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Training Is Fun!
I think training is often overlooked when we consider forms of enrichment. Maybe it is because some of us associate the word training with a discipline like having to train for running a marathon. I know I did. When Pamela Clark first suggested I try clicker training, I balked at the idea. Then I ordered a clicker training kit and tried it. WOW, is all I have to say about clicker training now. Immediately, I saw how excited Ditto was to follow the target stick - he absolutely loved it. The entire experience was so much fun for the both of us.
On this page I’m hoping to be able to show you the value of adding clicker training to your means of providing enrichment for your parrots. Also what you can accomplish in just 5 to 10 minutes a day. Our focus at this website is on the fun side of training.
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SHAPING STEP UP
Dick Evans worked with the parrots in short sessions, about 5 to 10 minutes a day. Below are three video clips that demonstrate how positive reinforcement training works. You will see the progress Dick made with Elvis over the course of about 2 months. Elvis came to me at the age of 12. Previously he had lived as a single bird in a small cage and had no experience stepping up for a stranger. He also had a tendency to bite when unsure. In the video clips you will see Dick remove his hand whenever Elvis approaches with his beak down. This allowed Dick to reinforce only those approaches which led to Elvis stepping onto his hand with his foot.
I was able to step Elvis up out of his cage and bring him to the counter to begin his training session with Dick. We chose the kitchen counter to train because Elvis was more comfortable there than on a T-stand.
The first two videos are large files that may load slowly at first. It is almost a months worth of training sessions compressed into two 4 minute videos. I tried to show you enough of the approximations in the step up shaping plan so you get a clear picture of how it worked. I also included some of the longer pauses Elvis had in the training sessions to show you how patient Dick was; empowering Elvis to set the pace and work in his own time. In the third video you see how Elvis readily steps up out of his cage onto Dick’s hand eager to begin his training session.
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SHAPING PUSHING A TOY CART
In these two videos you get to see how shaping plans work. Dick's plan was to get Elvis to:
Push with his beak on the end of a target stick.
Next push with his beak on the end of a target stick held over the toy cart.
Finally pushing the toy cart down the counter.
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Shaping Pushing A Toy Cart - Part 1
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Shaping Pushing A Toy Cart - Part 2
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We have Dr. Ellen K. Cook to thank for permission to post this next video:
Building Trust With Your Bird - One Click At A Time!
by Shirley J Morgan & Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.
In this video Dr. Cook instructs a young man with no prior experience, how to teach a novice parrot the basics of clicker training. This bird was hand-shy and bit people who attempted to handle her. The film demonstrates the basic principles of clicker training a parrot, beginning with how to condition the clicker, using food rewards, followed by how to teach targeting and the 'step-up' request.
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| If you are interested in learning more from Dr. Ellen Cook, she has a DVD, Happily Ever After With Parrots - A Learning Game. The DVD is available to purchase at
http://www.avianenrichment.com/
or
http://www.rosespet.com/
For more listings of more Vendors who also sell this DVD you can Google "Happily Ever After With Parrots".
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Jessica Harris is a member of the Yahoo! Group: Bird-Click. Jessica began experimenting with clicker training her cockatiel, Penny, about 10 months prior to filming this video. Jessica tells us she didn’t teach the tricks to Penny back-to-back due to her school/work schedules. She did try to keep practice sessions to about 5 minutes each, depending on Penny’s mood (Jessica never trained if Penny was not receptive). Jessica also said she didn’t face any specific training challenges as Penny picked up the tricks fairly quickly. Thank you, Jessica, for sharing this video with us all.
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Caroline Moore offered to share videos of her training successes. Here is one of my favorites. Caroline calls this "Flighted Put Away". I love watching the fun both Caroline and Daedalus are having. To see more of Caroline's videos; click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/cmoore1608
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I'm dedicated to helping parrots by sharing my parrot enrichment ideas with parrot owners like you. If you would like to show your appreciation for this website please do so by paying it forward and donating to help support Phoenix Landing.
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We can do no great things, only small things with great love.
~Mother Teresa
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Phoenix Landing was created to help parrots have good homes across their entire lives, no matter how many homes that may be. Parrots are resilient and adaptable, and will thrive in new environments if they have space, good nutrition, safety and behavior interactions based positive reinforcement. Phoenix Landing is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the quality of life for parrots. Phoenix Landing re-homes parrots and help them to find a new family. This process is coupled with a robust education program, giving adopters many tools to help everyone succeed. For more information about Phoenix Landing go to www.phoenixlanding.org .
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