chris-md
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 4,349
- 2,119
- Parrots
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Parker - male Eclectus
Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
Hey everyone!!
About 2 months ago I asked about creating different step up commands, one where Parker has no choice but to step up ("step up!") and one where he has a choice ("come here"). I wanted to share with you the results of what I've found.
The goals and the results:
Goal 1 - make response to step up command consistent. SUCCESS
Parker has responded very well in this respect. Step up used to be an occasional struggle, maybe 50% response rate without forcing (repeating myself, lifting of the toes). This has been upped to 98% response rate. Had to grab his toe to force a step up yesterday for the first time in weeks.
Goal 2 - give him option to come when he wants. SUCCESS/FAILURE
In all honesty this one is hard to judge. Response rate to "come here" is almost nonexistent, only rare successes, and when I hold the fingers up and say ""come here" he almost universally runs away. It's difficult to tell if he really is just expressing his disinterest or has come to develop a negative association.
Come here has also gotten me bitten/nipped at a couple times.
What I may have done in doing this is actually probed the depths of his desire to be alone. If we assume this truly was a success, he's lack of response to "come here" shows the extent of his desire to stay put. Make no mistake: regardless of the words I utter, He knows what fingers held up to him means.
Under the assumption of success, The biting could be an indication that I pushed him too far, farther than what he wants at that moment.
If this really was a failure, it still made he step up command more consistent.
And this is where we currently are ��
About 2 months ago I asked about creating different step up commands, one where Parker has no choice but to step up ("step up!") and one where he has a choice ("come here"). I wanted to share with you the results of what I've found.
The goals and the results:
Goal 1 - make response to step up command consistent. SUCCESS
Parker has responded very well in this respect. Step up used to be an occasional struggle, maybe 50% response rate without forcing (repeating myself, lifting of the toes). This has been upped to 98% response rate. Had to grab his toe to force a step up yesterday for the first time in weeks.
Goal 2 - give him option to come when he wants. SUCCESS/FAILURE
In all honesty this one is hard to judge. Response rate to "come here" is almost nonexistent, only rare successes, and when I hold the fingers up and say ""come here" he almost universally runs away. It's difficult to tell if he really is just expressing his disinterest or has come to develop a negative association.
Come here has also gotten me bitten/nipped at a couple times.
What I may have done in doing this is actually probed the depths of his desire to be alone. If we assume this truly was a success, he's lack of response to "come here" shows the extent of his desire to stay put. Make no mistake: regardless of the words I utter, He knows what fingers held up to him means.
Under the assumption of success, The biting could be an indication that I pushed him too far, farther than what he wants at that moment.
If this really was a failure, it still made he step up command more consistent.
And this is where we currently are ��