Need a shot of courage....Please!!

[Jwhear]

Okay so we have had Kiwi our DYHA for 2 weeks tomorrow, He has taken a liking to my partner but has yet to trust me. I know it is still kind of soon to expect any major things and he has come along way already, but this is my problem. I am afraid to get bitten again. The first time it was with the tip of his beak and it punctured the finger and still hurts. Tonight, he bit my finger, but not with the point and it was like a clamp on my finger and hurt like hell. I have a high tolerance to pain....I cut off my thumb with a table saw, injured my back and had major back surgery as a result, but I am afraid of getting bit again. Now my question is how do you hide your fear? I can act all brave but don't animals sense fear no matter what?

When he bit me tonight, I couldn't help but pull away, it is a natural response no matter how hard I try not to. I didn't say anything or yell and I just walked away. I mustered up as much courage as I could after a few minutes and went back with the treat that I was originally trying to give him. I tried to keep my hand from shaking and I told him "gentle" in a low stern voice. He did take it from me and left my finger intact.

How do you do it after getting bitten? I would love to hear stories and advice. Thanks

[Lori~D]

Protect your self in a non obvious way. Offer your ARM and never your hand or at least not with fingers exposed. Close fist and tight skin is very hard for a beak to bite. WRap your arm with an ace bandage under your normal sleeve. Dont set your self up for pain. I use a special (non scary) glove for biters. I let them bite and insist on the step up - the bite goes away when the realize its not effective. The only way its not effective is if your not getting hurt by it. Dont even try until your prepared and secretly protected. The other thing I do with biters who are showing signs they will bite is to hold up my hand open palm flat (out of reach mind you) but up just in front higher than the beak. Like if you would be saying stop! So they focus on it and bring my arm up to ask for the step up. I use it as a distraction - so if they move to bite my step arm I move my hand to distract him again.
Hope this helps. You can also start with stick step ups and target training with him first to establish trust.

[Jwhear]

I use a glove when my lovebird is in rare form and it works very well with her. I never thought of that with Kiwi. I think part of it is he is excited to see the treat and gets carried away. I did go back to give him the treat and it was successful, but I don't want to push my luck and make training that much harder.

What kind of glove that is not scary? I am not worried about step up right now, my partner has tried and he told her gently by beaking, not biting, that he did not want to.

How to you stick train if they are afraid of sticks? I think he was beat with a dowel during his life and now is afraid of them. I am trying to establish trust by being the only one who feeds him, lets him out or gives him treats. I spend as much time with him as possible.

I just think that they can feel the fear. I guess once I can muster up enough courage and I am successful, I will gain more confidence in myself.