Clicker training for dummies?

[some-budgie-loves-me]

Okay, I've seen discussion OF clicker training, but I just want to know WHAT clicker training is. I know there are whole books about this, but if someone could give me a basic, 3-sentence-ish definition, I'd really appreciate it!

Just as far as my background, I understand Applied Behavioral Analysis and in the past, have worked with children with autism incorporating that model. I'm guessing that clicker training is based on that type of system (shaping behavior to elicit a certain response from a stimulus by use of a reinforcer)....I just don't understand where the clicker comes in. Is it just to get the bird's attention....or are you clicking out some kind of morse code?? Or???

I had a wonderful budgie, who didn't have any significant behavior problems and was very tame. I just got a GCC (two weeks ago....and he's now 10 weeks old). He'll already step up on command; he was taught that at his aviary. So far, I've gotten him to consistently poop on some papers in front of his cage before I take him out when I give him a command (but he poops at other times too....but he's only 10 weeks old). For him, he responds really well when I tell him he's a good boy in an enthusiastic voice.

He screams when I put him to bed-- but that lasts 4-20 minutes (depending on how tired he is, I guess!), and doesn't really bother me. He's done a tiny bit of biting, but some of it is still baby-ish beaking and not knowing that certain things (like my wrist) are actually attached to ME, I think.

I guess I'm wondering what I would teach him to do and what would be the advantage of clicker training versus just natural training. (For instance, my budgie would go to her cage and climb up to her sleeping perch when I told her it was "night night" time. I didn't specifically "train" her to do that.)

Of course, like I said, I've only had him for 2 weeks....so behavior problems may yet emerge! I just figure if I'm going to use clicker training, it would be better to start when he's as young as possible.

[Jacob]

I just got my bird and am reading the book Clicker training for birds. It's based on operant conditioning. You start by teaching the bird to associate the clicking sound to a treat. Then you use the clicker to signal when the bird does the right behaviour and then give it a treat right away. The sound of the clicker is a consistent sound unlike the sound of your voice which changes and you can be very precise in you clicking.

Read this here, she describes clicker training very well and it's a fun informative blog
Clicker Training for Birds: My Parrot Training Bible Best in Flock – Parrot Blog

[jenseits]

The clicker is the "bridge" that marks the behavior and lets your training subject know that a reward is coming. It lets them know exactly what earned them a treat, rather than making them guess since there is always a delay between the offered behavior and treat delivery. You can use clicker training to capture behavior, to shape behavior... anything that involves telling your animal "that right there, I liked that, do it again".

First you have to teach your budgie and/or GCC what click means (click = treat is coming). Then they start to learn that they can make the click happen by offering specific behavior. It's a great way to teach birds "how to learn".

[Xray Susie]

I was trying to use clicker training with my Grey, but found one part difficult - the step up. How do you have him step up on one hand, and click and give a treat at the same time with the other hand? I needed another hand.

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by Xray Susie

I was trying to use clicker training with my Grey, but found one part difficult - the step up. How do you have him step up on one hand, and click and give a treat at the same time with the other hand? I needed another hand.

I think in the book Melinda recommends you do click sound with your mouth when you are training step up... I don't have the book with me right now so I can't look it up.

[macawman]

I've met two parrots that have been clicker trained very well. Both owners agree that they were not thinking when they started this. Both parrots mimic the clicker sound a higher decibel over the normal clicker noise all the time. The owner says the sound drives them crazy.

[some-budgie-loves-me]

Thanks for all of the info. From what you're all saying, it sounds like the clicker is clicked when the command is successfully executed?

Originally Posted by macawman

I've met two parrots that have been clicker trained very well. Both owners agree that they were not thinking when they started this. Both parrots mimic the clicker sound a higher decibel over the normal clicker noise all the time. The owner says the sound drives them crazy.

LOL! I wouldn't have even thought of that! Thanks for the heads up!

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by some-budgie-loves-me

From what you're all saying, it sounds like the clicker is clicked when the command is successfully executed?

Yes, you need to click the EXACT moment the desired behavior is performed; but you should get the behavior first, and only after the bird understands what you're looking for, only then do you put it on cue.

Check out the book review in my siggie - the book has lots of details, and shows you step-by-step how to get started and the principles of how the training works.

[magdalena]

Heh Susie you and me both. I think TempleGCC had a really good method of sticking the treat on the middle finger of the step up hand to offer after the step up in a clicker video of Ziggy.

[NotEnoughTime]

A couple of comments. In the initial training the click=treat. So every click is *immediately* followed by a treat.

When the relationship is established the treat can be delayed slightly without a problem - your bird knows absolutely that a treat is coming.

However, I would not even consider for one second short changing the bird. If the clicker is clicked a treat is given (within seconds) - even if was a mistake click. You know how you feel if you are promised something and then the other person doesn't follow through - well - the bird feels exactly the same way. A click is a promised treat - so it is very important to follow through to maintain trust in the relationship.

If you choose to use another method (some people reinforce saying "Good" with a treat and use that for the "click") then the same principles apply.

Just my 2cents...