cutlass5268 Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Hi, I have read so many articles on the subject of teaching to step up I'm going blind. The problem being, they are all geared to younger birds that seem easier to handle or at least have a basic knowledge of the command. My problem is, my CAG is just over 1 year old and I am her second owner. After having her a month and a half, she trusted me enough to scratch her all over, touch her feet and enjoys being on my shoulder leaning against me and resting and walking around a bit. She has flown a few times and crash landed, but luckly not hurt. But ti get her off the floor I have had to let her climb me up to my shoulder, where I keep her until she calms down. But I can't get her to step on my arm or a dowel in order to take her around the house with me. She will only get on my shoulder if I sit on the couch next to her cage and she will come down and stroll around a bit and then eventually step onto my shoulder. Once there she is perfectly content to preen, nibble my ears & watch my goofy kids. But try to get her to step up, no way. As soon as I try she just lowers her head right away to block me or initiate a head scratch, same thing if I use a dowel. How could a bird that would step up for her previous owner seem to have abandoned all thought of repeating it for me? Most reading I have done says to take the bird to another area for training, but if I can't get her to step up, how do I get her to another area? And most likely she would be scared even more as she has not been in other rooms in the house but a couple of times. Do I towel her (not something I have tried yet) to get her into another room to try and train her? Or will she just be mad at me for towelling her? I'm at a loss as to how to even get started on the first very basic step of training. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillyBeanz Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Because you have offered her your shoulder and let her reside there, she is quite happy there and thinks this is "her place". The shoulder is normally progression - after they've accepted the "step up" command. She isn't biting when refusing to step up - so this is a great sign. When she bends her head down, just put your hand under her beak and gently press at her chest area - just to knock her a little off balance - she will probably then reach out and step up as she needs somewhere to go. Sometimes Harvey lowers his head when he can't be bothered (although I don't usually need to ask him to step up - he offers) and I just adopt the measures I have just described. It honestly works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpittman Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 She has you trained well! She wants only to sit on your shoulder and by blocking you and not doing as you ask, you've accommodated her request. She's quick with the training...lol. As Jill said, gently push her off balance with your fingers just above her feet and she will step up. Remember to say step-up for her and praise her when you do. Training the owner is easier for a grey than the owner training the grey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I agree, she had decided your shoulder is a good place to be and has taught you to let her up there,:laugh: ,clever bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 As others have said, she has trained you well. If she is on the floor and wants up, only offer your hand or arm. Stop letting her climb up your body to your shoulder. Use your other arm to block the path up your arm to your shoulder. The shoulder is a privilege, not a god given right. I know it's been a month, but trust is still being built and so are the handling methods your are teaching her for her new house and flock. Treats and praise work wonders on getting a parrot to come around quickly. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlass5268 Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 Thanks. Kind of figured I was being played, but I always have been a sucker for girls! Guess I've been a little naive too, thinking that because she is hand raised, she should be willing to step up even though she may not trust me fully yet. I'll give your suggestions a try, I'm getting better at reading her body language, so I don't get bit to often any more. Except last week when I had to pick her up to stop her from biting holes in the couch :blink: just one more reason to work on the stup up!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Dont mention holes in the couch,sore point in my house :evil: . Charlie thinks its his chew toy.:lol:<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2009/12/06 09:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecodweeb Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 I have a 10 year old female who has come from an abusive home. She still ducks and clucks when you make a fast hand movement or anything goes over her little head (Window wipers in the car were a real nightmare for a time). After 5 months of persistence and bribery, she steps up to an offered hand whether or not you say "step up." If she's hesitant, say sitting on her door, I just reach for Mr. Towel and she throws her foot up. Previous she was taught to step on a covered arm or a stick, which really infuriated me. If I can teach this old girl how to step up in 5 months, I know you can teach a one year old! Karma to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlass5268 Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thanks. I had a bit of a breakthrough on Sunday. I had gotten her another rope purch (cause I can't leave the pet store without something for her), but haven't put it in her cage yet. So I held both ends so it was in a u shape and held it up to her and said up. And damned if she didn't step right on it. Tried it a hundred times with dowels and such with no luck. So we kept practising a few times a day. Yay!! I think she probably liked that it was out of her personal space area, and holding with two hands, it is nice and sturdy. I'll just keep inching my hands closer to her and walking around a bit to get her used to the movement and hopefully have her stepping up on my hand soon. <br><br>Post edited by: cutlass5268, at: 2009/12/09 02:01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Karma to you Dave for finding something to help your grey step up for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecodweeb Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Congrats on the breakthru! I did have to covered my offered hand with a towel and then pull the towel away as Talula would step up on it to retrain her to step on a hand. As I said before, she now steps up for me when I offer my hand. I know you'll get thru to this little one. She's just scared. She's probably been dropped a few times before. Karma to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Good to hear you are making progress, keep up the good work and the patience, keep your training sessions positive and short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuteMandaPanda Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Congratulations on the breakthrough. Hopefully the progress will continue in a positive direction. I can relate to the challenges with step-ups. I'm having the same issue with my Baby, he'll be 2yrs old on Dec 14. His previous owner has him conditioned to step-up on a stick which is good because at least he knows what it means and he can be moved from his cage and relocated, etc. But he lunges and bites at the hand that offers the step-up. I've been working with him and taking many hits but hopefully we'll have a breakthrough one day like you! I'm inspired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlass5268 Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 Thanks eveyone! I'll keep working on her. She's been a bit grumpy today, but she has a ton of pin feathers coming out, so I'm guessing that's why. But she still turns in to a cockatoo just before bed and wants scratches for as long as I'm willing to stand there and give them to her. My favorite time of day!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessdecutie18 Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 It's funny, Yoshi was taught by the breeder and reinforced by us to learn 'step up', and she knows it well. Yet when she is in a goofy bossy mood lately she will back up and turn away from the offered hand and scuttle across her playstand/cage/or wherever she is to run around and then eventually come back and step up. It's like she is saying 'I'll step up when I want to!'. Hold any kind of food in your hand though, and she's on your hand in a instant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Think how little choice they have in their lives, if they don't want to step up once in while then walk away and wait for her to be more receptive. We usually pick them, their cage their food their toys their awakening and sleep times. A clever bird like a Grey wants to have some decision making of their own some times. as long as there is not an urgent need then let have some leeway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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