Comments on: Step-Up Isn’t Always the First Trick to Teach a Parrot

By: Best in Flock

Best in Flock — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:26:19 +0000

It’s funny that’s there’s a blog linking to this page that basically implies I taught Mika to step up using their method, when 1) this post isn’t about Mika at all, and 2) I said pretty explicitly in my post that I didn’t train Stewie to step up using a target. (So they got it wrong on two counts.)

While I don’t think the method they discuss is necessarily a bad one, it’s kind of silly that they clearly didn’t even read this post but just tried to make it sound like Stewie & Mika are a case study supporting their advice.

By: eyal

eyal — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:31:28 +0000

i am training my green indian ringneck with a clicker and he knows how to shake my hand and to touch the target stick.
but every time igive him my hand and say ” step up”,
he trying to bite my hand.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:39:35 +0000

Glad that Mika is progressing and enjoying herself in the training.

By: threio

threio — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:13:45 +0000

Threio and I agree Step Up training is a necessary evil.

I had extreme difficulty training Riddler, my parrotlet to Step Up.

Threio my IRN on the otherhand has been pretty accepting of training. Riddler would only grab my arm.

Different bird, different likes.

Both I waited two weeks before starting the training.

By: Best in Flock

Best in Flock — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:28:08 +0000

Yay! Good to “see” you again TJ.

As you know, I’m a huge clicker training evangelist… although not necessarily a very good practitioner. I just really, really think this positive reinforcement thing is the only way to go.

So yeah, I really like how clicker training uses behaviors that our birds offer up anyway, but reinforces them and then puts them on cue. Not only is it cool to get them to do stuff, but I suspect they actually get a kick out of manipulating *us*. (“Wait, I do this and she gives me a treat? Every time? Awesome!”)

Even if you never actually teach any tricks, I think the book lays out a good philosophy for how to interact with our little beasties.

Plus, I just finished reading Karen Pryor’s “Don’t Shoot the Dog” which is often hailed as the bible of positive reinforcement training. And you know… turns out it’s not actually about dogs or dog training at all. Clicker training (minus the clicker) is supposed to work well on roommates, employees, kids, etc. We’ll see how my coworkers react when I give them a sunflower seed.

By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:30:30 +0000

I recently (finally) bought the Clicker for Birds kit, and finished the book today. I was surprised at how many of Rigel’s normal everyday behaviors are listed as behaviors for training. I feel pretty lucky that it has been so easy for me so far, by comparison. I can also clearly see areas of Clicker training that will fix some mistakes I have made so far. I’m looking forward to starting tomorrow.

Also, I want to scritch Mika’s cute little legs. I’m guessing she wouldn’t go for that, though.