If you love dogs, the chances are that you love other animals too, such as birds. Paws, wings, beaks, claws, wet noises, feathers, and tails, being an animal lover is possibly the best thing.
With so much love to give, you might be interested in getting a bird. However, it is important that you determine if a dog and a bird can live together without any trouble, as it could prove fatal for the bird.
Having different pets that know how to co-exist with each other is amazing. But it is not always possible. Both dogs and birds make great pets. Can the two co-exist? Let’s find out.
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The Dynamics of Predation
To gain a better understanding of your pup’s feelings towards a bird, you have to look at the dynamics of predation. There is no denying that a dog is a predator that eats other animals to remain alive. It comes from the family of wolves which are the fiercest predators.
Dogs have special functions and body parts that enable them to achieve their mission, such as claws, sharp teeth, and quick movement. Hence, it is natural to worry that your dog will act on its natural impulse to kill a bird.
However, dogs have been domesticated over the centuries to be able to live with humans. Interestingly some dog breeds are more have become more docile than others. For instance, German Shepherds, Huskies, and Pointers are natural predators while Collies and Doodles are friendlier.
That’s not to say that you cannot train a German Shepherd to becomes friends with a bird! If you train German Shepherd puppies from an early ag, they are sure to overcome their baser instinct.
How To Know If Your Dog Does Not Get Along with the Bird?
When you adopt a bird and bring it into your home, it is important that you look for signs. Since animals cannot communicate with us verbally, you have to look out for clues to know if they are stressed or agitated.
Check to see if your pup is stalking your birdie and crouching. Although there might not be a lot to it, you should not forget that dogs have predatory instincts. If it is spending a lot of time crouching low and keeping an eye on every move of your birdie, it means that the two should not co-exist without your supervision.
Similarly, your dog might stiffen its tail, bark, and whine to let the bird know that it is not welcome. If your dog is showing aggressive behavior, it’s best to get a strong collar to keep them in check till they become friends with the bird.
Tips to Keep Your Bird Safe If You Have a Dog
As a pet owner of both a dog and a bird, safety and the prevention of an accident are of immense importance. Even if you just find your pup showing an interest in the bird, it can exhibit predatory behavior or injure the bird while playing with it. Here is how you can keep your bird safe if you have a dog at home.
1. Ensure Supervision
One of the most important tips that will help make sure that your bird remains safe is by ensuring supervision. You need to keep an eye on your dog at all times when it comes into close contact with your bird. It is the only way that you can be sure that nothing will happen.
Moreover, you must let your dog know that it is under supervision. Dogs can get excited when they meet someone or something new. This is why you have to keep your pup under control to avoid an unfortunate incident.
2. Provide Secure Housing to Your Bird
Next, you should consider providing a safe house to your bird. It should keep it protected from your dog and be out of its reach if possible. The cage needs to be securely attached and should not be easy to knock down or jump on.
However, you need to keep in mind that birds are social creatures that have high socialization needs. Therefore, you cannot shut your birdie in a cage and leave it in another room as it would limit its ability to interact and cause great stress.
The best thing that you can do is create a safe space in the living room by establishing an exercise pen next to the cage that keeps your dog at bay. Make sure to leave your dog in another room if you decide to remove the bird from its cage. As your bird would be out of its sight, you would not have to worry about anything.
3. Give Your Pup a Productive Toy
Sometimes, you just have to bribe your dog to get it to relax. This is where a productive toy comes in handy. You can give it to your dog to keep it busy while you enjoy the company of your bird.
Besides, there are many reasons why you should get a productive toy for your pup. It is especially useful when you are busy and cannot give time to your pup. Make sure to choose a productive toy that is designed for your dog’s age. Otherwise, it could easily break, and you would have to think of something else to keep your dog busy.
4. Put Your Dog on a Leash
When you take out your bird to play, you can put your dog on a leash and hand it over to a family member or friend. It will help ensure that you get to socialize with your birdie while your dog is with someone else.
A dog leash might just be what you need to manage having both a dog and a bird at home. You will find it to be extremely useful. It is also important that you teach your dog to behave while on a leash.
5. Reward Good Behavior
Finally, you must also reward your dog for calm behavior around the bird. If it remains put or sits down without causing much noise, it deserves a treat. There are other ways to reward your dog as well, such as by giving it a hug or taking it for a walk.
Takeaway
Although getting your dog and bird to co-exist happily might seem difficult at first, the two can come to love each other with time. As a pet owner, you need to provide a peaceful environment to ensure that everything remains under control.