help with dog and b and g macaw

[rosieweim]

Hi I am new to this site. I am about to get a B and G Macaw. I am very excited but also feel a bit daunted. My problem is I have a very exhuberant dog that loves to play. I have been to see the Macaw and he is 11years old. First visit didnt go great as he bit me ha ha. But it is my dog I worry about. I am scared she will lunge at the bird and hurt it. How would you suggest introducing them. Or do you all think I am mad. This is really my only worry as anything else I think I can cope with. I know B and Gs are a lot of work, I just dont want the dog to hurt it. Any advice or opinions greatly appreciated. Many thanks

[fluffy_stitch]

what kind of dog is it? i thought my dogs would be fine with my birds but the first time they saw them they were going mad to get at them,i would definately not let the dog in the same room with the bird if it is out of the cage and keep him on a leash when he is around the bird and be very cautious and keep the introductions short and about the dog instead of the bird and praise him a lot when he is being good around the bird too,i hope this helps a bit :)

[Sashagirl]

I have quite a flock as well as 1 Cat and 5 Dogs.Even though they are Chihuahuas I don't allow them to interact with my birds there have been too many close calls.Dogs and Cats are preditors and no matter how you introduce them to each other.One day their instinct will kick in.Even if you have a mild manner dog there are no guarantees.Too much can happen if given the right circumstances and they all can wind up seriously hurt.The saliva from dogs or cats can be fatal as well as a scratch.

[Nazir's]

Originally Posted by rosieweim

How would you suggest introducing them.

Dont!!
That's the best advice that I can offer you. If you're assuming that your dog would harm or hurt the B/G, if even just by being playful, than you're probably correct. I would not ever take the chance!

Contrary to that, there will come a time that you'd want your dog to know it's bounderies. You don't want to build such a wall that your dog is always curious and ready to find what's on the other side, every chance that he gets. That can easily and quickly lead to an accident before you know it.

Eventually, (but not initially) I'd introduce the dog to the bird while the dogs' total attention is on me (keep a graet meaty treat in your hand) and mines is on the dog. This should only be done while the bird is caged, curious, safe, and sercure. This would be during a time that the dog and I are spending quality time (one on one) together. Dont make a big deal of the bird, even while being in the room with the bird. Focus on the dog, monitor, watch, and positively correct what needs to be corrected by re-gearing the dogs focus back on you. Do not allow the dog to pounce or paw at the cage. Then leave the room to take the dog for a walk or something. What this will do is allow your dog to see what's going on, kill the curiousity, make him/her feel more sercure. It will also teach the dog that the bird is forbidding fruit and/or nothing much to be so excited about. Key: Mommy and the meaty treat is better.

Eventually, the dog will not see the bird as something that he must obtain, a threat, or a toy. He will begin to pay little attention to him/her. Never do you want to get to the point where you believe that the dog can be trusted. It may seem that way at times but it's not ever a guarantee, so don't ever take the chance.

I am owned by several dogs with many years of being trained by them...LOL. The key here is to remove the mystery because if they are too curious, they will make it happen. Mines know that there's a bird in the house, so I eliminated the mystery. However, they are not ever let out at the same time.

Good luck!

[Nazir's]

Oh and just to be a little more clear. No two dogs are the same but by just eliminating the mystery--all of my dogs are now more interested in going outside, that meaty treat, or their mommy. By accomplishing that I know were their interest lays and if ever in this world they were to break free their first priority should not be the bird. That's what you want to accomplish because even while excited and wanting nothing more but to play with the bird, they can do serious damage. Kill the mystery and don’t ever believe that they will co-insist together peacefully. The slightest error could mean death, unfortunately. My dogs are not ever let out with the bird and vise versa because my bird too would very well fly over to the dogs without a care in the world. Eliminate the mystery, eliminate the possibilities.

[BostonMA]

I have 3 pets in my home and they are all natural enemies of each other. I have an Eclectus and a Chihuahua and a Ragdoll Cat. The dog is mostly interested in the seed that drops from the birds cage and the cat wants to play with the bird and the dog. I keep the dog and the cat away from the bird because of teh saliva and because I think it would be more likely that the dog or cat would get a bite on the nose from the bird. The bird I have was a rehome from a family that had dogs and cats so the bird is well adjusted and happy in my home. I personally would not introduce them

[rosieweim]

Thanks for the advice, will think about this some more as I don't want accidents to happen and end up with an injured bird. Thanks for all your help.

[Nazir's]

NP. Please keep us updated and let us know what you decide to do.

[jenseits]

I'm also faced with the issue of socializing birds and a dog (in this case: my bird, bf's new dog). Stewie is a sun conure who lives in the living room. The puppy, a hunting dog of all things (a vizsla if anyone is familiar with the breed), is 10 weeks old. Although they (bf and dog) don't live here, they'll be visiting a couple of times a week. I'm VERY nervous about this. Obviously the bird will never be out of his cage when the dog is around, but I don't even want the dog to be sniffing/licking/barking at/being too curious about/etc. the cage. Moving the cage to another room is not an option.

Since the dog is so young, can she be taught that my bird is part of his pack (i.e., not prey)? Not only that, but also (ideally) that the bird comes above her in the "pecking" order?

[Sashagirl]

Jensiets

Just because a dog is a puppy doesn't mean that they don't have that instinct in them.I know this because 2 of my dogs(Chihuahuas) are puppies as well.They think of my birds as toys.I don't find it funny when they call themselves playing with my birds.Your BF has a hunting dog which is even worse.That dog can careless whether you keep your Sun Conure in the cage.
It will do whatever possible to get your Sun Conure.Been there done that and I have Chihuahuas even they make every attempt to get my birds.