So my Nanday Rio is being a butthead. He's not attacking me or anyone in my family but my dog. I have a Mini Schnauzer and an Aussie. He leaves my Mini alone but loves to torment Luna my Aussie. Luna is as sweet as can be and doesn't even bother Rio but no matter where Luna is Rio attacks. He goes for her head and tries to bite her. Luna just tries to get away and doesn't bite him back which is good but I don't know if that will change at some point. I know Rio is molting because I find feather everywhere and he also has a bunch of pin feathers coming out. Could this be the cause of his aggressive behavior?? I just can't leave Luna in her kennel all day long or keep Rio in his cage for most of the day. I want them to live in harmony lol. Other than that every things great and rehoming of either pet isn't an option so I really need a solution! Any advice is appreciated!!
When Nanday's attack!!!
- Thread starter Jessie
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Is this Rio's first or second molt? How long have you had Rio? How long have you had your mini shepherd? Has Rio's attitude always been the same towards the shepherd?
In the end, you're the one who has to discourage Rio's aggression, whether by putting in his cage or putting the dog either up or out, but if as you say, the dog has never been the aggressor, then letting Rio stay out will most likely validate his actions to Rio & do nothing to quell his aggression, so caging Rio is probably your best course of action, along with sternly showing & voicing your displeasure with Rio every time he acts up toward your dog.....
Although molting makes most birds grumpy, I've never seen any of the several nandays I've had become aggressive.....
In the end, you're the one who has to discourage Rio's aggression, whether by putting in his cage or putting the dog either up or out, but if as you say, the dog has never been the aggressor, then letting Rio stay out will most likely validate his actions to Rio & do nothing to quell his aggression, so caging Rio is probably your best course of action, along with sternly showing & voicing your displeasure with Rio every time he acts up toward your dog.....
Although molting makes most birds grumpy, I've never seen any of the several nandays I've had become aggressive.....
- Thread Starter
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- #3
I've had Rio since September and his previous owner gave me no information on him at all besides the fact that she thought he was 18 months old so if that's right he was born sometime is April 2013. When I got him he had one or two pin feathers but since the last month they have been coming out like crazy! He has small ones on his head and a bunch on his neck. But other than that I don't know how many times he's molted in the past. And then comes the next problem. Getting him in his cage when he doesn't want to go in is HARD. I have to trick him somehow and he picks up on everything fast so I can only use a trick once. He knows step up but as soon as I have him on my hand and I walk to his cage he flies to my shoulder and won't get in.
I think I'll go out on a limb & assume this is Rio's second molt & since you've only had him since September, you probably need to give Rio more time to get used to you & his new surroundings.....if you've heard about/read about a bird's honeymoon period, this is probably Rio's & he's taking it all in so that when he decides to show his true feathers he'll be ready to challenge you for a higher flock position, so you might want to start his training now rather than wait any longer.....
As to Rio's dislike of Luna, I think he's just got a simple dislike for the dog or possibly because Luna is cowed by Rio, he is just playing his hand/foot, but I also think your training of him will stop the aggression.....
Like I mentioned earlier, molting does cause birds to be moody/grumpy, I don't know that is causes selective aggression, which is what Rio is showing Luna.....as to getting Rio back in his cage, your training should bring that around too and you can always wait 'til dark, turn the lights out & ask Rio to step up, then put him in his cage.....
As to Rio's dislike of Luna, I think he's just got a simple dislike for the dog or possibly because Luna is cowed by Rio, he is just playing his hand/foot, but I also think your training of him will stop the aggression.....
Like I mentioned earlier, molting does cause birds to be moody/grumpy, I don't know that is causes selective aggression, which is what Rio is showing Luna.....as to getting Rio back in his cage, your training should bring that around too and you can always wait 'til dark, turn the lights out & ask Rio to step up, then put him in his cage.....
mh434
New member
- Oct 28, 2014
- 473
- 9
- Parrots
- Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
Personally, I'd try to keep contact between the dog and the bird to an absolute minimum. Dogs will put up with quite a bit, but their patience is not endless. When the dog decides it's had enough, it will probably kill the bird.
It will happen in an instant, and without warning. I know of a couple of instances where this has happened, to friends of mine. It's heartbreaking, and it's completely preventable.
It will happen in an instant, and without warning. I know of a couple of instances where this has happened, to friends of mine. It's heartbreaking, and it's completely preventable.
- Thread Starter
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- #7
If I have them completely separated one of them will never be with the family or constantly in the bird cage/dog kennel.
Right now I keep them apart because since Rio's started attacking Luna I put Luna in the Kennel while he's out. But that means he only gets to come out 4 to 5 hours a day which he is defiantly not liking if his constant screaming says anything for that.
Right now I keep them apart because since Rio's started attacking Luna I put Luna in the Kennel while he's out. But that means he only gets to come out 4 to 5 hours a day which he is defiantly not liking if his constant screaming says anything for that.
cateyes221981
New member
my lori use to do this to the doberman she use to live with that is why I got her, she Never does this to my shepherd even through the cage, parrots have a strange ability to tell which animals will take it and which animals can be dangerous
I do not let my parrots and shepherd interact outside the cage because I know my dog and cat have that snarky moody side plus I know how strong a dogs jaws are and how dangerous a cat is when a cat gets angry working as vet tech. AN angry cat or dog scares me so much more than a macaw lol
I do not let my parrots and shepherd interact outside the cage because I know my dog and cat have that snarky moody side plus I know how strong a dogs jaws are and how dangerous a cat is when a cat gets angry working as vet tech. AN angry cat or dog scares me so much more than a macaw lol
- Thread Starter
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- #9
"my lori use to do this to the doberman she use to live with that is why I got her, she Never does this to my shepherd even through the cage, parrots have a strange ability to tell which animals will take it and which animals can be dangerous"
So basically Rio knows Luna is a wimp and that's why he attacks her? He's such a butthead.
So basically Rio knows Luna is a wimp and that's why he attacks her? He's such a butthead.
