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/ 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!