Hey guys, I just got the permission to get a dog! I'm so happy. I always wanted one and I will in a month or two! I'm thinking of getting a cocker... Of course, at first I was thinking of leaving the dog out of the living room, where the budgies are... There's carpet there and well, he has to be trained to do his stuff outside before being allowed on that...

 

So here's the thing... Do you guys think the dog will eventually get used to the birds or will he forever try to snack on them? Is there any of you that own a dog and knows how I could "train" him to not see birds that have clipped wings as a munchmunch? Of course, I can just block the access to the living room when the birds are out of the cage but hey...

If you're starting from a puppy, it will generally be easier to train the dog that birds aren't toys. Teach him the 'Leave it!' command. Its complicated to explain how to do in writing, so finding a place that does dog training would be an easier way to do it, so someone can actually show you.

 

There are some people here who have dogs that allow the birds to safely play on them, so it can be done. I just recently got a dog too and have been trying to figure out how to do the same thing. One night he actually lunged for the bird and snapped at her (but missed thankfully!) and I screamed at the top of my lungs and threw myself over him (a german shepherd) and grabbed the bird with my other hand. I think I made a big enough deal about it that he's not willing to try it again. *L* He hardly looks at her when she's out and flies over his head even. But we still don't trust him completely.

 

Keeping the dog away from the birds when they're out is the only way to be 100% sure they'll be safe. You'll have to weigh the risks and decide yourself what you're comfortable with.

As Armchairangel states you can train the dogs and the easiest way is to get them to know the cage is off limits, that straight away gives the birds a safe area for later training. But a professional trainer would help allot.

 

Also keep in mind the dogs behavioral nature. Cockers where breed as gun dogs ( or also known as bird dogs) to got out hunting and either flush out the birds or/and collect the shot down birds.

Nerwen hit it on the nail it really depends on the type of breed (but even then you can't ever be sure) and if they are mixed breed you have no clue what they possive in the terms of behavior until you have them for awhile.

 

My min pin Cabela wouldn't hurt Merlin but Niketa would swallow him whole she is a husky this is her nature.

 

My best advice is a bird should be locked up when the dog is around and vs versa. Bea is the only member on this board that I know lets her birds out SUPERVISED ONLY with her jack russell terrier Miggs. She watchs Miggs when he has had enough and then puts him or the birds away.

:hap: As others have indicated, it depends on the breed and temperament of the dog. Obviously dogs are more trustworthy than cats but all interactions should be closely MONITORED for quite some time.

My old budgie used to play with my mums cat no worries- so funny though, and my weiro would ride around on my dog

She was a hunting dog but now worries with my pets. Just keep an eye on them for a bit, I would say aahhh or NO whenever they had that funny look in their eye and after a short while there was no problems

Gotcha, thanks folks. I'll do my best to keep my birdies safe. :3

I'm not saying that a dog originally bred to hunt bird can not be trained just that you need to understand the reasons behind the behaviors.

Edited August 8, 200717 yr by Nerwen

I think it totally depends on the dog...

 

My dog gemmer is fine but would never ever leave bird and dog alone (you never know!), my mum's dog is border collie cross and spends hours trying to round up the bird (it's hilarious!) and my sister's dog, a terrier tries to eat my bird at any given opportunity!

 

One of the best thing you could ever teach your dog is that you are it's leader. It has been found in studies done that in a pack of wolves the wolf that has the hardest and most stressful (and often the shortest) life is the pack leader. This is because wolves, and dogs, are happiest when being a follower and not a leader! So if you dont hurt the bird and your dog follows you it might not either!

 

sorry, sometimes a get all sientific......

 

hope that helps!

my mum's dog is border collie cross and spends hours trying to round up the bird (it's hilarious!)

 

Sorry It might be funny but this type of obsessive behaviour should be looked into and stopped. Weather with the use of drugs or distraction with other toys. Border collies are bed for this rounding up problem since this is what they where red for and now people are keeping them in small backyards.

We have a lab and a jack russell (as Elly mentioned) and i would consider both to be "safe" to have around with the birds out. Always supervised though. Buffy (lab) is scared of the birds and i don't for a minute think that she would snap at them, but she's huge to them, and as she tries to move away from them she could step on one of them. Mickey isn't scared of them, and he only has so much patience. Most of the time the budgies ignore the dogs, and he ignores them. Sometimes Blinkie gets ratty and will pull his whiskers and just generally push his luck. This is when i either put Mickey out, or put the birds away.

 

As to how to train, Mickey we gradually introduced Blinkie to as a baby, and we've never had real problems. Buffy was super interested in the birds when we got her, she would lunge and jump at the cages and for ages i was worried sick that i wouldn't be able to have the birds out as much. But she's a softy, and hates getting in trouble....and i can yell and stomp quite a bit in a temper...sooooooo. :ausb: One time she lunged at the bird cage and i just went off at her, ever since she's been terrified to go near the birds, it's worked very well in my favour.

My dog has a very pronounced hunting instinct and when i first got billy wanted to eat him. We have working really hard with treats and kept her distracted with them when billy is out, I still wouldnt trust her but she is not interested in him at all. He has flown right next to her on several occasions and after a panicked mum picked up the bird and told the dog to stay, no dramas! If the dog is very food motivated this is a good technique

Sharyn

I think it totally depends on the dog...

 

My dog gemmer is fine but would never ever leave bird and dog alone (you never know!), my mum's dog is border collie cross and spends hours trying to round up the bird (it's hilarious!) and my sister's dog, a terrier tries to eat my bird at any given opportunity!

 

One of the best thing you could ever teach your dog is that you are it's leader. It has been found in studies done that in a pack of wolves the wolf that has the hardest and most stressful (and often the shortest) life is the pack leader. This is because wolves, and dogs, are happiest when being a follower and not a leader! So if you dont hurt the bird and your dog follows you it might not either!

 

sorry, sometimes a get all sientific......

 

hope that helps!

Yea, if he understands I'm the boss it should work just swell. But what I get from all you guys say is I better hang out very close anyway to stop him from having a quick snap. And I'll do just that.... when I'm sure he won't pee on the living room carpet. ;P

 

It reminds me... I was at the petstore a couple weeks ago and I looked at a sign near the dogs... They were going against some show on TV that shows that your dog needs a master saying that isn't true and that they are made to be your equal. Maybe they should look up their evolutionary lineage and behavior...

I got the CD The Dog Whisper at the library, I hear he is EXCELLENT.

I have 2 dogs. would never leave them alone with the birds at all cause I couldn't trust them. Holly, a terrier wants to eat them all the time, she has "that look" in her eye whenever they are in the room and will stare at them for hours, no amount of distraction works for her. Frankie is a dachshund and doesn't care, ignores them and isn't at all interested in them.

I got the CD The Dog Whisper at the library, I hear he is EXCELLENT.

Yah, that would be who they were complaining about. They started airing his show on a local channel in french. But looks like they are against that. (They prefer their puppy mill dogs to stay out of control I guess.)

 

But all I know of that Cesar dude comes from South Park. In one episode he "trains" Cartman. Haha.

I've seen that show AFTER watching 'its me or the dog' the English chick and I mus say she is the better of the two, or at lest the show is. They show more of what she does to get the dog under control I feel. Not sure why I watch things like this cause I normally end up yelling at the people in shock that there can be folks that dumb out there.

Edited August 9, 200717 yr by Nerwen

I love that show! That's where I heard about dogs liking to be followers and to have a leader1

 

Maybe someone should do it's me or the budgie...! :sad:

I have two dogs, Mac and Tess. They are Cairn Terriers. Scottish Terriers that have very good hunting instincts. Even though this is a domesticated breed, and these dogs have never hunted in their life, they will try to catch and eat birds and chance they get, and I have seen them successfully do it in the backyard with a pigeon - i was too late to stop it.

 

Once when i had the breeding cages in the garage, i was looking in a nest box, after tapping it of course. I thought the parents had left, but sebby was still in there. As I opened the lid, she flew out. She flew all around the garage, as I tried to catch her with a bet. She flew above the dogs sleeping area, where the dogs looked on anxiously, hit a wall and plummeted to the ground. Tess, going on instinct, saw her, picked her up in her mouth, and headed for the door. Luckily i was within reach, and not only did I shout at Tess, but i hit her with the net. Sebby jumped out of her net, jumped through the fence, humped up on a wheelbarrow which was full of assorted rubbish, and tried to burrow in for safety. I was able to catch her with my hands at this stage. I checked her for injury and then put her back in her cage.

 

Teriffying experience, and I thought that Sebby was going to be killed. I cannot blame the bird, as she was scared, nor can i blame Tess, it was in her makeup, but the dogs and the birds will never, ever, ever, ever, ever mix.

Dogs can be good friends of budgies i got told that there budgie rode their dog and the dog was fine with it

Good to hear that your Russell is good with the birds, Bea. When I buy my next home i'll be getting a Russell and hope both species can mix.