by Calthesa » Sat Jun 28, 2014 3:31 pm
To Wolf: Thank you for the advice, I think he is getting a little better since we have started letting him stay where he wants (provided it's safe) for awhile before asking and then returning him so stepping up is more like "oh, they just want to give me treats" and less "oh no, they're taking me away from the fun". We'll just keep working on it. I think we just have to be more aware of the consequences (in his mind) of our actions. We just want him to step up, but he thinks we're putting him away. So thank you.
To Pajarita: I am sorry, but you are making a ridiculous amount of assumptions in your post. I am not "laddering him". I am not "making" him stay on my hand for minutes or hours or whatever you are thinking. I meant that he will not stay in the sense that he will not stay on my hand long enough to be transported, given a treat, whatever. He literally steps up and back down in one second. He doesn't wait to get anywhere or even for his treat. In regards to stepping from one hand to another, I meant to a second person's hand or once to my other hand so I can reach something or just treat and put down or whatever and NOT "forcing" him to step up in anyway or many times in a row.
As far as my "blah blah", that was just my way of saying "etc.". I meant to imply I already knew he had good, solid reasons for wanting to be on my shoulder and I did not need them explained again. I do not think it is unreasonable to teach your bird to stay anyways, but that was not what I wanted to teach him. Additionally, I do in fact let him on my shoulder as much as he wants, but sometimes I need him to step off of it for whatever reason (sometimes as simple as me heading to the bathroom where he is not allowed for safety reasons) and he has to do it most of the time. Not %100, but usually. Like %75 maybe. The problem is he steps up closer to %5 of time right now.
I know you are just worried about the bird and want to help, but I do not appreciate your tone especially when Wolf has already been very nice and polite. As a brand-new parront (even you started somewhere), I think I deserve a little bit of respect. I didn't have to come here and ask for help.