Q: Our 11-year-old neutered-male mixed retriever had never messed in the house, until he left a single turd on the living room sofa, where he normally sleeps. I was shocked. He seemed to know he'd done something wrong -- he looked quite sheepish. The only new thing is the parakeet we recently added. Could this have triggered the behavior? Is he jealous? If this is an issue, we can give up the bird.

Dr. Nichol: Psittacine birds (parrots, parakeets, lovebirds) are intelligent and highly social creatures. Like dogs and humans, they can develop severe anxiety disorders following a major disruption like being ejected from their homes. You made a commitment when you adopted that bird. You need to keep both pets.


Just a reminder Birds are not throw aways. They deserve just as much commitment and care as any other pet you may have. The problems need to be worked out ,not thrown out.

I love my babies so much.. I would never get rid of them.. Actually, since I am an apartment dweller.. They are the perfect pet..

And someday I know I will get them finger trained... Someday....

I got Joey after I knew she had not had a very good previous life, and the fact she will probably never trust me. But all that never bothered me, and made me love her more. I could never give them up... even though I am not supose to have pets where I live, lol.

As dogs age they are sometimes un aware that they have produced a lttle poop,esp after passing gas our 14yr ols rottie occas does this in his sleep,no big deal and just like people incontinence can become more frequentas we age,i doubt the bird has any influence over this little accident,pet owners have to accept some things,no such thing as aperfect pet,kid or spouse, as they say Sh*&# happens

hee hee enchanting, me too. the fee here is 4o.oo a MONTH for keeping a bigger bird. sierra is free, thank goodness. but honestly, forty dollars.... what a rip- off.

So true Animom... Petey, my german shepherd has developed a jealousy complex since I purchases Sky.. I almost hate saying that. lol ( like I should be saying since I brought her home from the hospital or something Any who... he is very envious.. reasonably so... he has been the only pet for the last 3 years. So jealous in fact that he has been doing very bad things... he has been eating out of the kitchen trash when he isn't even aloud NEAR the kitchen, ripping papers up when he ususally doesn't distrub things and not responding to comands when we know he knows them (he graduated first in his doggie class!

Last week I left my door open since we had the electric heaters running.. it was chilly but not so gold that we needed to turn the large heater on. I was sleeping and Sky's cage sits by my door so she could feel the warmth from the hall. Petey NEVER comes into the room while I'm alseep but I woke up at 2 am to " flap flap CHIRRRRRRP!!!!" I knew right away that he had disturbed Sky while she was resting So I told him to go lay down.. which he did.

30 mins later... same deal " flap flap flap.. CHIRRRRRRRRRRP!!!!" as if to say... hey mom!!! wake up!!!! So I told him to go lay down AGAIN.. but this time he didn't listen and just went to his cage since he knew he had been a "bad doggie"

I still live at home and I told my mother about it. She said.. he has to learn that even though he was here first, he can't just go invading miss birdie girl's space. So now he is sent to his room and locked up each night until he learns that he isn't aloud to play with the birdie. "No birdie" I tell him.. "good birdie".. have to stick to words that he understands. So now when he walks by her cage, he just looks at her over his shoulder and lays on the floor. lol

Soooo each pet deserves your love and attention regardless of who came first... It's kinda like having a boy when you wanted a girl, finding that it isn't what you were expecting and saying.. well I can always give him up and start over.. no way... love your babies!

I aslo have a german shepherd who is very jelous of my bird. I actually have 2 shepherds but the older one could care less, but my 2 year shepherd gets jelous whenever I am over by the bird cages. She comes running over and wants to be petted etc. I give all my animals, 3 dogs, a cat and 2 birds generous amounts of my time, in between, going to work, housework, cooking meals, and on and on and on. I could understand if my shepherd was being ignored but this is not the case. They are so funny sometimes.

I agree Paula K. Petey is the saaaame way! he is about 3 and he has 4 people that are constantly giving him attention.. he's just a brat. :p and can't stand the idea of me playing with any other pet. lol They really are like little kids. lol

His he a big male? Most males I have seen are bigggggg! My 2 year old female is 86# and my 4 year old is 76#. The older one even though she is smaller is the boss though.

My guys came to me by a former resident here.. He asked if I wanted them.. I said yes... And so happy I did.. There were two of them in a small cage and I think they were pretty much put in the cage and ignored.. At least they had each other.. I got them a WAY bigger cage.. My b/f said that they don't fight like they used to.. I change out thier toys quite often and make them toys all the time.. But I wonder with the neglect if they will ever bond with a human.. But I won't give up...