As I mentioned in my first thread, Percy and I did not hit it off when he first moved in. I have worked intensively with him to change that and we have made significant progress. Although from the embarassing pic attached, you may not think so.
Amazingly - THAT is progress! Previously, he bit me that it bled EVERY time. Admittedly, I was handling him wrong at first - too insistent and pushy and not attentive enough to his body language. Now, I wait for him to ask to be picked up...and then I get bit (not every time anymore, but often enoug).
I'm trying bite pressure training no. He's now learned that he is not allowed to (and I don't believe he wants to anymore) bite 'hard' but he equates 'hard' to 'wide open beak - which draws blood. He tries soooo hard to bite 'gently' and uses only the tip of his beak - which leaves these massive bruises! (the pic is the result of a few bites unfortunately in the same spot)
I engae in beak play while he's on his play gym (he won't sit in my lap yet) and he enjoys that and doesn't bite when we do this. However, he ASKS to be picked up by holding out his "pick me up foot" (left foot) and says "Come?" Which also means 'pick me up. So I hold my hand, he steps up and bites. If its too hard, I immediately say "No! Be gentle!" & return him to the gym, and walk away. I return within about 30 seconds (he calls for me all the time I'm away during these sessions) and give him the chance to try again. I tell him, before I hold my hand to be gentle (and I try to demonstrate by sooooftly rubbing his foot and his beak. Then I pick up him and he tries ever so hard to 'be gentle'. However, I think I may die of internal bleeding before we get this right.
Any tips and advice would be appreciated. My supply of arnica for bruises is running out LOL!