Harness Training

I recently got an Aviator flight harness for my amazon, Paco, so we could have a really fun 5th summer together. I got him used to it being near him and now I can usually get it on him if he is in the right mood. The first time I got it on was a disaster! He was panicking and when I took it off him he was panting, which scared me. But the second time he wasn't as upset about it. It was easier to get it on him. He was picking on it a lot so I kept distracting him by making him flap or giving him a toy to chew on. He chews very hard on the front neck piece and I'm afraid he will break it. I did notice that he didn't pick on it at all while we were outside. Maybe the change of scenery distracts him enough not to chew on it. He really does like being outside and in public with other people. I used to take him all the time but ever since he flew up into a tree I stopped taking him out. If I can get him to stop worrying about the harness touching him then he can start going out and enjoying the fresh air and have a more interesting life. I was thinking that maybe if I'm just persistent with putting it on him he will accept it. Any advice would be appreciated.

Don't force it on him, but if he likes the outside I recommend that when you do get it on, take him outside RIGHT AWAY and STAY out there until you are ready to take it off. That is what I did with Flick - her main reward is a walk Have you watched the DVD that comes with it? It is really important to watch.

I find that birds that aren't used to be "confined" by hands or the like are more likely to freak out. Training him to let you touch him with it and hold it against him is a really good idea too if he's still unsure of it, but if he ignores it when you're outside I would simply put it on, take him outside, and give him lots of wonderful praise and yummy treats, too!

Agreed! One thing I forgot to mention, it isn't a big deal if he chews on it. I let Flick chew it, and it seems to have turned into just something amusing for her when she is bored. To keep it from happening, I attach a short elastic string to my shirt with either beads or a treat or something. That way when she is on my shoulder, if she gets bored, she can play with the toy instead of the harness.

Those harnesses are made of a pretty durable material, definitely not something he could just snap off while outdoors. A harness isn't a very natural feeling for any parrot, and amazons especially are not fond of restrictive things (BTW, congrats on training Paco to wear it! That's awesome! I don't think I could ever get Kiwi in one). I would make sure he is rewarded and praised as soon as you put it on, and since the weather is warm right now, make sure he gets to go outside (even if briefly) every time the harness goes on so he makes the association. Just keep working to form a positive association with it (he gets a treat, he gets praised, and best of all, he gets to go outside!) and he will soon forget all about having to wear it and will be more excited about getting to go out (after all, harness time is go out time). It's kind of like how some dogs are unhappy about a leash until they learn the leash coming out means they get to go for a walk.

Kiwi was really afraid of moving around in his bird backpack when I first got it since it was something he had never experienced before. I worked everyday with him getting him used to it and rewarding/praising him the longer he stayed in without getting frantic. It took a few weeks for him to learn how to balance while moving and that the carrier was a fun thing, but now he goes in there all by himself like "are you ready to take me out now mommy". Sounds like Paco is still unsure the harness is a good thing and I'm sure with some more time and patience, he will quickly learn it's a very very fun thing