Step Up Training: One Full Step Up (The First Time!)

A leap of faith takes at LEAST the Holy Grail… of toast! More progress today! …But at what cost? I think this is a mistake that a lot of novice bird trainers (i.e. me) make–we don’t provide a reluctant feathered friend with enough incentive to take a biiiiiig leap of faith. Sure, Wa-Wa-Waddles adores toast… but…

Step Up Progress: Lifting a Foot

Progress! Eeee! VI LIFTED HER FOOT TO STEP UP TODAY! I MADE MY GOAL! …The reason I am so excited about this is because I didn’t think I was actually making any progress; she was comfortable leaning against my wrist to take a chip from me, but refused, refused to even try to move her foot closer…

Training Rescued Parrots: Setting Goals

Well, we’ve had Vi for a little over three and a half weeks now–things are going well. Slow, but well. Man oh man, unless your rehomed parrot is super well-socialized (which many aren’t–probably why she’s a rehome), this task is not for the impatient. I’m following my mantra of “every experience a positive one” and it seems…

Early Step-Up Training: Let The Bird Come To You

Day Three – The Bird Calls the Kitty Okay. How UNBELIEVABLY adorable is this?! View this post on Instagram Omg. The bird calls the cats. Ha! #amazon #amazonparrot #parrot #parrotsofinstagram #herekittykitty A post shared by Snowpack Deactivated (@the.snow.pack) on Mar 15, 2016 at 6:15pm PDT We have continued to let her come to us at…

Step Up Training, Day One: Waddles has arrived!

…And I want to rename her “Viola”, even though she knows her name and a chorus of “Hi Louie!” and “Hi Waddles!” is echoing back and forth between my main floor and my basement. We met Samantha (the grey) as well, but the other woman decided to brave her fears and take her home. It’s…