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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:33 pm
Claire made an amused noise as she stroked her bird's side again. "Well, at the very least I've had plenty of experience dealing with one particular rowdy bird pokemon, and I know quite well that dealing with one doesn't equal dealing with the type as a whole." Disclaimer stated, she continued. "That said, I can only offer up for advice what worked well for Odette, and I think it'd work well for pretty much any pokemon because it's a very basic concept. It's basic because it works when used properly." There were no if's, and's, or but's about it - it was a common, run-of-the-mill method of training. She wasn't going to sugar-coat it or make it all flowery or anything. It is what it is, and nothing more.
"Anyway, it's really just a matter of the simple concept of positive reinforcement. I warned you that it was one of the basic methods of training," she said, lifting a finger as if Lilith would be upset for her expectations of some fancy super secret method being shot in midair, "but like I said, it works when used properly. All you have to do is figure out their one - or a couple - absolute favorite things, and restrict those for use only when they behave and follow orders." Seriously, you couldn't get much more basic than that. Lilith probably already knew this, but it seemed fairly clear she wasn't using the method with the pair. Or maybe she was trying, she just needed a better reward.
"Odette, for example, didn't want to listen to a word I said when I got her, and would much rather hop all around my apartment getting feathers everywhere and all in all just being an incorrigible trouble-maker," the woman explained ruefully while the golden bird tossed her head proudly, as if such a time when she hadn't been nearly as vain ever existed. "But I found out that her favorite thing in the whole world was when I used a soft brush on her feathers. I have no idea why that's her favorite thing, but it is, and always has been. Luckily for me, that hasn't changed, but at this point I don't think it would matter anyway if her tastes changed."
With that simple explanation and example conveyed, Claire put her hands on her hips in a relaxed pose, violet eyes moving from one Pidgey to the other. "Do you know what their favorite reward is? It can't be some little thing like simple praise, or getting angry for misbehaving - it has to be something they would do nearly anything for. Praise too, of course, but most pokemon in my experience are more responsive to a physical reward rather than verbal." She paused again, violet eyes flitting to Lilith in a curious gaze. "I did warn you it was a basic concept." Once again, the thought crossed her mind that you couldn't get more basic than positive reinforcement. Still, some people just didn't understand that. "Once you find that one thing they absolutely love, it's just a matter of getting them to do exactly what you want and then giving them that reward as soon as they do it, so they learn to associate that command with the action they performed, and that they get their favorite treat if they do what you told them again. Soon they'll be much more willing to do whatever you say because they know that means they get their favorite reward, and that includes getting right to work on training. The sooner they finish, after all, the sooner they get their reward." Or at least, that had worked well for Odette. The bird absolutely loved doing anything that would merit a grooming-based reward afterward.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:29 pm
 Lilith, ever willing to learn despite her reluctance at taking advice from this woman whom she had previously never met, crossed her arms and stood at attention, ready for whatever secret technique from the hidden books Claire was going to teach her. What she got was less than satisfactory to that point. She blinked in surprise at the simplicity of the solution, and she slightly raised an eyebrow at it. As she let the thought stew in her mind, though, it made sense. A lot of sense. Reward positive behavior. Why didn't she think of that before? She listened dutifully as Claire finished her rather long-winded description of the technique, and when she had concluded, Lilith gave a slow, understanding nod. "I see. That... makes sense. So much that I wonder why I didn't think of it beforehand." It was embarrassing to admit such a thing to the other woman and to herself, but that was of little importance at the moment. She had figured out the method: her next step was to put in into practice. Lilith glanced at her two Pidgeys: Dresdan on her shoulder and Donovan at her feet. Honestly, she had no clue as to what they liked. She had only had the two for partners for a couple of weeks, at the most, and they couldn't exactly have a casual conversation as to what were their favorite things. Dresdan, she figured, would most likely prefer some type of physical reward... Some candy or something like that. With Donovan, she had no earthly clue. It would take work, but Lilith was grateful. "Well, thank you for helping me with that, Claire. Really." Lilith gave a small smile, then turned slightly on her heel. "It'll take a while, I think, but hopefully I shall get into their heads and see what they like." Both Pidgeys looked at each other with slightly disapproving faces. Lilith ignored them both. "We'll be going now. I apologize again for Dresdan's behavior."With that, Lilith began walking out of the room. She wanted some time to think about what Claire had said, and she believed that the bird-brain brothers had gotten into enough mischief for the day. She retrieved Ziazan and gave one last wave back to the woman. "See you, Claire."
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:43 pm
Well, good. At least she hadn't gotten a loud, 'I already knew that you idiot!' or something. While she wasn't expecting such a reaction, she had at least expected an 'I knew that' or something similar. Quite the opposite, and the young woman was glad for that. Her pride swelled a bit at having passed such knowledge to the other woman, as basic at it may have been. "You'd be surprised how often the simplest of methods are overlooked." It was true, too. She'd seen so many people trying to train pokemon by reasoning with them, using so many words and logic that most pokemon just didn't understand, and then the trainer getting angry with their pokemon for 'not listening.' It really didn't make any sense, in her opinion.
"That's where experimentation comes in," she replied, pulling out Odette's pokeball and absently rubbing a finger over its smooth surface. "Give them a wide variety of treats or experiences to figure out what they love. It should be obvious once you've found the right thing. And rewards aren't only limited to edible things, too," she added. In Odette's case, edible rewards of any kind had little to no effect with the bird, but grooming? That was another story entirely. "I'm very glad you found that helpful," she said as the other woman turned, and offered her a wave and a small smile of her own. "See you later."
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