Everyone with a dog......Register here.

[Guest Anonymous]

smooshie, I am so sorry that this has happend! Tell her to work with the bird using a dowl... as a step up tool and to alway explain to the bird what is going on. Us "step up" and "step down" and always remain calm... if not calm do not work with the bird as they are very empathic and will mirror agression, anxiety, and other emotions! I worked with a derbian parakeet who almost took a friend's arm off (they are about the size of a banty chicken... he thought he was a lion!) After six months of intensive work anyone could pick him up and handle him... he still didn't like to be pet though! And boy could that bird talk! His first words were "water water WATER!" as he loved bathing by spray bottle. This was when I worked in petsmart... alot of thier bigger birds came in this way as they were shipped all the way from california!
To sasha... I no longer respect petsmart for thier ways with birds, or fish. I was really proud of how well our birds were kept and how nice the fish were, never selling sick or injured or tankmates of sick or injured... Sad to say petsmart has gone down hill! When I worked there you got raises by doing "PACE" books, these taught you about products and the live animals that you worked with. They no longer do this and the one we have here is very frusterating in thier lack of knowledge! When they do get someone good they don't last long as they cannot afford to live on min wages!
And mei-mei... I love all that is "slithery" and even kept a 3' ball pithon for a few months (I rescued him from my brother) until we found a reptile specialist who would take him (the man had a room of snakes!) He taught alot of my friends that not all snakes are bad... he was really cool (all puns intended :lol: :lol: :lol: )

[Louis]

When I was young I saw something on Tv that I never forgot, It was footage of parrots being captured in the wild and it was horrifying.. To catch them they were driven into traps and to do this the hunters had this one poor parrot tied up on the ground, just about featherless, and they were hitting (possibly breaking!) what was left of its wings with stones to make it call out and cause the other parrots to fly away from its alarm calls. :cry:
The birds were handled so roughly and were packed into cages so tightly.. no food, no water.. the death rate was astronomical. I was depressed and felt sick for days afterwards.. These birds are so intelligent and deserve to be treated with respect [b]please[/b] never buy a parrot you can't be sure is Captive Bred.
(but best of luck with the bird that has landed in your family Smooshie.)

[Guest Anonymous]

Ug, Louis, it doesn't stop there... these poor birds are stuffed into toilet paper tubes, shoe boxes, even socks to keep them small and quiet.... If they shipp 100 birds (and I am talking babies without even feathers yet) maybe 20 of them will live, if that! Customs is all over this, and I have seen some awful stuff... :o
But if you want a bird, pick one out that is friendly, a baby, from a reputable aviary, hopefully go to the aviary and check out the cages, ask about food and feeding, ask about care. And read everything you find...
poorly built cages, seed only diets, and dirty environment are big no nos! It's just like a dog... if you see a poorly kept kennel you know somethings going on.

[Smooshie]

Sasha,
I don't think cockatoos are necessarily more WORK(as far as physical care) than other large parrots, but they seem to be the most demanding of your time and attention and are certainly one of the NOISIEST birds. But I'm no expert :)
Do you know if your dogs are bird aggressive?? I had this problem with my Boxer at first. I assume, like a Boxer, Pitbulls have a higher than normal prey drive, so if you were to get a bird you would have to keep them separated and only introduce them under strict supervision. I still never leave Loki in a room alone with India (my bird)...he doesn't show any aggression towards her anymore, but it would take only moments for him to kill her if the notion ever entered his head, even if he didn't mean to harm her, all it would take is one swat from his paw or a well aimed jump and he'd crush her.....and lets face it, a colorful,flapping, noisy bird makes for a pretty enticing "play toy" lol.
ALL birds demand a LOT of time and attention, but like dogs ,you'd need to find one that suits your personality and lifestyle the best. I think Hazel would be better at recommending a species to you as most of my experience has been with Macaws. If a Macaw is what you're after ,in my opinion the Blue and Gold is the best choice as they seem to be the most playful and easily adaptable of the large Macaws. My B&G is a cuddler,and even though she is bonded to me, she will go to almost anybody.
I suggest that if you're really serious about getting a bird ,that you leave your checkbook at home and go check out a few bird fairs (there are listings for upcoming fairs in your area in the "bird" section of the classifieds...or in the back of "BirdTalk" magazine). You'll find examples of most pet species there....talk to the breeders and handle the birds yourself.....its a good way to figure out what you like and don't like and how comfortable you are around large parrots. DON'T buy on impulse!!! Really research the bird you're interested in before you buy, and make sure you're up to taking on a lifetime commitment....large parrots can outlive humans. Good luck! :D

[Smooshie]

[quote name='sashagirl']Thank you Smooshie. I will look into the bird fairs. As for the dogs being bird aggressive, Sasha has absolutley NO prey drive. She ignores everything. Except mosquitos. She likes to try and eat them... Too funny to watch. I have seen her walk right by a cat without even noticing it. She won't even look at it... It is strange. Felony is still a puppy. I would always keep them seperated when not under strict supervision. Is it ok to leave them outside, say on a screened porch all day? Even in Florida? Is it too hot for them? And does it get too cold in the winter. Would it be better to keep it inside? It is going to be a while as I need to wait until I buy a house... But I am interested in knowing.

Thanks :wink:[/quote]

LOL...Loki strikes fear into the hearts of all geckos :roll: (Of course he NEVER catches them,but I've seen him practically climb a TREE while chasing one...WAY too funny to watch...oh and FROGS...he hops along behind them and tries to grab them......silly dog....other than that, he's pretty easy going too. He used to like to chase wild birds,but ever since he stopped stalking my parrot, he seems to have no interest in the wild birds either (yay!)
My Macaw actually prefers to be outside....we keep her on our screened porch.But we also have a cage in the house and a bird stand for times when she's inside. Parrots are very social...in the wild they live in flocks so they see their human family as their "flock" (not unlike the "pack" theory with dogs). They like to be in the middle of all the activity, and don't do well if they're confined to their cages,or left alone all the time. Even when Indie is outside she likes to keep an eye on whats going on IN the house thru the sliding glass door.
Birds can be kept outside in FL as long as they are NOT in direct sunlight, or exposed to the elements (rain, wind ,etc)and you need to be sure nothing can get at them (neighborhood cats, etc),and during the hottest part of the day they should be spritzed with water so they can cool off. India actually LOVES to get in the shower with me...lol.
The only times I've had to move India inside because of cold is when there's a bad tropical storm or when the
temperature drops in December and January....usually as soon as it starts to drop down into the low 50's,I bring her in or at LEAST rig up a heat lamp and put a blanket over her cage....drafts can be very dangerous to birds.

[Guest Anonymous]

Heck If you have a heated indoor area for the birds to go to, you can keep outside aviaries in Washington! I have seen some pretty spectacular setups.
Sasha... You want a larger bird, that loves to cuddle, talk maybe, goes to everyone.... hmmm
I am really partial to a cockatiel as a first bird... One of my firsts was a tiel named madison, and other then size and talking she would fit the bill. Conures are pretty cool too, or even a small macaw like a hans or a yellow collard, as long as you socialize lots they should be fine... florida is like a bird breeding mecca... do be careful... there are lots of people in it for the money...
Larger birds are not a good choice for someone who has never owned a bird... not saying it doesn't work, but I liken it to giving a novice a saint bernard to train to walk on a leash in a room full of squirells... :o
If you have your heart set on a cockatoo, try a goffins, they tend to be a little less outgoing then some of the larger cockies but are still way cool, and more outgoing then alot of other breeds. They are really the clowns of the birdworld, and love to cuddle ( what cockatoo doesn't?)
Try caique (try and pernounce that one...) they tend to be very outgoing and gregarious, you can keep two together and they will still bond to you as well, they look like they are wearing pants and a vest, very cute, kinda rare and expensive, last I checked they ran about 5000.
Lories are cool, but I don't know much about thier bonding and petting needs... this is one type of bird I have very little experience, they are a soft bill though and rare, expensive to buy, and very expensive to feed.
Stay away from amazons... I love these guys but they are right up there with macaws in thier dificulty level, and somtimes they can be way to smart for thier own good. Met one who would bit you until you said bad bird, we tried to break him if it by saying other things but he wouldn't stop until you said bad bird... we also had to pad lock his cage as he was a real houdinii.
You might try pionus as well... another good smallish bird, they have always seemed pretty friendly to me, especially the babies... again these are kinda new and rare (and when I say new I mean the newest fad)
Other birds to stay away from, eclectus (remember rosie the rott) lovebirds... ug just don't get me started on these things! larger conures like the patagonian, they think they are t- rexs! And I so love african greys but these are very neurotic... moving them from one side of the room to the other can cause obsessive feather plucking(bald birdy!!! :o ) and I have never seen anything uglier then a bald bird. And be aware that some birds are off limits to those without permits.
Best advice is to get lots of books and go through them, pick out some favorites and then research them, talk to people who own them, who's birds seem well adjusted and friendly, not like Jax who is a grumpy old man (do not buy a green cheek conure :( ) (They hit 5 and do a 180 in personallity and there is very little you can do about it... also a new fad and somewhat harder to find) (he's 7 yrs by the way)

[Smooshie]

Oooooh Hazel!...We really need to stop talking about birds now!!! I'm getting all fired up to go buy another one I realllly want a Mollucan ...lol..then maybe the COMBINED racket between the "Too and Macaw would SCARE the kids away :wink:
I agree with you 100% about the large parrots not being good first birds....they are a LOT for a beginner bird enthusiast
a Tiel would be a GREAT first bird (why didn't I think of that???) Most people are unaware as to just how smart and entertaining they actually ARE.....not to mention cuddly. They act like a large parrot trapped in a small bird's body...lol
Hmmmm...from what I've HEARD about Lories,they are somewhat uhhhh "messier" than most other birds their size (due to their almost exclusive liquid diet)....they apparently have the ability to "projectile poop" (ewwww). But they ARE very pretty......

[bk_blue]

Have finally worked out how to register (yes, I am a bit slow sometimes and I was posting under Genevieve)!
My Dog
Name: Blitzkrieg
Breed: blue heeler cross (pointer, border collie, lab, and bull terrier are some of the suggestions)
Age: 7 (and still gets mistaken for a pup)
Weight: 22-25 kg (not sure in pounds, sorry)
Size: Very lean muscular build. Slightly smaller than a Dal.
Coat: Smooth. Spotty/blue merle on his chest, legs and face (apart from his black patch!). Black ears, back and tail (apart from the tip, which is pure white). Has white eyelashes on his spotty side and black eyelashes on his black-patch side- it was love at first sight!
BK is... Hyperactive, healthy, happy, ingenious, clever, cheeky, gentle, snuggly, "human"(when he grins his whole face splits in two), and a loving dog who is loved in return.
NB: cockatoos are great birds! My older relatives have had a few over the years. Cocky (who died last year after 50 yrs with my nan) was allowed to roam free most of the time (my great-grandparents never ever deliberately captured native birds and thought it was cruel even to keep canaries); although some of the birds that hung around flew away again, Cocky never did and had his own enclosure built for him when it was apparent he wasn't going anywhere. The Doberman, Tessa, was fine with Cocky- in fact Cocky was definitely the boss! :lol:

[Smooshie]

bk...welcome welcome welcome!!! ....your dog sounds so cool :D You'll have to add a pic to your profile or post a pic when you get a chance,so we can see him :D

[Guest Anonymous]

Yess I know all about projectile poop... the local zoo has an aviary you can go into to feed lories, my only real experience other then reading... and you really have to watch out!
Yes please start with a tiel... inexpensive and very forgiving. A handfed is just about the sweetest thing in the world, the true "lovebirds" of the world.
Go buy and be merry! :D Remember they like lots of room in thier cage, they love bananas, and puzzle pieces. And scratches on the neck. You can buy lots of different colors, from bright yellow to dusky grey, with or without the orange cheeks, even albinos are now affordable. But for someone who wants love in the birdy form (I am sure that you get enough of the dogy loven)
And now onto the real subject of dogs...
I love my pup... she's starting to act normal, and really hates bed rest and elizabethan cones... my poor little aussie! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Guest Anonymous]

oh bk it's nice to see another "hearder" on the forum! Welcome... you must tell me what it's like to have a real hyper dog and not one who just thinks she is... my aussie is just about as lazy as they come.. for an aussie. (She is now to the point where she can run Clar into the ground instead of the other way around! :D )

[Guest Anonymous]

:lol: Thanks for being so welcoming! Yes, Blitz is a truly energetic drama queen. I often feel guilty about not taking him out as much as I should, he always seems to want to get out and explore the world. I don't think he bears much physical resemblance to a heeler though he has a lot of the mental characteristics. But he's not so suspicious of other dogs as heelers are- he's in fact the friendliest dog I've ever had. His energy and intelligence is astonishing, but he'd be a bad farm dog- not enough stamina and he's a big wimp! He has a strong herding instinct and whinges if everyone's not in the same room. He likes nipping my ankles when he's wound up and when playing with Dad's GSD he goes for his feet (the GSD tends to go for the throat/neck). He must've been crossed with something gentle to be as friendly as he is... He loves kids, esp my 4yo cousin. Can you imagine this tiny girl saying "sit down dog!" and BK, who's twice her size, thinking "hmmm ok!" and obeying straight away! :lol: Does anyone else's dog have such a liking for children?
This link will lead to some pics of BK:
[url]http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=61878[/url]

[Smooshie]

My Boxer LOVES kids (most boxers do...it's one of the things the breed is famous for). He will do ANYTHING for my 4 year old son.....when we play ball, I have to practically tackle the dog and wrestle the tennis ball from his jaws...all my son has to do is say "Loki drop it!" and Loki sits and drops the ball at his feet.

[Smooshie]

bk...I tried the link to your pics but I kept getting an error message :( ....can someone else try?...maybe its just me

[Guest Anonymous]

ha ha the same thing goes with Hazel... loves anything on two legs and under 4'. She does seem to have a problem with "larger" women though...
and I think this is really wierd, but if she's going to cringe and run away from anybody with a spacific form or sex, thats who it's going to be! Her breeder had a daughter with such a build and she worked with a dog trainer who was less then gentle with the training. Makes me wonder since Hazel was only just 8 weeks when I got her... Other then that she does the typicl aussie thing, run back a little, then attack with love. I am working on the "shyness". Every aussie I met before getting Hazel just loved attention from everybody, so I am sure it's a faze... more walks to the park, petstore, and home depot! :D

[bk_blue]

Sorry about the dead link. It seems to be working now... I've also got a little photo of him attached to my profile, though he looks a little weird without ears! :lol:
Dogs are really funny about certain people and body types from stories I've heard. One thing they never forget is bad treatment :( When we got BK (from the local shelter) he was 6 months and had to go back a few weeks later for his shots/checkup-type stuff. Did not like going back at all, he remembered his time there (though maybe it was more to do with the fact the whole place was full of lonely, crying dogs in pens... at least we saved *him* from the needle). Apparently here in Aus we put down 240 dogs a day, every day... it is disgusting. Especially young, healthy animals whose only crime is to be homeless... :evil:

[Guest Anonymous]

Here goes... 12 alaskans, from 45 to 65 lbs. - Bug(my main leader),Merlin, Happy,Thea,Aesa,Zeus,Bernie,George,Woofy,Tynan,Little Bear, and Gemma. Bug, Merlin Thea and Happy are siblings; Zeus and Bernie are father and son from a different bloodline, Aesa and George are both from seperate bloodlines (in a class by themselves; literally and genetically!) Woofy, Tynan, Little Bear and Gemma are Bug and Zeus' pups. Last but not least is Cricket, the mascot and winter lap warmer-a black and white parti colored Pomeranian.

[GizmoRedNosePit]

[size=6]WOW[/size], that is alot!! I wish I had that many dogs!! Your lucky!!

[shorty]

I only have one dog right now.His name is Shorty and he is a Lab/Spaniel mix that I adopted from the pound. Someday when I work less I am going to foster dogs also.
Wendy

[ShadyLady]

hi there ,
Ive got 8 german coolies(koolie) ranging from age 4months old to 6yrs old . We do sheep dog trials and absolutely love it my main dog Ollie is blue merle and white ,he has one blue eye and one brown eye .We went to the victorian championship and scored an 83/100 we were rapt . The german coolie is supposedly an ancestor to the Aussie shepherd they share similar coloring although most have short hair. The day I met a coolie was the day I fell in love. Ive had other breeds but these dogs captured my heart.

[Bensam]

The more I explore all the posts, the more I find, so thought I'd put my piece in here. I seem to have the littlies of those posted, but they all think they are BIG people :lol: . Here's my three:-

Miniature Pinscher female, (hey, Roo, I'm learning, no ****'s)
Grand Champion Barambah Baynilla, (answers to 'Pebbles')
Chocolate and Tan, 11.1/2inches
8 years old

Miniature Pinscher dog,
Champion Lienard Stampy, (answers to 'Sam')
Red, 11inches
6 years old.

Border Terrier
Foxfor Ferret, (answers to Ben)
Red Grizzle
9 years old.

Pebbles is the boss lady, not into cuddling unless she feels like it.
Sam thinks he is very macho, but a chicken at heart, loves smooching.
Ben is a typical laid back Border, more thinking material than any dog I have had, wouldn't know what 'sit' means, but has me totally trained to obey his every command. Didn't make it to the showring, as his teeth are crooked, worst luck, otherwise a lovely looking Border.

Guess you can see where my nickname came from :roll: .

[usmcbyrd]

My australian cattle dogs
name: mckenzie (kenzie for short)
weight: 32 lbs. 18 in.
color: red speckle
age: 18 months
she is very lovable and is the best dog I could ask for.
the other beast is bruiser
weight: 43 lbs. and still growing very quickly
color: a very good blue
age: 24 weeks tomorrow
he is the very goofy big dog. surprisingly not very clumsy though. he is growing way to fast for me. i thought he wasnt supposed to get that darn big.

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi! I am Ruby's guardian & entertainment. :lol:
She is a 10 month old, 50 lb. Female Rhodesian Ridgeback.
She is a "Red Wheaten".
Hence the name Ruby!

Ruby has a great magic trick :P 8)
We have an earth tone animal print comforter on the futon (one of her beds), and she disappears! If she is laying on it, her camoflauge color truly makes her disappear until she starts to move!
It scared me the first time I didn't see her, called her name & she lept off of the futon (I was in the same room)! :o :o
Now, instead of calling for her, I get close to the futon to see if her tail wags. If she is not there, I look around to make sure my husband didn't see me. :oops: