Dudley is a white capped pionus that my parents have had for almost 30 years, since he was a baby. At a young age, he was the sweetest parrot one have ever seen (except towards one person at the time, but that's a different story). However, over the years, he slowly became more and more aggressive. For as long as I can remember, he was locked in his cage, because he got to a point where my parents just couldn't bring him out anymore, because not only did he bite HARD, but because it was nearly impossible to get him back in the cage without a towel, and even then, he would still be able to bite through it.

I was sick of seeing him stuck in a cage, for all these years, but before, I never knew what to do about it. My parents weren't willing to do much about him, other than feed him and give him water, and talk to him on a basis. Now, as I work with Lucy to get her to gain my trust, it was time I decided to start doing the same for Dudley. Here, you will get updates on my training progress, and how he's doing.

I admit, buying Lucy when I don't know how to work with the family bird was irresponsible of me. Yes I've had experience with cockatiels, I do know how to handle them to a point, and I know their body language, which is quite different from Dudley's (for one thing, he doesn't hiss. He makes certain noises, in which I refer to as "complaining). But if I didn't know how to train Dudley, it probably wouldn't have been best to get another bird right away. On another hand though, Dudley belongs to my parents, and Lucy was bought intentionally to be only mine. Now I see it a bit unfair that I am trying to bond with Lucy, while leaving Dudley out. So I decided that I will change that.

So without further ado, here is what I have to update you with:

I've started with target training. Since his cage is the one place where he is most comfortable, I decided to do it while he is in the cage. When I slowly brought the target (which right now is the back of a pencil), he was terrified. He complained at it, backed up with his mouth open ready to bite, and everything.

So I had to pull it back, and use a different approach, where I would put hold the clicker where he could see it, and wait for him to calm down. That would reward him with a click and a treat. Then I would bring it a little closer to his cage. Let him calm down, then click and treat. Rinse and repeat until I but it within reaching distance, and let him bite at it, then click and treat.

It seemed that the clicking noise of the pen I was using (I do intend on getting a real clicker soon) startled him though, so I had to start at the very beginning again. I hope he will become desensitized to the clicker, and associate it with something positive.

Because Lucy is not afraid of the target and is willing to touch it, I hope he learns from watching her. This is a method I've read before, where one parrot watches another parrot do something, and they learn to do the same.

That is very sweet of you to take him on. It sounds like you are starting out in a great place, and I have no doubts that in a very short time he will be enjoying every minute of the attention he is now getting. Kudos to you ! (maybe you could post a photo of him?)

Ah, of course. I've posted a picture pf him in my other thread regarding my bonding process with Lucy, but it sounds more fitting to post one of him here.

Despite his little issues, he's quite photogenic. He actually poses. My hands tremble though, so I apologize for the blur. I can get some really good ones sometimes, but today's just not a good day for my hands.

Good for you, you're making his life better!

The traditional way to get a bird used to the clicker is called "conditioning the clicker". The bird doesn't have to do anything at all - you just make the click sound and deliver a treat within two seconds. It doesn't take long (maybe half a dozen repetitions) for parrots to figure out that the click means a treat is on the way. If the bird is actually afraid of the sound it might take longer of course, and you might have to start out making the click at a distance that doesn't scare him, and work toward getting close enough that you can deliver a reward after the click. Once he knows that click = reward, you can wait for the bird to actually do something that you want to reward before you make the click.

Real clickers are kind of loud and many birds are startled by them at first. One way to deal with this is to hold the clicker against your body to muffle the sound so it isn't as loud. Sticking it in your armpit is commonly recommended, but holding it behind my back worked better for me.

Since Dudley is a biter, one thing that could really be helpful with him is to teach him to step up on a stick, so you can pick him up without putting your hands at so much risk. Some birds are more comfortable with a stick than with hands anyway. Once he's started moving to touch the target, you can put a perch that you're holding between him and the target and work on getting him to touch it with his foot.

At this point you will need three hands - one to hold the target, one to hold the perch, one to hold the clicker, and maybe a fourth hand to hold the reward. This is why I gave up on using an actual clicker and started making a click sound with my mouth instead.

I think the only problem I have with that is the fact that my hands tremble, so trying to hold a perch with one hand would be kind of challenging. Lest I can get my parents to help me out.

Most trainers hold the clicker in the same hand as the target, and those with bad coordination either glue or tape them together. They actually make clickers with targets, made for birds (unfortunately I can't find any in stores near me).

The pen I'm using is actually pretty loud, and also thick. I chose the pen that best emulates the sound of a real clicker, so the difference wouldn't be too drastic when I get a real clicker.

This has to be the nicest bird forum I've ever been on! I talked about Dudley's behavior problems on another forum for parrots, and I felt somewhat criticized, from the kinds of advice I got from them. You guys are much nicer to me about it. I know we haven't done much right about Dudley for the past 28 years, but I'm trying to fix that now. I really appreciate the support.

We don't worry too much about the past here. What's done is done and can't be undone. It's what you're doing now and going forward that matters, and I like your plans!

Even if you only get as far as conditioning to the clicker, that's a huge improvement for him. It's giving him a game to play with a person where he wins! My advice is to find whatever treat he loves the best that you can dole out in single quick bite pieces. Don't use a treat that he has to deshell and work at for a bit, it needs to be immediate reward. Then click and immediately offer the treat then hide the treat hand behind your back. Click, treat. Click, treat. Do this for about 5 minutes or so and then give it a rest, then work on it again later.

Does he like millet from a spray? If so, that may work well since he's a biter. Just give him the very tip of the spray for long enough to get one or two munches then hide the spray quickly behind your back. Wait a minute then click and treat again. You will know that he's starting to associate the click as a positive thing when he gets an excited, expectant look about him when you click. At that point, if you want to take it further with the target training or whatever, go for it. If he gets freaked out by the thing you're using to target or whatever, then you start by clicking whenever he so much as glances at it, then click, take it away and treat.

Since he's older, it may take him a while to get the hang of it and maybe just the conditioning to the clicker is as far as you get but like I said, that alone is a win/win.

Indeed, I understand that it will take a long time, but if I can help him, then I'll take as long as he needs.

I got a real clicker this time. Now it should be a bit easier to hold a target stick with the clicker in one hand, rather than a target stick and alarge pen in the same hand. The click also seems somewhat quieter than the pen, so maybe it will work out a bit better. Still gonna have to do some condition clicking, of course.

Clicker conditioning Dudley is a bit trickey, as he's a picky eater.

Cloudy Skies, he really likes peanuts, but I can only give him with the shells on, because if my fingers are too close, whether there's food or not, he'll bite them. I can't use the palms of my hands, because he'd prefer to bite my hand too.

Also, he'll gladly take millet spray if we just put it in his cage, but if we're holding it, he's automatically afraid. Not sure why this is. It makes for an even trickier trying to do this.

I'm going to try and get somewhere with him though. I need to find a treat he'll really like. Thing is, I'll offer several things. He may accept one treat at least 3 times, and then he'll decide he doesn't want that treat, and will accept something else. Then he'll decide he wants something else. He's a bit stubborn. I'm going to get to him one way or another.