Theo vs Tink (I think Theo's going to win)

I think there is a war in our house! And I predict that Theo will be the eventual winner. He won the battle that ended just a few minutes ago that started when Tink was let out of her cage.

Here's how it went - this happens almost every day:

Every morning when Tink is let out of her cage she either flies in front of or into Theo. Theo with amazing self control for an animal with an extreme prey drive usually only makes a half hearted attempt at snapping her tail feathers off but that depends on how much Tink has been flying into the walls of her cage and frustrating him. After this Mama will take Theo for a walk and when they come back home she is usually back on top of her cage which is the perch she would use as a bed if she wasn't taken inside her cage every night. Unluckily seeing Theo gives her the brilliant idea of flying again and flying often involves flying a few feet over the dog (who is always trying his best to ignore her) or flying into a wall and then falling onto the ground. When Tink is on the ground Theo has his chance at a comeback! And he takes it knowing that he will not be shouted at if he torments the dove the same way she does to him. So Tink comes down ether to eat grit of the floor (being too lazy to make the little hop up to the food in her cage) which was how she got there this morning or because she fell there.

Someone will be near her to help Theo if the dove winds him up too much so there is not a big chance she will get harmed, anyway Theo is not really trying to harm her body. He walks up to her slowly and lies down or just watches her but making sure that he does not move at all fast enough to alarm her. Tink has by now caught on and looks at him nervously.

Then when Theo thinks that Tink is relaxed as can be (it's easy to tell since her feathers sleek down when she wary and puff up when she's relaxed) then he bounces at her making his front feet land right next to her and barks in a very high voice. Tink runs away but after Theo does this three or four times she will fly back up to the safety of the top of her cage.

Theo is always very satisfied with this and looks at her for a minute before going onto one of the couches and sleeping.

I think Theo is going to win since he is not risking his life in tormenting Tink and she definitely is in tormenting him.

Tink is on the floor again so I've got to go back on guard duty.

By the way I went to Ireland and it was great! Thank you Bibi!


Claire Shamgochian