Long time no see! An Alfie Update

[neoow]

Hi all,

Many apologies for being absent from the forums for a while. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster year and that's even without the pandemic. However, I'm pleased to report that Alfie has been doing REALLY well. For those of you that have read my previous posts you may remember that Alfie suddenly took a disliking to me around March/April last year. I think this was caused by a lot of upheaval due to decorating other parts of the house and having lots of people coming and going to help decorate the upstairs rooms plus two different flooring fitters and all the noise/commotion that comes with it. The cats had to share the living room with Alfie for a while (to keep them out of the paint cans!) so it meant his time out of the cage was reduced for a few weeks. I also decided to have my hair cut a heck of a lot shorter around the same time plus he had been particularly hormonal earlier that year too. So lots of changes in a short space of time. He became really wary of me and on a couple of occasions he would fly to the back of my head and bite me, which he has never done before. He also kept lunging at my hands and wouldn't accept his favourite treats from me or offer his head for scritches anymore.

Fast forward to now and I believe things are heading in a much better direction for Alfie and I. We have been working hard to improve our relationship and the trust between us and it is paying off. I have been trying to do some structured training with him, so some recall training, teaching him to wave and also trying to learn some colours (red, blue, green, yellow). This has REALLY helped him get over whatever fear/anger he held towards my hands. In the space of about two weeks- maybe three- I was able to start giving him treats by hand again. He will land on my hand/wrist but still shimmies up my arm given half a chance. But he no longer lunges at my hand as soon as it's anywhere near him and will happily take treats without trying to bite me first. I have even managed to give him some head scritches a couple of times now too- although we're still not back to where we were on that one. Alfie will also fly to me to come and sit with me again - whereas for the last few months he hasn't been interested.

I've really enjoyed watching how he's progressed over the last couple of months or so and how keen he is to train. I'll have to come up with some more things to teach him at this rate because he's absolutely smashing the recall training and waving. He's still working on his colours but he's keen to give it a good go. 

[Timbersmom]

So glad to hear you and Alfie are getting back to "normal" and to see you post! Merry Christmas to you and Alfie and a blessed New Year

[Ray P]

Oh the things that seam to effect our Greys and the time it takes for them to get over it is something us grey owners or excuse me ( care takers ) have had to learn to live with.

Boy the lessons they teach us.

Love the pic.

Edited December 21, 2020 by Ray P

[LNCAG]

You show such wonderful devotion to all your pets!  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!  Scritches to the cats (and just give Alfie a virtual neck scritch from me -- no point in testing his patience too much)!!!! 

[SRSeedBurners]

Ahhh....what a good lookin Alfie.