My 2 year old CAG has stopped stepping up consistently, some days she just refuses. I have never forced her and she has always been a little moody compared to my Macaw, but recently a little more so. The only time she steps up is in the morning when she wants to cuddle and then after that she becomes a little bossy. Otherwise everything is the same and she seems well. Anyone have an idea how I can get her back on track? I went back to the basics of treats and excessive praise for stepping up and being a "good bird" but this does not seem to work like it used to. Thank you for you advice
Stopped stepping up
- Thread starter BirdieDad
- Start date
- Oct 23, 2015
- 4,416
- 5,991
- Parrots
- 1 YNA (Bingo R.I.P.)
1 OWA (Plumas R.I.P.)
1 RLA (Pacho R.I.P.)
2 GCA(Luna,Merlin) The Twins
1 Congo AG (Bella)
5 Cockatiels
I ran across something like this with my Bella.
After the honeymoon period she got snippy with me and very resistant to step up.
At first I would refuse to let her out if she would not step up.
She wore me down before I could really get her to cooperate.
Now I only insist on step up (out of the cage) for her Red Butt Shower.
Bella is very good at stepping up when out of the cage, I can live with not stepping up when in the cage.
Texsize
After the honeymoon period she got snippy with me and very resistant to step up.
At first I would refuse to let her out if she would not step up.
She wore me down before I could really get her to cooperate.
Now I only insist on step up (out of the cage) for her Red Butt Shower.
Bella is very good at stepping up when out of the cage, I can live with not stepping up when in the cage.
Texsize
chris-md
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 4,374
- 2,171
- Parrots
- Parker - male Eclectus
Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
The answer is easier than youd ever believe: REWARD IT!
They key here is to remember that step up is a TRICK like any other behavior. Most people take it for granted, and just expect it. But it’s a learned behavior that needs to be trained and retrained on occasion. I’m in that point with my eclectus right now, who makes it clear I’m not the favorite and I have to work extra hard sometimes to get him to step up.
So your solution here is 1) a bit of time and patience, because birds go through phases like people do as my friend noted above, and 2) for a while, reward whenever the bird steps up. It’s that simple. Eventually you’ll get back to a point where you don’t have to reward constantly. But when it becomes an issue, always remember: REWARD THE BEHAVIOR YOU EXPECT TO SEE MORE OF. True of talking, too.
Training 101
They key here is to remember that step up is a TRICK like any other behavior. Most people take it for granted, and just expect it. But it’s a learned behavior that needs to be trained and retrained on occasion. I’m in that point with my eclectus right now, who makes it clear I’m not the favorite and I have to work extra hard sometimes to get him to step up.
So your solution here is 1) a bit of time and patience, because birds go through phases like people do as my friend noted above, and 2) for a while, reward whenever the bird steps up. It’s that simple. Eventually you’ll get back to a point where you don’t have to reward constantly. But when it becomes an issue, always remember: REWARD THE BEHAVIOR YOU EXPECT TO SEE MORE OF. True of talking, too.
Training 101
Beakertrout
Member
I spent time with Beaker teaching various ways to "step up".
Most Reactions
-
655 -
548 -
525 -
208 -
194 -
192 -
185 -
149 -
147 -
141 -
134 -
114 -
80 -
74 -
J
72
