cockatiels

My husband and I recently purchased two cockatiels. I've never had birds, nor had he, and we originally planned to get an African Grey Parrot. However, when we realized that African Greys generally bond only with one person and then realized that they can take a finger off with their beak, we decided for first time bird owners, a cockatiel was a much smarter idea. We purchased our first one, Pudgie (so named because he is always in his food dish), from a local pet store. First, let me stress that you should make certain the store is reputable and that the animals there are well cared for and healthy. When I first met Pudgie, he sat on my shoulder and preened my hair. He would then walk around the store and follow people. So, we got him for his personality. After a couple of months, even though we played with him outside his cage every day, we realized that Pudgie was lonely. So, we found a local bird breeder and purchased what we think is a female cockatiel. She's a lovely little thing, hand-raised, but quieter and shyer than Pudgie, who we think is male. (You can't tell with a bird without a DNA test) They fuss, but Pudgie seems happier to have a cage mate. We are letting their flight feathers grow so they can fly, although Pudgie is not very good at landing yet. They are really a good deal of fun. They will sit on your shoulder while you read or surf the internet. Pudgie likes to sit on my hand when I'm typing or using the mouse. He's rather silly. So, lesson here is that birds make good companions, especially for someone who has limited space.

retractable leashes

Retractable leashes, those plastic handle things that many dog owners use, are really dangerous. I am affiliated with a rescue group who has observed several instances of the owner dropping the handle, the dog being frightened by the handle hitting the ground, and the dog taking off. The lucky ones find their way back home. Also, the cord can and has taken off more than one fingertip as an owner tried to grab it when dropped.
For training, these are horrible. The dog does not learn boundaries or how to behave on leash. A former neighbor of mine would let her little pug run out of her apartment on that stupid retractable leash when she had NO idea who or what was outside the door. More than once, the dog ran into the roadway and/or ran to my dogs and wrapped the cord around their legs. The dog was sweet, but it never learned any manners.
When I received my first dog (received because she was a birthday gift), I was one of those people who thought retractables were a good idea.....until my dog nearly choked herself trying to run after a squirrel.
My advice, walk with your dog (good for you and them) and teach them manners and break your retractable leash.