Flight Harness Frustrations!

katie_fleming

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Oct 30, 2012
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Jasper (6yr old Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot)
I'm here again haha.

So some of you might remember I had completely harness trained Jasper on two occasions then he started molting so I stopped, and then went away for a week and stopped, and haven't had any luck since.

I honestly am at a loss what to try next.

He always lets me put the loop around his head no problem, but now that's where we're stuck. He instantly wants it off when he gets his treat so I've tried a few things.

1. I count out loud to 10 and then give him a treat. He waits most of the time.

2. I don't give him a treat, and proceed to open his wing but not try to put the loop around it. If he lets me hold open his wing for a bit then he gets the treat.

Immediately he wants it off.

I would love to be able to bring him outside without his birdie bag this year, but I don't know how else I can attempt this, especially when we were successful before (but never outside b/c of the weather, he doesn't know what he's missing!!!)

Especially because I decided to let all of his flight feathers grow in, don't ever want to take that risk.

Any help would be great....it's such a frustrating process :(:(:(

It used to be this easy:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQWiaxyNa2Y&t=6s"]Jasper Eclectus Parrot Flight Harness Complete - YouTube[/ame]
 

Anansi

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It really is a frustrating process for some birds. I'm having the same problem with Jolly that you are having with Jasper. He allows the loop over his head, but immediately wants his head out once he gets his treat.

Maya, on the other hand, was much better about it. Just a matter of different personalities. My family finds it hilarious that the bird who refuses to fly is the one who lets me put on the harness, while the bird who lives to fly is the one who refuses the harness. I tend not to find it quite so amusing. Sigh...

Truth to tell, in my case at least, I think I just need to be far more consistent with his harness training. Tendency is, Jolly gets difficult enough with the process that I wind up taking a break of a few days before the next attempt. If the same thing is happening on your end, I'd venture to say that is likely a big part of our issue. Consistency is key.

There will be setbacks and such, but if we can get them used to the process they'll eventually allow us to do more. (Or that's the plan, at least. Lol!)
 

coopedup

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7y/o eclectus Wrangler
I feel your frustrations!!! Im laughing here because I remember Katies video from last year and I know there is absolutely no way that Wrangler will ever get to that point of calm acceptance, it's just not his style. Ok, well maybe in a few years, but as Katie comments, she wants him outside sooner rather than later. I have until the current wing clip molts out to get him trained...but in reality, the hawks are ever present so its essential, even now.

I know my strategy of wrestling him into it isnt exactly orthodox, but if I thought for a minute I was traumatizing him I wouldnt do it. He allows the head loop on (which i know now is wayyyy too small based on Jaspers vid) and usually gets the wings in by himself while he's fussing. The hard part is cinching since he's got my finger in his beak and his foot grasping the harness. Maybe because he's a rescue and he is so appreciative of his new life and freedoms...but he actually lets me do this. He could bite me rather than hold my finger...but he doesnt. For me, the key is that he knows when we take the dog out and leave him, he hates being left behind. We can hear him calling out his fire alarm signal all the way down the street. I take him out---either outside, or on a car ride, immediately after getting the harness on so that he has that association. I doubt he'd tolerate the "practice" that you do with Jasper. We've only done it a handful of times, but he is already much better about it. I think i will wait until I have a larger harness before i try again so that he has less to object to.

Stephen, you have my utmost admiration for your training skills with Maya and Jolly...recall is next on my list and i'll be watching your vids over and over. Wrangler is a different bird in the last two months--it's been very gratifying to watch him learn to play and forage and explore with confidence. He picked up potty training very quickly and always wants to be with me--so Im hoping to leverage that when we start recall training. Ive already caught him coming to find me a few times--waddling on the floor.
 

davefv92c

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yea I sorta gave up I want to get them outside with me but I'm afraid
it will be in some sort of cage. I am disabled and I have a scooter I'm thinking of putting a cage on it and taking them riding around the park this summer.
 

chris-md

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Ugh, this spot. I feel your frustration and share it. This is why I basically gave up and got the pak o bird, I can't get past the head loop stage. I wish I had help for you, but want to wish you best of luck!
 

camo

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I had given up with the harness, but the other day, I tried it, and Gizmo and Pebbles allowed me to put the harness on without any fussing, it was so easy. Then I woke up from my dream:D.

No, like everyone else, I have had some initial success, but ended up at essentially the same point. I think I could probably get further with Pebbles if I pushed through, but I stopped, deciding they need to generally get used to me touching them more.

I plan to start trying again after they finish going through the molt they are both going through at the moment. I can't be of any help I am afraid, it looks like you got a lot further than I ever did.
 
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wrench13

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Kate you must be really frustrated, since Jasper had this down previously. Salty never got it all the way on, but he did get the head stall on. We were working on the wings, when he decided one night that the whole harness thing was a no go, to the point of taking the harness and repeatedly throwing it off our training table. Again and again. Now he will not put his head thru the headstall at all. So... we are giving it a rest, for awhile. Until late spring, when I can take him outside if we ever manage to get the harness on. I figure - what is the up side for Salty , if he never gets to put 2 and 2 together, ie harness means going outside ( an lots of treats while doing it). BTW we had been working on the harness every every night , for almost a full YEAR. Might even be more then a year. But I am not going anywhere. He is not going anywhere. And my wife's biggest insult when we quarrel is that I am as stubborn as a rock. I think Jasper will let you get it on him, he knows the drill already. Chin up! Stiff upper lip!
 

Eve2

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Kate you must be really frustrated, since Jasper had this down previously. Salty never got it all the way on, but he did get the head stall on. We were working on the wings, when he decided one night that the whole harness thing was a no go, to the point of taking the harness and repeatedly throwing it off our training table. Again and again. Now he will not put his head thru the headstall at all. So... we are giving it a rest, for awhile. Until late spring, when I can take him outside if we ever manage to get the harness on. I figure - what is the up side for Salty , if he never gets to put 2 and 2 together, ie harness means going outside ( an lots of treats while doing it). BTW we had been working on the harness every every night , for almost a full YEAR. Might even be more then a year. But I am not going anywhere. He is not going anywhere. And my wife's biggest insult when we quarrel is that I am as stubborn as a rock. I think Jasper will let you get it on him, he knows the drill already. Chin up! Stiff upper lip!

your post made me laugh, our birds can be stubborn too. I know that my macaw Tina was harness trained by her first owner. I'm her third owner, I don't know why because she is a real sweetheart. At the same time I'm so happy to have her, I don't know why she was given up but she has never been mistreated. Anyway getting a harness on her now is impossible! I'll keep trying though.
 

wrench13

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I am just going to start from scratch come Spring time. As I said, stubborn as a rock. And if he dont get it this Spring, then next Spring. Or the one after.
 

Dinosrawr

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I wonder if instead of giving just the one treat, you give a "jackpot" style treat and continue working the harness over the wings with one hand? I know it sounds a bit difficult, and maybe the jackpot delivery could be done with a bowl vs. your hand. But it could keep him busy trying to gobble up all the yummies and allow you to continue working with the harness over his body.
 

Anansi

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I wonder if instead of giving just the one treat, you give a "jackpot" style treat and continue working the harness over the wings with one hand? I know it sounds a bit difficult, and maybe the jackpot delivery could be done with a bowl vs. your hand. But it could keep him busy trying to gobble up all the yummies and allow you to continue working with the harness over his body.

I do a variation of this with Maya whenever I want to take her harness off. I have to keep her mouth full, or she'll keep trying to climb onto whichever hand is attempting to take the harness off. So I keep the treats coming. Definitely works.
 
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katie_fleming

katie_fleming

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Jasper (6yr old Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot)
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Yes, Jasper will get little treats as we progress from stage-to-stage, and he ALWAYS would get a whole almond when it was on completely. He never gets those unless he's completed whatever it is I'm teaching him to do so he knows that's the whopper of all treats lol.

I think this is a terrible idea but I was thinking, what if I bring a perch out into the hallway of my apartment building (where he's timid anyway), put him on it, and put the harness on him while he's scared? He'd be less likely to fight it maybe....but then it's not a positive experience for him.....hmm....

Why can't they be like dogs and just stick a collar around them?!?!
 

Anansi

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Hahaha! Nah, I wouldn't do that. Even if it worked, it would only be a short term fix. And yeah, I definitely wish they were more like dogs in that one respect. Harness on, bang! End of story. But alas...
 

Kalel

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Sigh...I have been harness training since about March of 2015, I believe. I too can only get to the head in the loop stage for about 5 seconds then treat and off! Or if the treat comes too late, then off and heck with the treat:( It's so frustrating, but I admit that like many of you I have eased off on the training sometimes for days, weeks, or months at a time. I have also considered giving a bath, taking Moonie into a dimly lit room, and just shoving it on and taking him outside. I know someone who did that and it worked for them apparently. I, however, am worried that will traumatize him. It's too bad, because I think it would be so cool and would allow such quality time and good socialization if one were able to take their bird out anywhere with them.
 
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katie_fleming

katie_fleming

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Jasper (6yr old Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot)
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PROGRESS.

The last 3 nights Jasper has decided he's ok with one loop being around a wing again. 2/3 success once again.....going to keep this up.

He got a whole almond and looked quite proud.

I did nothing different than before, this was just him deciding it was ok.

LOL
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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C'mon Jasper...it's not gonna kill you..sheesh! :rolleyes:

Keep at it Katie..the 'ol boy will cave sooner or later..preferably SOONER lol.




Jim
 

wrench13

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And then sometimes they surprise you. Salty put his harness on in the middle of a training session. I was taking a wild shot that he might do it, and he did. Of course he was showered with praise and treats.

And the next nights training session - forget about it. He wouldn't even look at it.
 

coopedup

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Ok...so we've been on three fairly long walks in the last 2 weeks with the harness on. I can get the head loop on almost no fuss, and the wings follow....takes about 10 seconds or less. Tightening is another issue. I have to put him on his back (yeah, im totally surprised he lets me do this!!!) but he grabs it with his feet, or my finger...so that part takes much longer. I get grumps and growls for about the first 10-15 minutes of the walk, but he settles down and enjoys the sights---and a lot of slivered almonds to let him know how good he is. I also tell him "you're fine"...and blow on him a bit, this is what i used to do when i first got him so he associates with security and calming. I point out the crows, and the planes, and other things he's looking at---lots of good boy praises. I also leave the harness out on the table, he's picked it up a few times but largely ignores it. I will probably do the "mom says you're wearing it" routine a few more times and then switch it up to "ok, you dont want to wear it, you dont get to go out" and leave with the dog. Hate to deprive him, but he's a quick learner and ive been showing him that the dog wears one, so he has to too. Just giving input on my tactics for those that may wonder what other options possibly could work. I do put a lot of this down to him being a rescue and understanding exactly how much his life has changed for the better in the last 9 months. I think I could do just about anything and not lose his trust (not that i want to find out!). 2 hours after the walk and he's perched on my shoulder, grinding his beak and about to go to sleep.
 

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