help with stepping up

[melissatx]

Hi, I have had dougall for 4 weeks. I have done a search but cant find the answer to my question. I am asking dougie to step up and half the time he scoots down the perch and refuses except when he wants out. In the morning after his breakfast I put him on his play gym for a while then put him back for lunch and out again in the afternoon. I think he must know how because if he wants out he practically jumps onto my hand but when its time to go back into his cage he refuses to step up. Am I supposed to keep asking and make him or is there another way? He is not agressive just stubborn. advice please!

melissa

 

[clark_conure]

No, he's just smart.

Try just putting him on the cage, like it's another play area, don't shut the door when he goes in.

Use a treat to lure him onto your hand...

Put his cage in an area you spend most your time so he's still "right there" with you, and not secluded.

If these don't work reply back, everyone has gone through this..... and there are a lot of ideas.

 

[itzjbean]

A simple youtube search can help you. Use treats as a reward for stepping up and to entice him to do so!

Check this out!

 

[T00tsyd]

My guy is no fool either. To come out he is there before I say it and for a while I tried it straight. Now I hoodwink him. He will do anything for a sunflower seed. So I have really small ones that I show him. He steps up and steps down on his perch in the cage - I say good boy and he has his treat. We are both happy and by the time he might have thought about me being cleverer than him he is well into something else. Job done!