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Post by duckysmom on Jul 7, 2016 10:11:29 GMT -5
So I'm a little smarter about things than Ducky thinks. Once I started figuring him out, the training began. He has a regular schedule now and seems content with it. If he wants out of the cage outside of his schedule, screaming is NOT the way to get out. If he wants treats, he asks nicely or NO. Biting is not how he gets his way. It's not perfect yet, and I expect him to challenge me as he gets older, but my macaw experience helps. Not so much with my inexperienced BF. Ducky's got his number, so to speak, and uses it often when I am not home or otherwise occupied. The most current issue is millet, Ducky's favorite food. He will forego all other food for that. I want to use that as training treats, but I keep finding it already given to him before training time. My BF says, oh, he looked so sad and really wanted it. Yes, but he didn't eat his veggies or his pellets and he doesn't want to work on his training. So, now he gets bit (not hard) and Ducky screams when he comes into the room. I advised my honey to go back to this forum before he creates a little monster. It's not too late, I hope.
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Post by julianna on Jul 7, 2016 12:20:00 GMT -5
That is cute... and no it is never too late. It goes to show you just how smart these little guys are in getting whatever they want. I am happy that it is only me who feeds Oscar... and if my hubby tried... I am sure he would get bit.
Personally I think you are on the right foot by keeping the millet for training time.
Best of luck in the future.
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Post by biteybird on Jul 8, 2016 0:15:35 GMT -5
OMG, the 'being undermined by your other half' situation...tell me about it!  When I am home alone with Bonnie she's quiet (mostly). When she isn't quiet, I ignore her and after 15 minutes or so, she gives up. Then I praise her and give her some attention/let her out of the cage. When my husband is home Bonnie squawks incessantly to be let out of the cage. Hubby has no "staying power", so to speak, so after 2 minutes he yells at her to be quiet. The negative attention seems to perpetuate her noisiness, which makes him grumpier, etc. The funny thing is that he doesn't seem to alter his approach, even though I've explained that she's engaging in attention-seeking behaviour (to Bonnie, it doesn't matter what type of attention she gets, whether positive or negative). Suggestion: can you hide the millet from your BF? Obviously you now need to train him, as well as Ducky. |
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Post by aaron on Jul 14, 2016 21:52:50 GMT -5
As Julianna said, it's never too late... you can definitely undo what your BF has done.. but you've got to get him on board, as you know! It can be hard to resist those cute litle begging Quaker faces. I'm not great at it, I admit... but Cupcake only gets treats at certain times and locations and she really doesn't expect them in other situations, thankfully.
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Post by duckysmom on Jul 19, 2016 18:45:09 GMT -5
BF now asks permission to give Ducky millet. Sometimes it just takes a reality check. My dog loves broccoli. A bit weird, but she would pass up steak for one bite of broccoli. So BF uses bits of broccoli to train her. She was a rescue and still has some issues. So one night she had no interest in it. I told him I already gave it to her. He said, "Well, now she won't work with me." Oops. Sorry. She just looked so sad and really wanted some.
Next night, same conversation. I saw the light go on in his eyes. He madeva deal. I don't dole out broccoli. He doesn't dole out millet. HA!
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