How to train my dog to be around bird without eating him?

[fwed]

My girlfriend has a bird that stays with us from time to time. When my dog freddie sees the bird, he gets mesmorized. We leave the bird in his cage on top of the sink and my dog freddie will literally sit by the sink all night and day staring at him making whiny noises. It's the oddest behavior ever.

We noticed when we let the bird loose to walk around, freddie will go after him and sometimes when we let the bird get near freddie, we noticed freddie will lick his lips like crazy and try to snap at him.

Are these signs that my dog freddie wants to eat the bird or is it more a sign of curiosity? do you think if we left the dog and bird alone that the dog would eat him??

How can we train my dog to not want to eat the bird?

 

[Doberluv]

It's the oddest behavior ever.

As a carnivorous predator, Freddie's behavior is absolutely normal. His instincts to survive by eating other animals have been hard wired for thousands and thousands of years.

Some dogs can be fine with other pets like birds and rodents. Some can be trained to a degree. And some aren't as mesmerized as others. But never trust a dog with a bird.

do you think if we left the dog and bird alone that the dog would eat him??

YES.

The way you describe Freddie, I'd make sure that bird is seperated and kept safe from any possibility of Freddie jumping at the cage and getting him.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Are these signs that my dog freddie wants to eat the bird??

Yes.

do you think if we left the dog and bird alone that the dog would eat him?? ?

Yes.

How can we train my dog to not want to eat the bird?

You have to remember that dogs are preditors. They chase things that move - like tennis balls - because they are hard-wired to chase small animals. They chew things - like rawhides and bones - because they still have the instinct to exercise their jaw muscles for their next kill. Even squeakers are believed by many experts to be so enticing to dogs because they make the same noise that small animals make when preditors catch and kill them.

OCCASIONALLY you'll get a dog that has less of a chase/prey drive, but that it the type of dog that will probably not chase or play with toys.

Teaching a dog with a "normal" prey drive not to chase/kill the bird would be just as difficult as teaching that dog not to chase/grab his favorite toy, making his favorite noise, and tasting like the best food he's ever had. Then to teach him not to chase that hypothetical toy when you're not even around to enforce it or reward him for being "good," will be practically impossible for about 85% of dogs. The fact that your dog is already fascinated by the bird makes his chances even worse.

What I'm saying then, is that I would suggest just keeping the dog and bird separate, rather than trying to teach them to be buddies.

 

[Lolas Dad]

Dog+Bird+Left alone with each other=Bye Bye Birdie

Bye Bye Birdie+POed Girlfriend=A human Male being Neutered :yikes:

Now just think about the above equation and I think you will easily see that the results will the above or worse