BIRD TRAINING PROPS & TOY

Basketball  $14.95 ea.	Bell Stand $14.95 ea.	Ladder and Wishing Well $14.95 ea.	The Milkman $14.95 ea.
Play Pen  $14.95 ea.	3 Pegs and 3 Rings $14.95 ea.	Single Peg and 2 Rings $9.95 ea.	Scooter $14.95 ea.
Roller Skates $14.95 ea.	Lawn Mower $14.95 ea.	Wagon $14.95 ea.	3 Piece Puzzle $14.95 ea.
MINI TRAINING PROPS (for parrotlets and other small birds)
Mini Basketball Approx. 5" high $14.95 ea.	Mini Bell Stand Approx. 5" high $14.95 ea.	Mini Table Stand Approx. 5" high $14.95 ea.	Mini Peg and Rings $14.95 ea.

All of Angels tricks have been learned using the Clicker Training Method For Birds, with very detailed instructions found on the internet at: www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/9154

When I first began training Angel (Goffin's Cockatoo) ........These are the steps I took.......

Condition her to the Clicker.... I had to find a treat she was really crazy about. She had to learn that the sound of the clicker meant she would get a treat. For her treat it was the oat's'n grouts. This is the way I discovered her favorite.....I put some seeds, some fruit, a couple pieces vegetables etc. in a small dish and watched closely...I did this several times with different choices. Her first choice was the oats'n grouts. So from here on out the only time she gets oats'n grouts is when we are working together. Then I just clicked and gave her a treat...It wasn't long before she realized a click meant a favorite treat. (click and treat = c/t)

Keep in mind that treats and praise are the keys to being successful. When training Angel we whoop and hollered and praised her all the time. She really loves the praises she gets and the scratches plus the treats.

Target Training....Probably the most important trick, because it will be used in all other tricks. I used a long handled wooden spoon. I had the handle in front of the bird and at first just a look in the direction of the spoon earned a click and a treat c/t....After doing this look and treat.... then a touch of the handle earned a c/t. Then I would move the stick around so she had to walk to it in different places. I moved the handle in front of her c/t then to her right side c/t, then to her back c/t, then to the left side c/t. A few times of this and your bird is Going In A Circle. The target training can then progress to a lure to touch any of the props. Then to doing the tricks on or with the props.

The birds learn this very quickly. They will respond to the touch of the stick very fast, allowing you to capture behaviors very quickly. Such as Roll Over....First lift the stick up next to the birds side. As the bird reaches its foot higher for the stick, the bird begins to roll on its side and then on over.

From here we learned to wave....Then high 4 (5)! or shake hands(foot)
See directions on BirdClick at: www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/9154.

I also like to teach birds things that they will use in daily life. Such as Coming To Me on command. This I did by once again using click & treat. Angel was on the floor and I stepped away from her. I showed her what I had in my hand (oats'n'groats of course) and urged her to come to me to get the treats. Did this a number of times with treats and increasing the distance she was coming to me, then a every other time a treat, and then to no treats.... she just came to me on cue.

Climb The Ladder...... First had to get over being afraid of the prop. So just a look at the ladder received a click and a treat. Then I put a treat on the bottom step of the ladder, when she walked towards the ladder a c/t. Placing treats on the second, third steps of the ladder - progressed to the top of the ladder....for which she had to climb if she wanted her treat! our first prop trick under her belt!!!!.

Raising the Pail....First of all I let her see the pail, with a treat inside of it and she took it out and ate it. Then I made sure she saw me put another treat inside the pail and I slowly dropped the pail down to its place against the ladder...while she was looking at the treat in the pail I slowly lifted it up towards her and she got it an ate it...Then I put another treat and in no time at all she learned to pull the pail up to get her treats.(because I was to slow) Sometimes I put 2 or 3 treats in the pail.. and I'm always sure she sees me put the treats in. This kinda lures her into getting the pail up, so she gets her treats.

Riding in Her little Red Wagon...At first she was afraid of it. So I just put the wagon on a little table she could see all the time from her cage. Each day I moved the table closer, and closer to her cage. In just a few days she was ready to find out just what she was to do with this little red wagon! I used the target stick to get her to come close to the wagon, clicking and treating often on her way to the wagon. When she was close enough to touch it, I put a treat on the wagon, so then when she went for the treat, I c/t and she got two treats. To get her to get into the wagon, I put treats inside and when she would get them I c/t. After the first day, I put a treat where she had to climb in to get it . When she did I c/t many times while she was getting in. And of course praised her lot's. She was not real sure if she liked the moving object she was in...So we went real slow, back and forth. In about a week she decided this was pretty cool! We would go around a circle on the table and she laughs as we go around the turns. It's really funny to see her and if we laugh she laughs more.

Ringing The Bell....She did not like this at first either. Again I had it out so she could see it and kept moving it closer to her cage Took about 2 days until she was comfortable with it. Used my target stick for her to come close. When she was close enough to the prop to touch the bell, I touched it with my target stick and rang it. She likes bells and most anything she can make noise with as she would move closer and acted like she would maybe ring the bell c/t. She rang the bell with her beak c/t and praise!!!. To this day Angel rings her bell by touching it with her beak and sometimes with a foot. She never used the string that is attached to this toy, so I removed the string.

Basketball........ First....( Retrieving) I c/t when she would touch the ball, slowly shaping it into bringing and then into picking it up. Then c/t when she dropped it. Next I put my hand so that she likely would drop it in my hand at least some of the time and of course c/t only when it landed in my hand. When Angel was consistently placing the ball in my hand I started moving my hand farther away so she had to walk to me in order to drop the ball in my hand. When this was consistent I rolled the ball across the table. Angel immediately followed the ball, picked it up, brought it back and dropped it in my hand. Angel Loves doing this. This is a little more involved trick to teach because it is a chained trick. 1st..is to just merely touch the ball, then walking with the ball, then putting the ball in my hand, then dunking the ball.....

The next step is trying to get the bird to realize what the basket is for. How I did this is...every time Angel brought the ball to me I would immediately put it through the basket... then I would put my hand under the basket way up high under the basket, when she was doing this I started moving my hand further and further under the basket ball hoop. And Lo and Behold we are playing Basketball!!!!

These are just some ideas to get you started teaching your bird tricks. The main thing to remember is always TREAT and PRAISE LOTS AND LOTS OF PRAISE!!!! There are times I feel like a cheer leader when Angel and I are learning new tricks. It is fun and such a wonderful feeling when we accomplish a trick!!!

If you are having problems go on the internet. To Birdclick geocites.com/Heartland/Acres/9154 They are great about helping you.

Marge - Remember: Supervision Required

We recommended for your training instructions!

NOTICE: It is understood that any information given here is strictly experience tips and not to be considered the only source and procedure for your pets. When ever in doubt about anything pertaining to your pets health see your Avian Veterinarian. Under no circumstances is the Angel's Playland responsible of any adverse occurrences which may happen in raising your pet. (Marge)