Hi from Colorado

[saharadanes]

I have adopted an Umbrella Cockatoo from a friend. She has been rehomed due to the owner's illness. This is my first big bird. I owned a Cockatiel for 16 years that recently died.
Sheeba is 19 yrs old. I am her 3rd home. She doesn't talk. Barks like a poodle.

So far she is a sweet bird. Doesn't bite, doesn't scream excessively. I've had her for almost a week now. The hardest thing so far is that she doesn't like dogs. It is making it difficult to find time to be with her without the dogs in the house. I have 5 Great Danes. I show my dogs.

I want to make sure that I don't make any mistakes with her.

[liz]

How long have you had Sheeba?

As long as the dogs are well behaved (don't bark at her or chase her) she will have to learn to deal with them.

I have inter species friendships in my house. They don't all play together but they look out for each other. If something yells the others go and check it out. I mean actually look all over it to see if it was injured.

I once took a puppy to the mail box with me. The neighbor came home and pulled in his driveway. When I turned around to make sure the puppy wasn't going in that directon, there was a cat sitting on either side of it to keep it in place.

I used to have a bird (Amy) who would open the cage door and let (Bubba) her mate get out. She could not open and go through it herself. I came home from shopping one day and all my critters where in the dining room. My Facy cat was laying in the corner with Bubba (cockatiel) asleep beside her.

I did not teach them but they knew if it was here it was mine and to be respected. Of course that backfired when one of Rachel's cats brought a rodent in the house. I thought I saw something running across the floor but the others didn't seem interested. The one day I found a Chihuahua playing tag with it in the kitchen.

[saharadanes]

I will have had Sheeba 1 week on Sun. She is doing well. I let 2 of the Danes into the room with her just as I noticed that she had opened her cage and was climbing out. Yikes. The 2 dogs wanted to run up to her. I can't trust my dogs with her. My Dane killed a wild rabbit last week. She thinks she is now quite the hunter.

Sheeba let me pet her while in the cage with the dogs near by. Her previous owner said that the only time she had been bit was when her Danes were in the room.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised with how fast a 19 year old bird has adjusted to new surroundings. She preens, screams with joy, talks her own language and dances. Most of the time she is quite.

[Shelby]

I'm sure that to a bird, a great dane looks like a huge scary beastie! But I bet that after a while she'll get used to them. You could give her treats through the bars of her cage when the dogs are in the same room and she is being good and quiet. That would help her to realize that behaving well around dogs means she gets good things.

[liz]

Sahar you were dright to just let 2 dogs in. Try one at a time. I think eventually she will get used to it then add 2 dogs etc.

[Leanne Fox]

Hi, we have a Silkie (dog), being a terrier, we can't have our Maroonies out when he's round, just not worth the risk. We take the birds into another room. Being a dog on his own, won't stay outside by himself, my dogs are always inside dogs, but your 5 should be happy out there together??

Love Danes, my brother bred and showed Dane's for years, had each colour, last one being a Boston, he was a goof and so sweet, but even so...they have huuuge mouths and could harm without intending to I reckon...the parrot that is, not humans!

Our Cockatiel was named after one of his Danes...Lucy, till we found tiel was a he and changed it to Lucifer...so apt!!

Good luck! Good on you adopting!!
Leanne