food aggression during training

[KrisandPenelope]

So lately I have been trying to work on getting Penelope her used to what goes on at the vets since every time we go she gets so anxious she winds up making her self sick. So we have been using target training which shes pretty good at. We can touch and walk under the towel, touch the nail clippers, I can rub her feet and toe nails, have her raise her wings...as said and good until it is time to reward her. If the treat isn't good enough she just ignores me if the treat is too good she lunges and bites my fingers until I drop the treat. I don't know how I am supposed to go about with any positive reinforcement training when it increases her food aggression. She's a sweet conure until you touch her possessions and unfortunately more and more items and things are becoming hers. I have to move her away from me to be able to touch "her things" Any advice on food aggression and territorial behavior would be awesome!

 

[Piasa]

You can try offering foods from a spoon as a treat. If she drinks juice, you can maybe offer her from a mug. I don't know if it would be as effective, but even just putting a treat down and letting her walk over to it to pick it up herself may be an option.

As for the territoriality, if you can rotate out things that are "hers" and have them in communal space maybe she will realize you use it too and it is hers sometimes (when it's given back to her) but also yours (when you take it away). Give her as many choices about how to run her life as you can WITHOUT making them a pain in the butt for you. I have rules for Beau, but also try to give him opportunities to make his own decisions and the confidence he gets from that, he doesn't have to fight. Examples are, he has noises he makes for different food than what he has, or will knock on his door to be let out of the cage. I listen to him as often as I can. I also don't encourage any sort of nesting behavior (like burrowing in blankets or behind cushions), because that makes him aggressive.

 

[KrisandPenelope]

Thank you ! Those are all great ideas! I'll try them all out and repost with hopefully a happier less territorial bird! I'll have to try and discourage the burrowing in the blankets as that's something P does quiet frequently /: