Lolo's harness arrived yesterday...

[Scritch]

Usually it's my fiance who gets all antsy and impatient waiting for packages to arrive... well, I've been ridiculous over this harness, even emailed Steve Hartman when it didn't arrive quickly enough... I never do that lol

Anyway, Lolo's Aviator harness got here yesterday! Resisting the urge to go at her with it in both hands and an evil glint in my eye, I watched their DVD and actually think that was quite well done -- the step-by-step, behavior-by-behavior part, anyway.

I'd already been preparing Lolo by getting her used to me lifting her wings and putting things over her neck. Her first reaction to the harness was the same as anything else I hand to her -- "Toy?!? GREAT!!" -- and SHE'S the one with the evil glint in her eye

Well, maybe I was pushing my luck, but just watching her totally comfortable signals, by the end of the day I slipped the head loop over her head and back off again, causing absolutely zero reaction. Did the same thing this morning, after letting her play with it and draping it over her body again, and the only reaction was puffy head feathers -- I think she thinks it's a form of me grooming her!

I bet I could get the harness on her at this point without a fuss, but I think I'll wait another few days to really, firmly establish all of this as totally non-threatening. I KNOW she enjoys being outside so I'm hoping when I finally do get the harness on, the reward of going outside with me will really be what's worth wearing the harness for.

This is the first bird I've seriously tried to harness-train and I admit I've got a lot of hope invested in it... it would mean so much to me if she could go with us on our little outings with the dogs.

Wish us luck!!

[MissV]

Etty's not too into the harness, although he hates getting it off more....I find that close contact and gentle talking and lots of in-between scritches usually helps. ^^

I think once he realizes it means more exploration time outside with mommy he'll finally settle into it completely.

Glad you watched the DVD too...I really found it interesting! Particularly how well behaved that Scarlet was despite having little interaction with humans...the fact that she learned it from her parents is just unreal!

[RockysMom]

I CAN NOT put Rocky in a harness. He about killed himself when we tried a couple months ago! The poor thing wouldn't come near us for hours! So he can't go outside with us. I wish he would use it, but anytime he sees it, he gets that look in his eyes like he is just terrified! I do have a cage for him though, it looks like a mini version of his cage, it's open in the sense that it has a perch and bars he can climb, it's not enclosed, so we take him for car rides and stuff, but no walks :(

[LovelySydney]

Scritch I have the same hopes for Neko - that he can come on walks with us when we take the dogs! We have such a nice park by us, I know he would love to be out there as well. It sounds like you are making some good progress with Lolo, I hope all goes well when you actually get the harness on her and take it for a test run! Keep us posted!

[ROYJOY]

yes, go slow and they wont freak out.