Cookie's Clicker Training Diary

[Belinda]

I thought some of you might be interested to read my diary where i keep track of what i'm doing with Cookie's clicker training. :) And just so everyone knows c/t means click and treat. If you're not familiar with clicker training just do a google search, it's very popularly used with all kinds of animals.

Wednesday, 18 October 2006 – PM
Started charging the clicker. I have a good feeling about using the clicker with Cookie. I could tell that he quickly picked up the whole click equals treat idea super fast, after just a few c/t he was looking for the treat after the click, lol, food driven tiel equals good candidate for clicker training. Next session I will re-enforce the c/t idea.

Thursday, 19 October 2006 – AM
Did a few c/t’s just to help remind Cookie that click equals treat, I really don’t think he needed reminding! Then I moved onto target training and he grasped the idea really well. Did about 8-10 c/t for just touching the target and by that stage he knew exactly what to do. By the end of the very short session he could reach left, right, up and down to touch the target (chopstick) even with the distraction of Blinkie trying to steal his millet treats. I’m very excited with how quickly he learnt to touch the target. The only problem was that sometimes he went to step onto the target. Will work on that next session as well as more target practice.

Thursday, 19 October 2006 – PM
No c/t’s as a reminder this time, straight into target practice. Cookie is such a joy to teach, so quick to pick things up. There was no stepping up problem for me to correct either but I will still keep an eye out for that. He did lift his foot for a head scratch and it was so tempting to click that as step one of waving but thought I should do this right and stick with targeting for now, he will scratch his head again I’m sure. By the end of the session Cookie would march right over to the target and he was happy to reach up as high as he could to touch it too, I’m very proud of my Cookie baby. Next session, continue getting him to walk to the target, maybe getting him to walk onto my arm to reach the target too…we shall see.

Friday, 20 October 2006 – PM
More target practice. Cookie more determined than yesterday to beak the target; he remembered that he would get a treat when he did. He would reach down over the edge of the table to touch the target and he would walk almost right across the table also to get to it. Tried to get him to step onto the back of a chair to reach target but he was unsure and simply reached out as far as he could without stepping onto the chair. I think the small space between table and chair worried him, will do more work with that next session. Finished this session by getting him to step onto my hand to get to the target, there was no hesitation but he already knows to step onto my hand so it was nothing new. Next session, more target practice using target to get him to step onto objects.

Saturday, 21 October 2006 – PM
Started with some simple targeting practice. Was in a different room to avoid budgie interruption but that didn’t seem to phase Cookie at all. After about 6 successful reps of targeting, all in different directions, I decided to move onto the first stages of retrieve. I had a lattice ball that had come off a toy (no bell) and I c/t when he beaked the ball. He picked this up very fast and after several reps I made him beak it for about 2 seconds before I c/t. No trouble at all! He likes holding it in his beak so I don’t think I’ll have a problem getting him to hold it by himself. Next session I will start the same way with some targeting and then will work more on retrieve, asking him to keep his beak on it for longer.

Sunday, 22 October 2006 – PM
Did 6 reps of targeting getting him to reach right down of the edge of the couch the reach, absolutely no problems. One time he sat right beside the target glaring at me and then he grabbed it quite hard, I thought it was like him saying “are you really going to make me beak it AGAIN???” Then we moved onto retrieve but had some problems. For a couple of minutes he just totally ignored both me and the ball I want him to beak for c/t, not sure why, yesterday he had no trouble at all! I thought about going back and getting him to do a couple more targets but didn’t, I persisted with retrieve and after a couple of minutes it paid off. He touched it and I c/t giving him a few bites of millet instead of one and lots and lots of vocal praise. After that we had no trouble at all and he would keep the ball in his beak for a couple of seconds. Next session I will probably start with retrieve instead of targeting. Might see if he will hold the ball and put it in my hand instead of just beaking it while it’s already in my hand.


I'll add to this as i do more with him.