Clicker Training: Wave

[jenseits]

Reposting something I originally posted to the Yahoo Bird Click Group. Thought folks here might be interested also.

Keep in mind that it's best to clicker train at least 3 prop tricks before moving on to something like "wave" in order to prevent begging behaviors. Once you've been doing training for a while, your bird will pick up new tricks faster and faster since he understands "how to learn."

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Here's the video of our 4th training session working on "wave".
YouTube - Clicker Training: Wave


How I Shaped Waving
In session one, I offer him my finger as if asking him to step up. I
click and treat when he lifts his foot onto my finger. In session two,
I hold my finger higher, closer to his head, and point it down a
little more so it no longer looks like I'm asking for a step up. He
uses his beak to hold onto my finger while he lifts his foot high
enough to grab it. I c/t all foot lifts, even if they don't reach my
finger.

In the third session I start moving my finger away when he reaches for
it with his beak . This was probably the most difficult session since
he really wanted to hold onto my finger with both his beak and his
foot. I was surprised how determined he was to grab hold of it, even
though I was rewarding him just for foot lifts.

About half the reps during the first half of the third training
session had me trying to pull me finger out of his reach. During the
second half I hold my finger further away and wave it at him while
giving the verbal cue. This resulted in him offering several behaviors
including the desired foot lift, but also "wings up" and "turn around."

This video is of session four. I was surprised that he only did foot
lifts during this session, completely forgoing attempts to grab my finger.

The first two sessions were probably 3-4 minutes each. The third
session took maybe closer to 5 minutes. This particular clip, as you
can see, lasts about one minute.

The original recording was 3 minutes long, but he spends the last 2
minutes just screaming and being distracted so I cut it. Here's the
second half of the same session - a parrot training video "outtake" :)
YouTube - How Loud Is a Screaming Sun Conure?

[my-africangrey-echo]

I am just starting clicker training but am waiting for my 2 books to arrive Tuesday to start so I don't do anything incorrectly..

[jenseits]

Which books did you get? Melinda Johnson - author of one of the better known bird clicker books - is the moderator of the Yahoo clicker training group: Bird-Click : Bird-Click . There's lots of great free info there and a bunch of nice people (like here!) who provide support and advice if you find yourself running into difficulties... or you just want to brag about how smart your babies are ;)

You need to apply to get accepted, but just tell them why you're interested in training. Then when you get your login email, go to the Files link in the left navigation bar to start reading all sorts of good stuff.

You're going to have a blast teaching Echo, Pita, unnamed tiel and Len :)

[my-africangrey-echo]

"You're going to have a blast teaching Echo, Pita, unnamed tiel and Len :)"
ROTHFMAO

Yep I joined it the other day not sure how to navigate it yet but have looked around. thanks