Clicker training

[smallonion]

Hi everyone,
Has anyone had any experience cllicker training a bird, good or bad? We have started to clicker train Humphrey. I bought a cd about clicker training for nervous birds. First, we have to click every time we give him a treat. We've been doing that all weekend, and I think he's getting it - when I click he looks at me like, 'where's my treat?"

Let me know your thoughts!
Michele and Humphrey

[LMPego]

Hi, Michele.
I have been working on clicker training Cory, though I must admit that I haven't been very consistent. We've worked on some tricks, like putting shapes on a peg and turning around on cue. I've been working lately on the "stay" command, but she's very stubborn and wants to fly to me. Over the weekend, I put some of her toys in a basket she used to like to play on in the bathroom of the old house and clicked for her playing on it. That seemed to work pretty well.
Wait until Humph makes the click sound to make you give him a treat! It won't take very long I bet. Cory also makes the click sound for Zen sometimes when I tell her she's a good girl.
There's a pretty good clicker training list specifically for birds on Yahoo.
Here's the link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bird-Click/

Keep us posted. It's amazing how quickly they start to respond to the training.
Laura

[smallonion]

wow, it sounds like you've had some great success. Thanks so much for the message and link.

Michele and Humph

[LtlWngdAngl]

the lady who claims to have founded the basics of clicker training is now working in a city close by me, she's in Panama City. She's written a book on it and teaches classes on it here. I bought a clicker and a book, but have yet to actually start. I have heard WONDERFUL things on it though. Good luck, and, if you would, keep us updated on your success!

[RachelP]

I am intrigued by this concept also and will prob. check out the links. Funny, bc I know it is mainly used as a dog training device, but seeing as parrots are more intelligent (from what Ican see in my short experience) I wonder how long it would "stick"?? I find that Abby tries to outsmart me with almost any training I do...

[LMPego]

Parrots respond to the clicker very quickly (unless they are very stubborn - know any of those?). The woman that runs the bird click list also runs a cat click list. I figure if you can clicker train a cat, you can clicker train just about anything!

How's Humph doing with the clicker?