Correcting Unwanted Behaviors in Pet Birds

Most can agree that some parts of a bird's anatomy can deliver quite painful attacks if our pets become angry with us. Indeed, the instincts and inherently wild nature of our avian companions can bring forth many behaviors that are undesirable in the home. Dealing with these issues can be especially trying for bird owners, given that their feathered friends are such highly sociable and emotionally sensitive creatures. Read on for tips that will help you gently but effectively convey your displeasure toward undesirable behavior in your pet bird.

Training Rules

Although at times your pet may behave in a way that annoys you or makes you downright mad, it's important to remember these rules when responding to the transgression:

• Never hit a bird: Birds are extremely fragile creatures and even the slightest force can cause severe injury or death. Physically abusing a bird can also lead to irreversible psychological problems, and can promote aggression and viciousness.
• Don't hold a grudge: Birds are extremely intelligent but also very sensitive creatures. When you express displeasure with your bird's behavior, make the lesson short and sweet. Prolonged negative attention can cause undue emotional stress for your pet.
• Never compromise your bird's health: "Punishing" a bird by withholding food or neglecting cage cleaning is never a fit way to deal with a behavior problem. Such actions are not only cruel but also can cause serious physical and emotional damage to the pet.

Responding to Unwanted Behavior

In order for your bird to understand you when you catch it acting up, it's necessary that you remember the correct way to respond. While a normal "human" response to an unpleasant discovery would be to loudly declare your grievance, a bird can interpret this reaction and body language as excitement—meaning that it may actually think you are praising the behavior. Dealing with a bird's behavior problem can be just as much about training yourself as it is about training your pet.

In order to respond properly to undesirable behavior, it's helpful to keep the following steps in mind. With consistency and patience, you may find that it won't take long for your bird to catch on.

• Ignore negative behavior: Simply ignoring the unwanted behavior doesn't reinforce it by giving it any attention so the behavior is less likely to be repeated.
• Be very expressive: Don't be afraid to frown at your bird. Birds are capable of picking up on facial expressions, and most get the idea if your body language expresses your distaste for his actions.
• Speak softly: Use a tone of voice that is low but not loud when you tell your bird that it has done wrong. Be as "matter of fact" as possible, but keep it short. You will be amazed at how effective it can be!
• Place your bird on his cage or perch: After you've conveyed your dissatisfaction, have your bird step off of your hand and onto its cage or perch. Allow it to stay there for a few minutes to reflect on what happened, and then go back and interact playfully with your pet. It should know that you are no longer upset and that it's now being a good bird.

Consistency Is Key

All birds are individuals, and some may catch on quicker than others. Don't get discouraged if your pet's behavior doesn't change overnight. As long as you stay consistent with your training methods, your bird will likely understand you sooner rather than later.

Remember that positively reinforcing good behavior is more important than pointing out and modifying bad behavior. If you notice your bird acting exceptionally well, don't miss the chance to lavish praise on your pet. Birds respond much more readily to training techniques that focus on the positive rather than the negative, so don't forget to incorporate lots of fun and praise into your training methods.

With a little work, patience, and love, your bird should be acting like an angel in no time. Your effort will be rewarded with a beautiful, intelligent, and well-behaved pet. Who could ask for anything more?