) she gets up and leaves the room which is exactly what I want her to do. I have lost a bird to a visiting dog so all dogs that aren’t mine do not ever have access to the birds.
Best of luck and I hope you find a way for everyone to safely and happily coexist