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The most important thing to remember when training a pet bird is that birds are not pack animals like dogs. While birds do live in social groups (flocks), there is no hierarchy and therefore no need to establish yourself as dominant. In fact, negative reinforcement can only harm your relationship with your bird and make training that much harder.
Instead, training should be based entirely on positive feedback in the form of rewards. This doesn't mean you should shower your bird in peanuts every time it cocks its head, however. Reserve food treats for when they are well-earned; otherwise, provide verbal praise and encouragement.
You may want to consider investing in a clicker as a training tool. Clickers are small devices that make an audible "click" when a button is pressed. They are inexpensive and available at most pet stores, usually in the dog supplies section. Some people find that they are helpful as a form of immediate positive feedback when training birds. -
Keep in mind that birds have a short attention span and training sessions should usually be limited to 10 minutes or less. Until your bird becomes accustomed to regular training sessions, you may need to stop after just a few minutes. Never persist in training your bird if it becomes bored or agitated. If this occurs, do something else and wait at least an hour before trying again.
Begin each training session by asking your bird to perform a specific action and demonstrating what it needs to do. Most people teach the "step up" command first, which directs the bird to step onto your extended finger (or arm, for large birds). To teach "step up," gently press your extended finger where the bird's legs meet its body. This will cause the bird to become slightly off balance and automatically begin to step onto your finger. Praise your bird, offer a treat and repeat until you or the bird becomes bored.
It's a good idea to begin each training session by repeating the "step up" command once or twice. This will let the bird know that it is training time, and keeping in practice with this command can be very helpful when you need to move your bird or put it back in its cage. -
From time to time your bird will do something you don't want it to do. The most common problem behaviors in birds are screaming, biting and chewing inappropriate items (such as your clothing). Discouraging this behavior is a two-step process, and it requires a great deal of persistence to be successful.
The most important thing to remember about discouraging misbehavior is that any kind of attention--especially yelling at your bird--will only make the problem worse. The best way to discourage the behavior is to turn your back on your bird, or better yet, leave the room. This is especially effective if your bird tends to scream to get your attention.
Once you've established that the behavior will not be rewarded, make sure to provide your bird with alternative behaviors that meet the same needs. For example, if your bird screams loudly to get your attention, try responding immediately whenever it makes quiet sounds. If your bird chews at the buttons on your clothing, make sure it has a small toy to fiddle with instead whenever you are handling it.
