As a dog, seem well-disposed towards the bird (7)
I believe the answer is:
wagtail
'bird' is the definition.
(wagtail is a kind of bird)
'as a dog' is the wordplay.
'as' becomes 'wag' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'a dog' becomes 'tail' (I've seen this in another clue).
'wag'+'tail'='WAGTAIL'
'seem well-disposed towards the' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wagtail that I've seen before include "Slender songbird - a law git (anag)" , "Common bird" , "singer" , "Small bird (pied/yellow)" , "'Bird, its posterior projection jerks up and down (7)'" .)