Animal Behaviorists

[BillsBirds]

Of course, our birds are totally different than dogs & cats. But, I often tell people who want to learn about handling them to watch people like Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer), and Jackson Galaxy (My Cat From Hell). They show you how to deal with animals by learning their natural behavior. And giving guidance, direction, trust, consistency, and respect to the animal. Their procedures may not work with birds, but, the ideas are the same. We are the flock leaders and guardians. And our fids look to us for those same things. When our birds realize that they can trust us, and depend on us, the bond can only grow. It's the same with any animals.

 

[crosue]

great info.. and 'll mention also Mr. Ken Globus (Parrot Whisperer) as an addition to the list. you can watch him at youtube. he haven't have segments like Cesar and Jackson did but he can be of great help if you want to have additional information regarding our feathered friend

 

[weco]

Crosue, Ken Globus passed away in September of 2008.....

 

[MonicaMc]

Many people are against Cesar Millan because he doesn't teach the owners how to deal with the dogs and he forces them into submission... (i.e. how *NOT* to behave) not quite the same as using positive reinforcement and teaching the animal *HOW TO* behave.


I think Victoria Stilwell (It's Me or the Dog) is a better animal trainer than Cesar Millan is.



There are plenty of animal behaviorists and trainers as well! We used to have the "Bird Whisperer" (Ken Globus) which was pretty much like Cesar! Used force/submission to attain the required results....



And then we have trainers like Barbara Heidenreich who use the same techniques as Victoria Stilwell.



Here's a short list of owners and trainers who use positive reinforcement training techniques (ABA Applied Behavior Analysis)

Barbara Heidenreich (Good Bird Inc)
Karen Pryor (Clicker Training)
Melinda Johnson
Steve Martin (Natural Encounters)
Susan Friedman (Behaivor Works)
Jim McKendry (PBEC in Australia)
Lara Joseph (Lara Joseph!!!)
Robin Cherkas (Cage Free Parrot blog)
Jen (Best In Flock Blog)


and there's more!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

This just made me think, slightly off topic but--i used to be obsessed with the tv series "Dog Town" (It was a temporary obsession, but intense. I was home sick and watched every episode in a matter of a few days.) I wish there were a show like that for birds that are considered "lost cause" animals. I would be all over it.

Strange as it may sound, I almost bought an agility course for my chihuahua after watching that show. I taught him to do the jump but nothing else (didn't spend on a course), because he was a more "wild" dog and i thought "let me do like they did on Dog Town and try to focus his energy in a positive way". He actually enjoys it too. I think my Pinto could do the agility stuff fairly well, even though he is so tiny.

 

[Kiwibird]

I have always been one of those people animals (doesn't matter what kind) gravitate to. It's especially annoying with dogs and cats, since I'm quite allergic to them! I do love and respect all animals, though I wouldn't have all types of animals in my care. I think animals read us like a book, and if your fearful, they will take advantage, if you are confident and respectful, they will respect and "listen" to you. Most animals do have some kind of social hierarchy, and seek a leader. They observe your actions, routines and body language and respond accordingly. I remember when we went to meet Kiwi the first time, the lady rehoming him emphasized he didn't like women, and went after him will a huge towel wrapped around her hand to get him out. I put my hand right up to his talons and told him to "step up". He lunged a few times, but when she started shaking (not that he couldve bit through that towel) but i didnt move he got the picture, and got on my hand. He was understandably nervous, so I put him back down quickly, but he gave me that eye of "I don't think I'm in control anymore". There was quite a power struggle when we got him home (he was supposedly never or rarely handled), but he eventually learned who was the dominant members of his flock (my husband and myself). It sounds harsh, but when you have an animal, you have to put yourself in the place of most dominant. Animals have no concept of "equals", their natural social structure just doesn't work that way. You also have to respect and include them. If Kiwi doesn't want to come out of his cage, he doesn't have to (unless it's an emergency or something). If he doesn't want to sit on my leg and would prefer to be on his perch, that's fine. They deserve respect and the ability to have some choices too. He is also included in everything we do. He has no idea what other parrots would be doing in nature, but he knows his "flock" eats together, hangs out together, does "interesting" chores, takes showers ect... and he is included in all of that. Domestic life is what he knows, and he wants to be part of it. I think all those "animal specialists" aren't really that "special", they're just good at getting the message out to people on how to respect and behave around their animal companions. Sadly, more people than not, feel animals are miniature humans and should be treated and behave in much the same way. They aren't, and a lot of problems arise from it.

 

[Jtbirds]

Many people are against Cesar Millan because he doesn't teach the owners how to deal with the dogs and he forces them into submission... (i.e. how *NOT* to behave) not quite the same as using positive reinforcement and teaching the animal *HOW TO* behave.


I think Victoria Stilwell (It's Me or the Dog) is a better animal trainer than Cesar Millan is.



There are plenty of animal behaviorists and trainers as well! We used to have the "Bird Whisperer" (Ken Globus) which was pretty much like Cesar! Used force/submission to attain the required results....



And then we have trainers like Barbara Heidenreich who use the same techniques as Victoria Stilwell.



Here's a short list of owners and trainers who use positive reinforcement training techniques (ABA Applied Behavior Analysis)

Barbara Heidenreich (Good Bird Inc)
Karen Pryor (Clicker Training)
Melinda Johnson
Steve Martin (Natural Encounters)
Susan Friedman (Behaivor Works)
Jim McKendry (PBEC in Australia)
Lara Joseph (Lara Joseph!!!)
Robin Cherkas (Cage Free Parrot blog)
Jen (Best In Flock Blog)


and there's more!

I agree on the submission thing and don't find it suitable, but I don't like any of the people you really mentioned espically the clicker fools. They do it on ether babies or prior trained birds and hardly ever do it on a troubled animal. All of there shows and books are written using examples of there "methods" on already trained or very subsectiable babies. I'd love to see them use the little clicker methods on a facial attacking cockatoo and see how far it got them.

Sorry but this is just my two sense as I don't think they are even close to specialist ether.

 

[crimson]

sorry guys....I am a huge fan of Cesar Millan. I've watched him for years, and applied some of his techniques on all three of my dogs, and they work.
I have 3 challenging dogs, 1 is a GS/Husky cross, the 2nd one is a Boxer mix, and the last one is a dachshund/JR. All headstrong breeds.
they all get along, never ever have fought, sleep together, play together,can share food out of a bowl while I hold it, and are all trained fairly well...all because of the dog whisperer.
I've watched plenty of dog shows, I like Cesar the best.
I also own 4 cats, and believe it or not they are somewhat trained. if they are getting into trouble all I do is snap my fingers and they stop instantly.
I've trained them to ignore my bird cages when they are in my living room, and they stop at my bird room door when it's open, all I did was apply some of Cesars techniques.
If there was no cesar and I preferred some other dog trainer, I would follow their techniques, it just so happens I prefer cesar.

 

[MonicaMc]

I agree on the submission thing and don't find it suitable, but I don't like any of the people you really mentioned espically the clicker fools. They do it on ether babies or prior trained birds and hardly ever do it on a troubled animal. All of there shows and books are written using examples of there "methods" on already trained or very subsectiable babies. I'd love to see them use the little clicker methods on a facial attacking cockatoo and see how far it got them.

Sorry but this is just my two sense as I don't think they are even close to specialist ether.

Have you read anything from Lara Joseph or Barbara Heidenreich? Have you ever been to one of Barbara Heidenreich's seminars? Do you have one of her DVD's???

If you wanted me to mention trainers who work with "already trained" animals, I would have mentioned the Womach Brothers! If you see my list, I did not! In fact, I didn't mention them at all!


Barbara Heidenreich doesn't really use a clicker, but she uses the same principles!
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: A Sun Conure Training Success Story
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: sirocco
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Help! My Parrot Wont Step Up!
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Training a Scared or Aggressive Parrot To Step Up

In 2002 when I first struck out on my own as an animal training consultant I did some work with a parrot sanctuary in Texas. At this facility, the birds were stepped up onto hands wrapped in towels. Often this approach means force is being used to train the parrots to step up. We all really wanted the birds to learn to step onto hands voluntarily. It was my job to train it with positive reinforcement. I had 50 parrots to work with. All either showed fear responses or aggressive behavior towards hands. (Many of these birds can be seen in my first book “Good Bird!” A Guide to Solving Behavior Problems in Companions Parrots”)

The bird is a blue and gold macaw belonging to a friend. I had never really interacted with him much before we filmed and by no means was he already trained. We filmed over a weekend. It took two twenty minute sessions to go from lunging to "can't wait to get on your hand!"

Or the work Lara Joseph has done....
Behavior Trained Through Consistency?A Win/Win Outcome for All | Lara Joseph

I had recently posted on my Lara Joseph; Avian Behavior, Training, & Enrichment Facebook page a photo of Rocky, my almost 13 year old moluccan cockatoo on my shoulder. What is the big deal about this photo? The fact that Rocky is on my shoulder. Rocky is a re-home that came into my life almost five years ago. He came to me from a shelter with a plethora of behavior issues and was highly suggested to me that he be euthanized for his level and intensity of behavior issues. Five years ago when I began interacting with him I was not able to get him out of his cage without a bite or obvious signs of aggression. Through consistent training and use of applied behavior analysis and positive reinforcement training over the past five years, Rocky is many things including one of the most well-behaved birds in my house and has just, for the first time ever, perched on my shoulder.

Or Steve Martin...
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO “HMMM”

Biting

Many people feel that being bitten is all part of having a parrot as a pet. My philosophy is that you should never get bit. If you get bit you are doing something wrong. I work with hundreds of parrots each year, and probably get bit only once a year. I have 18 trainers on staff and each of them work with hundreds of parrots each year and almost never get bit. The reason we don’t get bit is that we have adopted the policy of “All Positive and No Negative.” We never make a bird do anything it doesn’t want to do. We never force a bird, or try to dominate a bird, in any way.

Biting is not natural for parrots. They bite when they have exhausted all other attempts at communicating their discomfort. Birds do not bite in the wild. They exhibit a myriad of displays that express their emotions but only in rare cases of territorial aggression do they actually fight to the point of drawing blood like they do in captivity. Parrots will argue over perches, food, and other objects, but almost never do these arguments escalate even to the point of physical contact.

In captivity, however, we have created an unnatural environment that forces birds to do unnatural things, like bite. Most importantly we have taken away their opportunity to flee. In the wild a parrot would simply fly away from a bird, or other creature, that it was not comfortable with. We put birds in small confinements where they are forced to accept other creatures and humans. Too often we humans push our birds to the point that they bite out of defense.

Hmmm..... indeed!



Please do not discredit them so!

 

[crosue]

THANKS FOR THIS FORUM :')) great that i've joined, have learned so much information.. im gonna read all of the blogs, magazines, and watch youtube of te above names..thank you

 

[Jtbirds]

well i have books, dvds, and seminar write ups from all mentioned and i still do not approve of sorry... the philosphy of never getting bit is wrong, parrots have the natural instinct to bite when threatened so that is proven wrong right off the bat. He states that they do not bite in the wild when truely it is an instinct from them as a last resort so it is something that could happen in the wild... Yes we have made this instinct surface more as humans, but that is apparently our job to ruin most things.

As for josephs i commend her the most out of your list, she is better then most at how she comes across with her methods. Although having a m2 on your shoulder is probably not a good idea and im sure she knows this. So i am accepting of her, but to the final barbara i find her to be abursd. She contradicts herself a lot in most of her books and obviously plays on her words. And for the blue and gold... macaws lunge to do it not because they always want to bite so her "success" was nothing more then playing the macaws game and eventually making it proven she didnt care about his game..

These are my thoughts and i will always stick to them i dont believe these high paid professionals do it for the animals as much as they do it for the money. As for the brothers no body should like them, they are a joke as well

 

[noblemacaw]

I have met and seen Steve Martin speak quite a few times at our local bird club meeting. He use to work for the MN Zoo so the club use to have good access to him back then.

I like him. He use to make me laugh during his talks and told wonderful stories of helping the animals train through positive reinforcement. Back then I didn't know what positive reinforcement was but growing up I always used kindness instead of brute force, hitting or punishment to get the animal to do what I want. I have tamed both my sister's parakeets, use to hand feed and pet wild birds like sparrows, robins, cardinals, what ever was out there for me to feed and when I was 8 years old I had a special relationship with my fathers black lab. This dog was not a family pet at all but a expensive hunting dog my father and uncle trained for field work. My dad's dog was my best friend back then but it was after getting caught sneaking him into the house so he could join me when I played with my dolls I was cut off from interacting with him.

I was very happy to learn what I naturally was doing with my animals had a name...positive reinforcement. I have learned over the years you can get any animal to do what you want by the simple act of kindness.

 

[MarciaLove]

also Pat Parelli and Leslie Desmond (natural horse trainers) I don't agree with all parelli methods but most are really good!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I Like Sally Blanchard the best so far . I like reading her ,her approach and am amazed by all her experiences [hard to out do her ] . She not repetative, Id love to see her I dont know if she still does things.