Help? Can I use... Instead of clicker?

Parro · May 29, 2014

I am taming my lutino Indian ringneck, and it said it required the clicker so that each time you click the parrot will know it will take a treat.
Can I instead of using clickers (for any purpose) say "Good boy!"?

example: Sunny, an Indian ringneck, spoke a word I was teaching him. So instead of clicking and offering him a treat, can I say "Good boy!" and give the treat?

There aren't any clickers around in the nearby shops.

sonja · May 29, 2014

You can absolutely use a vocal mark instead of a clicker! I'd pick something quicker than "good boy", and something that you would never use in conversation, like you would the term good boy. With my dogs I use a high pitched, quick *yes* as the verbal mark.

Parro · May 29, 2014

Can I pop my tongue to make a sound like a clicker? Some people try it and they say it works good.

Dinosrawr · May 29, 2014

You can use any sound you want, it's creating the association with that sound that's important. I like to use a loud clicker and say good. It's habit, but I also do that for training in case we encounter a scenario where things will be loud and my bird needs to hear me.

BEWolf · May 29, 2014

Don't know where you are but almost any pet store should have them.
Anyway back to your question, yes you can use any cue that you want to use as the key to it is consistency. Just make sure that you use it and only it for the cue.

MonicaMc · May 29, 2014

A clicker creates a *precise* sound.

If you are going to use a word, it's best to stick with it without changing it. If you use "Good" instead of using a clicker, don't say "Good Boy", or vice versa. Be consistent in the bridge that you use.

Yes, you can click your tongue. You could even snap your fingers, use a ball point pen that clicks, or any other noise you want.

The main thing is that you need to learn *exactly when* to do the bridge, whatever you end up using. In fact, it would be best to predict when the behavior you want is about to occur and bridge then. If you bridge even a second after the behavior has been done, you may not be correctly marking the exact behavior you want to see.

Parro · May 29, 2014

so.... I should click at the EXACT time he does the trick?

MonicaMc · May 29, 2014

Yup! You are trying to capture the *exact* behavior you want!

Your ringneck may not understand it at first, but if you bridge and reward, then Sunny can eventually figure out what he did to receive his treat!

Help? Can I use... Instead of clicker?

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