How to end a training session gone bad?

wrench13 · May 15, 2016

So Salty's usual training session was proceeding well, in fact better then well. Circles, rolling over, even the colored rings were stepped up a notch. Then we did his harness training. When I gave the Off command, he took a couple of steps back, and got really tangled an he freaked out. I managed to get him free. He was so upset, Salty wanted no part of pine nuts or further training. I put him on my shoulder an we went downstairs to visit my son Erik, to break the mood sort of..

So did I do right? Should we have continued? I've read that you always want to end on a positive note. What do you folks do in the same situation?

chris-md · May 15, 2016

I'll be watching this closely because I'm in the IDENTICAL boat. I've all but given up with the harness because bad tangling is constant every session once I start in on the wings. Once it's gone bad, I've just untangled and ended it. They always say end on a good note but once you get tangled I'm not sure there's coming back from that for the session. Just lick the metaphorical wounds, lots of treats, and move on with your day.

That's what I've done.

BIRDIGIRL · May 16, 2016

I had the same experience with Mr Biggles and we are back to trying to cautiously get him to put his head through the large loop again and I also am thinking of giving up on it because he doesnt enjoy it since the tangling and is really cautious of it but I ended the session with him doing things he enjoyed doing so I would have said you did right to end the session on an up beat...hope Salty isnt as good at remembering the tangling harness as mr Biggles was and that you dont have to go back to square 1with harness training like we had to do.

Christinenc2000 · May 16, 2016

I think you did perfect. I would have done the same thing

wrench13 · May 16, 2016

Thanks guys. Damn and he was doing so well too. He had the OFF command down he just got spooked a bit and then got tangled. I think we will skip harness training tonight.

He is doing REALLY well with the colored rings and putting them onto posts. Sometimes he pulls them off the pile of rings already on the posts, sometimes he will accept a ring from me and put it on the post. His beak dexterity is what we are working on first, and then eventually I will ask him to only put the right color onto the post - so blue rings will only go on the blue post. He knows some of the colors, from when we were working with colored baby keys. Aint none o them African Grays got anything on him!

What do you think would be easier to train him to do, with a small whiffle ball - retrieve it to my hand, or to play soccer with him ( kinda knock it back to me)?

BIRDIGIRL · May 16, 2016

wrench13 said:
Thanks guys. Damn and he was doing so well too. He had the OFF command down he just got spooked a bit and then got tangled. I think we will skip harness training tonight.

He is doing REALLY well with the colored rings and putting them onto posts. Sometimes he pulls them off the pile of rings already on the posts, sometimes he will accept a ring from me and put it on the post. His beak dexterity is what we are working on first, and then eventually I will ask him to only put the right color onto the post - so blue rings will only go on the blue post. He knows some of the colors, from when we were working with colored baby keys. Aint none o them African Grays got anything on him!

What do you think would be easier to train him to do, with a small whiffle ball - retrieve it to my hand, or to play soccer with him ( kinda knock it back to me)?

Im betting that if you train him to retrieve it he will then teach you how to play soccer once he has mastered retreiving it

Way to Go Salty ...you show them how its done ....I have never had an african grey but after meeting and having Mr Biggles (even though hes a smaller Amazon than Salty) I have to agree with you there is nothing like an Amazons intelligence. They are out on their own

How to end a training session gone bad?

wrench13

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chris-md

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BIRDIGIRL

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Christinenc2000

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wrench13

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BIRDIGIRL

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