Cross Breeds

What breeds of dogs have a very low prey drive (and will leave small animals such as my parrot alone)?

we've been researching dog breeds and people usually tell us a retriever, spaniel or terrier would be good for our life style. problem is we have a parrot. and those 3 types of dogs are bred to hunt! i know if you raise a puppy along side your pet it will probably associate it as family not prey but since we're getting a pound dog we'll probably pick out an adult.

Public Comments

1. we have a bullmastiff pup and a staff x we also have an african grey
2. Rottweilers were bred and used to protect livestock like chickens and other small animals. That might be a good choice.
3. Herding breeds could be suitable. They are bred to round up livestock. Some breeds may nip, but it can be trained out of the dog. These breeds are usually very active, so you do need to provide lots of excercise and mental stimulation. Toy breeds are not bred for much except companionship. They may not be the best choice if you are really active. You do need to train them as they can become aggressive if spoiled. Some working dogs might work. You will have to research the individual breeds. Many are bred for things like pulling carts, water rescue, livestock guarding and other similar tasks. Some non-sporting dogs might also be suitable. It is a varied group, so you will have to research each breed. Terriers might actually work. They are bred to hunt small animals underground. While some might go after a bird, it would be more of a concern if you have a rabbit or guinea pig. They are bred to kill the animal, but show lines are not used for hunting. The sporting group (retriever, pointers and spaniels) are mostly bred to find and retrieve birds. They are not bred to kill the birds. Again, if you go for show lines, the hunting instinct is lessened. When you go looking for a dog, try to find one that doesn't have a strong prey drive. Some shelters and rescues will help you to find a dog that is non reactive to birds. They might have birds and can see how a dog will react the them. You might also be able to take a dog home for a trial to see how it reacts to your bird. There are dogs that will be great with a bird even though the breed is not the best choice if you have a bird. Go for the individual dog and make sure it fits your lifestyle.