BlueHairBob's blog

Book Review #11: Lads Before the Wind by Karen Pryor

BlueHairBob — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:22:13 -0600

Lads Before the Wind" has helped me make the biggest leap I feel I have made so far in understanding animal training. I have studied the mechanics. I have practiced and read. I have great teachers. I get results. I feel like now it has all come together and I understand a whole lot more.

Thank you Karen, Susan, Kelly, and Barbara - I am starting to get it.

BlueHairBob — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:45:39 -0500

My copy of Good Bird magazine for Summer 2008 just came - and there was an article by ME!

Jane and Spot: Behavior serves a function - Part 1

BlueHairBob — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:28:34 -0500

Bob, I am considering an "invisible fence" - what do you think? Or is there some other way to keep my dog from escaping my yard? Well, Jane, first let's look at what is going on...

Clicker training chickens - Why?

BlueHairBob — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:59:21 -0500

Last saturday, I trained chickens. No, actually, chickens trained me - I didn't teach them anything. Chickens are not dogs - or even parrots!

My first educational program presented with Grace - graciously but not gracefully

BlueHairBob — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:58:05 -0500

In addition to studying with the best animal trainners I can find, I need to go study with someone who does wild-animal shows.

"Good night everybody! Thanks for coming! Gracie and I will be here though the end of April - tell your friends! And don't forget to buy one of our T-Shirts on the way out. We love you!"

Here we go again - My wonderful new Green-winged toddler

BlueHairBob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:04:02 -0500

"Bob, did I hear right - you had to find a new home for one of your birds because it was TOO SWEET?" "Well, I didn't see what other choice I had.", I said.

Teaching my first dog training course

BlueHairBob — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:15:28 -0600

I ask one young student if she has been working with loose leash walking during the week. "No, but my dad is using the clicker to teach the dog to put his head into the choke chain!"

Brad from San Jose Writes: "Dear Blue Hair Bob, I heard that parrots need a lot of interaction or they develop behavior problems

BlueHairBob — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:56:23 -0500

Brad, These are great questions - ones I wish every potential exotic bird owner would ask before getting a bird. Some of these are a bit controversial as well. There is the "old school" answer and then there is the "latest available data" answer. I will give you what I think is the latest data answer.

Here we go again - my wonderful new throw-away orphan African Grey Parrot

BlueHairBob — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:56:40 -0500

"I think that bird is just misunderstood", I said. "Yeah, really misunderstood - like we don't understand why he attacks everyone who comes in the room!", she said. But that wasn't how he reacted to me.

Is my parrot making a sentence or chaining behaviors?

BlueHairBob — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:34:38 -0500

You know that stuff called "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter"? Well, I can't believe it's NOT butter!

Parrot to dog: "Dog, come here"

BlueHairBob — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:27:46 -0500

Parrots combining sentances?

Why not just use a bite-proof glove when handling parrots?

BlueHairBob — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:03:06 -0600

That is (basically) exactly the very first question I asked on a parrot training forum (BirdClick) hosted by Melinda Johnson when I got my first parrot. I got the same answer from her and several other professional (positive reinforcement) bird trainers.

The Parrot Talent Show at the local bird club

BlueHairBob — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:40:38 -0600

The parrot training world needs a revolution like what has taken place with dogs - it is building, but it is slower than I would have expected. I am looking forward to next year - and the years to come. I think the parrot world will look much different ten years from now.

Conversations on a slow road with "re-homed" animals

BlueHairBob — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:08:32 -0600

You know the story: a couple of clicks to charge the clicker and then we get sit, lie down, and fetch before anybody gets bored. It looks like magic. With a poorly socialized animal it is a different story - it's a rewarding story, but slow. Once you get the trust, things pick up, but trust has to be built - a few treats don't make up for years of mistrust.

How do I choose an animal trainer?

BlueHairBob — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:36:56 -0600

When I choose an animal trainer, it is not to train my animal - it is to train me to train my animal. Generally, this means books, videos, classes, workshops, and an occasional home visit. I have chosen well in some cases - and then there are the other times.

Book (not review) #10: "Parrot Tricks: Teaching Parrots with Positive Reinforcement" by Tani Robar and Diane Grindol

BlueHairBob — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:15:59 -0600

Parrot training is going through some tough times right now

BlueHairBob — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:58:56 -0600

There is a war going on for the hearts and minds of amateur parrot trainers like me. And it isn't good for the parrots. I live in exciting times.

Book Review #9: Companion Parrot Handbook by Sally Blanchard

BlueHairBob — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 03:38:21 -0600

When I started my research prior to getting my first parrot I was told, "if you are really serious, read Companion Parrot Handbook by Sally Blanchard - it is the text book for companion parrots." So, I bought it right away and started reading. Unfortunately, I don't think it is the manual that I want to recommend.

Book Review #8: The Parrot Problem Solver by Barbara Heidenreich

BlueHairBob — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 00:32:28 -0600

Without even thinking I said, "Everybody who has a parrot has a problem parrot."

Book Review #7: Good Bird! by Barbara Heidenreich

BlueHairBob — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:57:28 -0600

Even if you don't want to do trick training, you need to know about these behaviors and how to use positive reinforcement to diminish them.