Behavior Works is a veritable treasure trove of important information for people who live with pets, parrots in particular. The site is "owned" by Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., department of psychology at Utah State University where she's been studying and building awareness and tools for understanding animals behavor and creating better relationships between animals and people.
Here's what ths site says about her:
Susan is a psychology professor at Utah State University. Over the last decade, she has helped pioneer efforts to apply to animals the scientifically sound teaching technology and ethical standard of Applied Behavior Analysis that is so effective with human learners.
Susan has given a wide variety of workshops and conference presentations on animal learning and behavior around the world. Students from 22 different countries have participated in her courses, Living and Learning with Animals and Living and Learning with Parrots. Her articles have been translated into 9 languages. Susan is also a core member of the US Fish & Wildlife Service's California Condor Recovery Team and has been nominated for the Media Award, given by the International Association of Behavior Analysis, for her efforts to disseminate to pet owners, veterinarians, animal trainers and zookeepers the essential tools they need to empower and enrich the lives of all learners.
Good woman, huh? She's my idea of a real celebrity, so I must admit I'm a bit star stuck by the fact I even emailed with her as I was getting hooked into her online study group mentioned just below.
On her site are a number of what would consider to be "must-read" articles. I've joined her Parrot Behavior Analysis Solutions online study group which is super. It's run through Yahoo like a chat room - but IT"S NOT A CHAT ROOM. It's very well run and focused -- set up like a class. You need to follow the instructions given, so they can maintain this structure and help more people learn how best to relate their parrots.
I could go on, but fact of the matter is, everyone who lives with a parrot needs to read her stuff, read the stuff she recommends, and join the web study group. I believe "just do it" is the appropriate phrase here.
Birdie Byte:
Susan recommends everyone with a parrot, and / or other animal companions, or even a kid or husband, read Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. I'm reading it now, and it's fab for sure. Well written, good sense of humor, matter-of-fact and important. Buy it.
I have been an animal trainer for the last 7 years, working mostly aquariums and zoos, and Don't Shoot the Dog is Always required reading. Karen Pryor has written several books, but that one is one of the highest regarded books on the subject. Incidentally, if you enjoy that book, then check out Lads Before the Wind, which is a book she wrote about her career at Sealife Park in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out. Thanks. WOuld love to hear more about your work as an animal trainer!
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ReplyDeleteCurrently I am a partner in a pet training business in north Florida. In the past I have worked at several marine mammal facilities including Sea World and Miami Seaquarium with a variety of species. I believe that the basic principles in Pryor's book can be applied to any animal training situation (regardless of species, history, etc.) Training, and its application to a variety of different species is a main theme of my blog: The Feather Dorm (thefeatherdorm.blogspot.com)Feel free to start a dialogue on the subject of training or parrots anytime. I have more years of experience as a trainer than a parrot owner, so I am always excited about new parrot insight!
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