Just some biting basics with my lovebird

[hnhobu]

So, Cassette is reaching his 7 month mark, and as that approaches he's starting to get nippy.

Now, before I say anything else I do want to remind everyone that I've only had Cassette for about 4 weeks. I know I have a lot of bonding time and training ahead of me, but he's already very used to us and has adapted to our family very well.

With that said, I would like to basic pointers and training tips. Cassette is still very much tame, but I don't want to tolerate his nippyness. He typically nips when he doesn't want to step off of our shoulder or computer key boards. He also tends to bite more when he finds himself some sort of hut space to hide in (which is very typical). IF my lovie is starting to bite us for no good reasons, that typically means that he wants to be put back in his cage for awhile. He's never really aggressive, just sassy and defensive.

My husband who is used to Dogs tries to approach training with a dominating affect that I know will only make things worse in the long run. Basically, I have a really well behaves lovebird who has no problem with us reaching in his cage and steps up without issue but is starting to enter that teenage phase, and I'd just like a few pointers to keep things positive for our relationship.

[hnhobu]

Bump.

[Andromeda]

Cassette is still very much tame, but I don't want to tolerate his nippyness. He typically nips when he doesn't want to step off of our shoulder or computer key boards.

Some birds are well-behaved enough to get shoulder privileges, while some are not. If he's nipping when he doesn't want to step off your shoulder you should probably not let him stand on your shoulder. Ditto with the keyboard.

He also tends to bite more when he finds himself some sort of hut space to hide in (which is very typical).

This is a good reason to also teach your bird to step onto a hand-held perch. Sometimes my conure finds a dark hole and gets defensive and nippy so when I remove him I have to use a hand-held perch. Since I used positive reinforcement to teach him to step-up onto the perch he's always really co-operative.

I'd just like a few pointers to keep things positive for our relationship.

Trick training is bond-building with your bird and is a great way of building a positive relationship with your bird. He's young but you can still teach simple things like targeting, spin in a circle, wings, and wave. It's not so much about the tricks as it is about the bonding and communication you develop with your bird while training.

A bird that is accustomed to being handled (including having its wings and body touched) is less likely to bite.

[hnhobu]

Thank you for your advice. Once I am done converting my lovie to pellets, I can start giving him seeds as treats which will make training easier. I am also going to buy a clicker.

I'm wondering what I should do when he gets bitey, though? I know dominating is wrong. Should I just put him back in his cage?