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i have birds and dogs...but my dogs are pugs and they could care less about the birds...lol...but definately keep a close eye on the dog...

A month later........I was just reading through these posts and I can testify to what Bluesbird said about faulty security. We are happily enjoying our new tiel and budgie today, but being ever mindful of the tragedy that can and did happen. This house we are temporarily in has lots of faults, one of which was a faulty door lock. My husband's lab (an old, gentle and extremely sweet dog) was never allowed inside and really didn't know about our bird when the girls and I moved in with him. We got a glimpse of how interested she was when we carried the little budgie in its cage in to this house and she was outside, we could barely restrain her from trying to get to the bird and she is usually very obedient. We keep her outside with access to the garage and while we were out she broke into the house by pushing open the door from the garage into the kitchen. We came home to the cage knocked over, the top had come off and the poor budgie lay there dead. It was very sad and I really disliked the dog for a while. Our other little dog (poodle) is fine in the house as long as the birds are in their cages. I would not get them out with her out and about. She is curious about our new birds, but she doesn't try anything. Anyway, I'm sure you're doing all the right things, but I agree that you should never trust them together.

My tiel lived with a family that had a Jack Russel terrier, and it was allowed to jump up on the table where her cage was kept, and it barked at her constantly. She has been with us two months, and whenever she hears a dog barking, which is frequent in this neighborhood, she gets frantic and cries hysterically. I think a lab would be better behaved, and quieter. It probably depends on the birds and the dog. My youngest son has a standard bulldog and a tiel, and Wills and Riley Jane play together a lot. Wills also used to climb in the hamster's cage and steal her food, with no ill effects. Riley has never harmed Will or done anything to scare him. I would certainly keep a close eye on them if you do decide to let them mix. I wouldn't, but then I am an anxious mother! I have frequently seen budgies riding around on dog's backs, and they all get along too.

Cookie, my younger Dachshund, has been around Casper from the time Cookie arrived. They get along great and Cookie does not pay much attention to Casper at all....until she flies. When Casper flies, that all changes. Cookie's hunting instinct steps in. For dogs like that, it is all about the chase.

I am thinking puppy is not a good mix with birds......labs are actually "bird dogs", but I just love lab's sweet gentle nature.....very friendly, and VERY smart! ever notice most dogs helping handicapped people are labs? They are very trainable, loyal, sweet dogs! We actually had a black lab here with our birds and he never paid no attention at all to the birds.....couldn't be bothered. He was old though. My lovie Pip loves dogs and he used to ride around on Ernie and the dog just act as if the bird didn't exist! I know dogs who are fine sometimes could go after a bird, but I really think that wasn't the case with our lab.....I don't think he would have ever hurt a bird.......we don't have Ernie anymore.....he was getting old, and having health problems and seizures and eventually had to be put to sleep......he was a great dog! labs are the best! good luck with yours! who knows......maybe you will get an "Ernie" too and will not bother with birds.....but at puppy age I wouldn't count on it.......maybe someday though when he's older.
Here is Ernie with Pip...........
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/ ... oss023.jpg

Here is a pic of Cookie and Casper together. This was when Cookie was only about 9 weeks. She loved being around Casper and never tried to play or be rough with her.

To this day, Cookie and Casper will get face to face and Cookie does nothing. Casper will hiss at her and bite her nose if she gets too close.

But like I said, Cookie will go after her if she flies. The thrill of the hunt, I guess.

Well as of yet i still havent introduced the lab to my birds.I am in the process of training him.I am crate training the lab though and my thoughts are whenever iwe are not home or cant keep an eye on the lab, he goes in the crate.Also got a training collar for the dog too.He had a few behavior issues that we needed a cure for.I agree that he can never be trusted around the birds, ever and their door will have a chain lock on it .I wish she wouldnt have gotten the dog , but she understands the severity of the situation and there are no second chances with the birds.I wonder about those ultrasonic zone controllers that ppl use to keep them from getting in the garbage.Anyone have any experiences?

Scat mats that give a tiny shock are extremely effective at training most dogs to stay away from certain areas. Not sure that would work for you since it sounds like you plan to have the dog and bird in the same room, just not loose simultaneously.

I LOVE doxies, had them for 25 years, and always felt their instincts endangered my birds. It took a lot of supervision to avoid tragedy. As cute as Cookie and Casper's picture looks, I regret that it's posted for people less careful than Lisa to see . . . and draw conclusions that could be deadly. And it scares me even for her -- and Casper. Doxies are FAST. How hard would it be for Cookie to grab Casper if she decided to take flight while that close? As you put it, Budglo, there are no second chances.

Threads on this issue always include a number of testimonials for peaceful coexistence. One point not often mentioned is that when a person loses a bird to their own dog or cat or ferret, they are both grief- and guilt-stricken, and they often don't post again to tell us about it. Consequently, we hear from more people for whom the combo hasn't yet ended in tragedy for the bird. JMO.

I did not post that picture to convince anyone that dogs and birds can get along. I am a strong advocate that THEY CAN'T get along. But I have both and I make it work. You can just barely see in that picture, but my hands are on Cookie. She is sleeping. I don't ever allow my dogs near Casper without me holding them. They are small dogs, yes, they are strong, but I feel I protect my bird at all costs.

You can never say never, but I am confident that nothing will happen with Casper.

If that picture encourages anyone that it is ok for them to "live together in harmony", sorry, did not mean to portray that. If you read any of my previous posts, you will see that I strongly lean towards nature. And nature says that dogs hunt birds.

If the moderators feel I should remove that picture, I certainly will. It is up to them.

Thank you, Lisa. Too bad your restraining hands don't show in that sweet picture. They would make such a difference, but your explanation is here for anyone who is interested in this topic. Let's hope all is well