Tea Cup's Target training video!

[WanderingChai]

Bluetongueskinks.net does not condone placing BTS in potentially dangerous situations. Other animals are unpredictable and can seriously harm a BTS. *added by Katrina

Here it is! Sorry about the bad quality, but it's the best I have. I personally hate the sound of my voice. But it shows how well she does it!
Take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn-2UznVzG4
Thanks guys!

[critterguy]

What are the treats you are using? Teacup definetly connects that target with food. Notice how she nips it and then looks down immediately expecting her reward.

I still need to film my guy sometime. If he's hungry he tends to go a bit nuts on the target which will be entertaining.

Great job to you and Teacup-keep it up!

I wonder once this has been mastered if their is some neat trick a BTS could then be taught to perform that again shows their cognitive skills.

[Spindown]

Cool video what treats do you use? I would love a how to video

[El Lobo]

I see you don't subscribe to the commonly held view on here that blueys and cats don't mix.

[WanderingChai]

I'm using Tea Cup's favorite treat, little bits of dry cat food. Thank you so much for your input!!!

I would love to see your skink doing this!

Again, thank you!

In the video I mentioned about Tea Cup's little "trick". I'm hoping we can get further with it and prove to the world how smart reptiles can be!

[Katrina]

I see you don't subscribe to the commonly held view on here that blueys and cats don't mix.

Yeah, just watched that. I'm adding a disclaimer as agreed on in previous threads. WanderingChai - you will find that lots of people strongly disagree with mixing other animals and blueys. Cats and dogs are predators and in Australia they kill lots of blueys each year. I'm sure you trust your cat completely, but it sends out the wrong message to newer members and others reading the thread.

[WanderingChai]

Kat and El Lobo- I am aware of this. Sorry if I looked like I was being careless in the video, but I NEVER let Tea Cup out of my sight while the cats are in my room. I am always with her and most of the time I kick the cats out while she's out, but because I was going to be with her 24/7 the whole time I didn't bother. And I do not trust my cats. I don't think they would purposely hurt her, but if they were just trying to play I think they could swipe too hard. I also have dogs, but they are not allowed within 10 feet of her at anytime unless she's snuggled in my T-shirt in the living room. Thank you for your concern, and again I'm sorry if it looked so careless.

[WanderingChai]

And thank you for adding the thing at the top.

[Katrina]

Thank you for your concern, and again I'm sorry if it looked so careless.

No worries - it wasn't so much a concern that you were careless. We just don't want anyone who sees this to think that blueys and cats mix well. You might be very careful while the next person might not! It is just easier to put up a warning to explain that this site does not condone this so that there is no confusion.

[El Lobo]

There are a couple of things that always make me nervous when I see pictures of blueys.

1. Sitting on roadways and,
2. Within striking distance of a cat or dog.

This is an excerpt from an Australian website:

"Around Australian gardens, the Blue-Tongue is a popular sight where it wanders along hunting snails, spiders and other pests. But at times they have a bit of cheek about them, as they are famous for stealing dog food.

Dogs often come across Blue-Tongues when they catch them stealing their food. Although the dog will growl, sniff and perhaps bark, the intimidating tongue usually ensures the dog keeps its distance.

The cat is not so easily fooled. As an ambush predator, cats are able to attack the Blue-Tongue before it gets a chance to show its tongue. One minute the Blue-Tongue is eating a snail, the next it has the jaws and claws of a cat sinking into its body."

Whilst I don't entirely agree with dogs being intimidated by the tongue enough to always leave the bluey alone (some posts by LeaBilby will support this fact), basically the cat ambush is fairly accurate. I have seen several smaller blotchies killed by cats. If the cat gets bored it wont always kill but will simply leave them alive with a puncture wound to die a slow and painful death from septicaemia caused by the bacteria off the cat's mouth and an open wound.

Unfortunately a cat bite can occur in a split second, regardless of how vigilant we are.

[Alioop]

That is VERY cool! Approx how long did it take for her to catch on to the target? As critterguy said, she really looks like she gets it.

If you could target train a bluey to a sound, instead of a physical target (I guess this would be more like clicker training?), I think it would make finding them loads easier if they ever escaped.

[WanderingChai]

Kat- I understand. If I do another video I will make sure to not have the cats near her.

Alioop- It took her about two training sessions of 10 minutes each to really begin to catch on. The first day was the hardest, but at the end she had kind of an idea of what to do. The second day was mostly review and that was when it really clicked.
It would make things WAY easier. I'm working on it.

[critterguy]

Alioop: We'll see what WC has to say-but I don't think that would work as the skink needs to be motivated and somewhat alert to respond. If said skink is not hungry enough-it will not respond to the target. I'm curious how hungry Teacup is in those videos. For my bluetongue I can gauge his hunger by how much effort he will put into going for the target.

I was thinking perhaps the trick could be made more complicated-once you know it is solidified. Perhaps training her to crawl through a tube to get to the target. Or choosing between two targets. Maybe the food reward could be put into a little box that requires a flip of the snout or a push of a button to reveal the treat. I think the last would be stretching their intelligence but who knows?

My ultimate goal would be to have mine walk up to the target and point with his nose at it waiting for the food-which he does sometimes. I keep the target higher off the ground so he has to raise his head to touch/bite it. That could be the next step for Teacup.

[WanderingChai]

Critterguy,
I completely agree to what you have to say. It may be difficult or impossible to teach them voice commands, but I am still trying to teach Tea Cup that her name means "The target is over here!". I can get Tea Cup to raise her head to get as I showed in the video. Making her going through a tube is a good idea, and I will try that. I think I'll try to keep it "low tech" for now. I am hoping that Tea Cup will continue to progress.

[JR]

How are you lifting her up? Didn't seem really comfortable to me, as she was wagging her front legs. :/

[Zach]

Yaaaay Tea Cup! We worried about her a long time; so happy she's in good hands.

[critterguy]

I am almost convinced BTS are deaf. Has anyone seem them respond in a meaningful manner to sounds? Those ears have to be for something.

[Katrina]

I am almost convinced BTS are deaf. Has anyone seem them respond in a meaningful manner to sounds? Those ears have to be for something.

Yeah, mine have definitely responded to sounds. When I have them out the get startled and look around when cars start etc. They don't seem too concerned about loud, continuous noises (i.e. the fire alarm when the BF is cooking - I go to see if they look stressed and they don't appear visibly concerned), but they definitely respond to sudden sounds.

[JR]

I am almost convinced BTS are deaf. Has anyone seem them respond in a meaningful manner to sounds? Those ears have to be for something.

My Tanimbar hates vacuum cleaner's sound and plastic bags when they do the rasping/scratchy sound. He always runs to hide somewhere.

He's got a terrarium that's open from the top, so he lifts his head and looks up, if there's a sound hes interested in. (i.e. people talking )

[WanderingChai]

JR- I lift her bottom first and then support her front, unless I just have to put her to the other side of the bed.

Zach- Thank you so much! I am truly honored.

critterguy- Tea cup is not deaf. She responds to many different sounds. (Her favorite music is Bob Marley.)