Picking target/trick training back up

[Kiwibird]

If some of you remember, I started out trying to teach Kiwi a few non-essential tricks earlier this year, but once the weather warmed up (and that backpack got here!) that fell to the wayside. Now that its cold again and Kiwi can't come out anymore I thought now would be a good time to pick up where we left off last spring with target/trick training. He easily mastered 'spinning' and we were working on 'retrieval' though he seemed to prefer playing with the object rather than handing it to me for the treat.

I am also still extremely concerned he will become overtrained, half stupid and not know what to do unless he's given a command like some of the super-trained birds get. Some of those trick-trained birds on youtube just sit there in a trance bobbing their heads and doing tricks trying to get treats all the time. I like Kiwi acting like a bird, I just think it could be fun to 'play' with him more interactively. I guess I'm still confused on how to find that fine balance between having fun with my bird and turning him into a treat-seeking zombie? If it makes sense, what would be more 2-sided 'game' like "tricks" to work on that would be more focused on the interaction than the reward? Or is it better to just leave well enough alone and just let him be a bird?

 

[CFellows]

I think a few tricks are a good thing, and you will know by your birds reactions if you are starting to go to far. I have started trying to touch train Sammy, but Sammy is afraid of the stick... So I have only gotten as far as feeding him treats with the stick in my hand.