Random Spooking

[Kirsten]

So Skittles has been warming up wonderfully, is learning to step up and loves just being on my shoulder. I do have an issue though. Sometimes random sounds will spook her. If I sneeze she jumps off my shoulder and flies to the ground. This is an issue due to the fact that one of my dogs hasn't quite figured out that she's not food and if she's around when the bird flies to the ground, she'll charge after her. I'd like her to stay on my shoulder or at least somewhere on me so I don't end up with a dead bird.

I try my best to keep the dog locked in a room or outside when I have Skittles with me, but sometimes that's impossible. Sometimes it'll be nothing that makes her freak out. She may have to suddenly poop and she'll squawk and fly off my shoulder onto the floor. It's strange because usually she'll actually crawl down my back to poop on the floor and not on me. Is there anything I should try? We've had a couple close calls already.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I don't think you can stop her from getting startled, although with time she may get more confident and more desensitized to the noises in her familiar environment.

[notscaredtodance]

I'm really loud and crazy around my bird. I act like she's a cockatoo instead of a sengal. So I scream really loud to her and do crazy arm movements. She isn't startled anymore from it.


However if my mom reaches for something too fast she freaks out. So she still spooks.