Apollo Training with his Sisters

Kinda' what our daily practice looks like. The sisters are super distracting for Apollo, and we usually work with them separately. We try to keep questioning light-hearted and without punishment. Apollo is really close to learning the label for "Croc," so we're really trying to finish that one. You can definitely see his confusion dealing with croc/cork/rock.
And I guess now SHROCK.
Apollo is our 3 year-old African Grey parrot we've had since December 2020.
Founder of Shrock and renowned GLASS connoisseur.
Follow us to see what happens when you raise a talking parrot as a human!
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[@notlucyb]

Apollo going to get snacks himself: *Become ungovernable.*

[@yourheartlightreiki]

LOL 😆

[@happycamper3561]

Apollo needs some blue face paint while yelling FREEDOM

[@JemmaHevrinAndApoCalrissian]

Lmao

[@rachel_logan]

😂

[@RainAngel111]

Seize the means of production

[@HouseOfFunQM]

Having cork, crock, and rock must be confusing the shit out of him haha. It’s adorable.

[@rootkhan3254]

one day he'll get fed up and just start calling everything pistash lmfao

[@Boppin.]

@@rootkhan3254 wanna pistache

[@_Cfocus]

Yeah i think he complicates it its best to avoid similar words

[@sven7529]

@@_Cfocus I think its smart to make him recognize similar words well

[@Auremin]

And let's not forget Shrek

[@uzul42]

Soleil, what is your name? Ophelia, what is your favorite color? Apollo, what is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[@livelybubbs6242]

African or European?

[@RockandRollWoman]

I would have been soo disappointed without that response!

[@jeremybrown5096]

"Where'd ya get the coconuts?"

[@ivorellarackley4401]

​@@livelybubbs6242well I don't know thAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[@fahadalsubaie8073]

@@livelybubbs6242 how do you know these things?

[@JohnnyBGoode9]

Take note if you're considering a parrot as a pet: this is the level of stimulation they need. Daily. For decades. Most people who have parrots simply shouldn't.

[@k2p104]

You are absolutely right. I've often considered getting a bird, but i can't probide what they need. A lot of people don't get, how hard it is to properly care gor them.

[@MizzyG37]

I would love one but the level of care they require I couldn’t give,.

[@chalkycherries]

i admire the restraint of people who'd love to own a parrot but understand the limitations of their time, lifestyle, etc. they're making a good decision about a bird's potential quality of life :)

[@lillm6874]

True! And they also make loud sounds 🦜

[@oberonpanopticon]

I know next to nothing about birds, but this seems fairly intensive, since it’s not like anyone is training them when they’re in the wild. Then again, I guess the wild has a lot more stimulation than an average human household.. (in case I’m dumb enough that anyone is concerned, worry not, I am not planning on getting a parrot, nor have I ever)

[@Catherine_Yong]

Apollo seems impatient today... I wonder if he's annoyed seeing the girls get rewarded for doing less than him

[@ApolloandFrens]

He's definitely somewhat frustrated being so close on "croc" (he said it properly a few times over the day). We offered him ez tricks for pecan pieces, but he refused. Though he still might be jealous to some degree.

[@jeeperspeepers1262]

@@lubnah3521 He’s fine shut up

[@IM_THE_GOOBLER]

@@ApolloandFrenshe probably thinks it’s easier for himself if he earns small pistachio pieces

[@SherriEARose]

I thought the sane thing. He’s Very Intelligent Doesn’t seem fair 🥰 Love you, Apollo

[@ETANancyO]

That was one of my thoughts too. Just now reading yours lol! Like minds!

[@Coldkill2001]

I imagine its frustrating for apollo that he's in the advanced class and has to do more to earn his snacks.

[@pinkkam]

I mean, he could still shake for a pecan, but he's used to the finer things now

[@quantumblauthor7300]

Gifted moment

[@gentlesoul221]

@@quantumblauthor7300 I was just thinking this. "This is just describing me in the gifted program."

[@julianbrelsford]

@gentlesoul when I was in a gifted program, they put us in separate rooms from each other. My sense of this video is that Apollo is frustrated, Dalton is frustrated, Tori seems bored (enough to throw a shell once) and everybody's not quite clued in to their own feelings of frustration. The French language comments I saw on this video, I'd paraphrase as "don't work the birds so hard, they're not enjoying themselves" which seems to apply to Dalton as well 😄 keeping in mind learning slows down when nobody's having a good time

[@SantokiYama]

That’s why he gets some answers wrong on purpose so he lowers the testing curve for the others 😂

[@italia113]

I love how he won't accept pecans, only pistach

[@TheCookieCrums1]

If it's not a pistash It won't pass

[@Zamollius_the_Holy]

A true man of culture!

[@darlenekorson3716]

He doesn't like them.

[@K3NnY_G]

Man they always say these birds require a lot of attention and this dude genuinely puts in the work.

[@LaurelLavin]

YES! I shows the work it takes to lovingly communicate when you are a teacher. So much voice control and positive calmness. I don't often see this level of of excellence with teachers or parents.. being impatient is way faster. But selfish. Dalton and Tori are Masters at demonstrating the best way for as anyone to learn!

[@AmeliaHirna]

I watched Apollo for years and now I teach English as a foreign language. I catch myself saying "What colour?" to kids in the same intonation that Dalton does with Apollo 😭

[@willcormier8485]

Which I suspect is why you never see his birds have pulled all their feathers out and stuff.

[@solarflare2722]

4:52 "You're scared of crocs...really?" LMAO, that's so relatable as a bird owner. I'll just be walking passed, wearing a hat and my bird will FREAK OUT

[@murphychurch8251]

Worse even, bird heaven forbid, if I wear a SCARF 🐦😱 I keep budgies, and they're still genetically programmed to be scared shitless of anything that resembles a snake. A broomstick, a yardstick, a cable, me wearing a scarf or a pair of suspenders, it's all evil and causes a panic attack. 🙈

[@shoepanda]

lmao yes xD Like a string of 5 or six of those

[@quokka_11]

Shrek-Rock-Cork-Croc is absolutely the master class.

[@k2p104]

But i'm sure he'll make it.

[@Unnamed922]

S H R O C K

[@quokka_11]

@@Unnamed922 Good bird!

[@who4743]

@@quokka_11 🤣🤣🤣

[@kingofdragons7]

Master glass*

[@MelpomeneAlchemist]

He's rebelling, it's adorable.

[@vanessagregory8835]

Maturity brings independence.

[@libertyjustice4847]

Exactly! I get the strong feeling he just doesn't feel like it right now lol. Like a toddler...

[@vanessak69]

Ophelia and Soleil are such polite little ladies.

[@Carissa.I]

It makes me smile stupidly when I watch apollo answer some questions correctly with ease yet still give wrong answers with such confidence!

[@Gummy_Pop.]

He just wants his pistash 🤣

[@Carissa.I]

@@Gummy_Pop. 😂 anything for pistash!

[@ritacleveland4015]

!

[@memejeff2]

He is jealous of the others

[@possibly_trustable]

I like how he treats apollo like a learning child and treats the others like dogs

[@astro_penguin_]

yeah greys are just miles ahead

[@-inFinity05-]

Soliel holding her hand up for a shake while you’re working with Apollo is adorable…

[@ruthhopeful1405]

He is getting smarter day after day. When he is 7 you need to send him to school. Imagine putting some nuts in his backpack and his books.

[@Tyrrituil]

He would no doubt have a Wario backpack

[@lee-annecollinsuk]

@@Tyrrituil and a Shrek lunchbox

[@graphicanne]

I’m cracking up picturing him shuffling off with his tiny Wario backpack & Shrek lunchbox filled with pistachios! It takes a tremendous amount of dedication to train them! Keep up the GREAT work!!

[@ruthhopeful1405]

@@graphicanne Now imagine he sits close to the window and it is a quiz day. Everybody is focusing on the questions and it starts raining outside, Apollo: pour water

[@graphicanne]

@@ruthhopeful1405 that would be a scream! I’ve got a whole name for his school picked out & everything! My imagination runs wild! Apollo & all Greys will go to school at an exclusive school solely for the higher learner of these special birds! Grey’s Andragogy

[@norbitical745]

His sisters are adorable. Apollo out here going "cork" and Solei and ophelia are waddling around going "oo :D"

[@Here_This]

So cute , one girl was asked to spin around and both did . 🥰

[@MatchaFurbies]

I love that when you asked Soleil to do a spin, Ophelia did one too, so cute!

[@gassedd]

im blown away by how fast apollo is learning, i can't even imagine his knowledge & intelligence in the coming 10-20 years. really reminds me of dr pepperberg and alex, however sadly alex had passed much sooner than anticipated and much deeper training wasnt reached. i hope apollo holds on strong because this is the genuinely one of the strongest verbal connections between humans and animals i've ever seen

[@beef4899]

african greys are one of the smartest birds

[@matek1704]

He's gonna ask owner about things

[@Manticorn]

I just saw a video of him talking to himself, telling himself to calm down. It was so close to human that it almost creeped me out. Now I feel like I need to get myself used to the idea of holding conversations with birds....

[@julianbrelsford]

Apollo is super smart but I don't think his intellectual/emotional development will go beyond human "toddlerhood" as suggested by other researchers working with smart birds. I see Apollo having gotten the basics of English grammar (i.e. he speaks the words in the right order and uses sentence structure to cue himself in to which words are important or unimportant in a sentence!) but I also saw him having trouble with sentences that have multiple nouns, for instance (like "the bug is IN the bottle")

[@ericah6546]

Apollo Is like "why do I answer 2 questions to get a "pistach."?" "Those girls only have one question for food. I'm just going to treat myself." 😂

[@Megan-cd6sh]

So often I see people not doing their best with their animals and it is always so disheartening. I have just randomly found this channel and it is such a pleasure to see people who are truly dedicated to providing the stimulation, training and environment needed for birds to thrive and live their best lives. Your birds look incredibly happy and healthy! Great job to you guys, you are setting an incredible example for how to do things right.

[@Wandervenn]

Apollo: They just have to spin in a circle and this man keeps making me say Shrock.

[@quincyisrandom7487]

9:32 When Apollo's had enough and starts saying the opposite of what he needs to 😂😂😂

[@namelessnavnls8060]

I love that Ophelia likes to shake her treats before chowing down. Lol.

[@mellifluous_victoria]

All 3 of them are cuties! It’s funny to see Apollo get seemingly bored/restless lol.

[@Jibberish55]

I liked the string of "what made of" where he answered every single one incorrectly. It felt very intentional and rebellious 😂

[@smudgerat9624]

My favourite part is when Apollo turned it around and started quizzing his human. And you performed so well, bring him all the right things when he said them!

[@huntaway]

I love the patients and gentleness you show Apollo when he is getting frustrated or distracted. The part where you "train" with Tori is a fantastic example of demonstrative learning and it made me so happy, especially when Apollo seemed to get back into training afterwards. I love your videos so much, you both make wonderful bird parents

[@geoben9801]

I like how he answered ; "That's a rock" instead of just saying rock. He knows proper grammar better than some people... 👍😊

[@FlorianEagox]

I started losing it when you gave Tori a pistache! Sounded so natural for you both hahahah

[@ShortForMitchel]

Apollo's unwillingness to engage with the training in this video reminds me of when I decided I wanted to teach my cats three-card monty and I started off with one bowl and tried to teach them to touch it to get the treat underneath. The cat that usually barely engages with tricks got it down no problem, but the other one just couldn't/wouldn't do it. He also stopped doing either of the two tricks involving his paws that he already knew for a few weeks until I started teaching them high-five.

[@vickigonya9432]

Apollo sees you give the snacks after 1 or 2 things but he's has to do 3 or 4. He sees the injustice of it. Smart bird

[@TaynaLaniya]

0:36 "SHROOOCK" so funny 😄

[@PointsofData]

Its a foolproof answer. Close enough to cork, croc, rock and shrek lmfao.

[@Gummy_Pop.]

He said it at 7:00 as well 🤣

[@Washougalite1]

I've been around Greys for many years in my life and Apollo is so playing him. He knows exactly what he's doing 😂

[@LaurelLavin]

I have a Grey and am a Special Ed teacher of 30 years with behaviorally challenged students and you are So Right. He is totally messing with him. Ty out have to be really smart to be in the middle to f with your lessons AND have an incredible sense of humor. You can clearly see the difference in intelligence hear. I wonder, are these two Special Ed teachers? Their voice tone and control is perfect in this video. So many times some teachers don't realize that it's their voice tone and lack of patience is what creates or feeds a lack of confidence in kids. All kids and animals should be spoken to with this level of professionalism, consideration and love. My favs are Wario and Shrek for for rock. He's so happy and funny even when he want to mess with Mr. Tori.

[@annabanana7298]

I want this man teaching human children! He is so kind and patient!

[@schawangus]

Every time he gets something right, I giggle with pure joy. Same with Soleil and Ophelia but even more so.

[@scobeymeister1]

Watching this really drove home to me just how like us these birds really are. I see a frustrated kid who doesn't feel like cooperating right now. He's having to learn a kind of language his brain isn't hard-wired for like ours are and it's a lot to overcome. He can do it, cognitively, but can't handle it emotionally. And going for the food on the floor? Classic smartass kid move right there. Like intellectually I was fully on board with the non-human personhood of other species, but I guess I needed a push to get there emotionally. Keep at it, y'all. You're doing some amazing work.

[@quantumblauthor7300]

🫵YOUR vibe is impeccable, animals and people is same

[@100nanay]

I had this video playing in the break room at work and my co-workers were glued to the screen!!

[@kimlersue]

Apollo is in the mood to tell you..."what you're called." lol

[@gray5828]

I love his refusal to acknowledge the miniature black Croc. Same

[@melissasiegel9682]

Training requires so much patience. This video made me feel a little better about my challenges in training my small puppy!

[@KrautMorgan]

Love the vid. Next should be - “Apollo, vacuum couch”

[@notareallifetiger4817]

Tori getting a pistach 😂

[@BlueZirnitra]

This is actually crazy. What amazing creatures. Apollo identifies objects quicker than me.

[@tthomaselli2]

I had to laugh at 6:43-6:46, personally... The way Apollo says "Wario." is too cute.

[@chasetonga]

Whomever the furniture manufacturer is of your couch should sponsor you. That couch is holding up to the bird claws, beaks, and poop.

[@goodmorningbeautifulhumans1638]

Apollo needs an environment where he’s the only one, like all of us with ADHD 😂

[@sneakysquid62]

You know it!

[@Sam-loves-you-all]

Not necessarily, they are very social creatures.

[@tarag7386]

Shrock makes my life better 🤣

[@LaurelLavin]

Wario is my cryptonite. He kills me with that

[@plane15man]

I can only read Shrock in Apollo's voice

[@melstiller8561]

I really enjoy watching your training videos! They show how much work, dedication, consistency, and love both of you put into your interactions with your beautiful feathered children. ❤ 😍

[@madelinecassidy6804]

Such patience for both trainer and trainee. Love this family of sweet birds!

[@Niels596]

It is a great bird and a great project. There is more meaning in these efforts than caught at first sight.

[@jikook7457]

Well, I wouldn't have gotten the first pistachio. I thought the rock was a potato lol

[@goaway5297]

Alex the grey used to do that too - if they were in a mood they'd only answer more difficult or interesting questions.

[@Naomi-pd9ps]

Apollo is so cute!! i have 2 african greys. one is almost 30 the other 1 yr. i'm saying this very respectfully because I know you love him but Apollo is eating a lot of pistachios. they really only should have no more than 2 per day.my older grey has artherosclerosis and heart disease at least some of this is due to eating too many nuts when he was younger because we didnt know it was bad for him .African Greys can get picky when given too many treats then they wont eat their pellets and veggies which should be 90 percent of their diet. the breeder I got my last Grey from uses very small bits of pecans to flight train the Greys, Greys can get fat from too many nuts which leads to health issues.

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Shruck! 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂❤️....These people are Awesome, and could have their own comedy and talent show.

[@Gummy_Pop.]

"Welcome to Birbs View you only pay in pistashes" 🤣🐦

[@Queer-GonJinn]

“Buy 1 ticket, get 1 free! Discounts for all people that use expensive pistachios! 50 pistachios per ticket 25 expensive pistachios per ticket Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiits Apollo and his trainer here, looking to find something to use, anyone have metal we can borrow?..”

[@kitkat5765]

It's so interesting to see him distracted! I do wonder if croc/cork/rock are all too close to one another in sound to fully get (and if it's just a sound production problem vs. a cognition problem or what). They're beautiful birds!! (As an aside, have you ever published anything about how you tell Soleil and Ophelia apart? They look identical to me but I don't have any caique experience.)

[@ApolloandFrens]

It's definitely a sound production issue, he understands the minor phonetic differences easily. Aside from her injured toes, Ophelia has black skin around her eyes instead of the typical pink like Soleil has.

[@Nilon241]

@@ApolloandFrens She has an injured toe? :(

[@usmc72409]

@@ApolloandFrens also correct me if im wrong but ophelia has a small piece of yellow on her wing shoulder area and soleil has orange

[@usmc72409]

@@ApolloandFrens have u ever learned anything about indian ringnecks?

[@4sety]

My bad if you already know this, but parrots don't have vocal cords so producing these sounds requires them to get the muscle memory down in their throat since they flex throat muscles to produce sounds instead.

[@D3mentdDuck]

Apollo's attention was definitely off lol. The little birdies are so cute😭

[@Avarice666]

You need to get a picture of The Rock and put it on the rock 😂

[@laurahewett4857]

lol

[@ETANancyO]

Apollo seems to get tired of the word games that go on in length and I'm wondering if shorter training times might work better for him. He does better at the beginning of these than later. Also he's very smart and I think he notices that the girls only have to do one thing to get a treat and he has to do three. More fairness training and less grueling sessions in his eyes might, lend to more and longer cooperation.

[@cpoguemahone]

Apollo and the caques never cease to amaze me. I love your and Tori's dedication to the birbs! Apollo blows my mind! ♥️♥️♥️

[@luvrgrl32]

The amount of chaos in this video is amazing 😂

[@MeatBunFul]

I love apollo's grunting 😂

[@karenmarshall8354]

I think Apollo wants the day off. Time for recess.😊💕

[@charisma1349]

What’s up with the tiny crocs? Adorable 🥹

[@PointsofData]

I think they're baby crocs

[@B_Y92]

Apolo is so cute 🤍 I think he does all the wrong things by intention ❤

[@mookyoh5951]

Apollo knows exactly what he's doing. He feels like he can Goof Off if you're working with the girls. It's so much fun to watch! Thanks guys😊

[@kieribama]

Tory giving the wrong answers had me 💀🤣

[@ppod1349]

Just absolutely blown away by the intelligence of these birds, it really does show how much they understand. Truly amazing! ❤

[@generalgk]

Torri is getting a lot better

[@uribar-ner5055]

I just love your birds...can watch them for hours.

[@KP-zb1tr]

I love that you used the word “obtuse.” The first time I heard it was in Shawshank Redemption. Lol.

[@ks20227]

I loved this. I got so excited for them when they answered the questions correctly. Such lovely and intelligent birds.

[@DjmMik]

You guys are doing a great job training your birds. Apollo is becoming brilliant 👍🏻

[@virtualspooks4778]

Apollo is doing so good that one day he and his sister's shall conquer the world

[@user-tq5ff4ck1k]

What awesome bird parents ! The love birds are beautiful. I love how you train them all.

[@nicelady6369]

I love how they already know they will get a treat for getting it right. This guy is awesome with his training skills.

[@mariamerigold]

Yayyy I love the training videos! Could watch them all day 😍

[@michaelweinstock7952]

Bless you for working so hard with them.

[@lyoness6]

I didn't know I needed a favourite bird but here we are. Yay Apollo!

[@AEArato]

Great training sesh to watch! I love your voice Dalton, you could easily be a voice actor. And Apollo imitates both you and Tori's voices so well. The girls are doing amazing! Thanks for sharing what you do!

[@cynthiastinson7059]

Nice to know the amount of work that goes into his training.

[@dianalee3059]

They are all so beautiful and they love their Dad! You are so good with them

[@sohgirl]

I admire your patience working with Apollo. Love watching these vids!

[@thunderbolts2438]

Apollo thinking this rock and cork is just a crock!

[@takingmyspiritback8060]

your hard work and dedication is admirable, they are all 3 a joy to watch!

[@YvieT81]

I think he was just in a rebellious mood saying everything wrong on purpose 😂

[@sayurisayarojas4652]

All birds of him are intelligent⚘🌹⚘⚘ to them mood. 🥰 Your way of teach them is very effective, congrats🌹👍

[@lorihayes1419]

Apollo just doesn’t seem motivated today but he is a very smart bird. The amount of time and energy devoted to these birds is incredibly sweet and also entertaining for viewers. 🥰

[@wwe666q]

I’m happy i found this channels, having a bad month and these birds are funny

[@alyssaferrell4064]

****I REALLY LOVE HOW WELL THESE BIRDS ARE TRAINED....AND THEY ARE REALLY TALENTED!!! SO CUTE!!😎😎***

[@shaneakirk6931]

Awww very good job treats too you've done impeccable job with all 3

[@oaka7616]

2:31 Hearing Wario randomly always catches me off guard

[@ekkehard8]

Waah!!

[@xen423]

Long videos are my fav. Love you all.

[@drummergurl99]

Them running on the couch sounds so darn cute 🤣🤣🤣

[@lauraleedavid2200]

You are so awesome with your birds.

[@Doylt]

Apollo had a bit of a thousand yard stare when Soleil and Tori got a pistach!

[@jacquelinebraze7630]

Apollo made me laugh! One of the smaller birds made a ploop on the couch and, ignoring you said, "Ooh! She pooped! Soooooo funny!

[@jacieosborne8283]

Apollo is amazing! So smart and absolutely beautiful.

[@Hopefuljourney9]

You’re so good with them. They are adorable 🥰