Training as its' own reward.

[ChocoboFun]

I don't want Harvey to expect treats and the like for things I get him to do. Thus, I try to think of fun ways to teach him new things. It seems to work reasonably well for most things. For other things that are more difficult to make 'fun', I have to fall back on praise (by saying good boy in a higher pitch super excited tone).

Today's humor stems from my love of gaming. I remembered a scene from a game I used to play with my wife. It is essentially a quest where you have the option to save some 'free range' chickens. If you do so, you are treated with the following:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=217lu2eJd0c"]Fable Chicken Song!!! - YouTube[/ame]

I decided to take this concept, except turn it into the cavalry charge chicken! we are on night 2 and he can say 2 sets of 2. If I know my Harvey half as well as I think I do, he'll be practicing with his face buried in his bowl for a good chunk of the day tomorrow.

What other similar things have people tried with their birds? Has anyone else had success with making the training itself be reward enough?

 

[GreatBlue320]

Baxter is still only motivated by pine nuts. I think he enjoys the training itself, but I don't think he would be too happy if he didn't get his treats as a reward.

How is Harvey doing? Please post updated pictures/videos!

 

[ChocoboFun]

Harvey is doing great! He definitely has his stinker moments, but we do our best to work through that. He just wants to be on/with us at all times.

I've finally played with his toys on his trees enough that he realizes they are fun and can entertain himself on it for a while, though he discovered that flinging his food from the bowl on it is also fun (for him!)..

I'm actually planning on posting something up seperately for his birhtday later in the month. I'll make sure to get pictures for that