Blog | Pinnacle Farm Airedales

Training milestone!

admin — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:05:33 +0000

Success at last! Ivy got all four feet to walk on the moving treadmill! We’ve been working hard on this for weeks! She got very proficient at walking two feet, she even got good at walking three feet on the moving treadmill. Yes, it was quite a picture! But she could not seem to make four feet walk. She could get four feet on the belt but they wouldn’t cooperate and walk, so of course she would get dumped off the end if she didn’t scramble off first. It finally dawned on me that maybe our previous training was part of the problem. Last year I taught her to climb up and sit on a scale to be weighted. I experimented and sure enough, with the treadmill off Ivy confidently hopped on and sat down. So I spent a couple days only clicking her for standing on the treadmill. There were a few other steps along the way but tonight we made it! All four feet walking, I’m ecstatic!
Bree didn’t have any trouble learning about the treadmill. He did 2 tenths of a mile at 1.8 speed. It was a good work out. You can tell his brain is getting even more exercise than his body. He was tuckered when we finished despite the short distance.

Georgia – video clip

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:49:56 +0000

This is an amazing video clip given to me by Krystal, Georgia’s mom. Georgia is Echo and Bree’s girl from ‘07

Training the Levels

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:33:37 +0000

I have puttered around with Sue Ailsby’s wonderful training levels for a few years now but never got far. I just got her new Level books and plan to start in earnest. I am starting over with all of them. The first lesson is Zen, otherwise known as self-control. I worked twenty treats each asking them to move their noses away from the treat held in my closed fist. I videoed Bree’s lesson. You can see that he remembers pretty well from past lessons. He is such a food hound I taught him Dinner Zen in self defense. So he gets some Zen practice every day. Echo is such a respectful dog that she gets almost no Zen practice. She sniffed almost every treat before backing off. Ivy still needs work on the little misunderstanding she picked up. She thinks the behavior is bump my hand then back off. I worked on clicking fast, before she had a chance to touch my hand. I think she is starting to get the idea. I’m curious to see how far through the levels I can get them before the new puppy arrives.

Resting

admin — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:28:01 +0000

Pippa snuggling with Aunty Echo.

Pippa

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:21:37 +0000

Here is a picture of goofy Miss Pippa sleeping on her mat. I strongly encourage people to crate train. But for some of us space makes it impossible so I train my pups to sleep tethered on a blanket next to my bed. They have all done very well.

Maggie & Pippa

admin — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 01:31:07 +0000

I got to play with my last two puppies today. We romped around on the greening grass. This evening they got to go with me to the park. They didn’t know what to make of my running around after a basket ball. When I went on the swing they almost made themselves dizzy try to follow me. It was hilarious to watch! Before we left they got to meet a very nice Shepard mix. The park trip was too dark for pictures but I got some of the afternoon romp.

Three For Saturday

admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:39:16 +0000

Red, Periwinkle and Jupiter are ready to fly to their new homes tomorrow. I felt like Rat in Wind in the Willows, running around from pile to pile muttering, here’s a crate for Red, here’s a crate for Peri, here’s a crate Ju, here’s a blanky for Red, here’s a blanky for Peri, here’s a blanky for Ju, here’s a pig ear for Red… The day started out with a trip to the vet’s to get health certificates for the flight. Poor things all got car sick on the half hour drive down and on the way back. Everyone got a bath once we arrived home. Nobody was thrilled with the plan and Miss Ju looked especially bedraggled. They all took a nap after that traumatic event. Then we all relaxed with a walk outside in the lovely spring weather. I got some nice pictures of each one. Next came trims, also hailed with dismay. Then some more snuggle time and another picture session. Aren’t they beautiful!?

Four Down

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:46:05 +0000

Max went home today.

Three Gone

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:31:04 +0000

Nine to go…

George,

Elliot,

and Trudy (light pink),

Have gone to their new homes.

Sleepy Pictures

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:04:51 +0000

These are cute!