Any bluey/lizard training stories?

[joan]

Just wondering if anyone has tried to train their bluey (or other lizard) and had much success? I've searched the forums and sounds like a few have tried but I didn't see much more than people trying or wanting to start some training.

I've been trying different things with my bearded dragon. I've mainly used a clicker but I've also tried a flashlight as a marker (they use lights to train fish to do tricks). I did stop for a couple weeks but started up again this week. I actually noticed some progress! What I started this week was having him make "eye contact" where he basically looks up at my face (he's on the floor). So the first session or two his week, I actually got his attention by moving my finger up towards my forehead. He's used to me hand feeding so he caught on right away to watch my finger move up to my forehead. The last two sessions (fading the lure), I have simply moved my finger, pointing towards him and he looks up at my face! I'm using the clicker to mark, but I haven't quite figured out if he's connecting the clicker (noise) as a marker, or if I'm doing some subconscious movement (visual) to mark it. It will be interesting to see if he would eventually pick up a voice cue, or if he simply works best with visuals. I had also been trying out some free shaping with him and it kind of sort of seemed to be working but I couldn't say for sure. Free shaping is where you let the animal do whatever it wants, naturally, and mark the movement you want. For dogs, this teaches them to think for themselves and decide what they want to do, to see if you'll click and treat them. I...don't know enough about reptilian brains to know if they can think that way? They may be smarter than we think.

So I introduced Gronk to the clicker yesterday. I fed him his meal by the mouthful with a plastic knife, clicking before I offered food. I don't expect results any time soon of course, this is probably all I'll do with him for awhile. I've been working with my beardie for almost three months (but he eats way more often with a lot more enthusiasm). I still need to get some snails to see if he likes them. If I can find a treat or food that he goes bonkers for, it'll be perfect.

If anyone's seen Florida the turtle do tricks, you'll know know it's possible (for lowly reptiles). Granted, the guy has probably spent over a decade on training his turtle but hey, it worked! I don't have huge expectations of course (I've got two dogs and a cat for cool tricks). It's just fun for me to do because training/behavior theory is fascinating to me.

[Haley]

I used to have Chinese Water Dragons that had learned their names. I used to be able to call them when I had them out of the tank. I just rewarded them whenever they came to me of their own free will with a little of their favourite food.

[TJreptiles]

Well I have a Savannah monitor that is well behaved but training for him only consists of him not biting, hissing, or being defensive. The training your thinking of I don't "exists" much with beardies. More with the larger, more intelligent lizards such as Tegus, Savannah monitors, Iguanas, ect. I think what is happening is the movements he is making are only food related and he doesn't notice the clicker. This is just my opinion, if I'm wrong please correct me

[Dakota]

I trained my blueys to go poo everytime I have them out.

[Richard.C]

I call snake oil

I can make alot of mine come to me using hand gestures,but its not training them to come,they think i have food so come over expecting it

Some people see it as training them,and them learning to come when called ect,others see the same behaviour as just a food response,like most things people have differing takes on what is actually happening

[Fatal_S]

There was a member here who was target-training their skink. Basically if the skink touches nose to the target (ball on a stick), the skink gets food. The skink picked it up quickly, but at last update still tried to bite the target each time.

People have trained much less intelligent lizards to do much more interesting things. It is possible. They just learn differently. They do best with behaviours that would help them in nature. Navigating a maze? No. Finding a hide/uncovering food? Yes.