Length/Frequency of training sessions?

[RachelReznor]

For those of you who regularly trick train your birds, I'd be interested to hear how often you train, and also on average how long your training sessions last.

I only started training Monster about a month ago. We do training about 5 or 6 days a week and each session lasts between 10 to 30 mins (depending on his enthusiasm), the average though is about 20 minutes.

I'd be really interested to see how everyone else structures their trick training sessions.

Thanks

[Michael]

That sounds about right. I used to train Kili and Truman up to 3 times a day for 10 minutes when they were younger. But once they learned a few tricks each, I worked on increasing the duration of single evening sessions with them. Kili can focus for 30 minutes straight when she's into it but Truman has a shorter focus. I may spend up to an hour training both parrots simultaneously. I train them nearly every day unless I have other things to do. I give them a break every once in a while but usually I make that coincide with when I can't train them.

Keeping it routine and consistent is important and a large part of their learning. On the other hand it's important to mix things up sometimes or they will only learn to listen to you at the certain hour of the day when training occurs and never else. So once in a while do training at a completely random time and make it super rewarding.

[zazanomore]

I train until he's bored of it.

[RachelReznor]

Thanks for the replies, good to know I'm on the right track!
I must start varying the time of day as well, maybe on the weekends I'll train him in the morning when he's not expecting it. I don't want him to come to expect training or worse see it as a chore, I want him to look forward to it and to be a real treat for him.

Zazanomore, how long in general does your birds attention span last? Sometimes my Monster is just such an ADD kid and gets distracted by everything and other days he's so attentive the time flies by!

[zazanomore]

Thanks for the replies, good to know I'm on the right track!
I must start varying the time of day as well, maybe on the weekends I'll train him in the morning when he's not expecting it. I don't want him to come to expect training or worse see it as a chore, I want him to look forward to it and to be a real treat for him.

Zazanomore, how long in general does your birds attention span last? Sometimes my Monster is just such an ADD kid and gets distracted by everything and other days he's so attentive the time flies by!

Depends. Some days he could train for hours. Sometimes, he wants nothing to do with it. I use training as a bonding experience. I care more about the time we spend together, rather than if he learns to do something or not.

I think it more depends on what you are looking for in a training session.

[RachelReznor]

Yes that's exactly why I started too, firstly as a bonding experience and also to stimulate him mentally and physically and try alleviate boredom.
He seems like a much happier bird since we started and a lot of his behavioural issues (screaming mainly) have improved also.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Isn't it better to quit before they get tired of it? I'd think that way they'd be less likely to get sour.

[RachelReznor]

Isn't it better to quit before they get tired of it? I'd think that way they'd be less likely to get sour.

Oh definitely, but i think you start to learn the signs that they're 'about' to get bored or losing focus and that's when you quit. I think, i'm definitely no expert though!