Flying bird and dog get along.

[snowflake311]

I am so happy my 19 years of dog training have payed off.

Ever since I got Cookie 5 years ago. I have been teaching her to ignore all birds, Knowing I would have another parrot again.. She proved to me the training worked when a baby bird learning to fly fell in the yard and she just sniff it never hurt it. When I got my conure the training continued with my dog.

My conure can fly now. He flew around the room and my dog just sat and ignored the bird. I rewarded Cookie a lot for doing what I have worked so hard to get her to do. Cookie is the best dog ever. She is so smart and so easy to train. She knows me so well. I am very proud of her. I am also happy sprinkles is flying now too.

If only I could train a bird as well as I can train a dog.

This is not the first time I have worked with a dog to live with a bird. My first dog lived with my first parrot, parakeets, bunny and chickens. I have since trained our old Pit Bull and our little Pom mix to live with my old parrot. Cookie and sprinkles living around each other took a year of training to get to this point. Sprinkles might think he is a dog. When the dogs bark at the UPS man Sprinkles does his alarm call. Sprinkles is very much part of the pack now haha. It did not happen over night. I have been training and working with Cookie ever since I got her 5 years ago.

So I just want to say yes dogs and birds can live happy and safely together if you know how to train and work with your dog. It does not happen over night. The key is training your dog WELL also let your dog near your bird safely. For months I kept Cookie on leash in the house when Sprinkles was out. Keeping dogs and bird in the same room after the dogs have proven to ignore the bird works best. Because my bird is in the living room where the dogs spend their time they have learned to enjoy each other and feel like a pack or family.

I still would never trust them alone free in a room together. I still am very carful but this was great.

 

[SailBoat]

No disrespect to your excellent training; may it continue to be so!

Happy for you and your efforts!

 

[LordTriggs]

wanna come teach my mum's dogs? If I were to bring a parrot within a mile of them it would be eaten in seconds!

 

[T00tsyd]

My dog is LARGE. He is German Shepherd/Weinmaraner and a rescue that I have had now for 8 years. When I had him he was absolutely wild but we set to together and he has turned into a great gentleman. Over the years he has learned perfect manners and no longer chases cats, rabbits or birds.

He is interested in Syd who joined us a couple of months ago, and quickly realised that he was family and he flies happily around (clipped) sometimes landing on the floor with no problem. Although I am more than careful and wouldn't leave them. Syd is the problem! He is getting so confident around Bailey that 3 times he has landed on his back. B took it very well but it's a situation I avoid.

Occasionally I find B licking his lips which tells me he is feeling stressed and calming himself and then I get him to leave the room and I think that's a wise move on his part. He happily returns once Syd is back home.

 

[Scott]

Excellent training is invaluable, but constant oversight will save the day if the unthinkable were to happen.

I've found no correlation between the size of dog and aggression towards birds. Certainly potential linkage with specific classes and breeds. I've had Great Danes for decades and they have never shown the slightest interest in harming my birds. Of course they don't get too close as even a playful movement of a leg or tail could prove injurious or worse.

 

[Katu]

I have 3 chihuahuas and I don't intend for them to interact in any way with a bird when I get one. I'm not even sure how to make it all work yet, other than keeping the bird in a totally separate area to begin with. I'm reasonably sure none of the dogs would intentionally go after the bird as they ignore birds on the grass outside every day. But still, I'm going to be very wary and cautious.

 

[T00tsyd]

I have 3 chihuahuas and I don't intend for them to interact in any way with a bird when I get one. I'm not even sure how to make it all work yet, other than keeping the bird in a totally separate area to begin with. I'm reasonably sure none of the dogs would intentionally go after the bird as they ignore birds on the grass outside every day. But still, I'm going to be very wary and cautious.

That's really sensible. My experience is that dogs don't necessarily transfer one situation to another, they need an explanation so that they understand. Where they may ignore birds outside, once a bird is inside they could well react differently. Also having 3 it may well be that the reactions of one would escalate pack behaviour. I think I would keep them separate.

 

[wrench13]

our dog TInker is absolutely scared of Salty, who has no qualms about walking up to a sleeping TInker and giving her a nice bite right on the nose, Now when Salty decides to visit the floor, or I bring hm over to the couch where Tinker might be relaxing, TInker makes a beeline straight away from Salty. My daughters dog on the other hand has no fear, and would gladly champ Salty in half, In fact she got a mouthful of Max,my last parrot ( luckily all she got was feathers). But, I had to refuse to dog sit for my daughter a few weeks ago, for a weeks time, becasue Salty would not be safe, and I am not keeping him in his cage for a week. So now I am the BAD grandpa, who made by daughter put her dog into a kennel for a week.

 

[Katu]

Two of my dogs will be very afraid. One will be aloof and fearless. I expect barking for sure, at first, and obviously an interest. I can't see any of them specifically going after a bird. They are lazy couch potatoes and do not go out of their way to rush anything. Still not trustworthy IMO, but over the years I'm sure there will be some kind of truce. They would most definitely not appreciate a screaming bird either, lol. Two of the dogs are officially seniors next year.

 

[Sandy19]

My Newf is terrified of small animals. It's like the elephant and the mouse where the elephant is scared the mouse is going to run inside his trunk. Here's a picture where the rabbit chased him up on the couch and he's like "someone help me". Same thing with the bird, he's terrified of Peanut and I think she can sense it.

 

[Notdumasilook]

Gosh be careful! A dear friend of mine kept a dog and adorable cockatiel for years together.. never an issue. Then one day the owner stepped outside to mow his grass. Came in and bird gone...feathers everywhere. Really heartbreaking loss. Don't doubt your ability to train your dog but they have instincts that can pop up and take over anytime..... keepin fingers crossed for ya!!