Clicker Training

[dimples_horsefreak]

I've looked up clicker training and I'm interested in doing it with my OWA,I found this kit on Ebay could anyone tell me if it's worth it, and share any of their experiences with this kind of training??? thanx

http://cgi.ebay.com/Clicker-Training...ayphotohosting

[Alika]

Clicker training is a stylized name for positive reinforcment with a bridge. It is a great way to spend time with your birds that's fun for both of you.

I have that particular book and that particular clicker and I enjoyed both. I think you will, too.

However, after some experimentation I decided that I don't really like using the clicker as the bridge in bird training. I much prefer a whistle, as it leaves your hands free or, on occassion, a simple verbal bridge. There are trainers that swear by them, though. I think part of it is because of how sensationalized it's become since Karen Pryor coined the term in a way that was easy for average pet owners to understand.

Either way, the end result is the same: you get a better relationship with your bird, you can show your bird's cool tricks off to friends and family, and your bird has something productive to do that makes him use his brain. Pluses all around.

[Vankarhi]

I have that book and it is very good. I only bought the book because I already had a clicker (from training dogs) and I used a knitting needle as a target. I did not buy the entire set, just the book.

I have taught my eclectus to retrieve a ball, pick up a block and put it into a container, to do hi five to my hand with her foot, to fly to me, to turn around and to shake hands with her opposite foot to the hi five. It is very easy and make sure you read the book before training your bird, do not skip steps. You must condition the clicker to the bird first, then target, then teach a couple of prop tricks then you are on your way.

Good luck and lots of fun.

[Vankarhi]

I just read what you said Alika and agree, I am finding now that I tend not to use the clicker as often as just verbal praise now. My birds do understand when I praise them and treat them. I had trained my galah to do a couple of simple tricks many years ago without a clicker, but I will admit that the "bridge" did make it easier to teach my ekkie...............but maybe she is just very clever too. No matter I will be training my alexandrine the same way and I know that eventually I will probably use praise more than the clicker. They end up knowing what praise means because as soon as I click I always say "good girl" and carry on a bit and then treat, so they quickly learn to associate the praise/clicker as a good thing and a treat is coming.

[Alika]

*nods* With Beeper, I use a simple "good!" as a bridge in place of the clicker, and verbal praise and excitement and sometimes a head scritch as a reinforcer.

With Cami, I use a whistle for her recalls. I can't imagine doing recall training with a clicker... just too much stuff to balance, between catching the bird with one hand and having a handful of seeds in the other.

The idea behind the clicker is to mark the correct behavior at the moment it is happening (training bridge). The clicker is a wonderful device for a bridge, but not ideal under many circumstances. Still, I think it is best to start by learning clicker training and the concepts of positive reinforcement with a bridge by using a clicker, and then maybe opening yourself up to new ideas.

Because of this, I think that is an excellent book to start with, and the whole kit looks pretty good.

Another great training book for all purposes is "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor. It is my bible of animal training.

[Vankarhi]

Yes I know about trying to balance a clicker, the target and the reward It was difficult but I did it Apparently you can get mouth held clickers, or at least that was my understanding, but a whistle would make life easier. But as I said I tend to always say "good girl" and make a fuss and then treat as well as click then sometimes I just don't use the clicker and it seems ok. But when first teaching a new behaviour I have found (and I am by no means an expert or even as knowledgeable as you Alika) that the clicker really does help then to "click" on (no punn intended ) to what I want Skye to do. But maybe Skye is a quick learner and would learn just as quick without the clicker. I just wish I had learned this many many years ago, what fun I would have had with my cockatoos and tiels and budgies in the past. Oh well it is never too late.

[Alika]

Oh, the clicker definitely helps! It is great at marking the exact behavior so that shaping happens faster.

[Vankarhi]

More pics of Skye doing tricks and training her. The one with the treat in my hand - I ended up putting the treat on the top of my hand while asking to to come to me. I used the command step up or come on, but found step up worked better for her because she knows that step up means "get on my arm or hand". But I also put my other hand on my arm while asking her to do this and i think I would be able to just use the arm movement now and not actually have to ask her verbally. But the verbal command would be great if I lost her in a tree and needed her to hear me, but a whistle would be even better because she would be able to hear me from a greater distance. Putting her on her back was done with just praise. Being an ekkie she is not into too much scratching or patting, but loves praise and food.

[dimples_horsefreak]

So if I decided to clicker train could I just replace the click with a word to save myself the hassle of bringing the clicker everywere???

[shanlung]

The clicker sound is much more precis and will not vary. That will make it easier for the bird especially at the beginning.

The clicker also serves as a visual cue, very very important especially later should you take your bird outdoor.

As to the difficulty of balancing seeds and clicker and target stick and bird, just how much more difficult if your 'seeds' have legs and trying to escape you all the time. Thats my case with Yingshiong. I do manage, with great great difficulty :-) , but I managed.

You will find clicker training to be the best way to bond with your charges. The tricks that you can teach is only the skin coating. It will go much deeper than that.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/shanlung/3419.html