Hello Im getting a parrot soon and im worried my eldest bitch (Yorkshire Terrier) may not get on well with him. In the garden she goes beserk trying to chase birds. What is the best way to introduce them?

We used to have parrots and a bird-chasing collie at the same time.  The birds lived on a perch on top of their cages high out of the reach of the dog and the dog only showed any interest in them when they frist arrived.  After that she pretty much ignored them, despite the African Grey constantly taunting her.  He could mimic our voices and would call her over to the cage and then try to rip her nose off if she dared to investigate.  He did the same to the cats too.  Everyone learned to give him a wide berth.  Little sod :-D

ShaynLola has got it spot on, it's your dog that is more likely to be tormented by the parrot. I'm a huge fan of African greys in particular, but it's like living with an extremely possessive two year old and I would never consider getting one with my dogs although I have been offered a bird more than once. A parrot will see you as its mate. As the bird becomes sexually mature that can be a real problem, especially if you have other love interests, so to speak. Of course you can restrict the bird to a cage to limit any aggression or jealousy but parrots are extremely smart and will figure out a way to make their feelings known and demand your attention.

I eventually rehomed my bird Hedgerow to a breeder because of premeditated attacks on anyone and anything that interfered with the attention he wanted from the love of his life (not me, he adored my husband, who didn't return his affection in quite the same degree). Hedgerow was allowed the run of the living room and his final act of jealous revenge was a fair attempt to drill through my son's skull. I'm glad to say that Hedgerow is still living with his girlfriend in happy matrimony 15 years later :)

Jay, the African Grey I mentioned was just the same...was my Mum's bird and he was vicious in the extreme towards everyone else. In the end, she had to rehome him because the grand children were getting to be the age where they were at risk from him. The only alternative would have been to confine him to a closed cage but that would have been unfair as he'd always had freedom to roam around the kitchen and living room and, as you say, they'll still find a way to get attention. He now lives at a local butterfly farm in a huge enclosure by himself. He has turned his affections to one of the staff there but he's still a danger to other staff entering his enclosure and has to be approached with the utmost caution.

Like you, I'd never have another parrot (I had an orange winged Amazon who sadly escaped) and neither will my Mum.

They are wonderful birds, but sadly their relationship with humans can only ever be a distortion of and inadequate replacement for their natural instincts. They are sociable birds and don't thrive without company. Generally people don't consider getting a pair since the birds are never as human-friendly or as good speakers when they are paired, but getting a single bird is asking for trouble sooner or later unless you can really devote your life to him/her.

I'd protect the dog rather than the parrot!!

If it's a hand reared bird it will think it's 'people', if it is male it will bond with a female house member and if female it will bond with a male house member and woe betide the house member it doesn't bond with.

It will demand attention like a petulant unruly child, it will hate anything that takes the attention of it's OH, if it is young then when it hits sexual maturity it will become noisy aggressive and confused (bit like a teenage human child!!). They can self harm out of frustration and become a sad sorry sight.

If it's an aviary bird being condemned to living in a cage then oh dear :(

I hate to see parrots stuck in cages living sad boring lives, plus don't forget they can live 50, 60 or 70 years, so you may need to put it in your will depending on your age ;)

We used to have a blue fronted Amazon, a magnificent bird, male and loved me but hated OH, my cat avoided him like the plague when he was out of his cage as did OH. My bird used to sit on my shoulder as I went about the house and even come in the shower with me, good for his feathers as they love the spray and it keeps the dust down.

Sadly I had to let him go as he got lonely when we were out at work and I knew that he wasn't getting the best from his life, he went to a breeder with lots of aviaries and is now a happy chap with a feathered girlfriend.

We now have a large aviary ourselves and in it amongst other things is a rescue orange winged Amazon ex-cage bird, bald as a coot when we got her and very sad, now she is of fine feather and fettle only one problem she thinks she's a cockateil and has the loudest bloomin shreik you can imagine!!

>orange winged Amazon ex-cage bird, bald as a coot when we got her and very sad, now she is of fine feather and fettle only one problem she thinks she's a cockateil and has the loudest bloomin shreik you can imagine!!

Aaah, how I remember that shriek!  Especially at 8am on a Sunday morning when the damned bird seemed to know that I would be hungover and wanting a lie-in.  That noise could wake the dead!

Think very, very carefully about this one. I have 2 JRTs and an African Grey (and 2 cats)!!!!!!! Eula (the parrot) taunts the dogs and they jump up at the cage and it's like an absolute mad house. I am training them not to react, but Eula does provoke them. She also doesn't let me lie in when I need a rest (or have a hangover) and I am drained. However, we did have her before our 2 JRTs, so it could be jealousy/attention. I am not meaning to put you off, but just wanted to warn you what you may be letting yourself in for :) As for the best way to introduce them I'm really not sure what to suggest - sorry