Re: [Freeflight] Why trick train pet birds.....

["Chris Biro" <chrisbiro@s...>]

Hello Mona,

> Did I dig myself out of this yet? I never meant to imply that you train
> behaviors for money....or that clicker trainers only do it for money. I
> don't believe that and wouldn't say it.

No hole to worry about here. Just wanted to clarify a little, that's all.

> And also - you wrote that I should train the last behavior first, getting
> the ball in the cup. That is done. Putting the ball in the cup is
> trained. I am sorry that my post was not clear about that. Phinney is
> very, very reliable and consistent about placing objects in other objects.
> She is very, very good at stacking cups, placing a ball in a cup, placing
> balls in small buckets, placing a ball in a basketball hoop, etc., etc.,
She
> has this down.....100% down...in unfamiliar environments and familiar
> environments. She knows the cue. We could perform this on TV if asked.
> This is not a problem at all.....the problem is getting her to associate
> "flight" with putting the ball in the cup. This particular bird..isn't
> getting this quite yet.....but I think she will....I'll keep working on
it.

But Mona, that is not what you described. You said you sat there almost
begging her to come bring the ball to the cup. You said nothing about going
though the entire process starting at the last behavior first and ending up
suddenly at a stand still. I don't think that is what you did either. She
may KNOW how to do lots of things, but did you have her do them in this
sequence during this training session? Doing is sometimes more important
than knowing. Start out like she knows nothing and train the behavior. Start
with the last link and move forward. She should go through it quickly up
until she gets to a point that you are taking on a new step or too large a
step. Again, I am anxious to hear about your results.

Parrots: More Than Pets, Friends For Life
Chris Biro
Nature's Choice Essentials Website: http://www.organicbirdfood.com
ESENCE Website: http://www.thepiratesparrot.com
Freeflight List: Freeflight-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Tel (206) 618-2610