Target Training with my Roshi

[Beilana]

I recently started target training with Hiroshi and let me tell you, IT WORKS GREAT!

Until then I had only read about it and saw it on youtube etc. It is such an easy, excellent way to train and I highly recommend it to anyone!

To start I got a clicker, this part was easy yet repetitive. I clicked, gave a treat, and repeat.

Then I held the clicker and a chopstick(never used) in one of my hands, food in the other. I placed the chopstick in front of Hiroshi, once he touched it with his beak I clicked and gave him a treat, He caught on sooooo quickly and really enjoyed the training session! It's also nice because I can use just about anything as the "treats" (keepin it healthy lol

Today we did another training session and he is learning the trick "do a turn!" All still using the chopstick to guide him. He doesn't have it down but is learning VERY quickly.

Also the clicker I bought has a whistle on it too so when he starts to get ADD I use the whistle and it snaps him back to full alert!

I am so proud of my little one He's so smart and eager to learn. I can't wait to do more training tomorrow!

 

[Aussie Ben]

haha great to hear its working! The really learn so quickly, my tiel got it in two goes lol.

 

[Beilana]

Thanks Ben Hiroshi caught on really quick as well and has already started learning a trick! He got confused at first because I made the mistake of having him turn around halfway and then he rubbed his beak and I clicked and gave a treat so after that he kept rubbing his beak halfway through the turn LOL. My bad

 

[Beilana]

Have you taught Eddie or Buddy any tricks?

 

[Aussie Ben]

Have you taught Eddie or Buddy any tricks?

Buddy used to be able to wave very well. She also used to fly circuits of the room (but that wasn't using a clicker). Eddie is struggling to grasp the wave lol. Starting to get back into it this week so I will let you know how I go

 

[Beilana]

Thats awesome, I would like to teach Hiroshi the wave Keep me posted and let me know how the training goes

 

[Aussie Ben]

The wave is probably the simplest trick to teach. Just go to pick him up and just as he lifts his foot, rewards him. They pick it up real quick, then they start begging by lifting their foot lol

 

[apatrimo94]

The target taining for me has gone down. My cockatiel doesn't seem interested in it anymore. Even if there's his favorite treat involved. He just sits there. Then he does what I like to call, "Play dead." He sticks his head in his food dish and then just kind of plops himself. Then when I go inside, he gets out and goes back to his business

 

[Beilana]

Aw lol too bad he's not interested anymore. Have you tried using different treats?

I suppose its different for every fid

 

[apatrimo94]

Yeah, he just won't do it. He'll play dead. But it's cool though because he's starting to warm up to me. He doesn't stumble and fall in the cage anymore when I stick my hand in and he will eat from my hand if he chooses to, which is exciting for me. He won't step up yet though.

 

[Beilana]

Yeah, he just won't do it. He'll play dead. But it's cool though because he's starting to warm up to me. He doesn't stumble and fall in the cage anymore when I stick my hand in and he will eat from my hand if he chooses to, which is exciting for me. He won't step up yet though.

At least your making progress! Congrats

 

[apatrimo94]

Thanks Same to you too with Hiroshi!

 

[Mrspy]

I'm sorry, do a lot of people here use a program by Birdtricks? Your techniques sound strangely familiar........

 

[apatrimo94]

LOL, no mrspy, target training is a common practice used by most bird owners everywhere. I don't use the program Birdtricks.

 

[Beilana]

I have researched the womach brothers and seem a few of their youtube videos but I havn't purchased any of their DVD's. I have taken training techniques from multiple places Birdtricks is awesome though, those guys work wonders with parrots!

 

[Mel]

I like Good Bird Inc. Shadow has all of a sudden started to pick things up with her foot and will take treats from me instead of just opening her beak and squawking at me so I'm looking forward to moving ahead in the training dept

 

[Aussie Ben]

I'm sorry, do a lot of people here use a program by Birdtricks? Your techniques sound strangely familiar........

As AP said, the method is pretty well common knowledge. I have used Birdtricks DVD's in the past and still refer to them, but now I pull a lot of my information from all over the place, books, DVD's, Magazines, Websites etc. As Mel mentioned Good Bird inc. is good too.

 

[Beilana]

Hiroshi now nows the trick "turn around" and spins in a little circle! He's learning so fast!

 

[Aussie Ben]

Yay! Good job. I bet he is enjoying it too, they always seem happier when they are learning.

 

[boabab95]

Congrats!

just a side note, I'm actually trying a new target training 'technique', i split the end of a bamboo skewer and inserted a small piece of almond into it, that way the treats already there for him... it seems o be working well...