Recently I thought that it would super cute if I could train my Camelot Macaw, Comet, to run to me on command. The command I wanted to be my finger like you would tell someone to come here. Since Comet is already recall trained, it made it really easy to put the running on cue. He has done the running thing more naturally than any of the other...

Comet is just one of those birds that moves much slower than the rest of the flock... not sure why, but he just does. So when I started training him to roll over, it was slow going. I called Dave in to see my progress and said, "It's like he does it in slow motion!" and Dave said, "But that's kinda cool, keep it that way!" So I thought about H...

I taught both of my cockatoos how to "roll over" which is pretty much the same as "bang" and "playing dead" because they all involve teaching the bird to go onto its back on command. However, the thing is, I taught both of my birds using different ways. I used clicker training with both, but separate techniques (sort of). Let me show you what I...

Distractions can really put an abrupt halt in training. For example, I had three birds out while attempting to work with just one of them. I didn't plan it that way - I had them all out flying around and then Bondi told me she wanted to work on her "roll over/play dead" trick so I began training on the hallway floor. Well, once Bandit saw Bondi ...

Photo  by Dave Location: Orlando, FL Lawn Mowing: Galah "Bandit"   Putting natural behaviors on cue is FUN and EASY! You need to know the basics of clicker conditioning and you're ready to go. I'm going to explain the steps I took to do so with my rose breasted cockatoo, Bandit, and how you can follow what I did with your own bird at home!   St...

I talk about desensitizing your bird pretty often with different things like dropping books or introducing a new toy, it can be something simple or something really odd (like a giant piñata!)   The purpose of desensitization is to get your bird use to as many different things as possible as a way to reduce the impact of change so it doesn't caus...