Getting a dog

[ParrotsForLife]

Ok so we are hoping to get this Westie he is so cute.I showed my sister him and she grabbed my ipad and ran to my mam and she fell in love with him and my mam wants to get him.We had one a few years ago a pup but my dad made my mam get rid of it because it was pissing and pooping everywhere, my dad I dont think is really a animal person.Anyway my dad and my mam are not together anymore and he moved to england last week and even when he still lived in Ireland he would always complain about my birds "Your room is not a zoo why do u have these things hanging on the ceiling" things like that.My mam has never wanted another dog as she was heart broken when Rocky passed away and now 2 years now she is ready.I and my sisters were very irresponsible with our last two Jack rusells I mean we were so lazy we wouldnt even bring them for walks but I have changed since then and I actually go out walking all the time now only now ill have a dog and birds to join me.Also since its a family dog ill be able to keep it away from the birds.He is 4 years old and is such a cutie. https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=w ... bwxKM20O2g

[liz]

This could be dangerous. I added kittens to my ferrets and a puppy to the others. The older ones taught the young ones to respect them
I was then blessed with a collection of pets that lived together as siblings and always accepted the next critter as part of the family. I don't know why but they did.
When Rachel moved in with adult critters, even though they also lived in multiple species, it was much harder. I do not trust her cats or one of her dogs with my birds. Rambo has always been able to scare others into respect but with this many coming in at one time was blessed to have Myrtle for air assaults. She saved him more than once.
Bringing in an older dog will require constant attention. Even then I don't know if you will be able to teach it that the birds are your #1 babies.
What breed and is it male or female? Do you know it's backround? Think many times before you do this.

[ParrotsForLife]

Its a Family pet and its a Male west highland terrier.Any dog can be dangerous its just our job to keep the birds safe and thats the best we can do.There is a link there.I didn't post here to ask whether I should get it or not its a family decision and we all said we want to take him.

[liz]

Just because you do not ask does not mean I will not give you my opinion.

[ParrotsForLife]

Just because you do not ask does not mean I will not give you my opinion.

And im just telling you so now u know

[liz]

I am an old lady with strong opinions. Most of the time I give a disclaimer that it is in my opinion that doesn't always match the others. Sorry if I stepped on your toes. I was just asking because some breeds of dogs do better than others with smaller pets.

Okay. I am out of your thread.

[Wolf]

As you have no doubt noticed, Parrotsforlife, you and I do not always play well together, although I try to not let that get in the way, but I am curious, so I have just got to ask. I am trying to understand , so my question is that since this is a forum and posting anything on it will probably get some sort of response, If you are not at the very least curious what others think about something, why would you even bother posting about it ?

[ParrotsForLife]

As you have no doubt noticed, Parrotsforlife, you and I do not always play well together, although I try to not let that get in the way, but I am curious, so I have just got to ask. I am trying to understand , so my question is that since this is a forum and posting anything on it will probably get some sort of response, If you are not at the very least curious what others think about something, why would you even bother posting about it ?

I don't mind people saying there opinions what Liz said didn't look like it was a opinion.

[Wolf]

Well it looks like her opinion to me, so I can't say that I understand how you did not see it as such, but I did not ask to understand it. Thanks for telling me what you were thinking.

[Viatrixa]

I'll do my best to be polite here!!!

I'm a bit of a nosey know it all when it comes to dogs. I've more or less had them in my life in one way or another. A dog and a bird in a house can be a bit of a difficult experience. The thing with dogs is that no matter how well they are trained and disciplined, they can "snap" in the presence of a bird and kind of just attack it. More than often they do this in a "playful" manner, not with the intention of harming them. However, dogs can underestimate their own strength and sudden kicks of instinct and end up injuring a parrot. Naturally, without MEANING to do so - this has happened with the most sweetest and obedient dogs.

Essentially, dogs are predator animals, while parrots are prey. Dogs can sometimes have that tiny instinct kick in and go "ITS A THING! I WANNA CHASE IT AND BITE IT! YEAH" and go and attack the bird without, as I said earlier, with the intent to harm it. My sister owns a Finnish Lapphund and everytime he comes for a visit, we don't let Simo out of his cage. They have a herding instinct of sorts and we don't really trust him around Simo when he's free. That having said I must mention that Simo loves to throw stuff at him from his cage and purposefully wakes him up from naps XD.

I keep repeating the phrase "I'M NEW HERE, I DON'T KNOW MUCH". This is the case with this opinion too, but I base it on my experience with dogs. If you do decide to get a dog, and you do let your parrots be free, ALWAYS, and ALWAYS be present when they are in the same space. Even if they are perched higher and out of the dog's reach. Make sure you don't leave them alone, even for a second.

I've heard many a sad story where a genuinely sweet puppy jumped an african grey because instinct simply kicked in. Some dogs have that instinct to a lesser degree, it's true - but they still have it. Please be very, very very cautious if you do get a dog. You could also simply keep them apart if you have doors and gates. Make sure the dogs are in a certain part of a house and the parrots in their own place.

Ultimately I have to be honest and say that the idea is a bit iffyish to me, but if you make sure they both don't have access to each other's places, it could perhaps, work out?

A cautionary tale (though it features no bird): I once took the doggy for a walk - and he saw a squirrel. He bolted with such incredible momentum that he pulled me with it, causing me to misstep and literally bending my foot in half from the force. And this is a puppy who is admittedly extremely dumb, and hardly EVER chases anything, birds or cats or squirrels. But something just snapped in his pea brain and caused him to bolt. I would have NEVER in a million years expected this - my sister, his owner, was also amazed when I told the story. He's never done anything like it before.

Summa summarum: even if a dog is ultra trustworthy like that, the remnants of instinct may kick in when you least expect it. (never for humans - but for small animals like that. especially terriers and herding dogs.) So uh... yeah! Just be careful, I'd say?