Karen Pryor Clickertraining - Parrots

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!

Housewife Takes on the Pack

Animal Mom — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:01:51 -0600

Training Parrots with Aggression Pt. 1

Kelly Ballance — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:42:13 -0600

A good place to start with lunging birds...

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.

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.

Behaviors on cue - it's a two way street

BlueHairBob — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:42:28 -0600

I guess I normally think of 'opening the door' as the reinforcer. But in actuallity, I think opening the door is the behavior and 'ringing the bell' truly is the cue. Of course, we think that animals think this way all the time - but maybe they see a difference too. I think my parrot, Kilo, gets it.

Target stick progress - after two weeks!

BlueHairBob — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 22:05:37 -0600

When Coco has to go to the target, he often has to find a route to get there in 3 dimensions - the dog just has to walk across the floor.

A baby parrot is a lot different than a puppy!

BlueHairBob — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:18:53 -0600

I think I have been spoiled by training eager dogs in the past. The parrot will be highly rewarding in the future, but for now, it is a lesson in patience and small progress and refinment.

Is Chet Womach a Clicker Trainer? (Updated 6/08)

BlueHairBob — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:59:15 -0600

Chet looks like a clicker trainer in some respects - but his videos don't show it and neither does his parrot training strategy.

Parrot Training Myth #3: Height Dominance

BlueHairBob — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:56:05 -0600

This is important - very important - if parrots are not trying to establish dominance, the trainer makes a big, harmful mistake if he tries to assert dominance over the parrot.

Parrot Training Myth #2: Clicker training is based on food deprivation

BlueHairBob — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:19:27 -0600

"I don't know anything about that particular book/video/method, but it probably involves food deprivation - I would never deprive my pets of food! That is what clicker training is all about!" - Wrong!

What my 5th grader knows about animal training.

BlueHairBob — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:25:11 -0600

"Dad, I don't like this video - she is pushing that parrot through the movements - if she would just wait for a minute and capture the start of the behavior and then refine it in steps, she could train that bird in half the time!"

Parrots are pack animals just like dogs - or are they?

BlueHairBob — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:07:06 -0600

My first decision was, just like with dog training, "throw out all books written before 2003 (except Don't Shoot the Dog)."