[Conure crazy]

As far as which bird, I would say do a lot of research on both and then meet the birds. It is my understanding that cockatoos are more sensitive to change and needier. I also believe that birds pick people.

It sounds as though you trust your dogs, DON'T. They may be good with kids, dogs, cats, people, etc. but birds are different. My dogs are good about ignoring my bird but I would never trust them 100%. It is just the instinct of many dogs to kill birds. They can also jump on the cage & knock it over.

If you are concerned about the temperature of your house you can purchase heated panels to place behind the cage but the cage still cannot be in a drafty area.

How old are your children? Both birds have the potential to hurt little fingers.

Does your wife also want a bird? Birds are very different from other pets. No teflon, candles, carpet cleaning, chemicals, etc. They are also messy, loud, & expensive. When you love them, it's no big deal but when a spouse doesn't really want them, it can be a problem.

It's also important to socialize the bird. You mentioned how you wanted to hold the bird but if you are the only bird who handles the bird then you might have problems later. When Kermit was a baby we encouraged everyone to hold her and we still do.

When you go to look at the birds, it's okay to say no if the bird isn't right for you. You may feel obligated to take the bird after a long drive but keep in mind how long the bird is going to live.

Good luck.