“Find it” is a game that makes use of your dog’s most extraordinary sense--smell. Sense of smell is used by working dogs to find contraband and to search for disaster victims. You can teach your companion dog to use her nose to find treats and other objects using those same techniques, giving her work to do in your home.

Start simply. “Sit” your dog and show her the treat. Have the dog remain sitting. You may need an assistant as “enforcer” at first. Walk out two steps and place the treat on the floor. Return to the dog and say “Find It”. As soon as your dog is over the treat, praise her. When she picks up the treat and eats it, praise her even more.Consider using the phrase,“good find it,” as praise.

This is not much of a challenge for the dog; the first day’s objective is to associate the behavior with the command. After you have used your handful of treats, you are finished.

Once your dog understands “Find It, “ which can be several minutes or several days, increase the difficulty. With your dog watching, place the treat partly exposed behind a table leg or floor lamp. Return to your dog and send her to “Find It.” When she finds the treat, praise her. 

Gradually make it more difficult, but stick to one room. Once she “Finds It” reliably, have your dog sit in one room while you hide the treat in an adjoining room.  Let your dog sniff your hand and send her to “Find It”. Follow behind her to watch and praise her when she finds it. The dog, using her nose, will amaze you at how quickly the she can find the treat.Give lots of praise.

Teach your dog the name game by selecting two very different items, perhaps a ball and a Kong. Sit on the floor with your dog and the items. Have some treats she likes. Ask her, “Find the ball.” Bounce the ball so your dog pays attention to it. When your dog touches the ball, say, “Good ball!” and give her a treat.  When your dog responds to the ball, lay it on the floor next to the Kong.  Ask your dog, “Where’s the ball?” Praise and reward her when she touches the ball.

If she goes for the Kong, take it away with no comment, and send her after the ball again. This is a critical step in the learning process, and you may need to repeat it several times. After a few successes, stop the training and let your dog relax.

When your dog will pick up her ball from among several items, resume the “Find It” game, having your dog distinguish among items she knows.

Like all parrots, my companions imitate. Two of my parrots talk. Their comments on our daily life amaze me (and my friends). Watching parrots’ dexterous handling of twigs, leaves, and food causes me to envision life in a treetop, surrounded by these creatures so unlike me. The flexibility and strength of the parrot body is perfectly adapted to life in trees in their native habitat.

In a world in which life often seems commonplace, who wouldn’t want a constant reminder of the extraordinary? Who wouldn’t want to touch wild nature?

Having a wild animal in your home is usually not a good idea. For those who are dedicated to giving a parrot a good home life, the burden is big. So are the rewards, in my opinion. The problem is that most people are well intentioned but do not understand the commitment involved. This leads to lots of birds crowding the available shelters.

Discarding birds solves a problem for the discarder, but what a problem for the birds and the community.

At Macaw Landing, reserve a place on the 12:00 noon or 2:00 p.m. tour any day. You’ll see 70 macaws in flight cages (after you insert your earplugs). Take your cameras and your recorders. Director Jack Devine formed Macaw Landing Foundation in 1992 to educate people about macaws and their natural environment. You’ll be at capacity for parrot interaction by the time you leave. Volunteer opportunities are available. Talk with Jack after the tour. (http://www.macawlanding.org)

The Oregon Zoo provides exposure to many exotic birds in their natural surroundings. The lorikeet exhibit is fabulous, if you haven’t seen it. Swainson’s Toucans, not parrots but still interesting, can be seen in the Amazon exhibit. Parrots, including an umbrella cockatoo, appear in their summer bird show. (http://www.oregonzoo.com)

The Oregon Humane Society offers an opportunity to work with parrots in their small animal care program after you complete a volunteer orientation. The next class is on January 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (http://www.oregonhumane.org)

For most parrots and people, an occasional visit is an arrangement that can happily last a lifetime. For those of us who choose to share our lives with a parrot every day, the emotional and financial commitment is huge. Many parrots live 30 years. Some live as long as 80 years. Imagine. The parrot you adopted when you were 12 years old may outlive you.

The rewards can be substantial, but the work of providing an interesting and safe life for a wild animal is difficult. After you look, join a local exotic bird group. Mine is Rose City Exotic Bird Club (Rose City Exotic Bird Club). “Bird-sit” for a friend. Be sure. The birds will thank you.

(Tiny parrot voices speak.) Thank you. Have fun!

P.S.: For information about the activist side of National Bird Day, contact The Animal Protection Institute or the Avian Welfare Coalition.

Children learn kindness through contact with animals. With your children, do something special for your pet and discuss the importance of caring for something other than oneself.