Taking my dove for a walk...

I appologise if this is the wrong group to ask questions about doves but
they are very closely related to pigeons and have very similar traits
(homing for example).

Anyway I have a beautiful blond (grey and white) ringneck and she's
extremely able and agile when it comes to flying. Unfortunately we don't
have a great deal of space for her to fly indoors and so she ends up doing
laps around the livingroom and kitchen. I'd really like to be able to let
her fly outside for the interest and exercise but have some concerns.

First of all there is the question of homing, how does a bird who has never
been outside of the house know what the house looks like from the outside? I
don't expect her to fly very far from us (especially if we have some toast
in our hands, she loves eating almost anything we eat including pizza and
olives) but she might go adventuring and I'd like her to come back.

Second, and most important, she's rather stupid when it comes to preditors.
We have two cats in the house and, although they probably wouldn't eat her
if they had the chance, the bird has lost her entire tail about four or five
times in the last year to the cats. She has no concerns about landing right
between them on the floor and getting attacked. We're always in the same
room when she's out so that we can intervene, but outside could be a
problem. She doesn't seem to have a very good self preservation instinct.

That being said I've been wondering if a dove (or pigeon for that matter)
can get used to wearing Jessies and be trained to a creance. If I could
"reel her in" when she got too far or keep her close enough to stay out of
trouble then I'd be alot more comfortable taking her outside in the first
place.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about or have any experience with
training birds to a creance?

Any input would be appreciated.
Greg

"Greg Wotton" <gwotton DeleteThis @cogeco.ca_NOSPAM_> wrote in message
news:HtLsc.3692$_V4.844@read1.cgocable.net...
> I appologise if this is the wrong group to ask questions about doves but
> they are very closely related to pigeons and have very similar traits
> (homing for example).
>
> Anyway I have a beautiful blond (grey and white) ringneck and she's
> extremely able and agile when it comes to flying. Unfortunately we don't
> have a great deal of space for her to fly indoors and so she ends up doing
> laps around the livingroom and kitchen. I'd really like to be able to let
> her fly outside for the interest and exercise but have some concerns.
>

Don't risk a pet dove. One dove on its own hasn't a clue unless it has been
trained right from a juvenile.
I have had free-range ringnecks for years, but in a flock they will warn
each other of danger. If you have hawks around they don't have a chance. If
your bird gets lost you just have to hope a kind human finds it before a
predator.

Don't tie anything round its leg, it is much too dangerous.

Geopelia