distract trick and animal companions / eidolon

[wordelo]

Distract trick on ranger's falconer archetype.

from PRD:
Distract (DC 20; bird only): The animal companion flutters wildly around any enemy it would normally attack with the attack trick. It makes an attack roll against that enemy. On a hit, the enemy is shaken for 1 round. This ability replaces wild empathy.

1. what action does it take?

it seems like it should be a standard action but we're wondering if it would be as an attack action. meaning an eagle would use bite to distract and each talon to distract. so it can attempt to distract 3 times in a turn.

2. does it do damage?

it still says "on a hit" hits normally do damage.

another question unrelated to first two.

if an animal companion/eidolon acts on the character's turn, can it make readied actions separate from the character. I would see an animal companion not be able to but an eidolon is smarter.

Edit: We have determined that animal companions/eidolons act on their own initiatives.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

1) Standard. It only makes an attack roll not an attack action.

2) No, that's just the word that denotes a successful attack roll. They would omit the word "roll" otherwise. (Also note the fluff says it's just fluttering wildly around.)

3AC) Since Int is not a RAW prereq for readying actions, but is a prereq for complex tactics, I'd say the AC can manage if and only if it's doing something very simple and obvious ("attack if that thing comes near my fallen master") or you've trained it to ready that particular action.

3E) Since eidolons are Int 7 and not of the animal type (being outsiders) they are perfectly sentient and should be able to ready actions freely.