TIPS AND TRICKS:

STEPPING UP

Teaching your bird to step up is unquestionably the most important exercise in building your relationship. It is very important to remember that the pure act of stepping up is the least important accomplishment. Much, much more important is the mind set that causes the bird to step up. A bird that steps up when told to do so regardless where he happens to be, has found his place in his flock. He will be much less likely to display domination behavior.

How to teach "step-up": with an older bird who has never or only rudimentarily been taught, this requires knowledge, patience, consistency, respect and understanding. Before you try to teach him, give him time to get familiar with his environment. This could well take a few weeks. Keep him in the cage, hang around the cage, talk to him in a quiet voice, read to him, sing to him, say his name often. Parrots are basically social animals and curiosity and the need to socialize will eventually get the better of him.

Once you believe that he is comfortable around you, take a bare "T" stand, (no toys, no food cups), into a neutral room, a room with which the bird is not familiar and which is not yet a part of his territory. No audience, no TV-Ðabsolutely no distractions! Just you and him. Get your composure--you should not be nervous, frustrated or insecure. In a quiet voice issue the "step-up" or "up" command and at the same time push your hand against his belly. (At best close your fingers, hold your hand straight and vertical and offer him the top edge of your index finger). The bird should find a steady and reliable "perch" within easy reach. Once he steps up, lots of praise and then return him to the "T" stand using the word "down"--again lots of praise. Be enthusiastic and tell/show him what a "good bird" he is. Repeat this exercise for about 10 minutes and have FUN. After that his attention span will begin to fade and it is time to quit while you are ahead. NEVER end a session on a negative note.

There will be instances when the bird refuses to step-up. You cannot let him get away with that. If he tries to bite, you have a number of options. First of all NEVER initiate the exercise with the fear or expectation that he will bite, because then he will. The more comfortable and confident you are, the more comfortable he will be. If he acts aggressively and tries to bite, ball your hand into a fist and offer the top of your fist, with the skin stretched tight to him. There is no place for him to grab a hold of your hand. Please remember that there is a fine line between intimidating him and teaching him. Don't "push" your fist at him, just hold it there, close enough so he can get his beak on it but not getting "into his face" with it. You are now showing him that you are not afraid. He will eventually give up--his body language will tell you that. Once that has been established, you, (and he), are ready to try again. If he is reluctant or resists, you may want to divert his attention with the other hand or a toy while still insisting that he step up. He cannot "walk and chew gum at the same time"--if he is otherwise occupied, he will step up without realizing what has happened. You should be very consistent in conducting these exercises at least twice a day. Once the bird does step up, you must use the command every time you take him on your hand--regardless whether he steps up on his own, or not. The command must always be there.

If there is no other way, you may want to use a wooden perch that has been well sanded and use that in place of your hand. That really should be the last resort. Furthermore, wearing gloves is a no-no. Every behaviorist I have ever heard of very strongly discourages the use of gloves. Firstly a determined parrot can bite through any glove and secondly gloves make them uncomfortable. Wearing a glove is your admission of failure.

People who have younger birds will have the experience that a baby willingly responds to the offered finger and step up without command. The baby instinctively is in a social order. The fact that he will step up without commands does not mean that a step-up command is not needed. On the contrary, you must use it diligently every time. It only means that it will be much easier to train him because his need to dominate has not been fully developed. Have no fear, it will if you don't do your job!

Also once the parrot has learned to step up for you, it does not mean that he feels the same about every member of the family. Each person in the family must go through these exercises individually. The social order in the flock depends on that. Almost every bird can be taught--in some cases it is merely more of a challenge than in others. Remember, he is instinctively programmed to be taught his position in his "flock." If he fails, it is not his failure, it is yours!

A final emphasis: a bird must be taught to step inside the cage as well as outside. There are a couple of reasons for that: firstly it is his safe haven, his territory and not obeying the command inside the cage will in all probability cause him to eventually refuse to do it elsewhere. You have to remember that stepping up is not merely an indication of his willingness to lift his foot thus obeying your command. It has much wider implications regarding his perception of his social position in the flock. When told to step up, he must do it, regardless of where he happens to be. Secondly, stepping up in the cage, in the case of an emergency can save his life.

In summary: teaching your bird to step up is a very, very important component in his behavioral development. I bird that knows his place in the flock feels secure, confident and comfortable--there are no alternatives and no short cuts. It is a vital part of your responsibility and contributes to providing a loving and caring environment.