How to Safely Introduce Your Dog to Your Pet Bird
- Pup School
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Got both feathers and fur under one roof? You’re not alone. At the time of writing this, I have two parrots and four dogs living in my house—and yes, harmony is totally possible. But it takes thoughtful training, especially if your dog has a strong prey drive.
Some dogs, like my Miniature Australian Shepherd Betsy Blue, grew up around birds and treat them like background noise. Others need help learning how to coexist calmly. If your dog has a strong prey drive or high energy, introducing dogs to pet birds the right way is essential—not just for training success, but for your bird’s safety.
🎥 Want to watch the process? Check out our video:
Step 1: Introduce the Dog to Pet Bird
The safest way to start? Let your dog get used to the bird while it’s inside the cage. That way, if your dog reacts strongly, your bird stays protected.
💡 Pro Tip: Put the bird’s cage in a high-traffic area of the house. Let your dog pass by naturally. Don’t force interactions—just let the novelty wear off. Over time, your dog will likely lose interest and ignore the cage altogether.
When your dog can walk past the cage without fixating, it’s time for the next step.
Step 2: Controlled Exposure with a Travel Carrier
For the formal intro, place your bird in a secure travel carrier and set it somewhere your bird feels comfortable. Now leash your dog, bring them into the room, and let the training begin.
Walk your dog around the room near the carrier.
If they lock eyes on the bird or seem overly focused, increase distance until they can focus on you.
Mark and reward when they look at you instead of the bird.
Don’t use toys as rewards—this can amp them up. Stick to food treats.
Gradually decrease the distance while keeping their attention on you.
This is the foundation for a calm, neutral response to the bird's presence.
Step 3: Teach Both Animals to Stay in Place
Before you even think about letting them meet face-to-face, teach both your bird and your dog a strong "stay" or "station" behavior.
🐶 For dogs: Watch our video How to Teach Your Dog to Stay (All Steps) on Pup School Dog Training.
🦜 For birds: Check out this video on teaching parrots to station from our bird channel, Blessed Nest Pets.
Having both animals reliably hold position will make the next step much safer.
Step 4: Face-to-Face (But Not Friends!)
This is where most people rush ahead—and where things can go very wrong.
Remember: your goal is not to make them best friends. The ideal interaction is actually neutral. Calm, disinterested, safe.
Here’s how to do it:
Put your dog on a mat and ask for a stay.
Bring your bird out and place them on a perch across the room.
Slowly move the bird closer. If your dog starts to break focus or shift, back up.
Use tricks or food to keep your parrot engaged on the perch, not the dog.
Eventually, walk your dog around the room while the bird stays perched—but don’t let them interact directly.
Repeat until both animals can calmly share space without staring or reacting to each other.
Step 5: Add Movement – Flight Training Around Dogs
This is the trickiest part: flight can trigger prey drive in many dogs.
Begin with short recalls from your parrot to you while the dog remains calmly tethered or on a mat.
Reward the dog for staying calm, even when the bird moves.
Gradually increase the distance your parrot flies.
If the dog breaks or rushes toward the bird, calmly reset and try again.
Only allow the dog loose in the room after they’ve demonstrated consistent calmness during flight.
🎥 Check out our video on this step: Flight Training a Clipped Baby Bird
Final Step: Supervised Coexistence Only
Even if your dog and bird are doing great—never leave them alone together.
Dogs can accidentally injure or kill birds with a single paw swipe or bite, even if they’re just playing. Supervision is non-negotiable, especially if your bird is small or your dog is large or excitable.
Take Your Time—It’s Worth It
There’s no rush. Birds and dogs don’t have to be besties overnight—or ever. You can always keep them in separate spaces until you’re confident. Rushing can risk both your training progress and your parrot’s safety.
When done right, though? You’ll have years of peaceful coexistence ahead.
Have fun training!
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