Photo by Dave Location: Sandpoint, Idaho Show off: Galah "Bondi" 

I love showing off my parrots and they love showing off! Especially my rose breasted cockatoo (galah) Bondi. She is the typical cockatoo - a complete ham in public! She loves having all the attention and will yell, "Hey Cutie!" at anyone who ignores her. Showing off your bird can be a blast of fun, but only if your parrot is digging it, too. So how to do that? I thought you'd never ask... 

Trick Training makes a bird feel more confident and when other people cheer or praise your bird after a trick, they feel like they REALLY did a good job and want to do it again for that healthy reaction to their performance. Also, when a bird knows a trick really well, they are comfortable with it so it can almost calm them in a social situation where they may otherwise be uncomfortable. The trick is familiar and the fact that they get praise and a nutty treat for doing it makes it ten times more positive and more likely they will continue to want to do it again and again... and again!

Photo by Dave Location: Sandpoint, Idaho Upside down Bat: Galah "Bondi" 

If you aren't into trick training... "capturing" is another great way to teach your bird something he can show off for friends and family. Capturing can be tricky because it is all based on YOUR timing!

Capturing is about "capturing" your bird's natural behavior... whether it's when they raise their wings, click their beak or put their foot up. You can work with a clicker and capture those little things your bird does and put them on cue! This way you use the way your bird naturally acts as a behavior instead of using props or whatever else you may not like about performing trick training parrots.

When applied, these training techniques build confidence in your bird and make it WANT to show off for people around you!

PS: Check out various trick training parrot courses online!

Article by Jamieleigh Womach. She has been working with parrots and toucans since the age of 17. She isn’t homeless but is home less than she prefers to be. She travels the world with her husband, daughter, and a flockful of parrots whom she shares the stage with.