@Leih @Tazlima
We did a few minutes target training this morning. And she still knew how to! Though I tried with a clicker in hand and the target stick but she didn't like the clicker and I can't hold one of them properly. So I stayed with saying 'touch'
That's wonderful! Training is incredibly valuable for both of you.
Lol, the clicker isn't meant to be the command anyway. It's meant to tell them the exact moment they get something right, so the order goes:
1) "touch"
2) *touches stick* / *you click at the same moment she touches the stick*.
3) *give treat*
If she's afraid of the click, just say "good" or click your tongue instead. There's nothing special or magical about the click sound itself that induces training, and they definitely have pros and cons.
Clickers are useful because:
1) it's an unusual sound (so you don't have to worry about confusing the bird if it hears a similar sound in a non-training context)
2) it's loud enough to be heard at a pretty good distance (but not SUPER far - there's a reason people who work over long distances or with aquatic animals often use whistles instead),
3) it can be used by other people (if a young child and a large man both say "good" it sounds very different, and that can be confusing to the animal),
4) it rarely breaks (if you've ever tried to whistle for your dog and can't because your lips are cracked, or tried to issue a command but you lost your voice... that can be frustrating) and
5) it's very, very brief. (If you say, "goooooood biiiiird, Ms. Fluuuuuffypaaaaants," well... a lot can happen in that time. Maybe she touches
the stick, then poops, then turns around and bites you. How does she know which behavior is the one that got the reward? She may guess wrong and decide that pooping or biting is the way to get treats.
On the other hand, as you've already seen, clickers can be a problem because:
1) Some animals are afraid of the sound
2) You won't always have a clicker around
3) It occupies your hand, which is liable to already be busy with treats or sticks or a leash or whatever.
Personally, I tend to use the clicker when first teaching a new move to get that precision timing, then phase it out for a "good" once they know what I'm asking, but do whatever works best for your situation.