Getting Desperate...

[radiogirl995]

I need some help...

My CAG, Tuki will be 6 mos. old next week and we are having behavior issues that seem to be getting worse.

About a month ago, Tuki began avoiding/ignoring/fighting the step-up command. It was mostly when he was playing outside the cage and didn't want to go back in. I tried different tricks and even a perch/spoon instead of my hand.

This week, he has added to it. NOW, he will not step-up on my hand or a perch to come out of his cage either!
I (spoiled him) and allowed him to come out on his own today, and once out all he wanted was to be on my chest and cuddle...so I know this isn't an issue of not liking/trusting me.

I took him into another (neutral) room to try to practice steps-up. He FREAKED OUT. Biting and clawing me and squawking like I was torturing him. I tried everything. Treats: Thrown at me. Praise: well, nothing to praise. Eventually I had to towel him to place him back in the cage.

In our 3 months together I've never had such a bad time with him. I feel so lost. Did I do something? Should I just keep trying the same techniques?

[Lisa B]

Kris, I will pm you my phone number. I will be home all day friday...feel free to give me a call.

[cfulhage]

I haven't had much experience in this area, having only one cag who is still naughty herself at times. Lisa would be much more help. I can say that you have to be patient. Use a stern but calm voice when telling Tuki to step up.

Have you tried this?
- Open Tuki's cage door with his favorite treat in one hand, clearly visible to him. Ask him in an excited voice if he wants a treat, then reach in with your other hand, and tell him to step up! Make sure he can see the treat at all times, and even bring it closer to your "step up" hand when you're reaching for him. If he gets excited about the treat, maybe he will forget about not wanting to step up, especially if he figures out the only way he will get it, is if he does step up. If this works, praise him immensely!

That is my only advice...sorry!!

[radiogirl995]

Thanks Lisa- Got the PM and I'll call you this afternoon.

Thank you too, Camille...
That is exactly what I tried last night before letting him come out on his own. Then I tried using a treat and stern voice in the other room to work on the step-up command. Nada.

I know it's silly, but tonight is a full moon and I often wonder about my animals' moods around this time. My dog gets more "barkative" and whiny near the full moon. I'm just baffled why he's suddenly such a brat!

[bb100]

Hope Lisa helped you with Tuki. They really do "test" ya huh.. Sounds like Tuki is growing up with some CAG "tude." Max did some testing with "Cag tude" but for some reason it passed. However, I never did get the biting thing.

[Greycee's dad]

Hi Kris,
You may want to look into clicker training with Tuki. I started it with Greycee just as she was becoming ill and I had to stop. Just do a search for "clicker training for birds".
I liked it because it seemed to get Greycee to focus. After she became conditioned to the clicker sound (which takes a very short time), she understood that a treat was coming if she did the desired action. She would actually do it and immediately look for the treat.
Like I said, we only started on it, and I only got her to touch the target stick (you'll understand if you read into it a little), but I had her climbing ladders to get to the target for her treat.
Look into the book "Clicker trainin for Birds" by Melinda Johnson.
Hope it helps, Good luck!
Paul

[radiogirl995]

Thanks for the advice, all. And my prayers are with Graycee!!!

Tuki and I have actually had a great weekend. His CAG-itude seems to have eased a little. Although I didn't take him to our neutral room to train yesterday or today, I did put him in the position of needing to step up on me to get what he wanted all weekend. And it worked quite well.

Tuki is not a lover of treats. Or I haven't found the treat he can't do without yet!?!? So that's a problem. His treat is sitting on my shoulder. It's what he wants most - so that was the reward these past two days.
Ahhh, nice to catch a break.

[The Outlaw]

Just for the record: I DO think that birds and all other things are effected by the moon changes. I have most often been bitten during these cycles for whatever reason. Maybe its we who actually change and they sense it. I haven't a clue. However, it does seem odd that all of a sudden, Tuki is fine again. Easiest way to find out is to see what happens next full moon.

[bekfreak]

Bella's been super hyper too, but oddly enough supper cuddly at the same time. Then again tonight Bella got to watch a nice exciting football game, and I sware she loves to watch it. She follows along with the ref's whistle with her own addition...maybe I should get her a ref's outfit.

Though with the three of us being women the more of the genders affected by the cycles of the moon it's our FIDs picking up on our changes like Outlaw said. Then again maybe FID and people alike get a little nutty.

[radiogirl995]

I am really starting to believe this may have been a bad mood or bad moon!
I will def. watch for the next full moon and see. It very well may be our changes they sense...the moon affects all things on earth!

Bekfreak - that's exactly it! Tuki was hyper in the cage, then cuddly out! He doesn't want to go play on the floor like he usually does -- he just wants to cuddle with me and fall asleep on my shoulder! (Until I screamed and woke him during the Eagles vs. Cowboys! Woohoo!)