Trick after Targeting

[Red Moppet]

So my budgie Sputnik has grasped the concept of targeting. He will go pretty much anywhere to get his treat! For his first trick I tried having him go through a tube (as per Kathleen's video) but he seemed pretty freaked out by it so after a couple of tries we stopped. I then attempted "turn around" (again, as per Kathleen's video) but he seemed a little confused as to why I wouldn't let him touch the target stick. He did turn around several times, but wouldn't when I was only using my finger and not my finger with the target stick.

Am I trying to progress to quickly? Or am I confusing the poor bird? Should I press on with the tube training or ditch it and continue with the turn around? Or do something else without a target stick? Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
J

[Michael]

It takes time.

[Alcatraz]

Try doing the turn around trick again but use something "tasty". Ive taught my bird several tricks picking single millet seeds and using as a lead.

[Red Moppet]

Try doing the turn around trick again but use something "tasty". Ive taught my bird several tricks picking single millet seeds and using as a lead.

Thank you for the helpful idea! He loves millet so that would be a great motivator and then he won't be confused by the stick. I'll try it and let you know how it goes!

[Red Moppet]

Okay, so you both were right! Sputnik turns around very well now with just a little prompt from me. Yay!

This is too funny - today when we were training, when I took the millet away after offering him some after his trick, he turned around THREE times!! I think he was hoping that by doing that he'd get more millet! So cute

Methinks it's time for Sputnik to learn a new trick!

[Alcatraz]

Nice. What do you plan to do next?

[Red Moppet]

Nice. What do you plan to do next?

Well, I thought I'd try "wave". I know budgies don't use their feet like most other parrots and it's harder for them to lift their feet high, but Sputnik's been demonstrating good use of his feet when he plays so I thought I'd give it a go.

I started today and it was a bit of a gong show, I'm afraid. I kept trying to get him to lift his foot by bringing in my one finger as if for step-up and waving my other hand in front of him - he kept trying to turn around! Then if he didn't turn around he'd get one foot on my finger... he's just so darned quick! And I guess I need some practice with this one too!

[JadeW]

Sounds like his tricks are progressing nicely! 'Wave' was the first one I taught to my cockatiel, and it's remarkable how well these little guys just pick up the tricks. It'll get even faster the more tricks he learns! Well, behavioural ones I find. My poor little Cas is getting stumped by the concept of 'Fetch', but I think that's more because he's used to training on a perch and not a flat surface.

Good luck with Sputnik! Let us know what else he's proudly learned!

[Red Moppet]

Sounds like his tricks are progressing nicely! 'Wave' was the first one I taught to my cockatiel, and it's remarkable how well these little guys just pick up the tricks. It'll get even faster the more tricks he learns! Well, behavioural ones I find. My poor little Cas is getting stumped by the concept of 'Fetch', but I think that's more because he's used to training on a perch and not a flat surface.

Good luck with Sputnik! Let us know what else he's proudly learned!

Thanks Michele! : ) I'm surprised at how quickly and relatively easy it has been to teach Sputnik tricks. I hope it continues to be so! I find on the days we do some training he seems more calm, like he has expended some good physical and mental energy.

Your Cas sounds so cute! Have you tried teaching fetch with a cup while he's on a perch and getting him to drop the item into the cup? I think once he can do that you might be able to progress to moving the cup and then maybe to the table for a "real" game of fetch. I have Barbara Heidenreich's video and she shows this process (and of course makes it look easy!).

Good luck to you and Cas as well!

[JadeW]

Have you tried teaching fetch with a cup while he's on a perch and getting him to drop the item into the cup? I think once he can do that you might be able to progress to moving the cup and then maybe to the table for a "real" game of fetch. I have Barbara Heidenreich's video and she shows this process (and of course makes it look easy!).

Thank you thank you! I'll admit that I do think he's the more wonderful little tiel on the block, but I know just how biased I am I'm kind of jealous you have some of Barbara Heidenreich's videos, and of course she does make it look so effortless! That's also probably the technique I'll use to teach him fetch. Maybe when he gets familiar enough with it I can put him on the training table and have him perform without trying to hop back onto my knee~ Oh I have such training plans with that bird!