Lucy is starting to think she's dominant and I think I know why.

Lucy, my blue front is starting to act sassy and dominant, not stepping up when she's done playing on her play table and snapping at me when I try to take her out of her cage. I bought a Japanese dining set so I am sitting while she's above me and a rohini daybed that is very low to the ground. I live in a studio so I wanted to make the most of my space. Is it true that being below a bird or above is a dominance issue? I've heard it before, it seems like what's happening but I don't know if it's true. Someone tell me they're own two cents.

Bringing this back into daylight for you.
For my 1.5 cents, this is a myth! Being above you does not make a parrot feel dominance! He will feel safer though.

Now for our entertainment:

[ame="https://youtu.be/GZ9Tl4mjWwI"]Epic Parrot Metalhead - YouTube[/ame]

All birds are different. I did take the tall play top off the amazon's old cage which put us at eye level, and it made a difference. He didn't feist at me as much and was more easy about stepping up. Gus has a tall cage and play top, and there is no way I can pick him up when he's up there. He has a large perch that puts him slightly above eye level, and he only steps up when he wants to. He has a play stand that puts him slightly above waist level, and I can pick him up any time from that. It makes sense to me that when a bird is deciding what to do, being bigger than you could embolden them if they aren't very well trained. Don't birds in the wild compete for the highest perches?

Kentuckienne said:

All birds are different. I did take the tall play top off the amazon's old cage which put us at eye level, and it made a difference. He didn't feist at me as much and was more easy about stepping up. Gus has a tall cage and play top, and there is no way I can pick him up when he's up there. He has a large perch that puts him slightly above eye level, and he only steps up when he wants to. He has a play stand that puts him slightly above waist level, and I can pick him up any time from that. It makes sense to me that when a bird is deciding what to do, being bigger than you could embolden them if they aren't very well trained. Don't birds in the wild compete for the highest perches?

Click to expand...

All very good points! I thought it was a 'Feel safe' thing.

Bird dominance is a myth. Bringing them lower isn't going to help. It might make it easier for you to get to them but it won't solve the problem. If you search the forum it's been discussed a few times.


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I think it depends on species as well, and that Amazons can be more prone to dominance issues than say my sun conure. I do believe that to a point, height makes a difference because if I stand and try to have Loco step up, he does so with no issue, if I am sitting and a little below he will act aggressive and sort of territorial of his boing. So theres definitely something to the psychology behind them feeling above you when literally above you. Like flboy stated also I think some also has to do with feeling safe because my sun hates the ground and flat surfaces. He thinks its lava or something. If he is on my shoulder and I go to sit on my bed, he will not stay there and flies to his hanging boing which is a little bit higher up; I think he naturally feels vulnerable when low down.

She has a cage without a playtop. She has a giant tree though. 6 feet tall. I'm 5'5". hahaha. Im going to get her one of these so when we sit on the ground for my Japanese dining set, she will be better. She also isn't trained the greatest because I got her at the age of 33, she has no band around her leg, so the vet thinks she was imported from the wild. She is 35 now and she isn't well trained, but loves me so she will do anything for me. It's easier that way

Well, it seems that everyone is correct regarding this point. Height can place an Amazon into a dominant position and present issues regarding requests from the Human. That said, it really comes back to incomplete training and how well Step-Up has been established. Properly trained, Step-Up should occur regardless of the height position of the Amazon.

Step-Up is something that is not once trained and than move onto other training. It needs to be reinforced repeatedly month after month, year after year. If a Step-Up does not occur, it is your fault, not the Amazons fault. Many other behavior responses can be traced back to the loss of Step-Up control.

The Step-Up request is critical in and of itself! Yes, it sets the foundation for all other training. But more importantly,'when' you must move your Parrot (Example: Emergencies, Medical, Fire, etc...), regardless of your emotional state or the Amazon's he will Step-Up!

Getting an Amazon to Step-Up, as part of you're normal working with your Parrot, starts as does everything, with you observing your Amazon. If your Amazon is Sleeping, out in the AmaZone (possible day dreaming), playing, etc... You need to assure that you have the attention of your Amazon as you are moving to them from across the room or the house. As you get closer you should be communicating with your Amazon to set the stage for a Step-Up, i.e. Okay Now, We Need to Move, etc... Now once in front of your Amazon, you need to clearly state: Step-Up!

Humans tend to stray away from a clear Step-Up and are surprised when the Amazon does not Step-Up!

Verbal Rewards should always follow the Step-Up! Once again, Humans tend to stray away from the Verbal Reward!

Training does not start when you are in trouble, that's too late.

1. Assure that you have the attention of your Amazon!
2. Communicate that a Step-Up is coming (do not use Step-Up from across the room)!
3. Once in front of the Amazon, clearly state: Step-Up!
4. Verbally Reward the Step-Up!

That is the foundation for training and the request!!!

Amy has a large house...flat top..with ladders on both ends that leads to a cage length perch with water/food bowls on each end..with toys hanging from the perch.
When she is on the perch she is level with the top of my head,and I have no issues with her.
Jonesy, ( The Cockatoo Man) his cage was on the floor,and I kind of loomed over him,and he was a little monster,trying to get him to step up,trying to rip pieces of flesh off my hands or gluing his little feetsies to the bars where I had to literally pry him off.
His previous parront told me to raise his house a few feet,which I did, and that beady-eyed little monster would then step up with less drama...sooooo...did he think I was a monster myself before??


Jim

The Rickeybird flies up to high spots all over the place. With him, at least, I think flight equals independence, which equals dominance, at least during his sexy months.