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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 24, 2014 17:52:59 GMT -5
 We are beginning step up to a perch training. I have attached a dowel perch to the top of Pele's cage, in the spot he likes to sit the most. The goal now is to have him step on and off the dowel, while it's still attached to his cage, taking my hand out of the equation totally (for now). This morning, when I first attached the perch, he was afraid of it and wouldn't go near it. Using the target and a LOT of almonds, I have gotten him to the point that by the end of today, he would touch the target when it was close to the perch, as long as he didnt have to touch the perch. The bird is so smart, he was coming around from behind the perch and reachingggggggg wayyyyyyyyy over to touch the target without touching the perch. I allowed him to do this today as I wanted him to get over his fright of the perch itself. We will probably work on targeting all around the perch this week until he doesnt think twice about going near it. |
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Post by biteybird on Nov 25, 2014 1:37:17 GMT -5
Amazing how far you two have come in such a short time!
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Post by easttex on Nov 25, 2014 4:28:40 GMT -5
What a cutie he is. I hope he eventually goes to someone who appreciates your efforts, and who will keep working with him. It sounds like he thrives on the training.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 25, 2014 19:19:45 GMT -5
So, after spending all day yesterday and half of today figuring out how to touch the target without touching the new perch, including walking up behind it and STRETCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG as far up and over as possible to touch the target so he could get a click and treat, Pele decided it wasnt worth the effort and just stepped up onto the perch. He isnt doing it every time, but he is doing it, so again, we are making progress. I can't move onto the next step until he is comfortable stepping on and off the perch, as the next steps requires my hand to actually hold the perch.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 25, 2014 21:56:42 GMT -5
What great progress you and Pele have made. It is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing each step along the way - makes it easier for the rest of us to get an idea on what to do should we adopt this training method.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 26, 2014 7:59:17 GMT -5
Thanks. I am hoping that I am not boring you all with this, and I know Pele isnt a quaker...
I am seriously considering doing this with Mr P. There are still some behaviors that Mr P could use some work on, plus I think it would be a fun way to teach him some tricks.
Pele REALLY seems to enjoy this, I think that is why he is responding so well. He understands that HIS behavior is what is producing the clicks and treats and I think he enjoys knowing he has control of what happens. Knowing how Mr P is, that same sense of "I wanna do what I wanna do", he may really love this too.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 26, 2014 13:45:31 GMT -5
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Post by easttex on Nov 26, 2014 14:50:36 GMT -5
He is so adorable. You are certainly not boring me with all the detail. I plan to go back to your posts when it is time to start clicker training. Maybe Pele could be granted status as an honorary Quaker?  |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 26, 2014 15:04:24 GMT -5
LOL I have to say he has a lot of the same personality traits a quaker does!
I'll hold out on the "adorableness" until I see whether he is going to go after my hand when I place it on his perch.
I did make a halfhearted attempt earlier but when it seemed he was going to by pass the target totally to get a shot at my hand, I thought I should probably do this in small steps, rather than all at once.
My biggest fear is that I will be HOLDING the perch with him on it and he will bite me and I will wiggle the perch and he will fall off. Then he will be afraid to step on it again and that will have ruined everything we have done so far.
So, little baby steps for now until I'm sure he isnt going to bite my hand while I'm holding the perch.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 29, 2014 10:53:52 GMT -5
Part of the challenge of training a parrot (or any animal) is one must make adjustments in the training program. Pele loses all focus on the target when a human hand is resting on his cage. So, instead of trying to place my hand on the perch that sits on his cage, I rigged a new one so he actually has to step away from the cage to hit the target. This gives him a chance to get used to walking away from his cage to hit the target, get his click, and his treat.
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Post by easttex on Nov 30, 2014 6:50:39 GMT -5
Very clever, both of you! I see, and hear, you have some assistance with the training. That must be helpful.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 30, 2014 7:40:18 GMT -5
The "assistance" is my boyfriend, Rick. He is only at my house Fri night thru Monday morning (we don't live together, although we've *been* together going on 1000 years). He enjoys helping out, and part of Pele's socialization process is to have more than just myself work with him. So, I do the hard part during the week and Rick gets to reinforce it on the weekends, while I take videos. LOL
Pele doesnt care who gives him clicks and treats as long as he gets them!
The biggest thing I learned this week is that Pele is SO cage aggressive that he totally loses focus on the target when a human hand is resting on his cage. He will bypass the target and go right for the hand, and not to step up! LOL
So, I am going to have revise my training program, which is ok. We are both learning. He comes out of quarantine tomorrow. I have a PVC playstand I made awhile back for Mr P that I never use. I am going to put up the pvc stand next to Pele's cage and we will work on targeting him off the cage and onto the stand.
Once he will get down off and away from his cage, we will work on step up to a perch while a human is holding it.
I feel the key to this being successful is getting him off his cage
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Dec 4, 2014 13:07:17 GMT -5
 Today, for the first time, I have managed to target Pele off his cage and onto a pvc playstand. I'll get some vids over the weekend when my b/f is here and I have extra hands |
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Post by easttex on Dec 4, 2014 14:28:38 GMT -5
I can't get over how cute he is. How big is he, compared to Mr P? I really have to stop falling in love with other people's birds. It's just not decent... I know, you're not thinking of him as YOUR bird, exactly. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Dec 4, 2014 15:03:42 GMT -5
He is bigger than Mr P, about an inch or 2 taller, but way broader, sort of like the difference between a 5'10 wide receiver and a 5'10 offensive lineman. Pele is built like a tank. His feet and beak are bigger too. Last time I weighed Mr P, he weighed 105 grams. Pele weighs 155 grams although the vet wrote on his chart that he is "obese" due to the crap seed diet he was on. He is off seeds now, except for a few nutriberries as treats. This bird really has some socialization issues This past Sunday, I had to keep him locked in his cage. My grandson had his first birthday party and we had a lot of people here. Although no one bothered Pele, he lunged at people from the top of his cage everytime they walked by and I was concerned for the safety of my guests. I am still unable to handle him, the only thing that has saved this situation is the fact that he loves food, he will take treats out of my hand without biting me, so the target training has worked ! |
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