My bird is the boss

[GreenWing]

So, I have had my Grey for about nine months now. Not much has changed except that she is slightly more demanding, usually in this order:

"Hey. Step up."
Please step up."
"Come on, step up."
"Step up now."
"Step up. NOOOOW!"
"Be nice. Now."

Of course, we can't help but laugh... and she laughs, then lets out a loud burp, then laughs more, then the demanding starts all over again. We give in. She is so funny and she is the boss.

The problem is that she demands to step up but then sometimes will try to bite... like she's trolling us. But then I walk away and hear "What are you doing? Step up NOW!"

What am I supposed to do with the boss of a bird I own?

[KimberlyAnn]

I feel your pain in the form of, "Come here come here come here COME HERE!" So I go to her and she runs away and dances like that was the best joke EVER! So then, I walk away and suddenly I have a bird on my head.

That's my life. Lol

[cml]

Welcome back Kimberly !

I think its quite funny when Stitch and Leroy decides it's time to "train" me.

First their contact calls, a wolf whistle and a "Thank you" (I know he got it wrong ^^), respectively and then when I show up:
"WOW!"
(which is how I praise them during training and when they do something good when hanging out as well)

[KimberlyAnn]

What is it with "Thank-you?" Emmi says that quite often in the wrong context too. I think it has everything to do with treats and training her to say thank-you after getting one, in her case. So everything is "thank-you" and "go potty" for that matter. Lol

[GreenWing]

So glad I'm not alone

I am just trying to figure out how to get the demands of my Grey to lessen. She clearly thinks she is alpha at the top of the flock. Not sure what kind of training I can do to make her chill, or if I need to just accept her demands NOW lol

[Pajarita]

No, no, she doesn't use those word or tone of voice because she thinks she is the boss, she does it because that's the way they talked to her. It's the previous owners fault for not knowing how to address her properly and for pestering her with the step up command but, as long as you don't praise her, react, laugh or reinforce the behavior in any way when she says those things, she will eventually forget them and replace them with your commands and the tone of voice you use.

[GreenWing]

No, no, she doesn't use those word or tone of voice because she thinks she is the boss, she does it because that's the way they talked to her. It's the previous owners fault for not knowing how to address her properly and for pestering her with the step up command but, as long as you don't praise her, react, laugh or reinforce the behavior in any way when she says those things, she will eventually forget them and replace them with your commands and the tone of voice you use.

Yes, very true... she uses "Now!" all the time after making a demand... and she'll say it emphatically in tone, she'll even yell it when I'm only a couple of yards away from her. I try hard to not laugh but imagine a bird telling you to do something - NOW!

(I actually put Chance's communication method to use by demanding my husband to get me a donut, now! And it actually worked.)

Not laughing will be hard especially when she burps really loud and then laughs, but I think you're right that trying to not laugh/respond will help.