B&G female and Black Lab female pup.... will they learn to get along?

[Jan Pope]

Can anyone tell me how to aclimate a black lab puppy and a 15 month old B&G female? The pup is now 13 weeks old. I do not want anyone to get hurt of course. The pup has gotten nipped a couple of times and has learned to stay a couple of feet awat from that beak. The bird is very curious about the pup. Not showing any major signs of aggression towards the pup. Will they learn to get along like most different animals? Any ideas to help them bond would be appreciated...

[kellywess]

Probably not, but they can learn to tolerate each other.

[Lessadalinar]

I don't know either...
my dogs hate my birds. They prob don't "HATE" them, they would prob love them.... for dinner. heh.

Puppies can be rough, not on purpose, playing and are rough...

I would def make the B&G the boss though.

[bhscarlett]

my parrot still hates the lab,, only my daughters teil loves the dog,, who has been nailed one too many times by my lovey and congo, he is leary of the other bird who seems to love him,, don know why one loves him and two hate him,, i think its his movements to them,, and hes a lab,, too,, a bird dog by his nature,,

[SDavid]

One is a predator and the other is prey. I don't think we as animal keepers should forget the nature of our animals. As much as we feel they are our children and siblings it's not so.

I wouldn't have a bird and dog or cat interact anytime in any way. I base this on the amount of incidences I've heard of in which birds have been killed. Unfortunately you can say it happens on a regular basis. Your dog doesn't necessarily have to be agressive to kill your bird or stress your bird out. And, your bird wont be the "boss" no matter how things may seem or cute that idea may be. Birds are very delicate. They are not warrior animals nor are they built to handle sustaining much damage. Remember, when in danger they don't stay and fight, they try to bluff or they fly away.

[Irish]

A bird dog around birds.... yeah, that *may* be a challenge.

Best bet is to never have the dog and the bird(s) out at the same time, in the same place. Instinct is always going to trump training if the temptation is bad enough. I have yet to meet a retriever that I would trust around any bird.

Now, don't get cranky with me for saying that. After all, we manage to successfully keep 10 parrots and 11 dogs in a 1440 sq. ft. house :-). We know a thing or two about keeping birds and dogs safe from each other, that's for sure! Our dogs, btw, are Border Collies (fairly safe around birds), Chow mixes (totally unsafe around our birds, EVER), and 2 pomeranians (safe--as long as we keep the birds away from their tails and noses :-).

[Halo]

I'm starting to think I have very weird animals... LOL

I have a pekingese, a poodle, and a boston terrier. The bostie when we first got him would follow the birds when they would fly but we've taught him to stop so now he just sits and talks to Marti and has taught him to bark (oh joy). The poodle ignores them completely... and Tuck Tuck loves to sit on him and chew up his fur and Jasper will just snooze away. The pekingese generally ignores them as well unless they are on the floor and then he comes to me crying until I pick them back up. They've all learned to live harmoniously... of course the bostie is put in his crate whenever we are gone just to be safe!

[KimM]

I'm very fortunate. My dog and birds tolerate each other. Cash has been raised with so many animals, he just kind of looks at me like, "Another one?" He's incredibly tolerant and just kind of stays out of their way. But he loves people and animals (except cats and oppossum) It's the birds I have to watch.. LOL

[shealaroux]

If you do not have control of the situation...entirely...YOU ARE THE BOSS OF THE ROOST, FOREVER AND TOTALLY...never change that...now, having said that, never leave ANY dog alone with a bird of any kind. The most gentle of beasts will pounce at the smallest movement just absolutly out of nowhere, so do not take ANY chances.

[Halo]

Kim,

I get that same look from my dogs. I swear every time the door opens he comes up to me going what did you bring in this time Mom? lol

I also have to watch the birds with the dogs... they will give them a nip on the sniffer for anything just to prove they are the bosses!