www.flickr.com
|
| www.flickr.com |
| www.flickr.com |
From: shan lung <shanlung9@yahoo.com>
Subject: Using Harness
Just some of my two bit thoughts on the use of harness
on our fids. I am too used to using 'her'as a term ,
so if you got a male, substitute 'him'accordingly. I
find myself incapable of calling our fids as 'it'.
Technical details of harness can be found in the web
page in my signature.
READ THROUGH ALL THOSE LETTERS
UNDER THE HARNESS SECTION TO FOLLOW AND UNDERSTAND THE IDEAS AND THE DANGERS AND HOW NEARLY I GOT IT WRONG AND WHAT I DID TO PUT IT RIGHT.
Harness is no substitute, and will never be a
substitute for good training and bonding with your
fid. The harness is to prevent accidents like
spooking and bolting. Your fid MUST regularly respond
to recall cues before you even think of using harness.
HARNESS IS NOT A DEVICE TO DRAG YOUR FID TO YOU.
Harness will be worse then useless and very cruel to
use on a fid who does not bond with you yet and you
not having the time or patience to train and bond with
her in the first place. Harness is not a quick-fix
for your problems with her. Patience, love and formal
clicker training MUST precede use of harness.
If you need to restraint your fid with towel to wear
harness, she is not ready for harness and neither are
you.
If she does not respond to simple step-up and will not
readily accept your hands on her, neither she nor you
are ready for harness.
Your fid must have been flown and recalled in large
covered space before you even think of using harness.
Controlled flight is a lot more complex than you can
imagine and Murphy is always at your elbow.
If she bond with you and come to you readily when
called and allows you to touch and handle her, and if
you are going out with her, then using harness , WITH
A LOT OF CONSIDERATION FOR HER, will be alright.
It does not matter if she is clipped or not. A
clipped fid can be assisted by wind, or a lot of
fright and can get airborne. Without the training of
flight, flying for her will be terrifying and she will
not be able to fly back to you as much as she may want
to.
HARNESS IS IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE TAKING A BONDED FID OUTSIDE TO NEW AREA, CLIPPED OR UNCLIPPED.
Harness must be acceptable to your fid. If it is
stiff and hard and uncomfortable, she is not going to
tolerate it. You will find it impossible to put it
on.
Harness must be easy to put on and easy to remove. If
you stressed her even if she is nice and good nature
to start with, you will never be able to put the
harness on her on a regular basis.
Harness once put on must remained on. The harness
must only come out when you take it out, OR
If fid gets away from the line, the harness design
must be such that she can have the chance to remove it
herself. My harness line is designed to be an
integral part of the locking system such that without
the line, the harness is readily removed. But I got
to add Tink has not felt compelled to try to remove
that harness even though I left the line off. So my
design is not , repeat, not certified by Tink.
Buckles and fastening clips are not practical, taking
forever to put on, and irritating to your fid to
beyond the point of rebellion.
Usage of spring loaded clip thingy leash to fasten on
the harness is convenient but a big joke to
Tinkerbell. Unless you believe your fid to be so much
more stupid than my Tink, they will find the spring
loaded clip to be a joke that they can remove, at a
time when you least expect. (Click on this to read what Tink
did to me, at a time least expected)
When the harness is on her, act towards her as if she
is not wearing harness at all and that she can fly
away from you.
Never assume anything, check for snags between you and
your fid.
Be paranoid. Check your harness and leash before
putting it on, when using it, and again after taking
it off.
Most of all, be always considerate to her needs and
her mood.
With warmest regards
Shanlung
Joy - wife, Tinkerbell - CAG & surrogate daughter
Never ever hold leash in hand. ALWAYS CARABINER LEASH TO BELT OR TO BACKPACK.
Never ever hold leash in hand. ALWAYS CARABINER LEASH TO BELT OR TO BACKPACK.
FOR DETAILS OF HARNESS AND TRAINING GO TO
TINKERBELL MAIN PAGE
Summary how I got to use harness in my Livejournal here
A more detailed discussion on harnessing your parrot in
Harness for Trish - and to Michelle and other readers here
The fitting of harness - letter to a parrot group
http://shanlung.livejournal.com/18005.html
Never ever hold leash in hand. ALWAYS CARABINER LEASH TO BELT OR TO BACKPACK.