Chatterbox

Filmed and edited a video of Sarabi chattering away, saying some things that are understandable and other things that are... not so much, haha! Enjoy:

Performance, Agility and Obediance competition

I entered Sarabi in a "Christmas Performing Pets" competition on Interdressage.com. It is a charity competition where the entry fee will be donated to two different animal trust funds in the UK, so it's a fun thing and for a good cause! The entry will be judged on performance, agility and obediance. I decided to show the moves, that demonstrate the three mentioned categories: Step Up, Step Down, Upside down, Fly to the cage, Climb, Stretch and Kiss. Unfortunately Sarabi is not the "performance kind of bird", haha, so I had to take countless retakes before she finally - sort of - cooperated. She was reluctant to do the stretch move (which I found quite strange, considering the fact that I tell her that command every day, at least once a day - when she is picked out of the cage). The Upside down move was no problem, even though it is the most recent command I've taught her. Anyway, I am happy that we managed to get some sort of entry program filmed anyway. Grey's sure do have a mind of their own! Maybe I should get myself a caique or some other bird, more willing to be trick trained? No, I think I will stick to my stubborn little CAG, she does have her charm! :)

A Grey on reindeer Christmas!

It's been ages since I posted an entry in Sarabi's blog, so I thought it was time to write an update on Sarabi's progress in speech and training and at the same time wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sarabi seems to learn something new every day (or so it feels, she is very quick in picking up on new things). Additions to her vocabulary include:
- Open up (When she wants me to open the top of her cage, so that she can come outside).
- There you go! (Praise for when she's told herself to do something and then done it, like Step up).
- Look!
- Let's go in the bag (When she wants to go into her travel bag).
- Let's go in the car (When she wants to go in the car to go visit my parent's house and their CAG Malaika).
- Malaika (The name of my parent's CAG).
- It's bedtime!
- Want some (When she wants something eatable, it can be used for any kind of food that she wants).
- Where's the toy?
- Goodbye!
- Be a good girl!

I've also taught her a new trick that I call: "Upside down". It is simply her hanging upside down from my hand, like a bat. I've told her this before, since I always turn her upside down when I give her a shower (to reach underneath), but I haven't given her the command in other contexts until now. Since she was already familiar with the command and its meaning it took her very little time to catch up on it.

I have also taken a few "Christmas themed" photos, for a pet photo competition on Interdressage.com, so hopefully she will win at least one rosette. One of the photos you can see here in this post - Sarabi riding one of Santa's reindeer.