NOT THAT BIRD! It's a pet!

[feralaussie]

One thing that concerns me with bringing home a GSP is just how 'birdie' it is.

When I was involved with wildlife, I ended up with an overimprinted owl that basically lives with us. If a window or door is left open it will fly into the kitchen and settle onto the hutch or fly onto our TV and spend the evening keeping us company. If the window is closed she will balance on the window ledge and tap the glass to be let in. She goes out regulary and hunts, but really seems to just enjoy being with "her family'. She has been known to fly onto the bed end to ask for food after unsuccessful hunts. She was brought up with my previous dog who never, ever chased or harrassed her.

Then there's an Alexandrine parrot rescued from death's door by a caring vet and sent to live with us. He's still not 100% and with winter setting in over here, I can't set him up outside in the avairy.

I have concerns of neurotic birds and one stressed, confused puppy. How hard is it going to be and what can I do to ensure dog & birds do not conflict??

[Lisalongun]

Depends how old pup is. It is all down to socialising

If still very young then a simple growl should suffice as soon as pup seems too interested. If you are consistent, and always do it then you will find that the pup accepts that it is not acceptable to chase.

BUT that is not to say that pup will be the same outside.

Also are you intending working the dog, as there may be pitfalls of socialising a puppy with birds, if ultimately you are wanting the dog to hunt.

Lisa

[feralaussie]

Thanks Lisa, I'm really chewing the cud on this one. Firstly pup will come home in Sept at 8wks of age. I decided for a pup rather than an older part-trained dog specifically because of this situation. Yes I plan to take the dog hunting.

My previous dog was 3-4 years old when I started with wildlife. We had joeys (baby kangaroos), possums and a multitude of birds! At first he was always very intrigued with the animals and I often allowed him to get a smell of them and be involved with what went on. Over time his interest turned to the food that I prepared for them rather than the animals themselves. He would great me at the car with great interest in the box I was carrying. Once I said "bubbies" his face would show an expression like "Oh, another one in the family!" and he contently followed me to the house.

This dog was a kelpie x dingo. The kelpie is an Oz breed of working dog, very active and the dingo, opportunist and scavenger by nature. He never, not once! attacked any of my charges yet take him to the shed, point to a corner and say "meeeces" and he would hunt down and kill any rat or mouse there.

Where am I leading to? My point or thought is this.. We know that we can train our hunting dog to repond to game. We can also teach the dog to ignore say rabbits and concentrate on birds. Some of the hunters in this forum indicate how they can identify their quarry simply by the stance of the dog. Our dogs have a finely developed sense of smell and can discern one scent from another, a fresh track from a cold one.

Using this keen sense of smell my theory is that the dog will recognise the different smell of the pet birds as opposed to game. The training then comes in, teaching him that pet birds with 'that' smell are not to be considered. Theoretically, this makes sense. :roll:

Sam

[Lisalongun]

True true - and it will probably quicker for a pup to accept the fact than an older dog.

All birds have totally different smells, esp woodcock - a lot of dogs take quite a while before they are confident retrieving woodcock because of it's pungent smell.

And what they learn inside the house is different to what they learn outside. It's a little like the fact that my dogs know when they are working and when they are just exercising, as when I work them I always take their collar off. This is like the trigger to them that have to hunt now, not run around like loonies!!

Things that they learn when they are young really are stuck for life, so I would go with the flow, let the little rascal investigate but likeI say if he puts a paw over the line then be on him quite firmly.

Have fun

Lisa

[Konza Vadasz]

We have a couple of rescued cockatiels and a lovebird. These are caged birds & live with us. I also raise a few chickens, and have a few pen-raised game birds--pheasants & ducks, that live in my big coop. Our dogs are naturally very interested, but also learn the difference between "my" birds and birds in the field. I've only ever lost one very old bantam hen to an overly zealous pup.
When I used to let my chickens free-range, the dogs would practice pointing them, just for amusement, and learned steadiness that way. They know they're not supposed to chase my birds. The chickens would just ignore the dogs and go about their business.
The cage birds know they're safe in their cage & get along ok with the dogs. Again, the dogs know those birds are off-limits, but when I tell them "Hunt 'em up" the birds are fair game..

[feralaussie]

Thanks for the feedback. Heidi's now 5mths old and she's settling in.

The owl got pointed & flushed a few times and I had a couple of sleepless nights when it decided to do the midnight visit on the end of my bed (the dog was there too!)

Now only occasionally will the dog try to flush the bird, usually if it's sitting on the back porch door which is waist high.

As for the parrot, it's on the porch too (summer here). The mini foxie constantly tried to catch the visiting rats so Heidi developed more interest in searching under the cage rather than what's in it!

She did her first retrieve last week. I shot a fox cub which rolled off the bank and submerged in the drain. Without hesitation she stuck her head right under and hauled it out onto dry land. Checked it out thoroughly then looked at me as if waiting for further instructions.

Good dog!

[QCBirddogs]

I had several young pups with parrots too and never had a problem. They never had the chance alone with them though.

One of our birds knw each dogs name and woudl yell at them too!

Glad to see they came along with out a hitch!

Phil
REO

[gsprescuewi]

OH geeze, I can't help but think of all the times adopters call us a week after their new GSP is home, to tell us their dog ate their cute little family pet bird! I have to secretly laugh, I mean, what ARE they thinking? Glad you decided on a pup, you may have a shot there, with an adult prey driven dog, those birds would be history. I have one that will kill cats, no questions asked, no amount of juice from Mr. Ecollar will get her off a cat. I avoid any contact with any place that has cats, cuz she finds em, they be dead. Hope it all works out ok for you!