Training guide
- Thread starter Xander
- Start date
You can buy a clicker at a local pet store or online (Amazon) pretty cheap.
It would also be helpful to read as much about Amazons as you can to understand their body language in addition to training. Here's a great thread to give a read -- Amazon Body Language
Have you also checked out the Training Sub-forum? It would be a great place to start. Just read through the first 10 pages of the threads there and you should have a good start
It would also be helpful to read as much about Amazons as you can to understand their body language in addition to training. Here's a great thread to give a read -- Amazon Body Language
Have you also checked out the Training Sub-forum? It would be a great place to start. Just read through the first 10 pages of the threads there and you should have a good start
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #4
I bought a clicker yesterday and this morning I tried to train her , click and straight away a piece of threat, I tried with the stick but she doesnāt wanna touch it ��
Should I go with just the clicker so she can get used with the noise or do you have any advice??
Thanks
Should I go with just the clicker so she can get used with the noise or do you have any advice??
Thanks
- May 23, 2018
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http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html
Itzbjean already gave you the link, now just " RTFM and go for it"!
Do the clicker= treat first, so your bird knows it is a really, good thing
Itzbjean already gave you the link, now just " RTFM and go for it"!
Do the clicker= treat first, so your bird knows it is a really, good thing
noodles123
Well-known member
- Jul 11, 2018
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- Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I am copying and pasting my response because I just addressed this on a different website and it took me some time to write the first time lol---
I have a cockatoo, but it should work with other birds as well
Here you go:
"
Clicker training basically uses what they call "task analysis" via "forward chaining". Think about what you want your bird to do, and list the steps in order. Remember, each step is its own entity (because your ultimate goal is a chain of sequential behaviors).
A lot depends on your bird and how much they already know.
For instance, to step onto a target, the bird has to, A) attend to your presence A2) listen to your verbal (or visual) prompt, B) recognize what that prompt means, C) walk over to the target (potentially a stick, but maybe not right away), D) touch the target (eventually the stick), D2) Possibly follow another command, like "step up" E) Step onto the target/stick, and F) stay on the target/stick when you move it.
See how a simple task is actually quite complex? This example assumes that the bird is used to sticks, but if not, you will want to have the stick in the bird's environment before putting it in the cage. Then you gradually might start holding it in your hand while speaking to the bird. Then you might move it closer to the cage until you eventually try putting it through the door etc etc. Rewarding as you go to build positive associations with the stick.
When you know what you are using to reward (or reinforce) the bird (based on what the function of the behavior is), then you can start providing rewards when the bird does part of the task. You want to try to work in order (step by step) and you will want to master each step before moving onto the next. If using food, during the teaching phase, you might say, "come here" while pointing to a location and holding the food near the bird, but just out of its reach. When it moves toward the food (with the goal of eventually getting it to go to where you are pointing w/or w/out food), click and hand over the reward (moving towards the target accomplishes steps a-c). Do not move on to teaching more steps until you are certain that they have mastered the earlier steps in order.
You don't need to reward for the completion of each mini-step unless the bird needs to learn each step....so if the bird automatically comes to where you are pointing every time you point and say "come here", then you don't need to break it down as much and you would just consider that (walking to the target) as step 1, since they clearly get it already. At that point, you would start working on trying to get the bird to touch the target and reward using 1 treat after the bird both A) walked over and B) touched the stick (or got closer to the stick etc). Does that kind of make sense----it's sort of intuitive when you are doing it. The less a bird knows, the more you will have to break it down and the more rewards you will have to give until eventually you only reward for completing multiple steps in the chain IN ORDER.
Again, let's say you walk over to the cage and say whatever it is you plan to say (e.g., "come here"). That will cue the start of the chain/task, so from that point, if the bird does step 1, click the clicker and reward immediately . You will practice this until they have it down. Initially, if trying to get them to move to a target, you may literally have to bribe them with food that is in their line of sight (gradually moving the food farther away and inching them closer to the target). Over time, you would want to try to get the bird to walk over when the food is not in sight and then click+ reward for walking to the target. Then you will try adding the next step (attend, walk over, touch stick etc). You will need to thin out reinforcement over time (maybe treating every-other-time), but that will come much later. During the acquisition/teaching phase, you definitely want to reward all approximations of progress toward your goal, but stop teaching sessions BEFORE the bird satiates (becomes full and no longer desires the treat). Also, when you add steps, don't reward for the previously learned mini-steps in between, because if you did add steps, then the assumption is that the bird already knew/mastered these and should have to work a bit harder to get the reward as time and learning progress."
I have a cockatoo, but it should work with other birds as well
Here you go:
"
Clicker training basically uses what they call "task analysis" via "forward chaining". Think about what you want your bird to do, and list the steps in order. Remember, each step is its own entity (because your ultimate goal is a chain of sequential behaviors).
A lot depends on your bird and how much they already know.
For instance, to step onto a target, the bird has to, A) attend to your presence A2) listen to your verbal (or visual) prompt, B) recognize what that prompt means, C) walk over to the target (potentially a stick, but maybe not right away), D) touch the target (eventually the stick), D2) Possibly follow another command, like "step up" E) Step onto the target/stick, and F) stay on the target/stick when you move it.
See how a simple task is actually quite complex? This example assumes that the bird is used to sticks, but if not, you will want to have the stick in the bird's environment before putting it in the cage. Then you gradually might start holding it in your hand while speaking to the bird. Then you might move it closer to the cage until you eventually try putting it through the door etc etc. Rewarding as you go to build positive associations with the stick.
When you know what you are using to reward (or reinforce) the bird (based on what the function of the behavior is), then you can start providing rewards when the bird does part of the task. You want to try to work in order (step by step) and you will want to master each step before moving onto the next. If using food, during the teaching phase, you might say, "come here" while pointing to a location and holding the food near the bird, but just out of its reach. When it moves toward the food (with the goal of eventually getting it to go to where you are pointing w/or w/out food), click and hand over the reward (moving towards the target accomplishes steps a-c). Do not move on to teaching more steps until you are certain that they have mastered the earlier steps in order.
You don't need to reward for the completion of each mini-step unless the bird needs to learn each step....so if the bird automatically comes to where you are pointing every time you point and say "come here", then you don't need to break it down as much and you would just consider that (walking to the target) as step 1, since they clearly get it already. At that point, you would start working on trying to get the bird to touch the target and reward using 1 treat after the bird both A) walked over and B) touched the stick (or got closer to the stick etc). Does that kind of make sense----it's sort of intuitive when you are doing it. The less a bird knows, the more you will have to break it down and the more rewards you will have to give until eventually you only reward for completing multiple steps in the chain IN ORDER.
Again, let's say you walk over to the cage and say whatever it is you plan to say (e.g., "come here"). That will cue the start of the chain/task, so from that point, if the bird does step 1, click the clicker and reward immediately . You will practice this until they have it down. Initially, if trying to get them to move to a target, you may literally have to bribe them with food that is in their line of sight (gradually moving the food farther away and inching them closer to the target). Over time, you would want to try to get the bird to walk over when the food is not in sight and then click+ reward for walking to the target. Then you will try adding the next step (attend, walk over, touch stick etc). You will need to thin out reinforcement over time (maybe treating every-other-time), but that will come much later. During the acquisition/teaching phase, you definitely want to reward all approximations of progress toward your goal, but stop teaching sessions BEFORE the bird satiates (becomes full and no longer desires the treat). Also, when you add steps, don't reward for the previously learned mini-steps in between, because if you did add steps, then the assumption is that the bird already knew/mastered these and should have to work a bit harder to get the reward as time and learning progress."
chris-md
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- Feb 6, 2010
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Everything you need to know on clicker training can be found on YouTube. Donāt spend youre money
MonicaMc
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Sometimes it's a good idea to spend money on professional advice rather than watching amateurs... unless you can find a good trainer that knows what they are doing! (in free videos/advice) Which can be hard to find if you have to look at all the amateur videos first!
Karen Pryor is good. You can find a lot more info in training here.
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/72250-free-training-resources.html
Karen Pryor is good. You can find a lot more info in training here.
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/72250-free-training-resources.html
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