Did I just get lucky???

[Kaeurl]

Our grey, Cookie has been with us for 2 months now. He's 8. All of a sudden he has started to not step up on me when he is in his cage. Somebody told me "the honeymoon is over." LOL

 

Last night, I took him into 3 different rooms in our house (away from both his cage and his playstand) and worked simply on "step up" and "step down." I know that I need to get him to do this, and I also know that he def knows how to, because he was doing it all the time before.

 

Anyway... after about 20 minutes of "playing" he started to think about not doing it anymore, and I quit messing with him in an attempt to end our session on a good note. I even gave him the smallest piece of a cinnamon Sun Chip, which we found out he likes quite by accident.

 

This morning he was in his cage being all sweet like he is in the morning, and I went over and opened the cage and told him to step up and he did...right away. I plan on working with him more every day, but do you think I just got lucky, or did my actual "work" do some good yesterday?

[Tari]

Great work. From time to time Que does not want to come out. She well grab my hand and push it away. I take this to mean she is having a bad day and I well let her be.

All I have to do is go over a little later and get her. However she has taken to running up the side and only stepping up from the upside down position. lol

Wonder if latter work will help her any?

[lovemyGreys]

Kaeurl sometimes they are just stubborn ! they know we are asking for step up & point blank refuse ! It's something that must be incorporated in to every day inter action with your grey.

[Kaeurl]

Very funny!! I'm just amazed at how smart they are. I thought maybe Cookie was just having a bad day, so I left him alone the first day, but it quickly became a habit that I wanted to break!

 

I read somewhere to use a perch or stick or something to have your bird step up on that. I didn't really want to do that since I know he's capable of stepping up directly onto my hand.

 

Anyway...my hubby is a drummer, so I tried to use a drumstick to see what would happen, and it totally freaked him out.... so... i sratched that idea. HAHAH

[lovemyGreys]

Kaeurl wrote:

 

Anyway...my hubby is a drummer, so I tried to use a drumstick to see what would happen, and it totally freaked him out.... so... i sratched that idea. HAHAH

:laugh:

 

Yes they are very smart, just continue to ask Cookie everyday,if you have to reward sometimes with a little treat,he then knows step up is fun

[judygram]

They are just like children and are going to try you on this to see how you respond, you passed with flying colors.

[Kaeurl]

Thanks everyone!!

 

Like i said, I let it go for about 4-5 days before I decided if I didn't do something that he was gonna win...and that's just not an option!

 

Of course, now I know all I have to do is put a drumstick in my hand. :whistle:

[MazyAK]

Independent little things, aren't they?

Bruce

[spookyhurst]

I think you did a great job! Taking Cookie to a neutral room to practice step ups was a good idea. It was also good that you didn't push him once he got bored. Training is small chunks of time and ending on a positive note is your best bet.

 

Nikko is terrified of "step up" sticks/perches as well. If she's gotten herself inside a drawer or something and won't come out, I tell her, "I'm going to get the step up perch." As soon as she sees it, she decides it would be a better idea to just get on my hand.