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Category Archives: Training
Is Your Bird Really As Smart As a Toddler? Part 1
Part 1 of a three part series on how treating parrots like we traditionally treat human children can lead to complicated behavior problems. We start with an exploration of the use of the word “NO” Continue reading
Posted in Problem Behaviors, Training
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Parrot Behavior Myths: Is that a phase?
In this second installment of parrot behavior myths, we take a look at how some constructs such as the Terrible Two’s and the Honeymoon Phase can become self-perpetuating and in fact lead to an increase in behavior problems. Continue reading
Posted in Problem Behaviors, Training
Tagged behavior problems, biting, myths, taming
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Parrot Behavior Myths: Building Trust
There are many people out there eager to give advice when we ask for it from a variety of venues. How can some of the information out there help – and hinder – efforts to build trust with your new bird? Plus, tips to help us gauge the quality of methodological advice we receive. Continue reading
Exciting new ventures
While I have your ear, I’d be remiss in losing the opportunity to introduce the passion project I embarked on in 2013, Avian Behavior International (ABI). ABI is designed as a vehicle to bridge the art of training birds with the sensitivity … Continue reading
So you want to train your pet parrot for freeflight….
A brief look at the risks of free flying companion parrots, this article is meant to highlight some of the variables that dangers that amateur trainers may not be aware of but is not an all-inclusive list. Continue reading
Posted in Flight, Training
Tagged cockatoos, flight, freeflight, macaws, outdoors, parrots, Positive reinforcement, trainer, training, unrestricted
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Training other animals: Stewie gets a haircut!
Following the same principles of training birds, I was able to teach my dog, Stewie, how to lay calmly unrestrained while I gave him his first summer haircut. Continue reading
Posted in Other Animals, Training
Tagged dogs too!, Positive reinforcement, training session
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Working with Fearful Parrots: A Study in Videos
Building relationships with parrots that show extremely fearful behavior can be a challenging problem. Much of the information out there is based on the one-way transmission of information from human to bird. By allowing a bird to use body language to change our behavior and using positive reinforcement to reward desirable behavior, we can achieve sustainable pathways to closer, more trusting relationships. Continue reading
Posted in Training
Tagged Beans, Lory, Positive reinforcement, Scared birds, taming, training session
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Use your words: Conditioning Sam to a new environment
Moluccan cockatoo Sam has a lot to teach about preventing and replacing problem behaviors! Continue reading
Posted in Flight, Problem Behaviors, Training
Tagged Environmental Arrangement, freeflight, Sam, screaming, training session
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Cockatoo training…. with a little help
In my busy household, I squeeze in training sessions whenever I can. Sometimes, it means working with my birds in less than ideal situations with many distractions. Not something that makes for effective teaching. This is a clip of me … Continue reading
Posted in Training
Tagged Beans, Juice, Lory, Positive reinforcement, training session
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Part II: R+ needs a strong supporting cast
My formal introduction to positive reinforcement was not exactly early on in my bird-owning career, but the concept was so effectively delivered that in one fell swoop, my quest for knowledge took a sharp turn in a new direction, leaving … Continue reading