Need help with training my Galah

Beckyymayy

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Nov 30, 2013
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Sydney Australia
Parrots
Galah - Nigel
So I've decided to start training Nigel. Yesterday I got a clicker and would click it and give him a reward so he knew the noise. He already knows how to step up and down on demand.
Today I had him on my bed to try and get him to turn around with a sunflower seed. I was trying to be patient but he didn't want anything to do with it. He just kept running up my arm to sit on my shoulder, i would put him down and he would do it again.
After a number of tries I gave up. Any ideas on how to start off teaching my Galah little tricks ???? :confused:
 

tab_xo

Active member
Aug 9, 2012
3,288
1
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
Fargo- Blue and Gold Macaw
Hmmm!

One thing I could suggest is trying a different treat?

Fargo wouldn't do tricks for a sunflower seed or most nuts... It was only pecans that he would get very very excited about training and want to completely focus..

I would try sessions without pecans and it wasn't the same :)



Could you also try making a little training perch?

I think it makes it easier if they have a specific spot for training.. I used one perch for all of Fargo's training to start with, and then it was easier to do things in other places.. But for starting out.. That training perch was for training..

Rather than trying on the bed, or chair, which they already think is their cuddly play area..
So he would stand in front of me.. I would have his treats, and we would start! :)
 
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Beckyymayy

Beckyymayy

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Nov 30, 2013
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Sydney Australia
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Galah - Nigel
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Thank you for the advice. I will try a different treat.
My brother is going to make a stand tomorrow and I will just use that for the training so hopefully that makes a difference and he stays focused.
Also what tricks do you think I should start off with?


Thanks again
 

tab_xo

Active member
Aug 9, 2012
3,288
1
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
Fargo- Blue and Gold Macaw
That's ok! :)

Some people also try a completely different room to get them to focus on specifically you, however that doesn't work for alot of birds.. Fargo would just get distracted :p



Ummm! Let's see haha..

In order we did-

Turn around
Shake
High 5
Wave
Hello on command- Kiss on command
Going through a tunnel
Going down a slide
Nod yes
Bow
Stick em up (Raise his wings)
Flipping over my hand
Falling back and playing dead

and then we did more difficult ones
Rolling over
Somersaulting!

Sticking his tongue out :p

and then we started with a ball-
Fetch
Collect
Bowling

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y7hr3ZQojc&feature=youtu.be]Fargo the blue and gold macaw incredibly smart bird tricks - YouTube[/ame]




Each bird likes different tricks first though..

Some catch onto ball tricks easily and props, like going through tunnels and such :)
 
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Beckyymayy

Beckyymayy

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Nov 30, 2013
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Sydney Australia
Parrots
Galah - Nigel
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Wow Frango is very talented ! I'll keep trying to get him to turn around for a while and then I might change to something else hopefully he starts paying attention to me.
His my first parrot so I'm just worried that if I do something wrong he will learn the wrong thing haha.
 

Jayyj

New member
Apr 28, 2013
735
2
UK
Parrots
Alice - Galah cockatoo
Are you using a target? I know some people don't but it worked great with me - as soon as she sees the target stick come out she knows the session is due to start, and it makes directing her a lot easier. Alice is a very reluctant pupil, and any new trick is an uphill struggle, but we managed to get turn around down really well using a target stick, which I've now faded to a command and a hand gesture.
 

getwozzy

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Feb 26, 2013
7,218
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Oregon
Today I had him on my bed to try and get him to turn around with a sunflower seed. I was trying to be patient but he didn't want anything to do with it. He just kept running up my arm to sit on my shoulder, i would put him down and he would do it again.


It sounds like Nigel was actually afraid of something in the vicinity... "Retreating" to a higher/safe place (your shoulder) means there could have been something nearby that was distracting him and making him afraid... Just my 0.02...

I would try it again in a different location, or try and pinpoint what was making him fearful.
 
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Beckyymayy

Beckyymayy

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Nov 30, 2013
72
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Sydney Australia
Parrots
Galah - Nigel
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I tried target training today on a new stand in my parents room because this is the only room that was quite. It went really well every time he touched the end of the stick I would click and then reward him. I had him moving from one end of the stand to the other using the stick. Tomorrow I'm going to see if I can start getting him to turn :) thanks for all your people guys !
 

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