My Sidekick and Me

From CBS News, Spring Cleaning...For Your Dog

2010-03-21T08:44:00.000-04:00

Downtown Cincinnati Getting A Dog Park...And You Can Help

2010-03-09T10:11:00.002-05:00

Hey Cincinnati dog owners. Did you know our downtown will soon be home to a new dog park?

A $50,000 grant from Procter & Gamble's Pet Care division, the Downtown Residents' Council got the Downtown Residents' Council well on their way of meeting their $75,000 budget for the planned half-acre fenced-in dog park on Eggleston Avenue. Additional money was raised through donations and fund raisers; however, they still need to raise $16,200.

If you'd like to help, donations can be made to the Downtown Dog Recreation Area Fund through the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Here is a link.

Dog Training Help - Using Positive Strategies To Overcome Object Guarding

2010-02-28T08:49:00.004-05:00

Thank you so much to trainer Therese McClain for letting me publish this article she wrote in 2000 about working on object aggression in dogs. You'll see that she does not use any type of force, but rather worked from the perspective of...How can I set my dog up for success?

I have a now 5 year old golden, who I adopted as a almost 2 year old. She had a serious guarding problem which we have overcome.

This is what I did.

When she would be laying on the floor chewing a bone, I would walk up to her, stop, smile and speak cheerfully and then drop a treat and move on. I tried to do this several times a day.

It didn't take too long, before she stopped growling when I came near. She began to actually look forward to me coming near her and even got to the point of letting go of the bone to look up and smile in return..( she is a golden)

I then started stooping, speaking cheerfully and placing the treat on the floor, getting up and moving on.

After that, I would stoop, touch her rear (I wasn't stupid), smile, speak cheerfully and place a treat on the floor.

It wasn't long before I could stop, stoop, smile, pet her head, and place the treat on the floor.

I knew I was home free then. I then proceed to touch the bone, place the treat etc.

And finally, take the bone, give her a treat and then give back the bone.

She is a sweetheart and I can trust her with my grandchild now.

Now my question would be, how did you proof and escalate that to include someone swooping down and grabbing an item away from the dog? (setting up ability for people to reach down -- including child or acquaintance -- and take item away from dog safely?)

I think the last step I mentioned in my post was...taking the bone, giving a treat and giving back the bone.

After that I did a lot of trading, bone for treat, bone for another bone, bone for a a highly valued toy. etc.. ( always something of the same or better value in the dogs eyes) I always spoke to her first, smiled and petted her head before any trade.

This speaking, smiling and petting actually became a signal (in a way) that I would be trading.

At first, she was very reliable with me, but not trustworthy with others. I gradually added other people she knew and liked. They had to follow the rules of course. They had to trade and they had to speak, smile and pet her head first.

She, of course was highly reinforced for this....lots and lots of praise and sometimes a jackpot of treats instead of just one.

This just took time...that's all. She was better with some people than others at first. For instance, she was wonderful with my 9 year old grandson right off the bat, but gave his father (my son) a warning growl at first. When this happened, I took the bone, gave her a treat and praise, (for giving up the bone to me), gave the bone to my son to return to her and then he petted her.

One thing, I did not move from one step to another until she was comfortable relaxed and happy at that step. My criteria was not just that she was accepting of the step, but that she would look up at me in anticipation and smile. (Oh here comes mom and she's got something good.)

I do not have to trade or treat now (it's been three years), but did so for at least a year. She does not guard her bones now from anyone and anyone can take an object from her.

I never corrected her or used an NRM. I set her up to be successful and broke the whole thing down into very small steps...reinforcing the good stuff.

What precautions did you take when introducing additional people (did you talk to them in advance, give them direction on approaching dog, etc.)? How did you manage the environment so that dog was not faced with inappropriate grabs of objects too soon?

Yes, yes, yes. I decided who I would introduce and yes I did talk to them in advance and gave them specific instructions. I would even set it up by doing a trade first and then having the other person do a trade.

I did not do this when my home was busy and full of people etc. I did it when the house was calm and everyone was relaxed and in a good mood...dog included..

When my house was busy and full of visiting relatives, I simply warned everyone to "Don't bother Kayla when she's chewing a bone, she might bite!" and believe me the moms and dads and I made sure the kids didn't bother her.

I have always supervised my dogs and set rules for my visiting nieces and nephews as to what they can and cannot do with the dogs. Even the best of dogs need a break from the chaos.

It probably would have been a good idea to put bones up when I had company but I never did. We have a whole basketful of them, and she would immediately run and get a bone when company came.... and just lay there smiling and chewing..

I also want to add that I (and eventually others) would sometimes just pet her when she had a bone and then move on. We didn't always trade..sometimes just a kind word and a pet. I didn't want her to become tense or anxious every time I approached her and she had an object. (bones were the major source of contention...rawhide was not allowed)

And so a lot of times, I would just have people pet her with me right there and then I would give her a treat for being such a good dog.

I should also mention that Kayla is very people friendly and simply loves people and children. She just had this serious guarding problem LOL.

The home she came from, she was loved, but handled very roughly. She was used to being yelled at and hit and having things thrown at her. She did not know how to play with people or retrieve.

I also took the time to teach her a food induced retrieve. I believe that this helped too. It helped with the concept of giving up an object and getting a treat in return. (of course, the dumb bell did not have the value of her chewing bones)

I used absolutely no correction with Kayla. I helped her get things right and then I reinforced those things.

If someone made a comment about her guarding problem, I simply told them "We were working on it".

I believe the major turn around though was in the beginning steps. The rest just took time.

But it is getting to be a problem, so much so that I sometimes cannot even remove the empty bowl from her crate after she is finished to wash it or wipe down the crate floor.

I helped a friend with a dog that guarded her food bowl.

The first thing I would do is walk over to her bowl while she was eating and dropped a really yummy treat into it (or as near as possible if her head was in the bowl.) Remember to be pleasant and smile and talk sweetly.

You want to continue to do this at feeding times until you see her back up from her bowl to let you drop the yummy treat in.

We want her to realize that you don't take, that you add and only good things happen when you approach her eating.

When she is backing up for you to add the yummy treat and seems happy at your approach, you can then stoop down and add the yummy treat....or.... better yet... add more of her food. In fact, you can give her only 1/3 and then add the other two thirds a third at a time.

I bet she will love for you to come over to her bowl then.

When all is going well, you can touch the bowl and add the food and eventually pick up the bowl, add the food and put it back down.

As for digging up her buried bones in the yard, I would do a little managing with that for awhile and make sure she is not around. We don't want do undo all the work you will be doing with her bowl.

(Left: Therese McClain with Annie and Kayla, Therese's companions who have since passed on to the rainbow bridge.)

Westminster Dog Show Begins February 15

2010-02-13T11:45:00.002-05:00

Last year, Stump - the Sussex Spaniel, took home the top honors. Who do you think will win this year? For videos and images during the show, check out their website Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Tips For Dog Training Success

2010-02-09T09:26:00.004-05:00

Below are some tips for setting your dog (and you) up for success by Melissa Alexandar of Clicker Solutions.Don't think of behaviors as good and bad - those words carry too many moral implications that have no place in the dog's existence. Try desirable and undesirable.

Set your dog up for success! Manage the dog's environment so he can't make mistakes. When training, keep your criteria low enough that the dog can be successful frequently.

Don't be afraid to have a high rate of reinforcement. Your dog won't be spoiled - he'll be eager to work because it's fun!

Divide your dog's food into tiny portions and have him work for it throughout the day. Some dogs, such as herding breeds, actually prefer to work for their food.

Train off-leash whenever possible. Remember, the leash is a tether for safety - it's not a training tool.

Don't have treats in your hand or on your person when you train, if possible. It's okay to delay delivery of the treat for a few seconds while you walk to a bowl.

Keep treats stashed in bowls out of the dog's reach all over the house, and carry a clicker all the time. That way you can reinforce desirable behaviors anytime.

Change the picture a little bit every time you ask for a behavior. Change your position. Change locations. The only thing that should be consistent is the cue.

Ignore undesirable behavior as much as possible. Every time you reinforce a desired behavior, it's like adding money to a bank account. The more money in that account, the stronger the relationship with your dog. Positive punishment - even if effective - removes money from that bank account, and it weakens the relationship.

If you do use a physical correction, look at the effect. Did the behavior not only stop temporarily, but happen less frequently? If not, it wasn't a correction - it was abuse.

(These copyrighted tips were reprinted with permission from Melissa)

Articles On A Positive Way To Teach

2010-02-02T16:55:00.002-05:00

I stumbled upon this site that offers a lot of good information on positive reinforcement and operant conditioning in dog training or 'teaching' as I like to say.

https://www.msu.edu/~silvar/train.htm

Pet Parrots On Shoulders - Is It Okay?

2010-01-26T18:30:00.004-05:00

I was asked that very question not too long ago by someone whose beautiful companion loves shoulder-eye views of the world. She was warned, as I’ve heard so often, that she shouldn’t be allowing her bird on her shoulder because her pet will think he’s dominant and may likely bite her. I’m not sure where this originated but I thought I’d shed some insight I learned from respected behaviorists and trainers.

So, what is this height dominance theory, really?

Well, Steve Martin, renowned trainer and president of Orlando-based Natural Encounters, wrote about it in a paper actually. “To put it bluntly,” he said, “height dominance does not exist in parrots.”

Yep, if you talk to those in the know – ornithologists, field biologists, and wild bird behaviorists -
there is no such thing as an alpha parrot. Aggression between wild parrots is brief, and a parrot that loses in one confrontation may very well win in the next.

A frustrated bird owner may question that. “Well, of course my bird gets dominant when he’s up high. He bites me every time I try to pick him up from somewhere high,” that person may ask.

My response to that? Let’s do a little behavior analysis and look at a scenario that bird owners frequently use as an example of their pet showing ‘dominance’. Barney – a macaw – is on top of his cage playing with a toy when his owner, Suzy, needs to put him into his cage. She reaches for him and when he steps up, ‘without any warning’ (as is often described) he nails her.

Let’s look at some potential things that could be coming into play here.

• Birds are more comfortable stepping up. However since Barney is up high, unless Suzy gets on a chair, more than likely he is needing to step down to her and may even catch his long tail on the cage. Not very fun for Barney.

• Barney was perfectly happy playing with his toys. His past experience of stepping up for Suzy when he’s playing with his toys is that the consequence of his stepping up means he goes into his cage more often than not. And being inside that cage is just not as fun as being on top of it. (He’s at least taken away from doing something that he was enjoying doing.)

• Before Barney actually bit Suzy, he tried to show her he didn’t want to step up by pinning his eyes or other body language but she ignored or didn’t pay attention to it. Therefore biting her is the only behavior he can do to get the message across that he really does not want to step up at this time.

So, now, is this really a case of height dominance or is the bird simply behaving to escape something negative from the bird’s point of view?

Now back to the original question. Is it okay to wear your bird on your shoulder?

Well, there are a number of factors to take into consideration with regard to that decision. None of them have to do with height dominance.

• What is your relationship with your bird? Does your bird reliably ‘step up’ onto your hand?

• One problem with having your bird on your shoulder is that you can’t see his body language. Therefore you can’t effectively allow your bird to communicate a fear or aggressive response, thus you may be setting both of you up for a possible bite.

• Another consideration is that, while it’s fun companionship to wear shoulder birds it’s healthy to offer a variety of enriching activities for your pet that encourage independent play, foraging, and more. Encouraging your bird to stay perched in one place for long periods of time limits the time he could be learning and playing in different ways.

Right now I only allow Barnaby on my shoulder. Dreyfuss is my hand bird. While both of my birds are fairly fluent in ‘step up’ (Barnaby much more so than Dreyfuss, although she’s getting better), Barnaby has a much more predictable calm behavior than Dreyfuss. It’s not so important for me to keep an eye on Barnaby’s body language. However, Dreyfuss can be a little on the unpredictable side. It’s very important for me to watch her body language as I have her ‘step up’, therefore it is not a good idea for her to perch on my shoulder.

When I had Chester, he and Barnaby were always my ‘shoulder’ birds and Dreyfuss’ place was on my hand. (When you carry three birds around the house, you have to be creative.) So, my hand is where she got used to being and I think I’ll keep it that way.

I do want to just mention that if it is a goal of yours to wear your parrot on your shoulder, a good first goal would be to teach a reliable ‘step up’ behavior.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-22T14:22:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Barbara Heidenreich for pointing this out. I thought it was adorable.

We Can Learn A Lot From Our Animals

2009-12-18T10:17:00.002-05:00

This is the most beautiful video. I had to share it. What a wonderful lesson about appreciating and valuing each others' unique talents. Think about all that we can accomplish and all that we can be if we stop judging people and animals by what they are not or what we want them to be, and instead help them to discover all they are capable of being and contributing. The world is a better place because of each others' diversity and gifts.

Butler County Humane Society Needs Pet Food Donations

2009-12-16T16:41:00.002-05:00

The Butler County Animal Friends Humane Society will be hosting a pet food pantry this Saturday - December 19 - from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (or while supplies last) at its office at 1820 Princeton Rd. AND, they need donations of dry dog and cat food.

Meg Stephenson, Animal Friends executive director, said they're doing this because they know how important pets are to families and they hope they can help families get through the holidays while continuing to provide a forever home for their animals.

The agency will provide one five-pound portion of cat food or 10-pound portions of dog food per household. They ask that people bring identification showing residence in Butler County.

Donations to the shelter are tax deductible, and can be dropped off at the office. For more information, contact Animal Friends at (513) 867-5727.

Thinking About Giving A Pet As A Holiday Gift? Please Think Again

2009-12-11T18:54:00.003-05:00

A pet – whether it has feathers, fur, fins, or scales – is a long term commitment (or at least should be). Sure, they can be great company but there are so many factors to consider that the ultimate decision of bringing a companion home should only be made by the person who will have ultimate responsibility for it. Definitely that decision shouldn’t be a surprise or a moment of spontaneity.

Adults should think through their lifestyle, and whether they have the time and patience for a new animal – and what animal would be best suited as a match. Parents need to realize that while their kids may be pushing for a pet, the reality is the parents will most likely be caretakers. Not to mention that kids grow up and get busy with other activities.

If that’s not enough to think about, also consider that the holiday season is generally a very hectic month. It may not be the most ideal for devoting extra time to acclimate a new animal.

So you’re still thinking a pet would be a great gift. Well, can I get you to compromise. Petfinder has a really great Pet Promise Certificate that you can give instead. Giving the certificate allows you to give a pet, but with time to think through the decision carefully first. (You pay the adoption fees and the recipient selects the pet) What an awesome idea!

Here are some other ideas: consider books or videos on a particular pet, or try the idea of a new pet out first as a foster owner. In the Cincinnati area, Circle Tail is a great place to contact for dogs. For a list of shelters in your area offering foster opportunities, please click here.

When Two Lives Merge...

2009-11-29T20:32:00.002-05:00

In loving memory of my very dear Chester. For the past 18 years, he has filled my home with antics and affection. Always eager to be with me, he'd jump on my arm the minute he saw an opportunity and he'd stay on my shoulder for hours if I let him. He had an uncanny ability to sense when I was down and would huddle close to my neck. We had a very special bond. Chester died in my arms this weekend. I love him and I miss him so much.

Below is a story I had written in 1998 about how Chester came into my life.

Just six months old, his was like the face of a starry eyed child. Innocent, yet devilish, his boyish grin was only a clear mask hiding the mischief that lied within. There he sat, snuggled side-by-side next to his sister more than 100 miles from the only place they had ever known as “home”. Their biological parents were left behind, perhaps never to be seen again.

Dozens of strangers – mammoth Hercules – more than twenty times these young siblings’ size, passed by, sticking out fingers and hands, asking questions. Time and again the little green bird was asked to “step up” onto unfamiliar arms, makeshift perches to him, while being scrutinized like a fine painting in an art gallery.

This was to be the day when Chester would see his sister for the last time, the day when “home” would forever carry different meaning. Yet, as he sat, resting comfortably on one foot, he could only hope his fate would find him in a warm, caring environment. A place where silliness was encouraged and love meant acceptance. A place where he would never need to mature, but remain a perpetual child the rest of his life. And, of course, a place where destroying furniture was only reprimanded with a few harmless words….

The sun had shown especially bright that Sunday morning. Seeming to rush me out of bed like an eager child on his birthday, I suppose in hindsight that the signs were obvious how my life was about to change.

I wasn’t planing on buying another bird. The thought never crossed my mind. My one bedroom apartment was already home to a nanday conure, with a high pitched scream that was about as welcoming a noise as someone scraping his fingernails on a chalk board.

As I prepared to catch up with friends at a local bird show, I just couldn’t ward off that temporary emptiness that follows a wounded heart. Only a few days had passed since a man I cared about had told me he was seeing someone new. There was a void in my life that left me vulnerable, stripped me of my defenses against the iron will of a guileless child. And, it was in that brief moment of weakness that I found pleasure and beauty in the eyes of a gaping six-month-old.

From a distance I could see him. Carefully balanced on one leg, Chester appeared weary from the afternoon’s stress. Yet when I approached something magical happened. His eyes opened wide and his toothpick-sized legs could barely keep up with his heart as he raced to my side. I reached out my arm and he jumped on. I stroked his head and he sat calm, basking in my human touch. And my sadness was suspended in the beauty of unconditional love.

I don’t know what it was that drew him to me that day. I guess it doesn’t really matter. They say animals have an uncanny ability to sense human emotions, and I believe that’s true. I also believe that love is something shared between two souls and that giving also means receiving in matters of the heart. I’m reminded of it every day since Chester came into my life.

Positive Behavior Management In Pets

2009-11-04T18:30:00.001-05:00

The other day I had a great conversation with trainer Jeni Rivett (pictured at left with her two dogs). Jeni, like the other trainers and behaviorists who have taught me so much about teaching animals, does not use the pack leader dominance based methods you unfortunately still hear a lot about. Instead she teaches as a collaborator and team player with her houseful of birds and dogs. I met Jeni through a parrot behavior list serve started by Susan Friedman, Ph.D. that focuses on behavioral analysis and positive reinforcement strategies to modify and manage pet behavior. But also, more importantly the list serve teaches owners their role in setting their animals up for success.

The feedback I received from people with whom I shared bits of that conversation – and the subsequent success I’ve had teaching my parents’ dog, Sam, was my positive reinforcement that has inspired me to want to write more about the subject.

Have you ever read Karen Pryor’s “Don’t Shoot The Dog”? It’s a really great book everyone who shares their home with an animal – including the human kind.

All too often, when a pet has behaved in an unacceptable way, we blame our pet. We assume our pet knows what we want him to do and he’s doing it because he is jealous or obstinate or mad. ‘My dog was mad at me for leaving.’ ‘My bird was jealous of my boyfriend.’ Have you ever made a comment like that? Bet you have. I know I did before I was enlightened.

What Jeni and Susan and others who use positive methods to teach recognize is that blaming or labeling the pet is really not going to be all that helpful in solving the problem. Although it is much easier to put a label on behavior, generally that label stops us in our tracks from working to find a solution. Instead, a much more productive approach is looking at the behavior in terms of what purpose it serves the animal. And, if your pet isn’t doing what you want him to do, it is your role to teach him.

Let me back up a second because this is important. Let’s think about it. Is it really possible to know what your pet is thinking or feeling? I may think my dog is mad or jealous but how can I really know? Heck, I can’t even figure men out. The only thing I do know for sure is that my pet is behaving, and for him to continue to behave in that way, he is being reinforced by something.

As a caretaker, and therefore trainer, I’ve come to realize that I can very effectively empower my pets to make decisions and modify their behavior in a way that will lead to their success while also improving their quality of life.

So, instead of just focusing on removing the problem behavior, now I look at the behavior in terms of ‘what’s in it’ for my pet. Is it possible that Sam stands up with two legs on the kitchen table during meals, not because he’s being bad, but because he learned that if he does, eventually the chances are good that he is either going to get human attention or a piece of something tasty? Or that Barnaby wasn’t stepping up because he knew that based on past experience, stepping up at the end of the night meant no more play time?

How can your pet be accountable for his behavior if you or something else in the environment gave that behavior purpose?

As Sam’s trainer then, I also can predict that when we sit down to eat, if Sam isn’t preoccupied with something else the chances are good he’s going to stand on the table. What are my options? Well, if we wait to feed him until we sit down that will keep him busy and satiated. I can also wrap his favorite bone in a newspaper and then in a sock, an activity that I know will keep his attention. And if all else fails and he comes to the table, I can completely ignore his standing up behavior and calmly tell him to sit. Then when he sits, I reinforce the heck out of it – with a treat AND praise. Life is pretty darned good for him when he chooses to sit by my side instead of jump up. Guess which behavior he will choose to do if I, as his trainer, am consistent in ignoring behavior I want to see less of and reinforcing behavior I want to see more of.

If, on the other hand, I chose to try and solve Sam’s jumping up behavior with punishment like a squirt bottle or a stern NO, do you think it would foster the same eagerness toward learning? Scientific data says no. Personal experience says no. Chances are it will also damage your relationship with your pet who will associate you with the punishment, can create apathy toward learning (that’s when you hear people call their pets dumb), and may even cause aggression.

Applied behavior Analysis is the process of solving practical behavior problems by changing the environment. It involves focusing tightly on the specific behavior you want to modify, and then looking at it in the context of its surroundings. What is giving that behavior purpose? What happened immediately prior to the behavior (antecedent) to set the wheels turning? What happened *immediately* after the behavior to reinforce it (consequence)?

When you look at the behavior in this way, you can begin to think about what needs to change in order to teach your pet what you want it to do. Positive reinforcement is all about arranging very motivating consequences to a behavior that are meaningful to the animal, while making sure you don’t inadvertently reward the wrong behavior. And one of the great perks to this kind of teaching strategy is that you’ll also notice your relationship with your pet grow as it associates you with that reward.

To read more about my behavior conversations with Jeni, please click here.

Barnaby's personal album

2009-11-01T16:08:00.002-05:00

This morning I helped Barnaby, my Timneh African Grey, create this photo collage to share his family stories.

Barnaby's family

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Treat Your Pet And Help Raise Money For 4-H

2009-10-20T19:23:00.002-04:00

It'd be hard to live around kids and not have tried a box of Girl Scout cookies. Well, now the local 4-H hopes dog, cat and horse owners will become just as familiar with Best in Show pet treats.

The human grade treats (except for the ones made for cats) have a two year shelf life and come in different flavors. Dogs can have their choice of cheese & bacon, peanut butter honey or cheddar cheese.

Cost is $4 per package and half of that goes back to the youth development organization run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So far only the Hamilton County 4-H is selling the treats locally.

To order a package, you need to call 513-946-8989 by October 28, 2009. You will need to pick-up your order at the 4-H central office - 110 Boggs Lane (45246) - after November 20 unless other arrangements have been made.

Teacup Pigs - An Unusual Pet

2009-10-13T17:57:00.001-04:00

These little guys are absolutely precious. Of course they are babies. The breeder says they get about knee high.

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Enrichment Ideas For Parrots

2009-10-11T16:09:00.005-04:00

In my last post, I spoke with Robin Shewokis of The Leather Elves about parrot enrichment. Providing stimulating activities – that may include chewing, taking apart, making a noise, shredding, or playing - for our companion pets is important to increase independent play and decrease ‘unacceptable’ behaviors such as screaming, feather destruction, and the constant need for owner attention. Remember, these are animals that, in the wild, would spend hours of each day foraging for food, flying, raising young, and watching out for predators.

I thought I’d follow-up on my last post by sharing some of the things I use. Enrichment doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, I don’t spend a lot on bird ‘toys’ any more. Truthfully a lot of the toys I paid a lot of money for ended up serving as cage art. Remember enrichment is in the eye’s of the beholder so watch your bird, and, as Robin said, know what your bird’s natural tendency is. Chester is my biggest chewer so I give him things he can sink his beak into. Barnaby lives to play so he loves things he can hang upside down from, things that make noise, and things that require thinking. Dreyfuss likes to quietly chew on smaller things.
Some things I do:

Beads & more beads – I buy hemp string and small beads in bulk at the local craft store. I make MANY strands of this – tying a note in between the beads – and hang them all over their cages, inside and out. By the end of each day, all of the strands have been chewed on and go in their recycle bin. Chester also loves to mouth beads for some reason, and sort through the shapes and colors. I put beads in a bowl for him. I also found he eats his pellets better when I include beads in his pellet bowl.

Paper for shredding – For Chester, I roll up some of a phone book or sections of a newspaper and put a plastic chain link around it. (Please do not tie a string around the paper. I did this until one day I saw it around Chester’s neck.)

Blocks of wood – I go to the local home goods store and get ‘safe’ scrap wood. Then I cut it into small pieces, drill a hole in it and put it on a string.

This is a great foraging toy that all of my guys like (right) I got it from http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/. I mix Cheerios (inexpensive) with some colored pellets and beads. Since a lot of the food gets wasted when it falls to the grounds, I would not suggest filling it with all pellets.

Things that go clang! Barnaby does love his bells so I do have plenty of these and will tie bead strings through the chain or attach bells to other things.

Cardboard boxes, paper towels and more – Think of this as recycling. I put beads inside cream cheese boxes. I wrap an almond in a toilet paper roll for Chester & Dreyfuss. I give Chester yogurt containers to chew (or cut a hole through 2 of them, stuff with something, then tie to a string).

These are just a sample of some ideas. I’d love to hear about what you do.

Creating Enrichment For Pet Birds

2009-10-03T10:36:00.003-04:00

They train vultures, eagles, cranes, macaws, cockatoos and African Greys. They work in bird shows, at zoos and parks, and even in wildlife rehabilitation using the most positive strategies to teach behavior. And this past February, they came to Cincinnati to share their knowledge at the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE).

I met Robin Shewokis through IAATE. Owner of The Leather Elves, she helps zoos, other facilities, and companion pet owners internationally to create a more stimulating environment for animals. She also develops new enrichment products for companion parrots that will stimulate naturalistic behavior.

In Robin’s conference workshop, we divided into groups based on bird species and brainstormed how to create the most sensory stimulating environment (keeping safety in mind) based on the birds natural activity. We were asked to generate ideas focusing on dietary, social, visual, olfactory (smell), auditory, tactile, and training/exercise categories. Gosh, how often as a bird owner, do we take the time to consider all the ways we can offer our pets a more enriching quality of life?

Robin and I spoke recently. I thought I’d share some of what we talked about.

What are some considerations companion parrot owners should consider when it comes to creating an enriching environment?

Robin: The key is knowing what your bird’s natural history is before knowing what type of enrichment to provide. For example, cockatiels are ground foragers so putting foraging activities high in the cage isn’t the best idea. If your bird in the wild would spend a lot of time in flight, then you want to make sure it has plenty of space.

Another big consideration is providing activities that stimulate as many of the senses as possible, and giving your pet a variety of choices. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Recyclables create great toys for birds.

It’s also important to know your specific bird so that you can tailor its environment based on its individual needs. A lot of times people inundate their bird with things their bird has never interacted with before. If the bird doesn’t know how to interact with something, its owner may need to teach it.

How can a parrot owner learn about his/her bird’s natural behavior?

Robin: The internet is a great source. There is also a book, ‘Parrots of the World’ by Joseph Foreshaw, that gives information on every species.

What is foraging?

Robin: The definition of foraging is making a search for food. It is a natural behavior for birds, but in captivity it doesn’t need to translate into a big giant path to getting an almond. In the wild a bird will fly from here to there, perch, find something intriguing and fly again. A foraging activity in a cage can be as simple as having food in different stations or wrapped in paper. Food can be placed in toys or stuffed into things.

Talk about the ‘big bang’ response.

Robin: It easy to fall into the ‘favorite’ trap when it comes to parrot ‘toys’. Initially when you give a toy to your bird, you may get a big bang response because it’s new and stimulating. Your bird my love it and play with it constantly, but over time, that toy loses its ‘newness’ and allure. It’s important to offer your bird a variety of toys and not leaving them in the cage until they become cage furniture.

Listen to Robin on Pet Life Radio.

Steps For Pets - September 20

2009-09-15T18:05:00.002-04:00

The United Coalition for Animals will be hosting a Steps for Pets walkathon September 20 at Sawyer Point. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will include a 1.5 mile walk along the river, followed by food and entertainment including dog agility demonstrations, a kids' game area, dog contests, a pet communicator and a pet photo booth. Pet microchipping will be available for a nominal fee.

Proceeds will directly benefit the UCAN non-profit spay/neuter clinic in Queensgate. The clinic provides affordable spay/neuter surgeries and basic wellness care for dogs and cats, targeting its services to those who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it.

For more information, please visit www.ucancincinnati.org.

It's Parrot Basketball!

2009-08-29T08:15:00.001-04:00

I found this on youtube. I had so much fun watching it that I forgot to count score but I'm sure the African Grey won!

Snowball Is At It Again

2009-08-23T09:08:00.003-04:00

Yep, the beautiful dancing cockatoo who has graced the stage of the Ellen Degeneres Show and the front page of the Times newspaper is showing more of her stuff. Snowball belongs to Irena Schulz of Bird Lovers Only Rescue Service, a non-profit donation based rescue which takes in unwanted, neglected, abused birds and birds with disabilities. Her website is located at http://www.birdloversonly.org.

If you'd like to learn more about Snowball's story, click here.

However, please DO NOT watch or read about Snowball, and think a cockatoo is for you. Cockatoos are definitely not a bird to adopt on impulse - which is why so many of them end up in rescues. As with any pet, do you research before bringing one home. Here is an article about cockatoos as pets.

New Research Challenges Dominance Based Training Techniques For Dogs

2009-08-12T18:41:00.002-04:00

ScienceDaily (2009-05-25) -- A new study shows how the behavior of dogs has been misunderstood for generations: in fact using misplaced ideas about dog behavior and training is likely to cause rather than cure unwanted behavior. The findings challenge many of the dominance related interpretations of behavior and training techniques suggested by current TV dog trainers.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521112711.htm#

But What's REALLY Going On When Your Pet Is Suddenly Phobic?

2009-08-09T21:51:00.003-04:00

Studying behavioral analysis and positive reinforcement in behavior modification has completely changed my relationship with my pets - and how I look at behavior all together. What my teachers, mentors and friends in the animal training world have taught me is that far and away the most effective way to teach and modify behaviors (in any animal) is using the most positive and least intrusive way possible.

A couple of years ago I devoted one of my Hyde Park Living pet columns to talking about sudden fear exhibited by pets. I thought I would share it on my blog to help more people. Below is an exerpt...

With birds especially, I’ve often heard people talk of their pet’s sudden neurotic, phobic behaviors. Out of the blue, for no apparent reason, their loving companion will scream, lunge or try to escape the hands that up until that moment had only been associated with positive things.

I know about this, unfortunately, from firsthand knowledge. My loving Barnaby Timneh African Grey, who normally would be very happy spending his entire day with his face pressed against mine (of course it would have to be with the occasional play break), would suddenly ‘out of the blue’ panic when he stepped onto my arm. He’d scream with horror in his voice, breathe heavily, and then take off. If you’ve ever experienced the unconditional love of an animal, you can probably understand it is completely heartbreaking when you are thrust into the portrayal of some evil monster – and you don’t even know why.

Each time it would happen with Barnaby, I’d have to go through a systematic desensitization plan to help him overcome his anxiety. Because we have a long history of trust, we were able to work through this fairly quickly, but my training taught me there had to be a reason for this reoccurring behavior. And there also had to be a way of eliminating or minimizing the frequency of it. Behavior, I know, doesn’t ever happen willy nilly. It is always triggered by something in the environment. And the consequences of that behavior are what either maintains, builds or extinguishes it.

Hmm. Actually it became fairly easy to figure out once I put on my behavior analysis hat.
There is a window in the birds’ room that faces the street. On sunny days, when a car drives past, the light that reflects from the metal and glass makes a brilliant pass from one wall to the next. A pretty scary demon to a Timneh teddy bear no longer than a ruler. If my neighbor parks her car in a certain spot at a certain time of day and Barnaby happens to be way up high, that same evil light hovers. Each time that Barnaby jumped on my arm, only to be terrified, that same ‘trigger’ light just happened to be coming from the street.

My mentor and teacher, Dr. Susan Friedman – a respected psychologist and behaviorist - helped me to understand. Purely based on my poor timing, in Barnaby’s mind, I got associated with the light. And that was not a good thing to be paired with.

Barnaby had two types of behaviors going on. One was an automatic, involuntary response to a bright light (panic scream, escape). In scientific terminology, this is called an unconditioned or respondent behavior because it wasn’t something that Barnaby learned in the way that he came to know stepping up generally meant only good things would follow. On the other hand, his stepping up behavior is most definitely learned. Scientists call that operant learning.

Now, think of the use of a clicker. The clicker in and of itself is meaningless to an animal. It only acquires value to that animal when a good trainer repeatedly pairs the sound with a treat. Then the click acquires reinforcing value.

This same type of association was going on with Barnaby, only it was a negative one. Being on my arm – something that had always given him positive reinforcement in the past – when the light (remember, something that causes an unconditioned fear response) came through the window, was being paired with that fear response. Just as the words ‘good boy’ have become associated with safflower seeds, his being on my arm had become associated with that awful light.

Once this became clear, working toward a solution really wasn’t that difficult. What I learned from Susan (and so many great people on Susan’s international parrot behavior listserve) is how to modify Barnaby’s environment so as to set him up for success. When I’m working from home, I try to remember to close their shade at a certain time. But if the shade is up, and there is that dangerous light outside (at least in his eyes), I absolutely will not pick him up. Instead, he’s learned to go inside his cage at that time. That one small adjustment has meant the difference between a pet who became instantly phobic of me – on a more frequent basis – to one who hasn’t exhibited those behaviors once since I figured it all out. So, it really wasn’t just some irrational fear after all.

This isn’t to say that something else in the future may pop up, that will cause that same fear response. Barnaby is a living being, and, as life goes, behaviors evolve all the time to adapt to the environment. But next time, I’m going to be better equipped to send those awful monsters packing so Barnaby can just focus on having fun.

Meet Oscar, One Happy American Cocker Spaniel

2009-08-06T17:28:00.003-04:00

Yep, only looks sad. Truth be told, his housemate Helen Dinshaw, says he's one happy little trouble maker. Anything is fair game to this nine month year old. His favorite toy is a stuffed vulture but what he really likes to do is play with one of Helen's cats. They roll around, wrestle and chase each other bouncing off the bed, couch or even Helen - whatever gets in their way.

By the way, I met Helen at the International Association for Avian Educators and Trainers Conference that was held in Cincinnati earlier this year. She is a trainer at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York. Maybe in the future I'll post some pictures of her with her co-workers.

Wow...A SHOE!

2009-07-27T18:59:00.001-04:00

Wow...A SHOE!
Originally uploaded by goodthingslisa

Sam's all time favorite toy. He's got them inside and outside, front yard and back. Just move everything fragile and watch him go! We all should have so much fun.