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[Debbie]

Chocko wore a harness for the first time last night, she didnt even notice it go on! Took her to the pub while it was quiet at tea time, she entertained herself while climbing around on everyone. We were supposed to be coming home before it got busy as it was her first night in a harness so didnt want to push it, however, Gus was late picking us up and the more people came in the pub the more excited she got. A group of young lads came in, one of whoms dad has a grey, they all fell in love with her and she with them. She was sat on one of thems shoulder and he was whistling at her through the side of his mouth, Chocko copied him including his mouth movement!  She was near the door shouting "helloooo" to everyone who came in and when the karaoke started she was singing and dancing along to the music. The only time the harness bothered her was when she wasnt getting any attention. 

[Toria]

thats great!!!  sounds like you all had a lovely time 

[tattoo]

must have been great to see

[Debbie]

The only problem about taking her to pubs is that people insist on offering her beer. Fortunately Chocko doesnt like the taste so just ignores them. If she didnt her karaoke nights would be over. 

[Bobz]

  When are you going to learn how to put vids on here Debbs, by the sounds of Chocko they would rival Danny Boy 

[Debbie]

Danny Boys is unique and knows how to pose for the camera and play to it, Chocko thinks shes a celebrity and most of her photos are of her sprawled asleep on the settee when she doesnt know im taking them!!!! 

[Squid]

Bring it on Chocko   

[Andy]

Debbie, that sounds great, I'd love to be able to take Danny Boy out. Did you train him first to accept the harness?

And as Bob says, we need videos of Chocko 

[Soo]

Awwwww Chocko is so amazing I want one

[Bobz]

Yeah' someone should find out where Debbie goes and take a sneaky vid   Danny boy needs a rival, I bet He's getting a bit big headed  

[Debbie]

I dont think Chocko had ever worn a harness til last night but shes a unique little girl, i just turned it into a game and she barely noticed it was on, took her round the house for 5 mins before we went outside. It was all just an adventure to her, it was raining and she screamed with delight when she felt it. I did take her satchel with us in case of problems but she was fine. I spent ages with Bella and the dvd and she went out in it a couple of times before she took a dislike to it, she was never comfortable with it.

[Andy]

Bob 

Debbie, you're very lucky then. We've only tried it on Danny oncce and he wasn't too impressed at all. I'm trying to get him more used to it by training him to put his head through. He does it if there is a seed on offer, but pulls his back through as fast as he can. 

[Debbie]

Be patient Andy, if you can spin him upside down and play "roughly" with him you should be able to get it at least half on before he notices, when you do get it on let him associate it with something fun like going in the garden or lots of treats and fun.                                                    Failing that tell him he can go to karaoke if he puts his coat on. 

[Andy]

Yeah maybe your last suggestion is where we've been going wrong.   

Seriously though we've no problem with playing roughly with him, we can spin him upside down and swing him round, he loves it. Loves to play tickle tickle too and happily raises his wings for us to tickle underneath them, but he doesn't like the feel of the harness on him. I'll keep trying and hope that he forgets himself one day in his quest for a sunflower seed. 

[Debbie]

Sounds like your halfway there! You have to be able to manoevre them to get their wings in. Do you tense up at all when you try and get it on? If i tried to get it on Bella or Bellino i would pussyfoot round them in case of upsetting them but Chocko just goes with the flow and accepts anything you do to her, she laughs, whoops and blows raspberries when i spin her upside down and do the tickle, tickle, tickle game with her.

[Andy]

It was a very tense affair when we put it on him. It was a couple of years ago, he really didn't like it when it went on and he had a good chew of it when it was on. That said we probably made a mistake of taking him out in the car with it on the first time instead of letting him associate it with being out in the fresh air.

My concern is when we try and get his wings in the harness, I think he will start to panic a bit then

[Debbie]

That is the bit thats scarier for us than them, i got it wrong on Chocko last night and was pottered by it but it didnt faze her, the problem is if we get it on and they panic its too late as its neither on nor easy to slide off, thats where it went wrong with Bella as she panicked, tried to escape and crash landed, however, Chocko and Danny boy are a bit different, if Chocko did start panicking i could just turn it into a tickly silly game and while she was distracted i could get it off, Danny boy sounds the same if you can spin him about and upside down. Try and be confident when you put it on and turn it into a game, easier said than done, i was shaking last night for worry she would get caught up in it, she did a little but it never worried her.

[Andy]

I'll try that Debbie, but i think it will be a little while yet before we go for it again, I just want to try and get him used to putting his head through as much as I can first. Thanks for the advice 

[Debbie]

Take it at your own pace, more haste less speed. I did however find last night the hardest bit was getting it on her head, took it off twice cos it bothered her round her neck. The third time i did it i just went for it and put her wings in before spinning her on her back to tighten it, from then on we had no problems. Just make sure when you do it that the tummy/wing piece is as fully extended as possible so his wings dont have to bend at all. Good luck, we will be comparing favourite karaoke songs before long. 

[Squid]

So true Debbs  dont even attempt putting it on before you can handle a bird in a very trusting manner, ie, opening their wings, putting your fingers gently over their head and neck, i made that mistake with Echo, i tried the harness too early, luckily for me i didnt push it or force her into it, i waiting til i thought it felt right, and it was so easy after that