Thanks for the kind words everyone! He is such a joy to be around ... except when he's screaming like a banshee to get what he wants lol!
Kalel - I "taught" Nacho his tricks based on behaviors he already exhibited. For the kisses - he already made a kiss/cluck type noise. I started by always repeating after him when he made the noise. After a while, he would make the noise after I did, and I would immediately reward with a treat (piece of walnut - his FAV!) Then we moved on to me putting my lips on his head while I made a kiss noise... after a little bit of that, he would make the kiss noise when I put my lips on him and he would get a reward. Then I moved to kissing his beak while making the kiss noise, and he would do it, too. Always followed by a treat. Then I added the instruction "Gimme a kiss!". He has learned he doesn't get the treat unless his beak touches my lips AND he makes the kiss noise.
It's so funny because sometimes when he knows I have treats in my hand, he will lean in on his own and give me a kiss on the lips and then immediately look for his treat! I'm like you little stinker! I have to ask you first! Also, the one thing he wants in life is to be down my shirt. Sometimes I won't let him go down there until he gives me a kiss. So I suppose there are other rewards besides food haha.
As for the sway - he did this on his own. When he first did it, I said "Ooooooooh! Cool moves!" Every time he would do it, I would go "Oooooooh!" I guess after a while, he associated me going "Ooooooh" with his little sway, and I would reward that behavior.
Same with the dance... he would start to "dance" like that, and I just provided a beat. Then he learned to associate me giving a beat with bobbing - and always a treat!
It sounds like your little guy has most of the kissing trick down. Always make sure you make the kiss noise - the more you make it, the quicker he will be able to pick it up!
Nacho is working on "Pretty wings" now... with the idea being he opens his wing(s) when I ask him too. This one will be difficult because he doesn't like my touching his wings - but he's getting used to it. It's very easy to persuade him to do things/tolerate things if there are treats involved!
I would love to know how you taught him those tricks (sway to oooh, dance to a beat, and kiss with a smooch). How on earth did you teach him to smooch when he kisses! I loved that! Lemon kisses, but only leans in and touches your lips with his beak-no sound effects.
