Puppy and Bird?

[Roxygirl]

We have a cockatiel about a year old. I was wondering if anyone here has a dog as well as bird(s) and how that works out? We are wanting to get a puppy eventually and I'm worried about the time we will be gone during the day. Roxy, our 'tiel, sits up high on a cart and her cage is no where near the ground..any reason to worry?? Thx!

[Monica]

It may depend on the type of dog you get.... a smaller dog is more likely to attack a bird than a larger dog... especially since a lot of smaller dogs where bred to go after other animals... with the right training, any dog might be fine around other animals, however I'd put more caution into the smaller dogs.

The medium sized dogs tend to be more hearders, or retrievers, and the larger dogs more family protectors, at least from what I have noticed... again it may depend on breed... I've had a chow/lab/shep? mix around the birds before and he ignored them while he ate their food.... as well as an akita mix, who although showed interest, and sniffed, did nothing more... other than to eat dropped pellets and the 'end result' of em....

I can't really say though that I know much about pugs or english bulldogs... except that some pugs can be quite hyper.... maybe someone more experienced with them can help ya out!

[birdsnthings]

Please don't get a "bird dog". Not a retriever.
Alice

[birdsnthings]

or a Labrador.

Alice

[Kevin]

Its a pretty simple answer... Its not reccomended, an animal is an animal and whether or not the dog / bird / cat/ whatever has been socialized with each other... The natural instict will always be there, so your taking a chance even if the bird is up high... Bird gets spooked and goes to the ground you never know what will happen even if the other animal is just playing it could seriously or fatally injur the bird..

[Roxygirl]

thanks for the advice all!

[stepht25]

We have 4 dogs - a lab/coonhound mix, a jack russel/beagle mix and 2 chihuahuas. When we're not at home the birds are in their cages(Kirby and the conures in the living room - the tiels and Skittles in my daughter's room). The chihuahuas are gated in the kitchen, the lab mix either in my daughter's room or left free to roam. The jack russel mix out in the back yard. When we are home the birds' doors are all pretty much left open (the tiels and Skittles are either brought into the living room - or if they're in bedroom and no one's in there their doors stay shut) and I just closely supervise everyone. If I'm doing something where I can't closely supervise everyone -either the birds are put back in their cages or the dogs are put up where they can't get into the living room. Is it a risk - I'm sure most would think so. But we love them all and make it work the best way we know how. (we also have 3 cats)

[Vega]

I have 2 dogs, both Shepherd mixes. I don't leave them unattended with the birds. The birds are kept in their big cages on the second floor (that is blocked off from the dogs) while I'm at work. WHen I'm home I'll bring them downstairs. For the most part the dogs are afraid of the birds and will go out of their way to avoid contact.

HOWEVER! If the birds fly--the dogs DO chase!! On the rare occaisions of that the dogs are tackled until the bird lands. LOL

If you want a puppy just be very very careful. My dogs are older 9 & 11, they don't move as fast as they once did. They aren't as curious as they once were. And they are more in control of the legs and where they are about to step.

ANother thing to consider is the birds stress level. My birds seem fine when we're all calm. When the pups start to play around (squeeking toys or just getting excited) Gypsy SCREAMS--she does NOT like it when they get active!

[Doyle'sMommy]

We have three dogs- 2 yorkies and a Lab/Chow mix. Our two smaller dogs could care less about the birds and are more scared of them then anything. Our lab/chow mix (Tessa) is another story. She is about 5 months old. We have had her since she was about 7 and 1/2 weeks old and have taught her to freeze when a bird flies off their perch. While teaching her this we have had to tackle her and yell at her to stay on occasion. It is very hard but with patience and constant supervision I think it can be done. Doyle has flown and landed on her on several occasions and she just lays back down and continues to sleep, lol. Of course she is still a puppy and we continue to work with her and give her plenty of praise and sometimes a treat when she holds still when they fly off.

[Ginich]

I have had a poodle, chow/shep, and now a Bearded collie/s'wheatie and only had a problem with the chow/shep when she was a pup and a clipped tiel who called her by name and was out in a bedroom with the door not closed properly. After that incident, which resulted in $125 stitch in the head to the tiel, Romeo never called the dog and the dog never ever played with a squeeky toy for the next 14 yrs. Romeo passed 7 yrs later and I got the rescues when the dog was 12. She noticed we had birds, even wagged her tail but never bothered them at all. She was losing her hearing, had arthritis, etc. However, the tiels found her very suspect and whenever she was close, the boys screamed "Zoya, Zoya, Zoya". After Zoya passed in 2005, whenever they feel there was a danger albeit the squirrel on the fence or a hawk flying over the house, they scream her name. They do not consider Annie a danger and neither do I. I always cage the birds in the house when I am gone. I have never had another problem with leaving the cats, dog and birds alone in the house.