Nervous dog, screaming parrot

[Sprockets]

Hello all, I'm sorry if this isn't the right category but I'm having a problem which is becoming unbearable.
My partner and i have an orange winged amazon called Leela and a dog named Sid.
Like all Amazons Leela likes a good scream and Sid has always been a nervous dog. We've owned both of them for over 3 years but lately Leelas screams have been making him terrified, to the point now that if she makes the slightest hint of a screaming sound he'll bolt out of the room.
I've tried training her not to scream, which to some extent has helped, but I'm guessing some screaming is always to be expected.
Has anyone else had this type of problem? Is becoming quite hard to see one of our pets miserable all the time.

Thanks for reading

 

[Christinenc2000]

I have a Corgi and a Jack Russel . Both will run to the back of the house when BB lets loose with a Macaw Yell. Dogs hearing is so much better than ours I just can't imagine how it sounds to them.
Not sure how to avoid it and it does not happen all the time with me .

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

My parrots are not as large as yours but the White Fronted Amazon has a fair scream too and my niece's JR was terrified of the sounds when she came to visit, the rest of my canine crew ignore the screams so when the littke JR came it was strange to me to see her so terrified of the scream...I like my birds to be able to scream their flock calls and have the odd call during the day...the quaker Peter Pan doesnt scream much at all and mainly shouts Hello to me in English or How are you, but the Amazon is way louder and doesnt speak so the scream is all Amazon. I love the screams they are like living in a jungle for a short time listening to its sounds and sometimes the sounds are like a mad chimp followed by an unearthly shriek of jungle sound... I dont want to down the volume of my parrots but I also did not want the little visiting dog terrified so I started a routine with the little dog and offered a really favourite treat (sausages) to the JR each time the Amazon Mr Biggles screamed and very soon the JR was nolonger hearing the screams as something that frightened her but was waiting with wagging tail for treats each time Mr Biggles screamed...he doesnt scream a whole lot and usually morning and evening so it was easy for me to be prepared with the treats and I carried a couple of much loved dog biscuits with me in my pocket for during the day just in case (as Mr Biggles also screams if anyone calls to the house like the mailman or a visitor and he hears them while they are outside my gate even before my dogs hear them and he screams and as the dogs start to bark he then changes the tone of his scream to a scream bark ) Never a dull moment hope you find a way to help your Sid over come his fear of the screams.

 

[Sprockets]

Thanks for the replies guys ☺ I'll try offering Sid a treat when she screams and see how that goes.
Unfortunately Sid is one of those dogs who's scared of EVERYTHING. If a curtain blows a little he's shaking like a leaf. He's rehomed so no idea what made him like it. It's just as to see him unable to relax

 

[Scott]

Our pets come to us with frequently unknowable histories that can affect them for life. Leela's screams are likely a certain pitch that physically offend Sid, while his general nervousness causes the fleeing response.

After three years they are both probably set in their ways and reactions, so allowing Sid the freedom to flee and giving him a positive reinforcement likely the best course.

Good luck, this is a real dilemma without easy solution!

 

[SailBoat]

I wish to correct a serious misconception: Amazons do not Scream! They communicate at a high level of volume. Thank-you!

 

[Sprockets]

I wish to correct a serious misconception: Amazons do not Scream! They communicate at a high level of volume. Thank-you!

Haha of course!

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been giving Sid treats whenever she screams and already he's looking at is expectantly, which is better than running scared.

Just need to find a way to distract her while we're cooking and cleaning now, to save my own sanity

 

[chris-md]

I'm dealing with a very similar situation. Only it's not just the screening, or any little noise, it's the mere presence of the bird. The dog will develop high level anxiety and start shaking in panting all day when the bird is in the living room with us.

I'm starting to devise a training plan which involves something similar to what you were told, a treat every time they scream. You are essentially charging the screaming when you do that (how you make the clicker sound mean good things). I have to go so far as to charge the bird: keep them separated at all times, and give the dog a treat when she sees the bird. For a while it will mean a lot of separate time from my partner and a lot of time downstairs. But we're desperate as well

Trust me I definitely feel your pain on this and I wish you luck.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

I wish to correct a serious misconception: Amazons do not Scream! They communicate at a high level of volume. Thank-you!

Haha of course!

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been giving Sid treats whenever she screams and already he's looking at is expectantly, which is better than running scared.

Just need to find a way to distract her while we're cooking and cleaning now, to save my own sanity

Well done Ha Ha The answer to the second problem is just as easy; get a treat ball or a kong for Sid and stuff it with his favourite treats it will keep him amused while you are cooking and cleaning and it also makes him work for his treat... though for the moment and for another little while I would just concenteate on Sid getting a treat when the bird screams so that the good feeling of scream equaling treat and good vibes gets engraved in his brain...later you can give the treat every few times the bird screams until at last you wean Sid off the treat and reward him in another way like a pat or words of praise...for now stick with the treat for a while until you feel he is comfortable to do without...once he is ready to do without you just delay giving him the treat for a few screams and then give it to him...and after a while of doing that you can at a later stage skip giving Sid the trest during a screaming session and play with Sid or pat him or get him to do something simple like sit or shake hands and then praise him to the hilt all the while having fun and happiness in your tone rather than a subdued tone saying poor Sid are you okay for the latter makes them wonder what is wrong and they react to it especially if they are nervous by nature. You are doing Great with Sid ...Well Done he will soon be a very courageous boy/girl (not sure which Sid is)