Parrot Tricks: Teaching Parrots with Positive Reinforcement

226 Pages·2006·4.14 MB·English

by  Tani Robar

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Parrot Tricks
Teaching Parrots with
Positive Reinforcement
Tani Robar and Diane Grindol
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Parrot Tricks
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Parrot Tricks
Teaching Parrots with
Positive Reinforcement
Tani Robar and Diane Grindol
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Robar, Tani.
Parrot tricks / Tani Robar and Diane Grindol.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-8461-9 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-7645-8461-8 (alk. paper)
1. Parrots—Training. I. Grindol, Diane. II. Title.
SF473.P3R55 2006
636.6’86535—dc22 2005024915
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book design by Marie Kristine Parial-Leonardo
Cover design by Michael Rutkowski
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
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Contents
Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
1 The Advantages of Trick Training Your Parrot 4
Benefits to You 4
Benefits to Your Bird 5
Socialization 6
Making Life Easier 6
A New Experience for You 6
Bird Ambassadorship: Getting
Out with Your Parrot 8
Keep Your Expectations in Check 8
2 Preparations for Training 10
Early-Bird Training 10
Tameness Scale 12
Any Age Bird Can Be Trained 13
The Training Area 14
Training Rewards for Your Bird 15
Food as a Training Tool 16
Training Sessions 16
How Many Trainers? 18
Trimming Wing Feathers 19
The T-Stand 20
v
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vi Contents
3 Training Basics 22
Targeting 22
Shaping a Behavior 23
Physical Assistance (Molding) 24
Luring 24
Capturing a Behavior 25
Clicker Training 25
Operant Conditioning 29
Partial Extinction 29
Cues: Verbal and Physical 30
Generalizing 31
4 Necessary Obedience Skills (Husbandry Behaviors) 32
Step Up 33
Come and Perch 35
Stay 36
Go to Your Cage 37
Potty Training 38
Nail Trimming 40
Wing Trimming 43
Getting into a Carrier 44
Toweling 44
Moving from Place to Place 45
5 Tricks That Don’t Require Props 48
First Training Lessons 48
The Turn Around 50
The Wave 52
Shake Hands 54
Review of First Training Session 56
High Five 56
The Kiss 56
Nod Head Yes 58
Shake Head No 58
Take a Bow 59
Big Eagle 60
Flap Wings 61
6 Teaching the Basic Retrieve Command 63
First Retrieve Lessons 63
Bring It to Me 64
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Contents vii
Planning Ahead for Other Tricks 66
Moving the Object Around 66
Card Tricks 67
7 Simple Tricks Based on the Retrieve 70
Basketball 71
Wastepaper into a Wastepaper Basket 73
Recycling 74
Ring on the Peg 75
Rings on the Peg by Color 76
Rings on the Peg by Size 78
Ring on Your Finger 79
Lei on a Doll 80
Stacking Cups 81
Coins in a Bank 82
Letter in a Mailbox 85
Puzzle Board—Learning Shapes 86
The Shell Game 88
Ringing a Hanging Bell 90
Retrieving a Dumbbell 91
Retrieving a Dumbell Over a Hurdle 92
Lifting a Barbell 93
8 Advanced Tricks Based on the Retrieve 95
Pulling a Pull Toy 95
Pulling a Wagon 96
Variations of Pulling a Wagon 98
Pushing a Grocery Cart 98
Pushing a Baby Carriage 100
Pushing a Ball 101
Bowling 102
Soccer 104
Rolling Out a Carpet 106
Raising a Flag 107
Carrying a Banner or a Rod 108
Changing a Marquee 110
Displaying a Sign 111
Putting a Hat on a Rack 112
Opening a Mailbox 113
Riding a Scooter 116
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viii Contents
Riding a Skateboard 118
Turning a Crank 121
9 Miscellaneous Tricks 123
Playing Dead 123
Rolling Over 126
Somersault 127
Headstand on Table 129
Headstand on Hand 129
Climbing a Ladder 130
Climbing a Rope or a Pole 131
Sliding Down a Pole 132
Climbing Rings 133
Hauling Up a Bucket 133
Jumping Through a Hoop 136
Ringing a Service Bell 138
Skating 139
Riding a Bicycle 141
10 Innovative Tricks 143
Hopping 143
Scratching Head 145
Placing Object Under Wing 145
Putting Foot to Beak 146
Dancing, Bobbing, and Weaving 146
Stretching 147
Nodding Head Yes 147
Shaking Head No 147
Raising the Ruff or Neck Feathers 148
11 Chaining Tricks 149
Putting It All Together 149
Still More . . . 152
Final Touches 153
Chains of Tricks 154
12 Verbalizations and Talking 164
You Are Already Training Your Parrot 165
Training Your Parrot to Talk 165
Once More, with Meaning 167
Talking Back 167