Clicker Training

[Veenyx]

I am interested in training my birds some tricks using the clicker training method. I am familiar with this method as I am used it with great success when training my dogs. However, as we all know.. birds and dogs are not the same. Does anyone know if there are any good websites that break tricks down into steps for easy training? I have tried looking up this up several times and have not had any success.

 

Thanks for the info!

Amy

[Spinner]

The best training materials I have found are at http://www.goodbirdinc.com/'>http://www.goodbirdinc.com/ I would recommend the purchase of one or more of her training videos. I have them all and continually refer to them.

 

You won't see clicker training on most bird training sites, rather, you will see the good resources center around positive reinforcement. In fact, the use of clickers with a bird is a hinderance, as you are typically training some activity where the bird is on your hand. With the other hand as the target and possibly holding a treat, there isn't enough hands to hold the clicker. Besides, I don't always have a clicker available, but I always have a positive reinforcing set of words and scritches to give.

 

There are some training sites that you MUST stay away from (I won't mention which ones, but search the forum).

 

So, visit

http://www.goodbirdinc.com/

http://avianambassadors.com/BirdTraining/

http://www.behaviorworks.org/

 

There are ample sources available at these sites, along with some good links.

[Spinner]

Oh, and Amy, welcome to the forums here!

 

I also wanted to mention that you want to look for training that uses positive reinforcement, targeting, approximations, and shaping. These are all used in building up the small training advances you are looking for into complex activities. Barbara Heidenreich's videos demonstrate this very well.

 

Good Luck!

[Joolesgreyuk]

I have put a lot of thought into the clicker training method but have decided that positive reinforcement is more suitable from my point of view. Because I have two birds in the one room I think it would be confusing to the second bird whilst training the first one and visa versa, I have also had to think long and hard about what treat I can use when carrying out the positive reinforcement. Argyle isn't big on treats and it has to be a very small treat you can give several at a time - the only thing I think might work is sunflower seeds (which I so far have been able to buy seperate from other seeds) but they will fall through the opened-out cage door where Argyle sits - well I won't be holding them in my hand! I really don't want to start the training until I have everything worked out in my head and it has to be Steve to start with - I don't think he is keen.

 

Sorry about the long answer but I'd be interested to hear success stories with either method.

[Jane08]

There is also a yahoo group called bird click that is really good and has lots of information on how to start clicker training. I followed everythig that was there and had great success.

 

I also wondered about training 2 birds with the clicker at the same time and gave it a go. It actually worked really well, because both knew that when I was in front of them that it was for that particular bird. I know this because if I asked Kea to do somehting and clicking her Rangi would be at the other end of the perch saying "good girl kea, you are so good". So he was reinforcing her for me as well.

 

I also found a bit of competition between them which urged the other one on. For example if I asked Rangi to do something Kea would be so keen to do it as well as she saw what treat he got. So they motivated each other.

 

The treat is the most important thing, you really need to find something that motivates your bird. If he is not interested then you have just not found the right treat yet.

[Joolesgreyuk]

Thank you for your help Jane x

[Veenyx]

Thank you Jane. I checked out the Yahoo group you mentioned and found lots of helpful information there!

[crossfit]

HI,

 

See you on the clicker forum. I lurk there at the moment as my baby hasn't come home to roost yet. But I also have dog clicker experience.

 

You might want to check out goodbirdinc.com. Barbara doesn't use the clicker because she finds it hard to hold bird, treats, and clicker. But her methods are otherwise identical. I have two of her videos and they are great. Even if you choose to use the clicker she is a valuable parrot training resource.

[crossfit]

Oh, also, jooles - you can get an electronic clicker that has more than one type of click to it. It doesn't cost much more than the normal clicker either. You may have to mail order it from online somewhere though. But that way each bird could have their own personal click and problem solved.

[lovethatgrey]

I will be starting Clicker training with my girlies this week. I am looking forward to this activity because it will add another dimension to my relationship with them. I wasn't able to locate a clicker but will be using a Ballpoint pen which happens to click very well.

 

I'd like to hear from other members and their clicker training SUCCESSES please!

Edited April 16, 2010 by lovethatgrey

[Jane08]

Good luck with the clicker training it really is fun. It was one way I used to get closer to Kea, she really loved training. One thing I got her to do was run across the table and pick up a plastic ring and then come back and drop it into my hand. This was huge for our relationship as before that she would just lunge and bite me and I did avoid her and didn't want to interact with her at all.

 

I just used a small dog clicker with a strap so I could have it attached to my wrist and I would also have the treats in the same hand. With my other hand I gave her instructions on what I wanted her to do as well as using verbal instructions.

 

Let us know how you get on.

[pearllyn]

Adina that's great. I started with Alfie when she was younger but gave up as she just didn't have the concentration. I've been meaning to try again with her as I think she'd be more receptive to it now. I've clicker trained my dogs and to some extent my horses to with great success.

The only thing I would suggest would be to use an actual clicker if you can - they're dead cheap on ebay. The reason is, a pen is something you are likely to use in everyday life and you could inadvertantly click a behaviour you don't want. Also, the click of a clicker is very distinctive and sharp.

Good luck and do please let us know how you come on.

[Elvenking]

I just ordered the first DVD from Good Bird Inc. Looks good. Thanks for the link.

[sinaigem]

Hi there i have a female her name is madame. She is a very wild not tame bird which lives with me since 6 years . I purchased a training program from chat womach and am trying to train my untrained bird with the clicker method. I am making some progress as she is now eating while i am with her in the aviary . which was unheard off before. So i will keep you posted on my progress .

[Tweedle]

Hullooo, I've been clicker training with dogs and have done a little work with Pippa. She's got the idea with the target stick, but doesn't follow it very far yet, what with poorly legs. (Excuse!) Aaaaaaand I've not been putting enough time in.

 

My first problem was with the reinforcer - as soon as she thought you were trying to *make* her do something, she would refuse the treat. She loves peanuts, but would take it from me and spit it out! She used to like sunflower seeds too, but won't touch them now. Her preferred reward is now a headscratch, but I have to read her very carefully to make sure she's in the mood.

 

I'll be moving house in the next couple of months, so she'll have a quite different set up. I may start with a much more systematic treat test, and try and extend the range of foods she'll touch at the same time.