Kamikaze birdie

[Strawfrawg]

I was careful to introduce Marvin to my two small dogs in the most nonthreatening way possible, and things have been going well between them...until yesterday. I have noticed that Marvin has become more and more possessive of me when the dogs want to cuddle lately, but so far it's just been a play for my attention or a little hiss at the offending canine. I gave my poodle a bath yesterday and wanted to spend some time snuggling afterwards because she tends to shiver for ages Marvin was irrtated, but kept his distance...until the dog jumped off the sofa to go about her business. When she did, Marvin swooped from his perch and dive-bombed the dog, claws out. The dog ran away, surprised. No attempt at retaliation. Now every time one of the dogs gets near the sofa, Marvin comes out of nowhere and swoops close to their heads to chase them away. Both dogs are elderly and mild-mannered, and the poodle has no teeth so I'm not worried about potential injury to the bird, but what the heck can I do to fix this behavior??? Marvin really seems to get a kick out of it, but my poor dogs are now slinking around the house with eyes upwards!

[marie83]

Keep them seperate still, they still have claws and jaws if not teeth. They are still capable of crushing. It only takes once for a dog to change tactics or even your parrot could go further than swooping and start biting too.

Also its impossible to tell the dogs to stop reacting to the attacks so they are constantly being re-inforced and it will be alot harder to train your parrot not to do it. Seperation will be the easiest way.

[Strawfrawg]

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. It's going to be tough with one of the dogs, who is a rescue and sticks to me like glue. Another concern is that separation will create more tension and jealousy.

Last night I had to give Zuzu (the dog) a pill for spring allergies and it made her very sleepy. I took the opportunity to pull her up on the couch and supervise closely while Marvin waddled up to investigate her...the intention was so both could see they could get along and to reduce the sense of "otherness" and possessiveness. It went okay. I spoke gently to him and he just softly picked at her fur. Until he got to her ever-so-tempting black nose, that is. I saw the signs that he was going to nip and stopped him in time. He loves her fur...I almost think that's what started it all. He doesn't understand why she won't let him pick and climb. When she first kept moving away from him, I think he took it personally. He's a pretty determined little guy. That, and there's the mutual jealousy of my attentions, of course. My other dog, Winnie, was around for years living with my cranky cockatiel, so she has always just stayed clear of Marvin. When I brought him home she looked at me like, "Really? Another one?"

[Pajarita]

Sennies tend to be one person birds and that means no other (people, dogs, etc) is allowed attention from their chosen one and, as sweet as they can be with their human, they can also be aggressive with others as well as VERY stubborn about certain things they consider their 'right' so I agree with the previous poster: keep them separate.

[Strawfrawg]

After a few days he has backed off the swooping somewhat. I don't think he got the response he was looking for and got bored with it. He has been fixated on the dog's beds, though. He likes to go check them out...I wonder if he's making a statement that everything in the house is his territory? There definitly seems to be an element of "See, I can be here, too. So there!"

I still let the dogs on the couch with me but I redirect Marvin when he starts to wander over. After the swooping phase the dogs have made an art out of ignoring him, so I'm hoping in time he'll take them in stride as well. I have to find a balance that will allow everybody to keep their rightful place in the house. If he doesn't learn to ignore them I'll have to make other arrangements, but my boyfriend's Sennie has a great relationship with his dogs and I'd like my flock/pack to be able to coexist peacefully.

It's funny...I've always heard Sennies are one-person birds but though Marvin favors me, he often chooses to hang out with others in the household. The same goes for Akeyo, my bf's Senegal. She was jealous of me at first but learned to enjoy my company and even choose it over his sometimes. I wonder if the age at which they are integrated into a family has anything to do with it, in addition, of course, to their individual personalities.

[marie83]

If he doesn't learn to ignore them I'll have to make other arrangements, but my boyfriend's Sennie has a great relationship with his dogs and I'd like my flock/pack to be able to coexist peacefully.

I get this, I really do but there is still a big risk involved, many people have thought their dogs were too little, too gentle, had no drive for hunting prey etc only for that one incident to happen. I used to keep my dogs in the same room as our birds but despite nothing ever happening theres not a prayer I would do it now. I try to learn from other peoples mistakes, I'm good with dogs, I can read their body language etc so I could easily intervene but they are fast when they want to be and I would stand no chance of preventing a quick snap or the bird nipping the dog on the nose etc.

It's funny...I've always heard Sennies are one-person birds but though Marvin favors me, he often chooses to hang out with others in the household. The same goes for Akeyo, my bf's Senegal. She was jealous of me at first but learned to enjoy my company and even choose it over his sometimes. I wonder if the age at which they are integrated into a family has anything to do with it, in addition, of course, to their individual personalities.

This is because you are socialising your birds, any bird will be a one person bird if thats what they are brought up to be. Your sennie will probably always have a favorite (or will pick one later on) to be the "mate" but carry on the good work and you wont develop a problem as long as people respect what your sennie is telling them. Your sennie also wont get stressed by new faces as he will know they wont harm him.

[Pajarita]

Actually, it has to do more with age and gender than socialization (females been much more sweet-tempered than males). All parrots accept flock members but they all have one chosen one (mate). Usually, when they are young, they are more flexible about this but once they reach a certain age (especially if you don't keep them to a strict natural daylight schedule) things tend to change...

[Strawfrawg]

I expect he'll go through phases. He's been changing quite fast already as he masters flying and learns the layout of everything. Now he rules the roost and is much more assertive. He has started nipping more, though he hasn't tried that with me. A side note: an irritated squawk like the ones he makes stops him from biting. Hope that sticks. Now I just have to convince people to be willing to squawk....

Yeah, I know Marvin's going to end up in trouble if he isn't separated from the dogs. I just hate the idea, but everybody's safety is paramount. The dogs are being increasingly mellow around him, but it's only making him more bold. I've set up the dogs' beds in a room Marvin isn't allowed into and I keep the light off to make it less tempting for him. He doesn't like to fly into a dark room, and they don't mind being in there. Old as they are, they would rather sleep all day anyway.

Thanks for the advice. You're right.

[marie83]

Age and gender are a factor, I will agree with you there but I also have seen a difference between socialized and socialized birds of varying age,sexes and species, sennies being one of those birdstoo. That said I didn't own those birds so was never around them 24/7

[Pajarita]

Well, I can tell you that of the four sennies I've had, the only male was given up because he was the sennie from hell (he attacked me every day, several times a day for three years - and I am talking flying out to bite my face and not letting go) - the other three were females and one was given up because of screaming (and they are supposed to be one of the 'quiet' parrots -and no, she wasn't caged all the time) and the other two because of aggression to the owner's wife - they were all older than 10 when they came to me and, according to the previous owners, they all changed as they got older. But I wasn't there and I only know what they told me -whether that is true or not, I don't know for sure except for one whom I've known for years and I know he was telling the truth.