My Pet World: Give 'Mouthy' Dog Something Besides Your Hand to Hold

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Q: Can you modify a bird's behavior? I'm a stay-at-home mom with a 4-year-old cockatiel I've had since he was weaned. He's never liked women and won't come anywhere near me. When the men in our house are at work or school, the bird becomes increasingly obnoxious; he paces on his perch and screeches, sometimes for hours at a time. My nerves are shot. He has toys to keep him occupied, but I'm ready to wring his neck. Any advice? -- S.C., Richmond, VA

A: Yes, you can modify a bird's behavior, particularly that of parrots. However, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lynne Seibert, of Atlanta, GA, wonders -- for starters -- if this is really a cockatiel. What you describe sounds more like the behavior of a larger parrot, such as a cockatoo.

"When parrots scream at us, we have a tendency to scream back," says Seibert. "For a parrot, that's fun. It's what they do; they scream back and forth at one another. So, don't offer a screaming parrot attention -- unless you want a screaming parrot."

It's understood, from your bird's perspective, that you're a part of the problem. Who knows what the issue is, but it may be fixable if you're associated some treats (such as pine nuts) and verbal praise. Once you can get close enough, teaching your bird can help establish a relationship. A target stick is useful as a teaching tool. You can buy one, or simply use a chopstick. For more on how to specifically train and teach birds, there are various websites and books.

"In my experience, parrots often don't get enough uninterrupted sleep; they need about 12 hours (per day)," Seibert adds. "Sleep deprivation can affect a parrot's mood."

HEADS 'N TAILS

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--U.S. Air Force veteran Dave Sharpe survived near-death experiences in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but psychologically was not doing well when he returned to the U.S. In fact, Sharpe says if it weren't for his 6-month-old Pit Bull, Cheyenne, he would have killed himself. And he nearly did. Sharpe says he had a pistol in his mouth when Cheyenne licked the vet's ear, somehow bringing him back from the brink of death. Sharpe told the New York Daily News: "She came up from behind me and licked my ear. And she gave me this look of, 'What are you doing, man? Who's going to sleep in your bed? Listen, if you take care of me, I'll take care of you.'"

--The Companion Animal Parasite Council may be coming to you. Follow the exploits of exciting parisitologists on their reality road show at www.petsandparasites.org.

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Steve Dale welcomes questions/comments from readers. Although he can't answer all of them individually, he'll answer those of general interest in his column. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD(at)STEVE DALE.TV. Include your name, city and state. Steve's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com; he also hosts the nationally syndicated "Steve Dale's Pet World" and "The Pet Minute." He's also a contributing editor to USA Weekend.