Can training be forgotten?

Crayfish066 · Apr 17, 2018

My IRN seems less willing to step up lately and can even show aggression
when I attempt to get him to do so sometimes. Is it possible he could have
forgotten his training?

He's temporarily been getting less out of cage time than he's used to due
to a change in circumstances, could this have made him forget his training?

My family try and get him to step up too but the movements they make are
too fast so he usually flies away from them, is it possible this could have
contributed to his reluctance to step up for me sometimes?

wrench13 · Apr 17, 2018

Daily interaction with an IRN is important, as IRNs readily become "un-tame" if not handled. Maybe more than any other parrot, from what I've read. The fact that he has been in his cage longer than usual points to this.

WilliamKenyon · Apr 17, 2018

wrench13 said:
Daily interaction with an IRN is important, as IRNs readily become "un-tame" if not handled. Maybe more than any other parrot, from what I've read. The fact that he has been in his cage longer than usual points to this.

I second that!

LordTriggs · Apr 17, 2018

Second what Wrench says also the fact your family scares him will compound the forgetting of his training. He will and is losing trust because he doesn't know if someone will be gentle with him or will just throw their finger at him.

sounds like time with him should be stepped up and that your family need some calm lessons on how to interact with him as they are far from helping

Crayfish066 · Apr 17, 2018

Do you ever reach a point where the training becomes permanent?

It's pretty disheartening to think that we could lose a ton of progress
whenever events out of my control prevent me from handling him as much.

If I'd owned my IRN for years could he still forget everything I'd taught him
if I was unable to handle him as frequently for a while? Or do you reach a point
where the training become ingrained in them?

MonicaMc · Apr 17, 2018

If you got a new job that paid well, then all of a sudden that job started paying less or paying less frequently and when they did pay, it wasn't all that great, would you continue working hard for that little amount of money?

Think of training like that. Why should be continue to do a behavior when there is less and less of a reward in it for him? Add in scary people who make him not want to do the behavior....

Once a parrot knows a behavior, they can usually pick it up easier than the first time, but it still requires retraining the behavior and reinforcing the desired behavior.

Training can become "ingrained" as long as the reward is kept up for it.

GaleriaGila · Apr 17, 2018

Great advice and support above!
I like to remember that some parrots are only a few generations out of The Wilds (my bird's parents were wild-caught) and those wild genes are seemingly always at the ready to take over, unlike, say dogs, who have been selectively/captively bred (for tameness and sociability) for so very many generations.
Good for you for caring, and reaching out.

wrench13 · Apr 17, 2018

All parrots need frequent one on one, positive one on one, to remain tame. They are for all intents and purposes Wild Animals that we have invited into our homes. Nature over Nurture. Train your family to interact better, it will be good all around, they will enjoy being a part of his life and he will know he is a part of a bigger flock.

LordTriggs · Apr 18, 2018

not just parrots lose that interest, any animal given enough time can forget commands or if a more interesting thing is going on. My mum nearly lost her Westie the other week because he saw a deer and all other noises and sights were gone from his mind. Thankfully the Shepherd is good at herding him back

Can training be forgotten?

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