Whenever you want to do a training session with your Parrot you need to decide on some basics, like what trick do you want to train and what will be the reward? The trick then needs to be broken down into small segments based upon the criteria that you want to shape. We call this a Shaping Plan and it differs from luring since we take small behaviors such as a step forward and reward. Luring is done by showing the reward and getting your Parrot to move towards it.
What trick do we want to teach our Parrot? Basketball is a trick that all Parrots can do and it is very easy for a beginning trainer.
What will you use for the reward? Most Parrots love treats, mine all like pistachio nuts however; some smaller Parrots love millet. You can set a few treats down on the table and watch which is the first to get polished off. We do not suggest holding back food on a training day but we do encourage you to withhold the treats until the training session. This means to test for the favourite treat a day ahead. Pick a time during the day when your Parrot is motivated by the treat and not tired. A 15-minute session will be plenty of time to teach most tricks before your Parrot is full.
How will your Parrot understand what the clicker means? Before using a clicker for the first time you must “prime” the clicker [secondary re-enforcer], that is; pair the sound of the clicker with the reward [primary re-enforcer]. This is quite simple, click and deliver the reward. I like to use a small measuring cup with a handle because we can hold the clicker on the handle, have plenty of tiny chopped up treats in the cup and have one hand free to move around props or pick up and move our Parrot. With the cup and clicker close to your body, click then move the cup towards your Parrot slowly so not to scare him. Allow him to take one small piece of the treat. Once you see that he has finished the teeny treat do this again but a little faster and again but even faster. By the third or fourth click you should notice that your Parrot is anticipating the reward. That’s exactly what we want. You should not have to “prime” the clicker ever again. Your Parrot is very smart and will always know that the sound of that clicker brings treats. Always remember that when you click you must reward even if you clicked at the wrong time; we do not punish our Parrots for our mistake. If you notice during the session that the cup becomes a lure you might need to hide it from view. I put my free hand in front of the cup so it does not distract my Parrot from performing the criteria I want to reward.
Are you ready to start? Here is what you will need.
A place to train with few distractions. I like to put down a white tablecloth so the props stand out on the table and I can brush away any crumbs that may distract our Parrot from the steps we are trying to train.
What will you use for the prop? Any easy to pick up ball and a shallow bowl will work but a miniature basketball set is ideal.
Shaping Plan for training a Parrot to play Basketball
Start by placing the ball on a clean table with no other distractions. Click and reward after each of the criteria shown below. If you see that your Parrot is slowing down or confused start back at the beginning but increase the criteria, that is; ask for more behaviour for each click.
Criteria:
Looks at ball
Leans or any body movement towards the ball
One step towards the ball
Half way to the ball
Over the ball
Puts beak on the ball
Picks up the ball
Start back at the beginning and remember to click and treat after each criteria.
Criteria:
Looks at the ball,
Half way to the ball,
Picks up the ball,
From the end of table walks to the ball and picks it up,
From the end of table walks to the ball and picks it up.
Now this is where we need more height and we can use our hand to try to catch the ball as soon as we click since your Parrot will drop it to get the reward. If you need more height withhold the click until you see a fractional increase. This is where we use the “Extinction Burst” to try to get more behaviour. That is; when a behaviour has been reinforced and you stop reinforcing, all animals will react with an extinction burst better known by most people as a temper tantrum. The behaviour gets bigger or louder hence we get a fractional increase in the height of the ball. Then we click. We may have to do this a couple of times and you can start back at the beginning each time but increase the criteria for each click when the ball is picked up and a bit higher. I find that putting my fingers on each side of the ball so that it rolls into my hand is more effective and soon my Parrot starts pushing it into my hand. We are almost done when this happens and only 5 minutes in.
Criteria:
From the end of table walks to the ball and lifts it 1/8 of an inch,
From the end of table walks to the ball and lifts it enough for you to get your fingers along the sides so it rolls into you hand,
From the end of table walks to the ball and lifts it enough for you to get your fingers along the sides so it rolls into you hand,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and puts it on your fingers allowing it to roll into you hand,
From the end of table walks to the ball and lifts it but this time move your hand so that he can put the ball closer to your palm,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and puts the ball closer to your palm.
Now I use the small basket portion of the Mini Basketball Set by removing the stem that holds the basket from the base. I hold this in my hand and try my best to ensure the ball falls into the basket rather than my hand. In a step or two my Parrot is putting the ball into the basket on his own.
Criteria:
From the end of table walks to the ball and lifts it but this time you hold the top of the basketball set between your fingers manipulating it so he can put the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and with a little help from you puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and with a little help from you puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and without help puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and without help puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and walks to your hand (now a few inches away) putting the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it and walks to your hand putting the ball in the basket.
So, this is the time to put the stem back on the base but keep your fingers under the basket the first time your Parrot puts the ball in, each time move your fingers back a bit, and by the third or fourth time you only need to put a finger on the top of the prop.
Criteria:
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks towards your hand positioned just under the basket on the stand and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks towards your hand positioned just under the basket on the stand and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks towards your hand positioned just under the basket on the stand and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks towards your hand now touching the top of the Basketball set and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks towards your hand now touching the top of the Basketball set and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks towards your hand now touching the top of the Basketball set and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks to the Basketball set and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks to the Basketball set and puts the ball in the basket,
From the end of table walks to the ball, lifts it, walks to the Basketball set and puts the ball in the basket.
You likely notice that I repeat the criteria two or three times before moving to a new one. This is to ensure that our Parrot understands that he is doing each step correctly and avoid confusion when moving to a new step. You can reduce the number of repetitions if you think your Parrot understands the criteria and is ready for more. You should succeed with training the Basketball game within a 15-minute session.
I do suggest, that if you have never used a clicker, to practice a few times to help you with the delivery of the cup and getting the timing accurate. Here is what you can do to practice.
Set up the training table and put nine small pieces of paper down with one of each number from 1 to 9 written on each. Now have another person stand opposite you at the table call out the numbers randomly allowing you time to click and move your cup over the paper. This will help you with your pose and be sure to not move the cup until after you have clicked, otherwise your movement will be the marker indicating a reward is forthcoming and not the clicker.
To help improve your timing have your helper drop something, such as a pen, on the table. You will need to predict the moment the pen touches the table and your helper needs to listen for the sound of the clicker matching the sound of the pen hitting the table. Clicking too early or too late will confuse your Parrot. The clicker is a communication device that needs to be precise.
The best way to practice is to train another animal, perhaps at your neighbourhood pet store, that is not your pet or a person. This way any mistakes that you may make will not affect future training sessions with your Parrot.
Finally, if you are not getting the behaviors that you are trying to shape, change what YOU are doing. This may mean that you need to change the time of day, the reward or perhaps the timing of the clicker.
Set yourself up for success by starting with the most trainable Parrot and the easiest trick. We hope that you and your Parrot enjoy these training sessions. My Parrots get excited when they see me pick up the Basketball set. They love to play the game.