Stop reaching into a guarded cage
Hands entering the cage can feel invasive. Offer a perch at the door, teach stationing, and move slowly enough that the bird can choose to come out.
Train the doorway separately
Reward the bird for staying calm near the open door, stepping to a station, touching a target, or stepping onto a perch. Keep the first sessions short and boring.
Make cleaning less personal
Plan cleaning when the bird is on a play stand, eating safely elsewhere, or stationed away from the area you need to change. Do not turn bowl changes into a wrestling match.
Check the cage layout
Crowded toys, blocked movement, favorite dark corners, poor sleep placement, and awkward doors can make guarding worse. A calmer setup often improves behavior before training starts.
Do not punish door lunges
A lunge is useful information. Back up, lower the difficulty, and reward the calm moment before the lunge would usually happen.