Target Training my Senegal - HELP needed!

[Gremlin_Owner]

Hi, I have a 6 year old Senegal that I adopted from a family 3 years ago. He's quite a character and although can be very loving, has an awful temper and can be extremely violent. My hands are in agony from the horrendous attacks that I get. So I'm trying to start from scratch with training him.

For three days now, I've been using target training with a stick (chopstick) and a clicker (and sunflower seeds - his favourites). At this point, he is following the stick wherever it goes to get a treat and a click from me, but he just can't resist biting it. I'm trying all I can to try to stop him from doing this; I don't click the clicker or give him a seed whenever bites the stick. I only ever reward him when he's gentle with it and gives it a little hold. I only ever say 'no' and take the stick away when he bites it. I make sure to keep my voice low and not harsh.
Now, my worry is that it's just my pulling the stick away that's stopping him from biting every time.... and in which case, does HE think that I'm rewarding him for feeling THAT URGE to bite?

Another thing you need to know is that I've already trained him to nod his head when asked a question and to shake hands (fingers) when asked.
When I trained him to do these things, it was with positive encouragement and sunflower seeds as rewards, so I know he's not incapable of learning.
I've also always rewarded him in the same way for allowing us to touch him, for asking for a cuddle and for being gentle natured.

So, what can I do to stop him biting the target stick so that I can make sure this training works? I'm a bit scared at the moment that he just thinks I'm rewarding him for his urge to bite.
I hope you can help.
I want my little Senegal to have the happiest life possible.
Thank you.

 

[ann]

it sounds like your doing great so far! you can stick a treat on the end of the chopstick so he takes the teat instead of biting it, or move it just out of his reach so he leans over and barely touches it before being rewarded. good luck! i strongly recommend searching "jamileigh's parrot help" on you tube and checking out her blog, also called "jamileigh's parrot help", i have found it to be very helpful . good luck and dont give up!!!

 

[lene1949]

At this point he's supposed to bite the stick...

You put the stick, where you want him to go, he bites it and he gets a treat... Don't have him follow the stick.. He needs to get a clear message: 'go to the stick and touch/bite it, then you get a treat'...

Eventually he'll get the idea that he doesn't have to bite the stick hard in order to get a treat....

Please don't punish him for doing what he thinks he should be doing...

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum Lene has given you great advice! Good Luck with your training.

 

[mtdoramike]

You have received good advice. But you need to remember that Senegals are very tempermental birds. They can be sweet and cuddly one minute and the very next minute bite you. This from my experience with the few Senegals that I have been around is their personality.

They have what I call a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde personality. So good luck with your target training. But I'm not sure your going to accomplish what your wanting to accomplish with it.

 

[friedsoup]

There is the bitter apple or bitter cherry spray you can get and soak the chopstick in that but I think it's unnessisary just remove the stick slowly from him and go on to the next behavior you want and reward that. I know what you mean their bite is painful for such a little bird I tell everyone when I forst got my Bogart I looked like I owned stock in Bandaide's but since he got over his bitingstage I have only been bitten when he got excited by my friends Lovebird who preened him and I shooed her away (how dare I) and once she got him so excited he climb off his playgyn and walked across the floor to me and I thought he wanted up so I stuck my hand down for a step-up and got the fire bit out of me he just needed to express himself.

 

[LauraT]

Sounds like you are doing well. It is ok for him to bite the target stick at this point. Click immediately and offer the reward. The biting will turn into a nip and then touch. I would not pull it away, as this will confuse the bird.

Do you have the book "clicker training for birds" by Melinda Johnson? If not, I would get it and read it through. It is a wonderful book and it sounds like you are well on your way to a wonderful relationship.

I have a little Senegal as well, Baxter, and he is having a ball clicker training.
Keep us posted

Laura