HeatherStrella Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 I went to a pet store a week or two ago and saw a baby CAG. I don't know how old it was...his eyes were *just* showing a tiny bit of grey if you looked closely. From far away, his eyes looked completely black. Anyway, this little cutie was out on some branches and allowed me to pet him anywhere I wanted. He didn't know how to step up yet...but didn't even flinch when I went to pet him. I pretty much pet him on every part of his body exept his vent area. He nibbled my fingers and did a little begging behavior... I'm wondering if it's too late to teach Harrison to accept that kind of touch. Harrison is 18 months old and seems set in her ways already. I know it's my fault for not training her correctly...I'm at the point right now where I'm constantly saynig "I wish I knew then what I know now"....Harrison will allow me to pet her head sometimes but she'll try to bite (not hard) me sometimes too. She'll allow me to put her under my chin...kinda like my neck/chin is resting on her back. She lets me touch her feet a little. Are there any secrets to training to allow touch? Part of the reason I want her to allow me to touch her is in case of emergency...(but I'd also like to cuddle her) I'd like to be able to look at her wings too...to see how they're coming along after our first vet butchered her...she won't let me pull them out to see. Is this just who she is? There's a picture of CD with Caesar where CD is lying down and Caesar is on his back...I wish I could do that with Harrison. Is it too late??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 no, it's never too late from what i've read, you just need lots of time and patience which you already know, you said "i wish i knew then what i know now" well you know it now so do it it will probably just take a little bit longer. 18 months is not that old anyway, she hasn't reached full maturity yet. as for the wing thing, do you have the aviator harness? if so the guy on the DVD has a really good way of training your bird to let you lift it's wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeasarsDad Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Heather.. No, 18 months is still a baby.. I also want you to remember that the baby you were petting will grow up and become much more picky then he is now.. Just because he allows this now doesn't mean he will continue to allow it... Grey's change as they grow... Regarding that photo where you see my and Ceasar.. It just takes getting Harrison on his back one time and petting his face that he will realize it's comfortable.. In my case with Ceasar I just grab him by his body and turn him over.. He complains a bit but he never bites me.. I am lucky that way in the Ceasar has never bitten me or anyone in the house to the point where he draws blood.. I expose Ceasar to LOTS of interaction. I can remember last NEW YEAR.. We had a party at my house where I had like 70 people over.. Ceasar was on his play stand interacting with anyone that wanted to.. He WAS NOT hidden away so as to "keep him calm" Not here.. he has learned that people are not a threat.. and will step up on most anyone that asks him.. We take him to the local Petco all the time.. He comes in the store with us... and of course, steps up on all the store employees.. They love Ceasar and have commented many times that it's unusual for a Grey to be so calm.. I don't see it that way.. I see it where I am showing him there is NO threat.. He understands. I don't stop.. He is constantly interacting with anyone and everyone that comes into the house... I am very physical with Ceasar.. meaning that I grab him, touch him, hold him.. even if he complains.. I started doing this when I first got him home.. He complained like crazy then but now he realizes that I am not gonna hurt him.. It just takes persistence and daily interaction where you are "touching, petting and holding" let him complain... He will.. but after a few MONTHS of this he will realize that your touching and holding feels good and he won't be afraid anymore... Hope this helps.. You and others thinking about the same things you are..<br><br>Post edited by: CeasarsDad, at: 2007/07/01 20:18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 I'm working with my 8 year old learning new things. It takes longer but she has picked up a new word so it can be done. I'm not having a lot of luck with the allowing me to touch her but I'm not giving up yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatherStrella Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Thanks for the replies. Do you suggest I give her a food treat when she allows me to touch her? Or??? Are there any techniques you think I should try? I have the video by Barbara Heidenreich where she shows how to teach behaviors using food as a reinforcement...but teaching to be touched is a little different...she doesn't show how to teach that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lidia Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Ditto to what the others said. Joshua is 18 years old and I've had him since he was four months and he still learns new things all the time, does new things all the time and is much cuddlier now than he was about two years ago. They change and they have moods and they go through phases and your 18-month old is getting ready to go through the rebellious 'terrible twos' where she will try to exert her independence from you. It's a bitey phase, but you'll both get through it stornger and closer. You don't need to give her a food treat when she lets you touch her, just tell her she's a good girl, and be very enthusiastic about what a good girl she is, they very definitely respond to positive reinforcement.<br><br>Post edited by: Lidia, at: 2007/07/01 21:04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeasarsDad Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 OK.. You made me do it.. Here's a 1 minute video of how I handle Ceasar.. I want you to notice how he complains.. This is NORMAL.. but he never bites.. I also want you to notice when the dogs start barking and I look at them.. They shut up.. :P :P Have fun http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u97/venuto/?action=view¤t=ceasar_gets_beat_up.flv<br><br>Post edited by: CeasarsDad, at: 2007/07/01 21:12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 My does that only much much louder and with wings flapping. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatherStrella Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Thank you, Frank. I love your accent, by the way . I do kiss on Harrison the way you did except she's standing on my hand. I take my other hand and put it over her back...bring her to my face and kiss her all over her wings. She will screech a bit and bite a bit but, like you, doesn't draw blood. I used to kiss her on the beak but the vet said it was bad for her so...no more making out for us . Thanks for the video....I have a brand new video camera that I can't figure out how to get on the internet. It shoots beautiful movies...I will post some videos of us if/when I figure it out. THANK YOU!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 thats really good CD, even though he's not 100% happy with it, he is well behaved enough not to bite you. i do a lot of physical play with brian, sometimes he's happy to let me, other times he'll have a bit of a tantrum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeasarsDad Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 The trick is you have to handle them like this all the time.. Soon they will understand that you are not there to hurt them.. and they will be way more submissive when you do it.. They could still complain but I don't really know if complaining is really what they are doing. I think they are just saying.. HEY WATCH OUT FOR ME, I GET HURT EASY... Then of course you could have the situation of them saying.. "HEY I WORKED ON MY HAIR ALL DAY.. DON'T MESS IT UP" :P In any case I no one thing.. If you want your Grey to allow you to touch him you better be touching him all the time.. Otherwise you will have a Grey that is "off limits" to this kind of love... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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