After weeks of training with the help of the clicker, I’m able to get Kermit to perform several different kind of basic tricks. It’s a great improvement and I’m totally delighted!

Well, I didn’t expect Kermit to be like Kiki to be an ultimate performer in the future. I just hope with the introduction of trick training will help solving some of the behavior issues that start to surface as Kermit matures through his developmental stage.

The following command and tricks that Kermit performed in the video are:

1. Touch the Stick (Target Training) - Warming Up Session
2. Turn-Around Trick
3. Hand-Shaking Trick
4. Waving Hello Trick

In Kermit’s Tricks Collection, you noticed that I’ve included the touch the stick command (Target Training) as the warming up exercise for Kermit. It’s the usual habit that I exercised as a trainer. Even Kiki is not spared for the warming up exercises. Before getting her to perform any tricks or learning any new tricks, I will get her to perform some warming up exercise like touching the target stick or performing other basic commands like Step-Up or Step-down.

The purpose of the getting them to perform some this simple warming-up stints, will ensure that my angels (Kermit and Kiki) build up the training confident and the attention given to me. Usually after the a few exercises, Kermit and Kiki will be more attentive and sensitive to the cues. Try it and you understand the differences that I trying to elaborate.

The tricks that I taught Kermit were of the similar steps that was implemented on Kiki. The only difference is the additional presence of the clicker to help highlight the right behavior that Kermit does.

Anyone interested in teaching your companion parrots these basic tricks can refer back to my previous posts on Kiki’s trick performances. These posts highlighted some tips and simple steps in training the respective tricks. Good Luck! Like i usual like to say Patience is the key to success!

Related Posts:
Kermit’s Turn-A-Round Trick
Introducing Clicker Training
Clicker & Target Training for Kermit
Introducing Target Training
Kiki’s Basic T-Stand Tricks Collection
Hellooooo! Kiki’s Waving Hello Trick
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick

I decided to conduct a Simple Revision Test on all the Basic T-Stand Tricks that Kiki has learned. I got my brother to capture the revision test and compile it into a tricks collection. The collection includes Kiki performing:

1. Hand-Shaking Trick
2. Waving Hello Trick
3. Wing Flapping Trick
4. Turn-A-Round Trick

Kiki in action…

Overall Kiki absolutely did a great job. The results of the revision test are definitely a successful one as shown in the clip above. I received a few emails and questions posted on YouTube asking me what are the first few tricks to be introduced to their birds. The tricks in the Basic T-Stand Tricks Collection performed by Kiki, are the ones that I really recommend. No other special props required in the training, all you need is a quiet and dimly lit room and your bird’s T-Stand. I believe these are relatively easy tricks that any birds can do, even many training books recommended these as the first few basic tricks to introduce to birds with totally no trick training experience.

As I always say in my posts, PATIENCE!
Patience is definitely the key to success!

Related Posts:
Hellooooo! Kiki’s Waving Hello Trick
Kiki performing the Turn-A-Round Trick
The Wing Flapping Trick
Kiki’s Trick Collection

I wasn’t working on project today, and have a whole day with Kiki. I decided to give me a try on teaching Kiki the waving trick. It sounds to be an easy trick, but I met some obstructions during the training session with Kiki. Days ago and even now, I’m still training Kiki to offer her right leg for the Hand-shaking trick. The progress is good, but with a major problem. Kiki tends to nip my cueing fingers first before performing the hand-shaking trick. I’m trying now to eliminate this negative action in the trick. This worries me alot when I teach Kiki the waving trick.

How do I teach?
This trick is rather simple all you need is one simple T-stand and a stick (I use a empty pen case, but a RED one because I used a BLUE one on my previous somersault trick for the trick, I’ve wash it thoroughly before use, so it’s perfectly safe). Later I will explain why a stick is required for this trick. First I bring Kiki over to her familiar training ground and placing her on the T-stand. Usually before starting any teaching I will give her some warm-up exercise (like Step-Up/Down Commands and Turn-A-Round Command), so to ensure she has full concentration and attention on me. First I introduced the stick to Kiki (for me which is the empty pen case). It’s important to have the stick for this trick, initially I used my fingers to train, but the attempts are less effective and confusing. Why? Kiki mistook my cue as Step-up, she tends to hop on to my fingers instead of lifting her legs. That’s why with the use of the stick prevent the confusion.

As soon as Kiki is comfortable with the stick, seeing her playing and mingle with the stick. I kick of with my first phase of the training session. First objective is to get Kiki to lift her left high (because I holding the stick using my right hand - later on transforming my right hand as cue. If you intend to cue using your left hand, then train her left leg), to do this I hold the stick near her. Make sure don’t the stick too near, the stick has to be out of reach. Kiki will try every means to touch or grab hold to the stick. She tends to use her beak trying to nip on the object, every moment she did that, I remove my stick immediately. Whenever Kiki lift her foot slightly trying to grip onto the stick, I immediately treat and praise her. To let her understand that she’s doing it correctly. I continued to repeat this until she’s totally comfortable, lifting her legs without hesitation.

Then after, I started to introduce a verbal cue to her to do the trick. I use “helllloooooo”. I usually get Kiki to perform tricks with verbal and hand cues together. I noticed it’s far more effective this way. So whenever I bring the stick near her and cue “helllooooo”, she will lift and wave her leg. Once she’s totally comfortable and doing the trick without hesistation, I moved on with the finally phase of the trick.

Finally phase, Objective is to fade off the presence of the stick and introduce a new hand-cue to the trick. I used my right hand, index finger in waving motion to cue Kiki to do the waving trick. I try training with the verbal cue and the new hand-cue, whenever she successfully perform the trick, I treat and praise her accordingly. Wah-lah, that’s how I got Kiki to do the wave.

Helllooooooooo! Kiki!

Oh yah, if any of you have problem getting your parrot to perform the wave with your new hand-cue, try moving a step back and use back the stick again to cue for the wave trick. Once your parrot is comfortable, try slowly fade off again.