A Happy Healthy Parrotin an ever-changing life

How high does your relationship fly?

Trust = Communication (and communication is training)

• And you think parrots have an attitude…

Why are Parrots Given Up?

• Inability to Encourage and Maintain Good Behavior

• Life changes

Change- The American Way

MORE JOB CHANGES

Before 1960 most people had 3 to 4 jobs in their lifetime

Today the average baby boomer held 10.5 jobs from the age of 18-40

Change- The American Way

More Changes in Family Arrangement

• Marriage rate has fallen 30% since 1970

• Divorce Rate has increase 40%

Another Reason They are Given Up?

Parrots Aren’t Domestic

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Reasons to have a well-behaved Parrot

• Your parrot

• Your roommates

• Your neighbors

• Your heirs

• Your parrot’s unforeseen future

What We Need to Succeed

An Understanding of Natural History

An understanding of Body Language

A relationship based on Positive Reinforcement

BODY LANGUAGE

• Eyes (shape)

• Pupils (pinning?)

• Wing Positioning (tight to body - flapping)

• Body Feathers (slick, puffed)

• Head (lowered or upright)

• Position (at the front of the cage or cowering in the back?)

Training isn’t “Making”

Training is asking, encouraging, communicating.

Why Train Your Parrots?

• Training is the best way to have a two-way conversation with your parrot.

Training is the best way to avoid and manage

problem behavior.

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FIGHTING COCKATOO

Aggression

It’s not cute!

Some Helpful Behaviors

• Target Training

• Stepping up

• Crate Training

• Bathing

• Nail clipping

• Toweling

The Five Worst Things to Teach Your Parrot…

• Cursing

• Screaming

• Biting

• Aggression

• Fear of Change

The Secret?The secret to a parrot that can weather life’s changes is the parrot’s owner and

their willingness to

learn, apply, commit.