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Experienced bird owners know
that if you can only have one command, this is the one to have.
It’s critical for any bird that will be permitted out of its cage, and
it should be the first command taught.
Basic
Training
To train a bird to step up, put
your finger, hand, or a dowel (depending on the size and temperament of
your bird) just below the bird’s belly (above the feet) and give the
command. When you first begin this training, give the command and
immediately move your finger/hand/dowel so that you are gently pushing
into the bird’s mid-chest and moving back and up. This causes the bird
to lose a bit of balance, and it will step on the thing you are offering
just to regain balance. As soon as the bird has both feet on, tell
him/her “Good bird!” and repeat the command and gesture.
After a while, the bird will
step up with less hesitation, and you’ll find you don’t have to push up
or back to get him to step up.
Periodically giving short "step
up drills" (5-6 "step up" commands in a row) seems to help reinforce
compliance and help the bird learn to respond instantly. If the
bird "thinks about it" before complying, I don't consider it fully "step
up" trained. I'm looking for a "Pavlov's Dog" auto-response.
Some Tips
There are some things to think
about that will help you and your bird learn more quickly:
- Be sure the finger, hand, or dowel is steady
(not waving around). The bird needs to be confident that the
surface will be safe and reliable to stand on.
- Hold your
finger/hand/dowel straight and horizontal (not at a slant). A
confident and well-trained bird will step up on an uneven surface, but
one that isn’t confident will be uneasy and hesitant.
- Do display confidence
yourself when you give the command. The bird does want to understand
what you want, and will do as you ask once he or she is clear about
it. If you are more confident, the bird will have more confidence in
you!
- Be aware that many birds
(especially younger ones) will try to reach for your finger with their
beak. Don't confuse this with an attempted bite; the bird
just wants to feel your finger and satisfy itself that you are
offering a steady and safe perching surface.
- Don’t praise the bird for
putting only one foot up. Wait until he’s completely stepped
before sounding the victory bells.
Its helpful to experience having a mature (and
obedient) bird step up for you before you try training
your own bird. It helps to know what it feels like to have a bird step
on your finger or hand (the weight, the way they grasp, etc.). The
larger the bird, the more true this is. Watching someone else pick up a
bird just isn’t the same as doing it yourself. If you practice with an
experienced bird a few times before you start training yours, you’ll
find it all that much more easy and natural.
About Step Down and Other
Variations
There is a school of thought that says you should
use the command "step" instead of "step up". That's because some
feel that if you tell the bird to step up or down, it will be confusing
for the bird.
They may have a point, but I still use "step up"
and "step down" - mostly because 30 years of habit is hard to overcome.
Sometimes I say "step" instead - and the resulting response seems pretty
much the same. My birds are probably responding more to my tone of
voice and the word "step" than anything else. Although I do know
that some of them are very intelligent, I don't have any reason to
believe that they discern between the words "up" and "down".
Being "Bratty"
The ideal situation is when your bird is so well
trained that he/she will "step up" for you without any hesitation at
all. You will want to attain that if you can, because it may come
in handy some day if you must retrieve your (frightened)
avian companion quickly in an emergency situation.
Even without the emergency scenario, however,
consistent (obedient) compliance is
extremely important. So important, in fact, that non-compliance
cannot be tolerated.
All parrots seemed to be "wired for dominance",
and will occasionally push the boundaries a bit to see what they can get
away with. Macaws, in particular, seem to do this fairly
regularly. Willfully going where they are not allowed (kitchen
table, curtain rods, the top of
my head) may be irritating, but deliberate refusal to "step up" is
different. Refusal is a serious offence and, for us, is an
important indicator that the bird is getting out of control.
A bird that refuses to "step up" will be
immediately required to do "step up drills" (5-6 step up commands in a
row). This is done to drive home the point of "you will do
this when told to no matter what." If the bird refuses to
participate in the drill, he or she gets an immediate 10-minute timeout
(in the cage with the cover pulled down), followed by a short drill when
the "timeout" is over. If "timeouts" are earned over a succession
of days, more drastic measures (from simple things like relocating the
cage to the severe response of wing clipping)
are employed.
The sooner I respond to a bird's "bratty day"
behavior, the less likely it is that I'll need to do more than run
through one set of "step up drill". |
