On my earlier post, I mentioned about Clicker and Target Training being introduced to Kermit, my Senegal Parrot. There’s a tremendous improvement in the training. Many have learned about Target Training from articles online, books from library and even a post titled “Introducing Target Training” written by me dated a few months back. But many still unaware and have little information about Clicker Training, some readers emailed me asking about details on Clicker Training.

Clicker Training is not something new in the animal behavior training culture, it has been established many years back. Currently now Clicker Training is commonly used in training domestically bred dogs, thus is never difficult to see pet dogs stores selling all sort different designs of clickers. I’ve got my clicker from the local pet dogs store too.

What is a clicker?
A clicker is actually a simple device that creates a unique distinct “click” sound and is easily recognized by all animals.

And What is Clicker Training?
Clicker Training is a process use to train animals (like dogs, birds, cats and even chickens) with the use of a conditioned reinforcer - the clicker. The conditioned reinforcer which is the clicker, which is able to mark the desirable behavior and rewarding it.

Clicker Training is actually based on both principles of Pavlovian Conditioning (also known as Classical Conditioning) and Operant Conditioning. Palvovian Conditioning (or Classical Conditioning) is a form of associative learning which means animal can learn to associate sound with food. For example in Clicker Training, we can teach our parrots to associate the clicker sound with treats. As for Operant Conditioning where our parrots have to perform a series of right behavior in order to receive treats.

In summary, based on the 2 theories, the clicker act as a stimulus bridge and a also a reinforcer which bridge the clicking sound as treats. Whenever the parrot perform the right behavior, the clicker can easily mark the desirable behavior at that very moment and rewarding it accordingly. This way letting the parrot understand that whenever it does the right behavior it gets treats.

Before we can effectively deploy clicker training on our parrots, they have to undergo a simple procedure called Clicker Conditioning. Clicker Conditioning allows our parrots to associate the click with a positive experience which is the treats.

Steps to conduct Clicker Conditioning:
When I tried introducing the clicker to Kermit, I did not hastily move into the step Clicker Conditioning. Instead I allow Kermit, my senegal parrot, to play with the clicker himself. This was to ensure that Kermit was not frightened by this “foreign” object, unfortunately Kermit was quite afraid of the striking blue clicker and refused to get any closer to the clicker.

I tried placing a few sunflower seeds around the clicker, this was to lure Kermit close the clicker. I allowed him to enjoy the treats but with close proximity to the clicker. After couple of minutes, Kermit was able to beak and try picking up the clicker on his own. The very first psychological obstruction was removed, but I foreseen another ahead which is the clicking sound from the clicker.

Basically I tried sound off the clicker. Bingo! I was right about my hunch. Kermit took off and so afraid of the clicking sound. I tried another by muffling the clicking sound by clicking the clicker under a sofa cushion. The clicking sound was much softer and less alarming. Kermit was able to accept the muffled but with a little trembling on his legs.

I had to consistently calm him down and talk to him and repeatedly introducing the clicking sound slowly. After couple of few sessions, Kermit was able to accept the clicking sound. This was when I’m really certain that I can go about moving into steps on clicker conditioning.

Basically moving into clicker conditioning is a breeze. It is fairly simple, basically just click and offer the treat immediately. Repeating the same sequence for about 2-3 session with 10-20 repetitions. Kermit was able to link the clicking sound with the treat immediately after the first session, thus I don’t see much difficulty.

My advise for introducing the clicker training, always exercise caution and eliminate all the possible fears in the parrot itself. By doing so will ensure that the parrot is not stress up and its safety is ensured, then it will be more willing to learn and accepting new things. It’s all about patience.

Related Posts:
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Introducing Target Training

Many behavior problems start to float out when young parrots in the developmental stage start to mature. It’s the greatest fear to see turning from a nice cuddly baby into a notorious monster once after sexual maturity. No doubt, my Kermit, the Senegal Parrot is also no different from any other parrot. He starts to pick up screaming whenever I disappear from his sight, from this he’s more likely to become a “one person” bird very soon.

Among all behavior problem, parrot screaming is always the primary issue among all parrot owners. Owners usually ended feeling upset and angry over the unwanted loud vocalization. Many time ending up affecting the good relationship and bond between the parrot and the owner, but also driving into many other unhappy scenarios like:

• Increasingly loud and consistent noise within the household
• Unhappiness between family members (lots of complaints from parents or siblings)
• Complaints from neighbors (often happens when staying in an apartment)

I’m sure do not want to see their feathered friend vocalizing excessively everyday and been labeled as “naughty boy” in the household. The fact is we can’t totally eliminate these screams, but we can fine tune and minimize the unacceptable excessive noise.

Before we can try to eliminate the problem, we have to discover the reason behind, understanding the possible factors that lead to this problem.

I’ve been reading up precious articles about parrot screaming issues written by the experts (mainly the editors from bird magazines, experienced bird trainers & aviculturists) and concluded a list of the possible factors to the problem.

Factors leading to Screaming Problem:

1. Contact call for out-of sight owner
2. Stress & fear
3. Noisy household environment
4. Attention seeking
5. Communication with other birds
6. Response to certain sound
7. Basic demands not met (like food bowl is empty)
8. Boredom

As for my dear young Kermit, he falls under the “Attention seeking” and “Contact call for out-of sight owner” category.

What makes me so certain that Kermit fits well into the category?

Whenever I’m out of Kermit’s sight, he will start off with these continuous contact calls and ingeniously constructing into annoying squawking. He couldn’t let me off for a short toilet break.

Seriously he appears to be a much happier and quiet angel whenever I’m around with him, glued to the chair next to his cage. I can’t really blame him for so overly bonded to me, as he gets to see me most of the time at home compared to other family members.

Furthermore, he still a juvenile still in his post weaning stage. Like other young parrots, Kermit needs a secure, unchanging environment.

Recently I have been researching for the possible methods to curb or to minimize such loud screams from happening. I’ve also put up some methods on for a trial for a couple days to a week.

Method #1 - Insanely ignore the calls & with Positive Reinforcement

All the while I’ve been practising this method, insanely ignore any unwanted loud calls and reward my dear Kermit whenever he quiet down over a period of time. It’s a consistent effort. Whenever Kermit start make the unacceptable noise, I just leave him alone. Not even enter the room and showing up in front of his cage, this is to ensure that I won’t reinforce the unwanted behavior due to my presence. Furthermore, Kermit’s usual scream is his way to demand attention. By doing so, this is to let him understand that screaming will not do much help, in bringing me back and showing in front of him.

Once Kermit start to quiet down for quite a while or whenever he behavior quietly doing things on his own, I will go over to his cage to give my attention like talk to him, give him some nice treats and even a nice head rub. Continuing in this similar routine, will more likely to make him give up the habit of screaming. I must admit that this method is the best way to eliminate the start of the screaming habit and proved to be effective in a long run, as all the reinforcements are positive.

Although it maybe the perfect method to help cure screaming behavior, but is usually difficult to execute especially it also involves other people in the household. Why is fail most of the time? Because other family members in the household might not be doing the right stuffs (like ignore all unwanted calls, and reward when he is quiet) that you advised.

Like my family member sometime tends to be annoyed by the scream, usually went up to Kermit’s cage immediately and gave Kermit a nasty look or scolding. By doing so it further reinforce the unwanted screaming behavior. This it’s so important that you need full cooperation from all family member so they do not break this positive cycle.

Method #2 - With Negative Reinforcement

Another method which possible to help tackle screaming problem is with the use of negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is more like a form of punishment which usually tends to leave an unpleasant impression and experiences for our feathered friends. But there are reports that quite a number of parrot owners have great success in improving some of the behavior problems (like screaming) with negative reinforcement.

What makes negative reinforcement so effective, almost immediately eliminating the unwanted behaviors? Basically it involve instilling the right amount of fear into the parrot which serves to decrease the frequency of the behavior. Usually “instant remedies” with negative reinforcement is never recommend by many experienced bird trainers because it usually results in side effects like counter aggression, escape behavior, fear and also jeopardizing the relationship of the owner and the parrot.

No doubt of the possible risk, I decided to devise a method with negative reinforcement but do not place my close relationship bonding of Kermit and me into jeopardy. In order to archive this, I have find a way to execute the punishment that instill the correct amount of fear in Kermit, but possible of execution without my presence (when Kermit doesn’t see me executing the “punishment”, this ensure our relationship bond is not put at risk).

What makes clicker training so effective, it’s because of the distinctive sound of the clicker. Thus I decided to use the similar theory on my negative reinforcement method.

In clicker training, the clicking sound represents rewards or treats. In the “punishment” that I specially devised, I have to locate a sound that Kermit is fear of, in order to make this method effective. I soon shortlisted a desk bell as the distinctive bell sound tends to frighten Kermit. It’s an accidental finding. I was then packing and arranging stuffs in my room and when Kermit was next to me on the parrot stand. I accidentally ringed the desk bell, and which cause Kermit to panic and flew a distance away from the room.

Soon I tried using the desk bell whenever Kermit scream. It’s pretty effective and instantly as the distintively bell sound mark at the moment when Kermit scream. By doing so, Kermit will understand whenever he scream the desk bell will ring and it’s scary to him. The best part is I sound the desk bell anywhere without executing this “punishment” within Kermit’s sight.

It can be effective at the moment, but what if Kermit no longer is afraid of the bell sound, this “punishment” will be totally useless and no longer able to modify the unwanted behavior. Thus use it’s wisely and not so frequent. Like what all experienced trainers mentioned always use positive reinforcement.

Personally I will like to recommend two great books that I’ve read before and I will like to recommend to everyone interested in learning more about parrot behaviors:

1. Why does my Parrot by Rosemary Low
   
2. The Parrot Problem Solver by Barbara Heidenreich
   

Both books highlighted issue on screaming, I’ve learned a lot through these books. I do hope these two books will provide better understanding on the excessive vocalizing problems and other parrot behavior issues.