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Post by eunoia93 on Aug 24, 2015 12:33:22 GMT -5
So, my young QP, Fintan, he knows how to step up but nothing else so far. I wanted to clicker train him and the first couple of times doing step up with the clicker seemed OK but he wasn't super into it. But recently whenever I take out the clicker he gets SUPER agitated. Crazy, he had never really bitten me that hard previously (just "beaking") but my normally nice baby really tries to take my finger off when I have the clicker and am giving him treats. I tried to just click the clicker and give him the treat repeatedly (without asking him to do something, just so he knows that "click" means "treat")..but instead of taking the treat gently like he normally does, he snatches it angrily and usually bites me hard in the process. It makes me afraid to try to give him the treat.
What should I do? I'm reluctant to forego the clicker because it seems like such a elegant way to condition an animal but I don't want to force it on him if he really hates it and I'm just scaring him. He takes food from me gently otherwise.
Thanks
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Post by easttex on Aug 24, 2015 13:19:57 GMT -5
It's a bit of a dilemma, because you can gradually desensitize her to the sound, but then it probably would not be as effective as a cue. If it were me, I'd replace the clicker. You can accomplish the same thing with a word or phrase, or with something that makes a different sound. It just shouldn't be something that he will encounter randomly.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Aug 24, 2015 18:00:40 GMT -5
We used the word "nice" with Pele (foster Pi) when we target trained him. We started out using the clicker than realized it was easier to speak something then to always be looking around for the blasted clicker! We stretched the word out to make it sound a little different and we would say "Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice" Daisy (foster goffins) doesnt mind the clicker but she is scared of what I use as a target which is a wooden chinese chopstick that you get from the carryout Chinese places. So for her target, we are using our closed fist which seems to be working better. She doesn't like hands palm up, but she is fine with a closed fist. The point of this is that you can adapt both the bridge (clicker) and the target (chopstick) to something that works for you  |
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Post by eunoia93 on Aug 24, 2015 19:30:04 GMT -5
It's a bit of a dilemma, because you can gradually desensitize her to the sound, but then it probably would not be as effective as a cue. If it were me, I'd replace the clicker. You can accomplish the same thing with a word or phrase, or with something that makes a different sound. It just shouldn't be something that he will encounter randomly. Thanks. Yeah I think I will have to go without it. I'm just disappointed because it seemed easier to be consistent / precise to use the clicker click. |
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Post by eunoia93 on Aug 24, 2015 19:33:59 GMT -5
We used the word "nice" with Pele (foster Pi) when we target trained him. We started out using the clicker than realized it was easier to speak something then to always be looking around for the blasted clicker! We stretched the word out to make it sound a little different and we would say "Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice" Daisy (foster goffins) doesnt mind the clicker but she is scared of what I use as a target which is a wooden chinese chopstick that you get from the carryout Chinese places. So for her target, we are using our closed fist which seems to be working better. She doesn't like hands palm up, but she is fine with a closed fist. The point of this is that you can adapt both the bridge (clicker) and the target (chopstick) to something that works for you Thank you. I'll try to use words instead. I was just worried I wouldn't be consistent enough with words. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Aug 24, 2015 19:59:15 GMT -5
Just pick one word, and stick to that one. It doesnt even have to be a word, I have a friend who makes a clicking sound with her tongue against the inside of her mouth and uses that for her bridge.
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Post by daisybelle on Aug 25, 2015 10:02:16 GMT -5
Hi there! My quaker Keda was terrified of this yellow machine in the beginning too. We started gradually getting him just used to being around it, while it was not clicking. this started by placing it on his perch area when he is out to play. then eventually leaving it in his cage in a corner. that way, even though youre not using it, he knows its there and it is not harming him nor should be an object of aggression. to promote good feelings, we'd pick up and roll around the clicker while giving him treats and making him really excited about being around it. now if its not the physical presence of the clicker and more the SOUND, i would slowly introduce clicking to the method above. maybe you introduced clicking too fast? and i think its also OK that he doesnt like the clicker, some things work differently for birds. because i kept losing the clicker, i started doing to clicks with my tongue and IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM. keda will mimick me now, and he know the tongue click is associated with good - so no more need for scary yellow machine good luck! |
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Post by julianna on Aug 31, 2015 17:08:45 GMT -5
If I got a clicker for Oscar he would most definitely be afraid of it. Words... soft words or stern words... they will understand both eventually. They are truly smart little guys... just be patient.
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