Book excerpt: KEEP YOUR PARROT STIMULATED AND ACTIVE, AND HE WILL KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED! By nature, parrots are inquisitive, intelligent, and social animals. You can capitalize on these characteristics and obedience train your bird, teaching him behaviors that will make your life and his more enjoyable--behaviors such as stepping on your hand or wrist on command, and going to a designated perch. Then you can progress to teach him all kinds of tricks. He'll love the attention, communication, and socialization. From the essential basics of obedience training to awesome tricks that will amuse and amaze your friends, Parrot Tricks covers: * Techniques to use during the "get acquainted" period * Setting up a training area and using food as a training tool * Training basics such as targeting, luring, and using cues * Necessary obedience skills such as step up, come, perch, and stay * The basic retrieve command, the foundation of many tricks * Simple tricks such as shake hands, high five, kiss, and take a bow * Tricks based on the retrieve command, including basketball, ring on the peg, and stacking cups * Advanced tricks such as pulling a wagon, pushing a grocery cart, raising a flag, and riding a skateboard * Innovative tricks that showcase your bird's natural abilities * Chaining tricks, such as recycling and going to the mailbox * Verbalizations and talking using the Rival/Model Method or the Positive Reward Method * Directions for making simple props With this book, patience, and practice, you'll build your understanding of and relationship with your bird as you build a repertoire of tricks. You can get your parrot to jump through hoops for you--literally!