Customer Reviews

Clicker Training for Birds (Getting Started)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In her book, Clicker Training for Birds, Melinda Johnson introduces the art of "clicker training" to the bird world, including all types of birds such as tiny Budgies and Cockatiels, mid-size birds such as Senegals and Conures, larger African Greys, Cockatoos and Macaws. Birds of all ages (after weaning through adulthood) can be taught under this method.

From the first page of her book, Johnson captivates the reader by identifying the common joys and challenges posed by pet birds. Her training explanations and anecdotes allow the reader to appreciate birds' personalities and their sense of humor, while balancing against the common challenges of bird care. In this book, the trainer will learn how to preserve desired behaviors and to extinguish the less desirable ones in a kind and gentle manner. Through "easy to follow" instructions, Melinda Johnson offers a user-friendly and bird-friendly training approach designed to gain and foster a bird's trust, manage its day-to day care, and to improve the quality of life for pet owners and birds alike. She also provides a life-vest to those frazzled owners who have become discouraged after being bitten or who have resigned themselves to their fate of being forced to wear earplugs for the rest of their lives. One look at the glowing testimonials by bird owners will illustrate the success and heartwarming accomplishments achieved through even five-minute sessions of clicker training.

Far more than a collection of how-to recipes for training, Ms. Johnson introduces the trainer to the scientific methodology behind positive operant conditioning -- enough for them to understand the thought process needed to communicate effectively with their feathered friends and to design their own training exercises. She also throws in some enjoyable tricks that allow birds to show off their skills to friends while playing games with props.

Bird owners will readily identify with Johnson's book. It is a quick-read that provides trainers with the solid knowledge and tools that they will need to make their bird a lifelong friend.

All I was wanting or expecting was to teach my parrots a few tricks, like waving, shaking head yes, ringing a bell.. I thought this would be entertaining to friends and family, to show them how smart my parrots is.

Funny thing is I that is why I bought the book, but what I have gotten out of the book has been so much more.

What I got instead was a better understanding of my parrot's intelligence.

I now understand my parrots so much better, it has helped me tremendously with my Umbrella Cockatoo's biting and screaming, I haven't been bit since I got this book, and the screaming is almost nothing now, I do realize he is a U2 and he is going to scream a little.

My African Grey who is the most timid little guy and a feather plucker, who never comes out of his cage. I began using the clicker to win his trust and to finally get him to come out of his cage on his own, and WOW what a difference in this sweet little guy, he comes out on his own every day, and he explores the entire room, his whole world is opening up to him, And something I never expected but he is growing some new feathers for the first time in 20 years, because with the help of this book, he is exploring and is a much happier boy.

All I know is you will LOVE THIS BOOK, and I wish everyone would buy this book, before getting a parrot. I am so Pleased I found it.

It's a must have, if you're a new parrot owner, or if you have been owned by parrots for years.

Thanks Melinda
Michael M.

It's great that clicker training has finally gone to the birds! Clicker training, indeed any training with positive reinforcement techniques, is rewarding for both you and your bird. This book is a great place to get started with training, and building a positive relationship with your bird.

What many people realize after they start working with their bird is that training tricks/new behaviors offers up a whole new world of behavior for them. For you, it creates an entirely new way of interacting with and appreciating your feathered companion.

You are also likely to experience a reduction in problem behavior frequency (biting, screaming, feather destruction, etc) when your bird learns new behaviors (like they can with clicker training). While this book of priceless information offers much more, a reduction in problem behaviors alone is WELL worth the investment.

This book is a great guide for both beginners and experienced teacher/trainers alike.

I found this book to be a wonderful resource for people who want to clicker train their birds. It's more than a recipe book -- it's a behavior problem-solver. It goes into great detail to teach not only what to do, but why, so in the end you'll have the tools you need to continue past the specific behaviors listed in the book. I must admit -- I'm a bit flummoxed by the earlier review who didn't like that this book delves into theory and bird behavior and is more than a recipe book. I think that's what makes this such an awesome resource. People who have less-than-perfect birds now have a resource that will help them understand why their bird have the problems they do and then help them find solutions that are kind, fun, and incredibly reliable.

This book has everything that can be expected of it!

The early chapters explain the clicker-method in general, how and why it works, why it is better than other methods and so on. These chapters explain complicated behavioral concepts, such as positive and negative punishment, reinforcement, extintion bursts etc., in plain english. These consepts help the parrot-owner understand what motivates the bird and the book explains them very clearly.

The chapters on how to teach each trick are a step-by-step manual with easy-to-follow instructions. The two chapters with various tricks (with and without props) are exellent! They give great ideas on tricks for your bird and show how you should make diffirent triks of your own.

It also covers where and when to train the bird, what to avoid when training the bird and all sorts of usefull material! If you are a bird owner and want your time with your bird to be enjoyable for both of you - Buy this book!!

Melinda's book easily explains the theory behind clicker training and the how to in easy steps. Her book also covers how to use it when dealing with specific problems such as having a parrot stay on his cage. Our past history of training and dealing with animals was one of dominance and control. A realtionship built on that is one of fear and distrust. Training has come so far since then. Clicker training comes from operant conditioning. It is a behavioral science which gives the bird choices. The training uses positive behavioral strategies. Training a parrot this way to do tricks forms the basis for an enriching relationship for both the owner and parrot. Melinda also co-owns a great Yahoo group called Bird Click. It has wonderful files, members from all over the world and a great supportive group. I highly suggest both this wonderful book and the list for those who like the computer!
Thank you Melinda for an outstanding contribution to the field...which makes our parrot's life and ours more rewarding!

Who would believe that understanding animals in general and birds in particular could be mastered with psychology?

Melinda Johnson understands and applies positive reinforcement coupled with love and comprehensive care for animal companions, and the results are predictable, repeatable and immensely satisfying!

Much of what she has written as easy to follow steps I sensed intuitively when I raised my dogs years ago, but until I read her book I didn't know why the results were satisfactory then, and spectacular now! Thank you!

This book is mostly about behavior in parrots. There is a lot of good information on that subject but not enough on the clicker training which is the reason I bought the book. Still, there's enough to give you the idea of how and why it works to make it worthwhile reading. What I would rather have seen is a book that concentrated on just the clicker training aspect.

I think for a new bird owner this would be a good book to read. If you've had birds for a long time, like I have, you've probably read or you've learned by trial and error most of the behavior stuff already. The clicker training part was new to me and I have enough information to get started but I still have a lot of questions. I wish I could recommend another book on the subject, but I'm still looking and reading reviews here to find one. There are a lot of books about clicker training for dogs and cats but not so many for parrots. While the basic idea may be the same, parrots have their own type of personality and just the fact that they have wings, only 2 feet and a beak make it different. This book left a lot of questions still unanswered for me on clicker training.

Lots of info on why my parrot bites etc But not enough on how to stop the biting with clicker training. Way to general.
Wish I had not of wasted my money.

After nearly 14 years with my 14-year-old sun conure, I feel I recognize good behavioral advice. I have always disliked advice that relies on dominance, punishment, or keeping a bird low (they don't have a "top bird" instinct, but feel safer up high). This book tells you how to communicate and develop a trusting relationship with your bird, and that is a priceless thing.

I would have liked a few more specific trick ideas, but I bought an additional clicker training book and registered with Melinda's online forum. So far my bird seems to enjoy the training time, even though I have a lot of learning to do!