teaching mango wave. please advise(video)

[NiR]

This is my 3rd session with him. let me know what you think. it was hard holding the camera phone in 1 hand and training in other. Also he is a bit camera shy. So let me know. Also what else i can do to improve the training or the trick.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhK9D9asr0I]Mango learning wave - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Mudkips]

Not bad, if I may make a few suggestions though,

I think you should click a bit faster when he does the trick. I know that you are leaving it a few seconds in the hope that he lifts his foot higher, but that's best saved for later when he knows exactly what you want. At this early stage it doesn't look like he is 100% sure and he kind of hesitates and doesn't lift high. I recommend clicking within a second of him lifting his foot, at least for the first few sessions.

Also, sessions should be short and sweet. The best time to do them is when Mango sees something he wants and comes over to investigate. If you see him losing concentration and focus, don't ask him to do too much more. That way he will really pay attention and do the trick enthusiastically when you ask him to do something, as he knows that he should soon be getting something he wants. Similarly, you could also give him slightly bigger treats less often.

You can imagine it like this: when Birdy sees something he really wants (like a snack he loves), he'll try hard to get to it. I'll hold it up high so he sees it, and I'll wave my finger - think of your act of waving as meaning "Say please first?". Of course, his attention is locked on what he wants, so if the treat is slightly above his head height he will attempt to wave as high as he can, directly at it. Think of him waving back as him asking "Pretty please!".
Once he waves, then I would click (if I used a clicker ) and very quickly give him a good amount of his treat, say one big bite. He'll be ready for more in a few seconds!
When I think he doesn't want any more, I stop asking him.

If you use the method above, you will get super enthusiastic responses from him, no matter where you ask - as long as you know exactly what he is asking for. Here it is in one of my old videos:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er2VxF7Cyi8"]Birdy the Green Cheek Conure waiting for the Tram - YouTube[/ame]

Notice that 8 seconds in - while turning his head to preen - he spots a treat in my hand (off camera) and immediately stops what he's doing to turn around and ask me for it. He is waving high up because he is directing his full attention up at me.

Good luck, hope this helps!