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47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
Essential equipment!
Mattie Sue Athans' "Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot" is honestly an essential piece of equipment for anyone keeping companion parrots. If you have a cage, dishes for food and water, appropriate toys and a real desire to live in peace and harmony with your companion bird, your next purchase should be this book. At under $10.00, it may just be the best money...
Published on March 24, 2000 by Debora Keller
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Good info that's maddeningly disorganized
This woman seems to know her stuff. At least, she writes in an authoritative way. However, the biggest obstacle is finding what you want to know in the book. It's not a thick book by any means, but to give you an example of what I mean, you'll find a very insightful tidbit of information on preventing screaming (my bird's specific problem) in the middle of the...
Published on December 5, 2003 by J. Whitt
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47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
Essential equipment!, March 24, 2000
Mattie Sue Athans' "Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot" is honestly an essential piece of equipment for anyone keeping companion parrots. If you have a cage, dishes for food and water, appropriate toys and a real desire to live in peace and harmony with your companion bird, your next purchase should be this book. At under $10.00, it may just be the best money you will every spend on your bird.In writing this book, Ms. Athan has captured and shared some very subtle concepts relating to parrot psychology. A parrot is not a dog or a cat . . . its not even a mammal. Although keenly intelligent, their minds do not function like ours. Parrots possess an "alien" intelligence. Their behaviors stem from millions of years of evolution in a society completely unlike our own human world. The wonder of parrots is that they can so successfully cross over from their world to ours and establish meaningful, caring connections with the humans in their lives. (I wonder how many of us could do the same?) Ms. Athan's inate respect for all of the creatures she shares her life with is a constant thread throughout her book and is surely one of her secrets to success on so many levels. Please consider adding this book to your collection.
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
A "Must" for Parrot Owners, March 22, 2000
I have just purchased and read the Second Edition of "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" by Mattie Sue Athan. I had owned and used the First Edition of GTAWBP for years, until some erstwhile "friend" borrowed it and never returned it. I won't make that mistake again.There are few books on any subject that can be termed "Must Read," but anyone who owns or is even considering owning a parrot "MUST" buy and read and refer to this book time after time after time. If there ever was an essential "owners and operators manual" for a pet psitticine (parrot), then this book is it. It doesn't matter if you are brand new to parrot ownership or somewhere into your fourth decade of being owned by parrots, this book always has some new kernel of knowledge on a companion bird that the author says "has the intellectual intelligence of a human three year-old and the emotional development of a human two year-old." The GTAWBP covers all bases of parrot ownership - from socialization to behavioral development to how the owner must adapt to a complex and intelligent bird that will claim an equal share in any relationship. This is a book that needs to be read cover-to-cover and then kept close at hand for behavioral and interactive situations that will come up during a lifetime relationship. GTAWBP is a reference book that deserves an annual re-read, just to keep ideas and theories fresh in the owner's mind. Now, keep in mind that this is a second edition of a best seller that was first published in 1993. GTWBP has probably been through a couple of printings in its First Edition, but when the publisher anticipates a continued long life for a book like this, the author is asked to put out a second edition. This new edition gives the author the chance to incorporate new ideas, theories, details, and pictures that are available after the first edition was published. It's a tribute to Mattie Sue's ability and wisdom that about 80 percent of the Second Edition of GTAWBP is unchanged from the first edition. Mattie Sue (I wonder if anyone ever does refer to her as "Athan.") has changed and improved on her first edition advice on how to handle a biting parrot. She has changed some of the endearing stories at the end of the book, and she has utilized more and even better photographs and illustrations in the second edition. All of these changes add to the value of this book. On a personal note, the normally camera-shy author, who used to publish only pictures of her hands in her books, has turned into a virtual model, with at least 3 untitled pictures of herself in the new edition. The trick is still to figure out "Where's Mattie Sue?" I did spot one instance where an unknowing photo editor showed the wrong species bird in a photo, but that fix will have to wait for the third edition. In summary, the second edition of "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" is well worth the purchase price, even if someone has yet to swipe your first edition.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
A Great Place to Start...................., May 9, 2001
This is a great book to start with if you are a new parent to a companion parrot or plan on getting one soon. I don't say own a parrot because you never really do. They are all very unique individuals with different personalities, who may come to own you! It goes without saying "Never buy a companion parrot unless you have done a lot of research first." It's a big responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. That said, this is a great book with so much helpful and useful information that is also wonderfully illustratred with color photos of the many species of parrots.There are chapters on "Early Interactions" with your parrot, learning their "Behavior Patterns", their "Behavior Problems", & dealings with any "Aggression" problems, and many other chapters on any problems that may occur. There are even some cute real life stories at the end that will amuse you and may also break your heart. All are meant to be very helpful for your parrot training. Choosing the right companion parrot for you and your loved one can be a wonderful experience, but should be done with a lot of planning, thought and research. Mattie Athan has written one of the best books available to help in this subject. I highly recommend this book as a great place to begin your research or as a refresher course for those experienced companion parrot parents!
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Essential Reading for Everyone who has or wants a parrot, November 2, 2000
This book is absolutely essential for anyone who has a companion parrot or is contemplating getting one. The author provides practical advice and behavioral techniques and interventions that are based upon her own years of experience as well as solid behavioral science. As a clinician trained in behavior modification with humans, I found this book as well as her others absolutely essential reading for anyone who lives with a parrot. I refer to them on a regular basis and can honestly say that they have helped me enormously with my 4 rescue birds. Parrots live a long time-50 or more years for some species. It is important that a proactive and preventive approach be taken so that our lives with them are harmonious and joyful. This book offers solutions for biting, screaming, and just about every problem one may encounter with a companion parrot. I couldn't recommend a book more highly. Get it and you won't be sorry.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Great for establishing a healthy relationship with your bird, August 26, 2002
I've read several parrot books and found this one to be excellent. The book gives great insight into bird behavior and personality traits. As a new African Grey owner and novice to birds in general, I wasn't sure if my bird was exhibiting "normal" behavior. The book helped me realized that behaviors aren't random but rather an indication of an emotion the bird is experiencing. After reading this book you won't take body language for granted; instead, you'll view it as a clue of what's going on in your fid's "bird brain!" The book helped me realize my bird is happy, well-adjusted and very normal. I've made a conscious effort to follow recommended techniques and find that they work. The book has definitely helped me foster a close relationship with my bird while helping me define boundaries that are important for a peaceful future with the new member of my household. The book also helped me commit to exposing my bird to a variety of experiences and people so he'll be calm and sociable in a variety of circumstances. I highly recommend this book... especially if you're interested in bird psychology.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
At last a pet book that really delivers what it promises!, July 26, 2001
I admit I was skeptical about this book when I bought it, but I needed to know why my parrot was acting the way he was and how to stop it. After reading this book and trying their suggestions my bird is already showing me more love and affection than before. They guide you through everything from grooming needs, how to handle aggression and biting, to how to help the other pets in the house adjust peacefully to your companion parrot. What I found really helpful about the Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot was that they offered several ways to approach and handle a situation while explaining the motivation behind your bird's behavior. They take into account differing bird temperaments and human lifestyles and the result is an easily read, usable hands-on manual on bird behavior. What a great book! I recommend it to any bird owner, new or old. It's never too late to get on the right track.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Really Good Parrot Behavior Book, July 22, 2000
By A Customer
I just bought this book a few days ago and I love it! I am a soon to be parront, and it gave me a good insight on parrot behavior. It also covered a few other interesting topics, such as potty-training, getting a shy parrot to like petting, and proper bathing. I loved this book, and I'm sure you will too!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent and a must have for bird owners., September 11, 1999
By A Customer
This book is so instrumental in teaching the owner how to interact with a parrot/bird. If you follow the teachings you will have a very well adapted addition to your family!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
A Must Have For Any Bird Owner, December 16, 1997
By A Customer
This book is a must have for anyone considering buying a companion parrot. It is also a great resource for those who already live with birds and sometimes find themselves at wits end. Mattie Sue Athan explains, in easy to understand language, how to raise a well adjusted pet, and what to do when they need a little re-alignment. She gives the kind of insight that a bird owner would spend hundreds of dollars to get from an avian behaviorist. I am sad to hear that other readers took the "Cats and Birds can be friends" message so literally. The author was merely stating that when two species are reared together from infancy, that they will bond to each other as if they were siblings. This was not a reccomedation to introduce Tweety to your 10 year old housecat Felix. This book is a must have for any bird owners library. I've read my at least 20 times, and I learn something new each time.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
A very good beginner book!, March 26, 2007
My hubbie decided to petsit his uncle's macaw but we had no idea why she acted the way she did. She would screech loudly, try to bite us, & if we tried to get her down from our shoulder she would run to our back. We needed information. This book didn't disappoint! Chapter 2 was a treasure trove of information. It had games you could play with your parrot, also how to get your parrot to stop biting. The wobble correction method is what we have been using. Chapter 3 was about developing behavior patterns. This chapter was great in helping us realize height does matter. We were letting Baby D(parrot's name) get on our shoulder and also letting her roam on the top of her cage. She was getting very aggresive and we couldn't understand why.Letting her spend time in places that were high was making her think she was the boss. Chapter 5 Common behavior problems talks about dealing with screaming, chewing, and boredom in birds. It also talks more about the height factor. Chapter 7 talks about reading parrot body language and the pitfalls of leaving your parrot home alone all day.
I learned alot by this book. Parrots are alot of responsibility but they are also lovable. I know they have times when they screech and scream but if you follow this book you should you should have a better behaved parrot most of the time. I see some impovement already in baby D. This book has loads of information that should help you understand all about your new parrot.
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