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Archive for May 29th, 2008

This article will talk about how to train a lovebird and 3 fun tricks you can teach your lovebird. There are a lot more tricks that you can teach them, but the tricks below are a few basic ones you can start with. Before starting your lovebird tricks training you will want to be comfortable handling your bird, especially if they have any behavioral issues, like biting or fearfulness; it is important to address these things before attempting to teach them the tricks below.

1. Wave: A lovebird can learn many tricks, but if you are just getting started you should start with something simple like the wave. To train them to do the wave, simply ask them to wave and help them hold their foot up. Reward their behavior and keep doing this until they have lifted it on their own. You can reward them with praise and/or treats, just remember to be consistent with the rewards and pretty soon all you will have to do is say the word “wave” and they will do it.

2. Spin: Once you have successfully taught them to wave, you can move on to doing a spin. To get them to spin, use something as a focal point, like a pencil, and have your bird follow the pencil around in a circle. As they turn, say the word “spin” and reward them after they have gone all of the way around. Do this many times until your bird starts to catch on and will do the spin on their own.

3. Flip: A flip may or may not be possible at first; some birds do them on the perch and others can do it while laying in your hand. If you use the hand technique, you will first have to get them lying comfortably on their back in the palm of your hand. To do this, start small and tilt your bird varying degrees with lots of love after each tilt. Once they are comfortable on their back, help them flip over by pushing gently on their tail. Say the word as they go over and reward with a treat each time. With a lot of practice, your bird will start doing this trick on their own when you say the word “flip”.

This article talked about how to train a lovebird and 3 tricks you can start to teach your lovebird today, provided that you have a bird that you can handle with confidence. Some lovebirds have issues that need to be dealt with before any tricks can be attempted; biting or aggressive behavior must be fixed first before tricks can be taught. Once you are comfortable with your bird, teaching them to wave, spin or even do a flip should be fairly easy to do.

Although Golden Retrievers are very sociable, lovable dogs many of them end up in rescue centers each year for a variety of reasons. These centers are typically run by volunteers who care for the dogs until a new owner is found. You may have wondered if golden retriever adoption is a good option for you. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of adoption and where you can find your dog if you do choose to adopt.

Should I Adopt a Golden Retriever?
The first question to ask yourself is whether adoption is a good path for you. If you have no dog ownership experience then you should not adopt a dog. Many of these Goldens have been mistreated and require good dog handling and training skills to make them well balanced retrievers again. Also you need to be certain that you are committed to long term ownership otherwise the dog will not be much better off in the long run. If you have owned dogs successfully in the past – ideally Golden Retrievers then you should definitely consider adoption. You will be putting your skills and experience towards improving one more dog’s life.

Why Do Goldens End Up in Rescue Centers?
Many abandoned dogs come from less responsible breeders who breed more puppies than they can sell. Some come from owners who neglect or mistreat their dogs. Sometimes it isn’t the owners fault for the dog’s position – the owner may be forced to move house or change locations where keeping a dog isn’t feasible.

Places Where You Can Adopt a Golden Retriever
There are two main places where abandoned Goldens end up: animal shelters and breed rescue centers. Animal shelters cater to a wider variety of pets (mostly cats and dogs) whereas breed rescue centers are places for just one particular breed of dog. If you don’t have one particular breed in mind animal rescue centers would be a good place to look. You would be able to select from a range of dogs and find the best one regardless of breed. If you are set on adopting a Golden Retriever then you should definitely contact breed rescue centers in your area and view some of the dogs. In most rescue centers the dogs still receive plenty of care from volunteer owners who often run foster homes for the dogs. If you do decide to adopt a dog, you will have to submit an application and you will receive a house visit to make sure you can provide a good home for your new dog.

For more information on golden retriever adoption check out my site at www.goldenretrieverinstruction.com where you can learn more about golden retriever adoption and how to be successful in your adoption application.