Well Val has never expressed discomfort with being handled in darkness so she wasn't flooded. She offers to step or to be pet. Weird I know, I get a gooey eye or in her mouth or a random body part sometimes, heehee. She's also flighted and not caged so I figure if something was truly bothering her that I wasn't minding, she can just waddle or fly away. She's capable of taking care of herself. Birds being prey, training is just like a horse.... the more you "tiptoe and coddle them" the jumpier and spookier they get. The more you try to "scare them" the quieter they get. I can use only pressure and release with horses because they use hierarchy. Birds dont so I add a little extra positive reinforcement for Val. I'm always putting her in new places, on new people, around/with new objects....she's gotten to where nothing really frightens here or makes her feel flooded. If it does, she knows that biting or flying wont end the scary thing, relaxing will. I desensitize her so much shes, in horse terms, practically "bomb proof".
I'm against flooding so i agree with you....if your bird is clipped, in a cage, can't move away, is still super fearful, etc. take it slow with lots of positive reinforcement.
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