I hear it all the time - the rumor is that Amazons are such 'nasty' birds that they should all be placed in breeding programs after they exhibit the slightest sign of sexual behavior because they will turn into vicious blood-lusting monsters. If this is true, how come I know so many delightful Amazons that have remained good pets for years and years?

Understanding and solving the puzzles answer lies with the owners and the guidance they have provided their generally excitable psittacine companions. The following are some rules and exercises to keep your pet a wonderful lifelong companion. Understand that the way our pet parrots turn out is essentially the responsibility of their human caretakers. Parrots do not come out of the egg knowing how to become good human companions. It is a totally unnatural predicament for both wild-caught and domestically raised parrots. We need to teach them to be good pets.

Use consistent verbal commands. Get into the habit of saying 'UP' every time you pick your parrot up and 'DOWN' every time you put him down. Keep all verbal commands simple, clear and decisive. The less consistent you are with your verbal commands, the less likely it is that your parrot will follow them. Remember - you are only as good as your last 'UP' command.

Each and every person in the family should develop their own relationship with the parrot by nurturing him and handling him frequently individually and around other family members. Sit together and pass the parrot back and forth, each person using the 'UP' command so that the bird becomes patterned to go from person to person.