Clicker training is the best way to teach your bird to behave!especially if you have a problem, you will be surprised at how effective clicker training is. We have a book available - "the click that does the trick" - which is really a must as well as "the problem parrot guide" which should be owned by any serious hand raised bird owner.

Clicker training is based on getting an animal to perform a task without force. The results are quite impressive and fast. Most animals are trained professionally by this method.

First, buy a clicker.... we have them available on this website. It also helps to have a bird to try it on!

Second, you need a target. A chopstick or plastic knitting needle with the end blunted would be fine. We sell a suitable stick on the site.

Third, you need the bird's favourite food. Spend a while finding it - chocolate isnt generally recommended but dog carob training chocolate drops are a sure starter. You will need to work out it's favourite food if you don't already know it. It will begin sessions anticipating this treat, but eventually training sessions will probably become plain old fun that just happens to include a favorite treat! They need to be one bite sized morsels and dehulled if theyre a seed.

Training should be done on a perch or a table not associated with the birds cage.

Start with two to five minutes per session unless both parties are just having too much fun to quit.End with an easy trick that you can reward for to finish well.

The first thing to get sorted is Grab.Slowly move your target towards the bird. If he moves for it, bites it or goes for it in any way, click and then feed him a morsel. Click for ANY movement toward the stick if there's no interest or fear.

Step up is easy - say "step up" and press the stick into his body gently, just above his legs. When he steps, make a click and give him a morsel.

Practise makes perfect, ten times repetition is about good for starting out. Go easy on early sessions, trying to get the bird to maybe touch the stick only on the first time. Step up may take 3-4 sessions. Make sure its in a reasonably quiet area that doesnt have too many distractions.

Once your bird is touching the stick without biting or running away, move it so that he has to go get it. You should then be able to get him to chase it!

The training is fun to this extent, but now you can start training the bird to do tricks . The key is breaking things down into actions and building one on another, and stop click and treat as the bird gets a handle on each progressive part. Once complete, click and treat for perfect actions.

Bad behavior in parrots generally stops when clicker training is initiated. If it does not, use the clicker and treat to reward desirable behavior (e.g. If your bird is screaming, click during the seconds when it takes a break and offer a treat) .

Take regular breaks and give the bird a few days break if training isnt progressing.

For more info, see the books mentioned above! Happy clicking!