GliderCENTRAL

Clicker training!

Posted By: Mozart

Clicker training! - 07/28/13 04:00 AM

I've been clicker training my suggies for the past two weeks or so and just wanted to share my adventures! I've trained plenty of critters, working primary with large mammals. I've also assisted the training of some exotics (two breeds of monkeys and kangaroos) while I was doing an internship at a local zoo. I've been told gliders are not trainable, but I decided to give it a go anyway. It's going fantastic! I'm starting of with just teaching them to target, or to touch their nose to an object when I give a cue. I am using the end of a pen. Long term goal is to have them stay still for nail trims... My female, Bandit, is absolutely loving training and has already learned the cue and targets consistently. Jack targets consistently and will begin learning the cue word tomorrow. The best part is the change I've seen in Bandit. She came from a home without much glider knowledge where she wasn't handled often, so she would always hide in her tunnel when I came in and while she ate and has hand trust issues. Since training took off she runs out to greet me when I come into the room at night and doesn't always run to hide when she gets her treats. She is very good about letting me pet her and give her scratches and seems more active. It's great to see! If anyone has any training questions feel free to ask! smile
Posted By: Countryncrafty

Re: Clicker training! - 07/28/13 08:17 AM

I definitely find this interesting. Could you possible take a video and message it to me either through my email at countryncrafty@gmail.com or through my facebook https://www.facebook.com/countryncrafty :)I'm sure people here would love it too, but not sure if videos can or could be put on here >.<
Posted By: Mozart

Re: Clicker training! - 07/28/13 03:49 PM

Sure thing! Would you like a video of them displaying behaviors they've already learned or of me actually doing a training demo? I have I video up from forever ago of Jack gliding on command. He was taught that using positive reinforcement, but I did not use the clicker at that point. It's not a training demo, just him jumping when I ask. If you notice, I did have a verbal command on it, but there was also a physical cue in the way I held my hand when I want him to glide.

Posted By: plrott

Re: Clicker training! - 07/29/13 11:17 PM

Would love to get step by step instructions on how you are training them smile
Posted By: ArdyBay

Re: Clicker training! - 07/30/13 12:53 AM

I was actually thinking about doing with with my girls! I'm a primate keeper intern and was wondering if clicker training would work on gliders as well as it worked on our primates.
I'd love to see a video too smile
Posted By: Mozart

Re: Clicker training! - 07/30/13 04:25 AM

Excellent! I'll put a video together as soon as the play I'm in is over next week. I would recommend anyone interested in clicker training read "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor. It's an easy read and has a very nice overview of how it works. I would say my gliders don't pick up on training as easily as primates probably do, but they definitely progress quickly once they figure it out. They're also less mischievous and terrifying than monkeys... I was a hair pulling victim of a capuchin tounge She was actually upset because training was over, which meant no more grapes! Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad people are interested smile
Posted By: Typhoonkitty

Re: Clicker training! - 08/14/13 04:28 PM

Definitely interesting... I can't wait to see the video. I would love to try this, plus it may help buster with his shyness.
Posted By: Ba8yluv

Re: Clicker training! - 08/16/13 01:18 AM

Yes please! I would love to see videos too.
Posted By: GUMMyBEAR

Re: Clicker training! - 08/18/13 05:00 AM

I train animals as well, you don't necessarily have to have a clicker- any reward marker will work (you can even train fish tricks by reward marking)! It is great for trick training and training little, harmless critters. I am hoping to teach my sugar glider some fun on-command behaviors by reward marking. You can even lengthen the attention spans of these small animals with patient, consistent training to teach more advanced tricks.

Clicker training rats and mice has also become really common, there are a lot of topics on it out there!

Good for you for giving it a go! I look forward to hearing about the fun things you will teach your gliders!
Posted By: StevieD

Re: Clicker training! - 08/24/13 04:35 AM

ive been able to get mine to respond to me either by name (rocky responds really well to his name, pebbles not so much) or me imitating their clicking noise, they respond to that usually really well.

now, i also got them only a year ago, at the age of 4. i do think that most animals are trainable to an extent. i am really curious with the gliders. they are very smart critters, and i think alot is possible. im working with them to do the gliding on command type of a thing. being able to get them to sit still for nails though, that would be great!
Posted By: JillMarie

Re: Clicker training! - 08/24/13 08:37 AM

A long time ago I posted on here that I had my glider Arwen trained to come to her name and jump to me on command. Another member said it wasnt possible LOL
So I made a youtube account just so I could post the videos of it hahahaha
That was a long time ago. I am glad that there are other people out there that realize a gliders' potential.
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