Dogs and conures

[Edcomm]

Hi everyone

We're thinking of getting a conure, and also have 4 dogs. We will get a large cage on a stand but does anyone have any advice and experience in introductions?

Thx, ed

 

[MikeyTN]

The dogs will always pester around bird's cages searching for crumbs. I wouldn't allow the dogs to be in the same room with the bird, although in the cage, when your not around. Just let them in there to visit with your bird in the cage while the dogs roam around. If they kept pestering and the bird starts to freak out, remove the dogs from the room. It will take quite a few tries.

 

[NandayMom]

I hav 3 dogs, my dogs have learned from day 1 of being in my house that somethings are off limits, not even for looking at. Teach your dogs "leave it" if they don't already know it. I can throw a raw steak on the floor and say leave it, and as long as I am in the same room as them, they will leave it.

When I brought Richard home, he was sitting on my shoulder, they looked at him, I said leave it! Forcefully.
then I held him in my hand at their level, and said leave it! again forcefully, the minute the looked at Richard I said leave it! They learned real quick that he is not for looking at, not for touching, not for sniffing, not for them!

 

[DustytheDusky]

I lived at my moms for a number of years with Dusty and my German Shepherd, Angel. Angel would leave Dusty. However they did have an interesting relationship....

My mom had a cat that liked to try to "hunt" Dusty. Angel would lay in front of his cage and when the cat came near she would chase him away. Immediately following, Dusty would throw the dog some food.

Another time Dusty got spooked while on my shoulder and he was due for a wing trim. He flew off my shoulder and flew directly to Angel and landed on her back. Angel gave him a look and then continued to her bed and laid down all while Dusty was still "hanging out" on her back.

It all depends on the training of your dogs.

 

[Peeko]

I have dogs and honestly, this being my personal opinion... People say to desensitize dogs to parrots slowly so that if the bird got out of the cage, the dogs wouldn't immediately go after it. But I don't think that's always a good idea, especially with dogs that are very reactive and have high prey drives. I know that my dogs would kill him in a heartbeat if I even tried to desensitize them to him, the first chance they got. So they are locked out of the room whenever my bird comes out. Its safer that way. Some dogs are more mellow and less likely to go after a smaller animal but I personally would never take the chance.

 

[Cyrinaluna]

I think it all depends on the temperament of all animals involved. Even if you do decide to let the dogs in the same room as the bird, I would never take my eyes off them. All it takes is a split second for an injury to occur.

 

[critterman]

I have 3 dogs and 2 cats and Ziggy my crimson bellied. I do not allow the cats in the room when Ziggy is out of his cage which is most of the day. The cats have the roam of the house, but not Ziggys room which is my living room TV room. The dogs are small and could care less about Ziggy. They don't bother him but I am always in the room when Ziggy is out and they are around. It depends on the dogs temperament for sure. But caution is always the best way to go. Animals can be unpredictable.

 

[MangieSun]

I also think it depends on all the animals temperaments. I have 3 house dogs. My conure and Cockatoo are on their stands in the living room all day with the dogs being couch potatoes in the same room and me moving about through the main living space. It's an open floor plan house so I can supervise at all times when the birds are out. From day one, all three of my dogs really seemed uninterested in the birds. There was a quick sniff of the stands and then they were back to doing their own thing. At times the birds will jump off the stands onto the floor. My dogs don't move. I have a poodle cross, French bulldog, and a cavalier/chihuahua cross. The French bulldog and the cockatoo are in cahoots. Jasper loves dropping food for the bulldog to eat. Lol

I'd never 100% trust any dog with the birds unsupervised because you never know when instint would kick in but my dogs are fine with my birds. When I have Jasper on his harness outside, all three dogs are walking around out there also. Take your introduction slow and watch very closely to any signs that your dog may be a bit too interested in your bird.

 

[Ashleigh86]

I have a 45lb terrier that has small prey drive and will chase birds outside but WILL NOT touch or even look at our sun conure Indy as long as I'm around. This is because I did what some other replys on this thread has said which is she doesn't have permission to pay any kind of attention to Indy whatsoever. No looking or smelling or touching at all. I have to be so strict on her because her small prey drive is so high. I think this all depends on the dog and the training as well. My dog is very hard headed so I used a spray bottle on jet mode and any time she would try to bother the bird or anything relating to the bird I would tell her to "leave it" and if she didn't I would spray her with the spray bottle in the face. Worked for us! Took only a few days for her to figure it out and now she can come and lay at my feet with the bird out and she's completely calm and doesn't pay any attention to Indy. If she feels that she can't control herself she leaves the room all by herself. You just have to be consistent and realistic about it! I don't even have to use the spray bottle anymore Indy will fly here and there and my dog will look at me and not move knowing the bird just flew and is on the ground, she won't make a move for her at all and let me go and get her myself...because the bird is MINE! not hers lol Obviously they are never alone together but we can all hang out together no problem now

 

[Kiwibird]

100% personal opinion here, but I wouldn't ever risk having small prey animals (birds) around large predatory ones (dogs/cats) in the same home.

I know a lot of people do have dogs and birds and seem to have no problems, and of course, every situation is different. But I think a lot of that comes down to being EXTREMELY cautious about not allowing the 2 animals to interact and the animals individual temperaments (both the dogs and the birds).

 

[Dinosrawr]

My boyfriend's parents have purebred german shepherd, but she's the biggest wimp ever. Absolutely terrified of my green cheek, every time we visit she refuses to be near Avery for some odd reason, haha! Who would've thought But it's so situational. I don't feel comfortable having them alone together, and they're often separated just in case. All it takes is one annoying bite from Avery to result in one fatal bite from Kona...

 

[hacatta]

we have a dog that was raised along with cats,rats,ferrets and pet skunks that roamed free like cats.
So the parrots doesn't even faze her,they even take piggy rides on her.
She and our eckkie are even playmates.
Trough she will chase the birds outside,it all comes down to how they were raised.

 

[ErichT]

I have a Jack Russel and a Beagle. I would send them outside when I had my fids out. Slowly I got braver and would let them stay inside will the fids played. The beagle couldn't care less but Patches I have a close eye on. She a speedy little dog so make sure to entertain her will her ball to keep her from paying the birds much attention.My GCC will buzz her in flight which is both funny and a bit scary.

 

[SilverSage]

I have 3 birds and 1 dog, and we have a peaceful home. Have you heard of Ceasar Milan? I suggest hitting youtube and watching his show "The Dog Whisperer" on Nat Geo Wild. We "claimed" our birds, and established with the dog that he was NOT allowed to mess with them. Only one of them is an out-of-cage bird, but we established this concept with all of them just in case of accidental release. He eats the food that falls from the cage (Flick has been known to throw it at him deliberately), but he is not allowed to follow Flick or sniff the birds themselves through the cage bars. He knows this and lets it be. Now Flick is a fiesty little bird, and will chase Ranger (the dog) if he gets too close to him. Ranger is 10 months old, 60lbs, and still growing, so an actual confrontation between them could be deadly. We have taught Ranger he is not allowed to be around Flick when he is on the floor. Result? Even when Flick gets irritated and goes to pick a fight, Ranger heads the other way, often before us humans even have a chance to see what is about to happen.

In order for dogs and birds to be safe together, you MUST be the pack leader and have the complete respect and trust of your dogs. If you don't, the second your back is turned you will have a blood bath on your hands. You may think you can watch it all the time but someday something will happen to distract you just at the wrong second, and that will not end well. Trust me, I have had a dog kill a bird. A sweet, gentle dog who had never so much as hinted that she wanted a birdie snack. You have to understand your FLOCK and your PACK and be able to function in both. When you do, the rewards are huge!

 

[JerseyWendy]

I have 3 birds and 1 dog, and we have a peaceful home. Have you heard of Ceasar Milan? I suggest hitting youtube and watching his show "The Dog Whisperer" on Nat Geo Wild. We "claimed" our birds, and established with the dog that he was NOT allowed to mess with them. ...
In order for dogs and birds to be safe together, you MUST be the pack leader and have the complete respect and trust of your dogs. If you don't, the second your back is turned you will have a blood bath on your hands. ...You have to understand your FLOCK and your PACK and be able to function in both. When you do, the rewards are huge!

BRAVO! Beautifully said, and 100% true!

We share our home with 4 birds and 2 large dogs (American Bulldog & AmBull Pit Mix), and I've NEVER had any incidents. Training the dogs is the key, being the pack leader is crucial!

 

[Starlit_Night]

does anyone have any advice and experience in introductions?

If you decide to introduce the dogs and the bird - ensure you have another person with you. Introduce one dog at a time. Put the dog on a leash, and have someone hold the leash. Take the bird out and let the dog watch the interaction.

We have 3 dogs, and this is what we did. As long as the bird was comfortable, I allowed the dogs to sniff her, and get used to her being there. My dogs will all stop instantly if I told them to, that is a really key factor. We didn't allow them to jump on the cage or intimidate her, but they are allowed to watch her. Slowly, we were able to let them all be together. Since then, Aleta's personality has blossomed hugely, and all the dogs are afraid of her. One good bite, and all the dogs learned quicky (even my dog with a brain injury and very small mental capacity).

They all get a long well together, and I have very little concerns about them spending time together. When I am cooking, she will even dance around behind me with the dogs hoping for scraps (although I do worry about her being stepped on by them) Aleta, will sit on Doodle's back and preen her ears. Doodle doesn't really like it, but will tolerate it, because she knows she can't do much about it. If she gets really fed up, she will get up and walk away.

 

[Terry57]

I have 3 small dogs, and 4 cats as well as my flock. I have 2 bird rooms where all my fids live and the dogs and cats are never allowed in either room. My dogs and cats chase anything that moves, and they may not mean to hurt one of my flock, but they would in a minute. I think it is a decision everyone needs to make for themselves, since we all know our pets best

 

[Gizmomania]

I also have 4 dogs: German Shepherds. They are never allowed to interact, except through their cage bars. You just never know if/when something will happen.

My kitchen/dining room is curtained and fenced. When my fids are out, I close the gate and pull the curtains to keep them separate. It works out great!