Harness training tips?

[GFGC]

Does anyone have any tips for harness training? My GCC has no fear of the harness and has no problem touching it or chewing it, but once it's around his head he goes into SURVIVAL mode and bites harder than I even knew he was capable of. He is click trained so my first idea was to click every time he puts his head through the little hole, remove it and reward. Treat the process as another trick to learn. Last night, I decided I would just let him stick his head through and give him an entire apple slice to work on while it was on him. Trying to get him to associate the harness with great rewards.

My fingers paid dearly, as he kept switching between chomping the apple and fighting for his life. I had no idea he could bite so painfully!

He's incredibly smart. I've only had him about six months and he rolls over, flips over his perch, spins in a circle, fetches designated items, flies to my finger, flaps his wings, waves HELLO, and crawls under my hand to allow me to pick him up. He does all of these with hand signals or commands.

I'd love to go on little adventures with him (like getting the mail and stuff), but he seems REALLY intolerant of wearing the thing. Any advice or tips? He's not even a year old, and a bit of a biter as it is. It's the one thing he isn't really learning not to do... Any advice out there?

Last nights episode has not soured him towards me or the harness. He really doesn't seem to be easily traumatized like some other birds. He's always ready for fun.

Thank you!

 

[GFGC]

By the way, here is a photo of him. His name is Charlie, which I am hesitant to mention around other bird owners because I named him BEFORE I realized that 50% of all birds are named Charlie. Some of you may recall my original post months back about how bad of a biter he was. Always drawing blood and not letting me touch him. It's amazing how effective using a language the bird understands (click training) can turn an action from a negative to a positive experience. Still a long way to go, but he's becoming quite the little sidekick.

Thank you, everyone! Anyway, about that harness...

 

[Piasa]

If it makes you feel any better, I've never met a Charlie bird

Harness training can be really tough. My green cheek wants nothing to do with his. I think you're smart to do this while he is still a juvenile. Is Charlie clicker trained to allow you do maneuver his wings? Might be something to work on if not, and it is not related to the harness but when it comes time, it will be helpful.

I think your reward for putting his head through the head hole is a good start. Take it slow though and on his own terms since big reward for keeping the harness on wasn't received too well. I hope someone else chimes in because my experience with the harness is a lot different and I am not the best trainer.

My gentle white cap pi is harness trained, but it was more her doing than mine. The harder part for her is putting the harness over her wings. She's okay with the head part. The faster or more confident you are in what you are doing, the easier it goes. And once you get Charlie on harness and take him outside a couple times, he will know why you want to put it on him and start associating it with going outside.

One more thing you can do to prep him, and I think just a great thing in general to do for your parrot's health/eyesight/flight capability is take him outside in a little travel cage. Take him places where he can see great distances. This helps their brain develop better, and eyes too.

Good luck! You and Charlie will have a lot of fun once he can safely come along with you outside

 

[Anansi]

Here is a link to a sticky in the training section with a few videos of harness training that you might find helpful: http://www.parrotforums.com/showthread.php?t=59374

 

[Anansi]

And here's a link to the thread when I finally managed to get the harness on Maya. There was a lot of Q&A within that you may find helpful. http://www.parrotforums.com/showthread.php?t=57748

 

[GFGC]

Thank you for the links! I will read up. Charlie and I have been working on "wings," where I will say the word "wing" and then pick up and hold his wing in place. As soon as he starts to get nervous, I click and reward. This, so far, has been proving to be his most difficult "trick." He really wants to bite when I do it, especially his left wing for some reason. In spite of the fact that he doesn't get a treat if he bites, he is still not the biggest fan of having it done and really pushes his tolerance. Usually it takes only a day or two for him to get over any discomfort and accept or at least tolerate me being obnoxious, but this has been a hard one. I know it will take a lot of work, but I'd really like him to have the best life possible and I think trips outdoors would really enrich him. (He has taken them in his carrier, btw)

 

[EnglishMuffin]

Can I just interject with a little advice; juvenile birds will often, out of youth and shyness, tolerate something that they really don't like. When they get older, they will become more headstrong and absolutely NOT tolerate any of it! You may be doing damage to your bird and your relationship with him if you're, as you say, pushing his tolerances. If you can tell he doesn't enjoy something, don't do it. How important really is it for him to hold his wing up?

I made this mistake while harness training my GCC and mistook her youthful tolerance for acceptance. Now she's older she absolutely will not accept her harness. There's no getting around it! Don't push him while he's young. Don't make a big thing of it, or you might end up with the reverse effect!

 

[Mango7218]

The Parrot wizards training videos will probably help you.All my birds are harness trained and wear flight suits.

 

[rosembers]

Your bird is adorable! Our GCC absolutely HATES her flight harness. We tried all the positive, gradual associations since day 1 when she was a hand fed baby that we brought home and she STILL won't have anything to do with it...I have decided to invest in one of those Celltei Pak-o-Bird travel backpacks for safe outings with our baby! It's a win-win for both

 

[JellyBean]

I thought it was just me... I followed the video to the letter.. managed to get the harness on JellyBean... now when he sees it, it ruffles his feathers and runs away. I have tried to associate it with treats and good things.. but zero progress! Lol...

Might try again today...