Clicker training question

[Midnightstarian]

So i'm confused someone on Facebook claimed i shouldn't show my bird the clicker and the sound (first) then continue give him the treat. And that quote i should: By using the clicker before the action and then switching later to indicating that he did it will confuse him.

I don't really trust Facebook, and i'm not entirely sure what to do
because i watched a video and it told me that's what i'm supposed to do
is show him the click and then give him the treat. I've watched about 2-3 videos of people using the same method i am yet this person is telling me differently. I don't want to move forward because i don't know if i'm doing right or wrong now and i feel like my information has two sides to a story.

Any help?


I'm really frustrated because now i'm confused and also completely discouraged
I've set up a entire room for this bird i did research, i have body language packets in the room for me and others to read when interacting with the bird.
Yet, every where i go seems to be giving me different information. I haven't had a single day in my life where i haven't felt like iv'e failed at something and now that i'm upset
he's running up and down the cage i know this bird knows i'm upset and he even is changing tone (never heard that tone.) Which makes me wonder even more if i should just do what i was doing or not, i'm confused and i want to do
the best i can for this animal.

 

[chris-md]

Hello and welcome!

SHOWING the clicker to the bird is not part of the process in any way. There is a part in the very beginning where you have to charge the clicker. This teaches the bird that the sound means treat is coming. People may coincidentally have the clicker elevated when they do this but showing the clicker is unnecessary.

You can also do clicker training without a clicker. I, and a few others here, don’t use clickers because there are many times where a behavior occurs that you need to acknowledge but you don’t have a clicker around. And it’s simple, where you would normally click, just choose a consistent word to use. “Good” is one option.

 

[Kiwibird]

First off, what is your goal with training? Is this to "tame" your bird or to teach an already "tame" bird superfluous tricks? The basic concept of the clicker is to instantly "mark" the action the bird is suppose to associate with getting a reward after doing. Whether or not the bird can see the clicker is irrelevant. TBH, I feel the whole concept of using a clicker as the ONLY way to train a bird is silly. Every parrot is an individual and if your bird is not responding to the training method you're using, try something different! Much like babies, parrots don't come with training manuals and no one method works universally for every bird, hence why so many differing methods with opposing information. Some birds respond well to highly regimented training, others not so much... (my bird would fall into that category- wholly uninterested in doing tricks for human amusement). My bird can, however, solve simple shape/color matching puzzles, likes riding his special birdie skateboard and LOVES solving puzzle toys. All things taught through casual interactive play-time, not regimented training time. My bird also, of course, steps up, is potty trained, doesn't chew on stuff outside his areas and even understands cue words like "yours" "mine" "no" "stop" etc... He's very smart, just not very interested in doing mundane tricks repeatedly for 'ok' rewards and someone clicking something at him. Interacting with the bird in a fun and positive way should be your ultimate goal, not teaching tricks (unless your bird likes learning tricks). I think you'll feel less frustration if you focus on bonding instead of training

 

[Midnightstarian]

I'm just trying to gain trust i don't care for training
i'm wanting him to step up. and that's why i used the clicker was BECAUSE the other methods he was having a hard time understanding. He seems to be responding to this method. So straight forward helps me can i ask if i'm doing it wrong? I don't understand as to why it'd be wrong or confusing when the others things i was doing before the clicker was confusing, i brought out this idea and he started replying to me nicely. Also i don't believe the clicker is the only way for training either i just found the idea online and i didn't feel like it was very commonly used and i liked the thought and decided to give it a shot.

But main question: Am i doing it wrong then? is there something iv'e done?
i mean, he's already understanding a click means millet and a "good job!"
is a congratulations. yet him seeing the clicker is bad? idk. i don't get it.

Btw i want him to step up not so i can use him for training i want him to step up so he can come out of the cage without fear
or my concern. I'd like to then teach him to come back to me so he can have free roam of his room. I'm doing it not for the sake of "Oh i want to do something cool because i can"
no, it's for his own freedom so he can have more space, walk where he wants fly where he wants and have fun. Not be stuck inside a cage all day and all night for the rest of his life i want him to be happy, and have a life i'd even like to build a room perch for him so when he comes out he can have a place to sit outside in the room while i work. (Of course under my supervision) I don't believe parrots or birds of many kind should be locked up. (Unless for sleep or when i'm away)

 

[Kiwibird]

Ok. How long have you had your bird? What things besides clicker training have you done to attempt to earn his trust/teach him to step up thus far? How long have you been trying with the clicker? How long is each training session and at what time of day? I can tell you care very much for your bird. We are here to help and there are a lot of very experienced members who have trained all personality types of birds to offer advice!

 

[Midnightstarian]

Hello and welcome!

SHOWING the clicker to the bird is not part of the process in any way. There is a part in the very beginning where you have to charge the clicker. This teaches the bird that the sound means treat is coming. People may coincidentally have the clicker elevated when they do this but showing the clicker is unnecessary.

You can also do clicker training without a clicker. I, and a few others here, don’t use clickers because there are many times where a behavior occurs that you need to acknowledge but you don’t have a clicker around. And it’s simple, where you would normally click, just choose a consistent word to use. “Good” is one option.

I have it elevated, not actually "Showing it " i didn't have the word for that but i lift it up a little and then give him the treat. sorry for the confusion.

 

[Jottlebot]

If the person on Facebook said "showing" your bird the clicker (e.g. actually letting the bird see it) is bad they are talking rubbish. Ignore them.

If they said that clicking the clicker and then giving a treat is bad, they are also talking rubbish. Ignore them. In the future, when you are teaching or shaping behaviour the click will always come first and the treat will always come after, so there's no switching to confuse your bird. You shouldn't be treating and then clicking though, you should be clicking and then treating from the very beginning.

As above you need to start by "charging" the clicker. Your bird needs to learn that the SOUND of the clicker means they're about to get a treat. So spend time a few times a day pressing the clicker and then giving a treat, repeat, repeat, repeat! Don't try and link the click to a behaviour until this is understood.

If you're in the process of doing this you're doing everything right. Don't worry and try not to doubt yourself! I recognised how you felt in your first post. There's nothing quite like that sense of failure when something that feels like it "should" be simple is hard. You're working with a little wild thing though, you don't speak the same language and you're both still figuring it out.

Take your time. I think the most common mistake is to go too quickly and push too hard. You'll get there ��

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I don’t use a clicker either, and I’ve had lots of success in teaching different tricks. For step up, either target train him (teach him to follow and touch a chopstick with his beak) and use the chopstick to get him onto your hand, or just lure him there with a treat. Most budgies love millet, but use whatever treat your bird likes. I don’t even give praise every time my birds perform a trick because they’ve already been trained to know that they’ll get a treat when they do what I ask them.