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When training you parrot, the "Up" command is the very first behavior you should train your bird. Whether you have a tame parrot that is just weaned or have an older, untamed parrot, the process is still important. It's a question of good manners to teach this parrot training method! Training your bird behaviors is faster and easier when working with a hand-fed, young parrot rather than one that is not tame. You might find that it works best to use an untreated wooden dowel or an extra perch you have on hand. Just be sure the perch or stick is fairly long if training your parrot who is not tamed. This way, training your parrot can begin by asking the bird to step on a stick rather than your hand or arm. I suggest training your bird outside his or her cage. Sometimes that is impossible and in those cases, you can train your parrot inside its cage. It helps if the cage has a big door so you can move the dowel inside the cage easily. Of course, you should choose a dowel or perch sized properly for the species of parrot you're teaching. In the first parrot training session, place the perch just above the parrot's feet and just below its breast while saying "Up" clearly. There is no need to be loud or sharp, just say "Up". Move the perch slightly toward the parrot so that it will naturally step onto the perch. Training your parrot means that each time it steps up on command, you should offer a reward. Tell your parrot what a great bird it is and offer a treat during early parrot training sessions. Do these steps for 10 minutes per session. I find that training your parrot in two sessions per day works best. If you can't train but one time daily, don't use longer sessions; 10 minutes is sufficient. Training your bird requires consistency in order to be successful. Once your bird has performed the Up command, do not allow it to refuse to respond on cue, yet do not punish it. Simply push the perch toward it a bit more. Your parrot must understand something is expected when you ask it to step up. When training your parrot let your bird know that you will provide treats, love and attention when the bird steps up. Each time the parrot does the behavior, let it know you are pleased. Treats can be used, but never rely entirely on treats; praise is the greatest reward, especially for tame parrots. As your bird gets comfortable stepping on the perch, you can slowly shorten the distance from your hand to the parrot. When training untamed parrots, do not shorten the perch more than one each week or you could stress the parrot, causing loss of trust. Progress slowly but surely toward your parrot training goals. Soon, a day will arrive that you notice the distance from your hand to the bird on the perch is small. After your parrot becomes really comfortable with your hand that nearby, begin the final parrot training step - offer your hand or forearm (depending on the parrot's size) instead of the perch. Ask the parrot, by saying the UP command, to step directly onto your arm or hand. How long training your parrot this behavior requires depends on you, your consistency and your parrot. If the parrot has been stressed or made afraid through abuse or trauma, it can take a long time. If your parrot is simply unfamiliar with you, you must prove to it that you won't hurt it and the process can occur quite quickly. When training your bird that was hand-fed, you can reasonably expect the parrot training process to progress quickly. Not long ago, I brought home a baby budgie, just weaned, but not hand-fed. Within one week, he was happily performing the "up" behavior on command whenever I asked him to step up. You can learn a lot about your bird's level of trust by watching the bird's body language training your bird includes learning to read its communications about comfort levels shown via posture, stance, and other body language elements. Parrot training is much easier if you pay attention to these clues.
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Nora Caterino can easily teach you training your parrot while gaining your parrot's trust. Now you can "spy" on her parrot training videos and audios online. This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.
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