How to Train Your Parrot to Step Up
Posted by GuestW on Nov 28, 2008 in Birds • No commentsWarning: touch() [function.touch]: Unable to create file /home/latentse/public_html/mypetkingdom.info/carp/autocache/011d9efc9cb2c515392e03fe00ad1d14 because No such file or directory in /home/latentse/public_html/mypetkingdom.info/carp/carpinc.php on line 853
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Train Your Parrot
It’s not as difficult to get started with parrot training as you might think. You can start by teaching your bird a few basics, and this is true whether your pet has been with you a few days or a few years. Many parrot behaviorists agree that one of the most important behaviors you can train your parrot is the step-up command. How the step-up command works is that your bird should step onto your hand without hesitation whenever you give it that particular command.
Image via Wikipedia
You may be wondering why this is the first thing you should train your bird to do. To start, removing your bird from a cage becomes much easier once it knows the step-up command. It also helps when trying to remove the bird from a shoulder – either your own or someone else’s. Some parrots will try to bite when being removed from a shoulder, but this is less of an issue with a bird that is well-trained to step up. And if you ever find your bird in a dangerous situation, the step-up command could literally be a life saver. You also want a parrot that knows how to cooperate with you, and the step-up command accomplishes that goal. As you can see, the step-up command is useful for several good reasons which is why many behaviorists suggest teaching it first.
Start Training Your Bird to Step Up
For many parrots, the step-up command is one of the easiest to learn, especially if you are working with a young bird. You slowly place your hand so that it is in front of your bird at around the height of its feet and in a normal speaking tone, give the command to “step up.” Remember that your bird doesn’t understand our language, so it will learn what these words mean over time. For now, you can gently push your finger against your bird’s lower stomach area to push it backwards just a little. As you give a gentle nudge, your bird should willingly step onto your finger. Be sure to enthusiastically praise your bird when he steps up correctly. You can then practice a few more times asking your bird to step-up from finger to finger.
Troubleshooting the Step-up Command
Sometimes a parrot will cling to the perch for dear life. What they are thinking as they do this is anyone’s guess, but here is what you can do. Continue holding your one hand in front of the bird as before, but with your other hand, you want to move behind the bird so that it looks like you are about to pick your bird up from behind. Most parrots don’t like to be picked up this way, and this action gives the bird a choice of either that or stepping up to your hand. Nine times out of ten, the parrot will choose to step up. When your bird steps up, be sure to let it know how wonderful it is for choosing to step onto your hand.
Practice Makes Perfect
To get the best results, continue to practice step-up with your parrot. It’s really best to practice every day at the beginning. Even after the bird has this command down, you should reinforce the behavior with occasional practice sessions throughout its life. If you do this, you’ll find your bird is easier to handle and it won’t be nearly as bad when the “terrible twos” hit. Best of luck to you and your bird as you explore further parrot training topics.
More help on train your parrott
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