How do you "unteach" a word to your Macaw Parrot? He keeps calling the name of my beloved dog who passed away

Question

My beloved husky had to be put down today, He was 13yrs old.

Crying and heartbroken my father and I returned home..

my macaw parrot has always called out my dogs name to repremand him for barking. All day my macaw is yelling my dogs name, it is breaking my heart!

How do I "unteach" this from my parrot?

Please help.

Answer 1

There is no real way to "unteach" a bird something he has learned.Just do not reinforce the word when your bird says it.  You must ignore it.  Telling him to stop saying it or telling him no, will just encourage him to keep saying it.  You must not give any reaction at all when your bird say the dogs name.  I had the same problem with my Grey.  That was 3 years ago.  Every once in a while she will still say the dogs name.  I'm so sorry about your dog.  Just remember that your bird is going to grieve too.  They get just as attached to people and other family pets as you do.  Please read my profile

Answer 2

Your bird may never forget the huskys name. He may say it less frequently though now that the dog is gone and doesn't hear it as much.

We have a male eclectus that we got a year ago from a girl who couldn't take care of him anymore...her name was bonnie. When Cosmo first got here he was yelling "Hey Bonnie" several times a day. Now that he has been in my home for a year, he has picked up several new words. I have noticed that I don't hear the "Hey Bonnie" as much. I have a son named John that I yell "Hey John" to through the house. Cosmo now yells "Hey John" alot. He does go through all the words he knows normally twice a day...sometimes you will hear a "hey Bonnie" mixed in there, but not as often. Now I hear "Hey John.....WHAT???...Come here....Good boy cosmo".   it's funny to here him make up a conversation with himself!!!!!

I'm very sorry to hear about your dog...I know that we love all of our animals as they are our "children", I'm sure that you probably felt the same way about your husky. Birds once thay learn a word though they may never forget it...but if they don't hear it said anymore- they may not repeat it as much. If you ever get a new dog...learning and saying the new name may distract him from saying the old one. Your bird may miss your dog too- birds become very adapted to routines. And if your dog was there in his life every day for a long period of time- he is probably wondering what happened. It may take him sometime to adjust to your dog being gone.

Answer 3

to be honest- it sounds like he needs a companion- get him/her other fun friend- put a pic of your beloved doggy next to his cage, he'll recognize him, but you need him to get a new friend, think about it, if you loose a good friend, you look for another good friend- animals are the same way- they need reissurence to make the happy- he''/ she'll never forget there good friend, but the new friend will help them cry, and realive some pain.

Remember all us us like having company,- so get him a new friend.

Answer 4

Really sorry to hear about your dog.  Been there and it's never easy.  As far as 'unteaching' a word - it's not going to happen which is why you should never teach them swear words.  My bird yells at my dogs.  One of my dogs died approx. 3 years ago and Doc doesn't say his name much any more cause he doesn't hear it on a regular basis.  So just be patient, and try teaching him new words so he'll focus on them.