Costumes, tricks and treats

Happy Halloween Folks! 

This week has been filled with some interesting events.
1st it is Halloween week and my family is crazy for Halloween! We have tons of decorations and the other night Deliah and I were really happy because Mom, Dad and Samy were carving pumpkins! And we love pumpkin!

Also this week, we went to our annual agility Halloween get together. This week Wendy created a really cool course that spelled out the word Boo! At least that is what mom said, I haven't learned how to read ...YET! We also had a costume contest and my mom dressed us up as Florida Tourists! I wore my Hawaiian shirt and visor--mom made me wear sunglasses--but I HATED those--and she made me 4 little dark socks. We look REALLY goofy--but I was a good sport and pretended to be cool about it--since she seemed so excited. (Humans are so weird--I am always amazed at what they enjoy!)

My mom has legs as white as me--and I heard her tell someone tonight that this is the best tan she has had all year! Geesh!

Mom is trying to teach me something new. It is very hard for me because just earlier this year, she and dad free shaped me to learn that I have HANDS!!! It's amazing! I had NO idea! Now when the clicker comes out--I want to show them my hands!!! I can do cool stuff with them now. But this time they want me to use my mouth and it so hard! Dad made a clip...you can see me practicing.
This first one--I have a little trouble....

This one is a little better. Sometimes I just don't know what they want. I even look at Dad and say? "What the...?"

Anyway, all these festivities make me tired, so I crawled up on the couch, collected a blanket and a pillow  and took a snooze(all on top of mom's grading. Ahh...life is great!

Tonight, I waited in the car during Samy's football game. Mom gave me the most amazing treat... a cow esophagus! YUM! Mom couldn't look at it or touch it--but I really liked it!
Well, folks, it has been a busy week....until next time...
Barclay, the reluctant agility dog

A week WITHOUT agility

Hi everyone!
I am reporting that I have not done agility all week. I have to say that is is kind of weird. Not once have I practiced my teeter or done the weaves! I am a little perplexed and keep following my mom around.

Some things did happen this week that were interesting. My grandmother came to visit and she isn't really used to animals in the house...so we all go and make nice to her and love on her. Isn't that the rule? The person who likes animals the least, gets the most of the animals? Hee Hee. My brother the cat...Ramses--REALLY liked Nona. Especially her hair!

The family left us on Saturday to pick apples and visit the potato chip factory--we 4-legged creatures stayed at home.

The best part of the week was another Hike to the Shenandoah National Forest. I had the best time. I was so excited by all the wind and cool weather that I started tugging on my leash!

I really like the views! But my parents freak out when I get close to the edge!

I think I am going to a trial this weekend. Mom has started packing our agility weekend stuff! More news later...we will see how I feel this weekend!

A week of agility

This week was filled with agility stuff. Mom loaded me up with about 10 bags of stuff and took me to Kimberton, PA where we competed 3 days at the Montgomery Cluster trial.
The first day was AWFUL! It rained and was very muddy. I don't know about you, but I don't work in the rain--and I told her---by my behavior of course. I am a civilized Westie. I don't yell at my mother.
 At one time my mom and I were running the course (well, actually I was walking) and I looked up and she is wearing pants, a jacket, a hat and hood! I am am out there running/walking al naturelle! Of course I am squinting up at her wondering why I am being tortured. Even though I did NOT like the rain and mud, I was still able to win her one of those darn ribbons and Q's that she is always talking about. I got 1st place ---not that you can eat 1st place or a ribbon(well, I have heard some dogs do--but I have a discerning palate).

We went on this trip with my Aunt Stephanie and her two dogs Sassy and Parker. The picture above is Parker in her bed and swaddling(and a giant panda in the background). I like hanging out in the hotel room...it's pretty nice there. It would be nicer if they had room service.

At the trial I also met 3 Glen of Imal's like my cousin Winston. Here are  couple pics of them.

The one above is running the course in agility--he looked pretty happy--I wonder what he takes?

On Wednesday, my FAST class challenge was going well. For those of you who don't know, there is the ritual the humans want us to perform where we work away from them---at least 15 feet. This time it was 3 jumps at wonky angles. I go the 1st one--and then I felt like I missed my mom and looked toward her. She then said "Barclay, OUT" and since that is clearly two messages in one...."Barclay"--which means "come to me" in human speak and "OUT" which means "work away from me" I chose the "come to me" one. That took a few seconds of time but I got the send---the buzzer went off so we didn't get points for it, but for a dog working with "operator trouble" I personally think I did well.

Later that day, I earned two of those coveted ribbons! At one point, my mom and I were called to the trial secretary's tent and was told I was in a tie for 2nd and 3rd and they wanted us to do a run off. My mom was smart enough to take the 3rd instead of making me run a course a 4th time in one day! We got a really pretty yellow ribbon for 3rd and a blue one for 1st in Standard class. That folks is what they call a Double Q and my mom was crazy happy about that one! That was our 7th Double Q--mom is keeping track of them for some silly award...it probably doesn't taste good either.

We saw a beautiful rainbow on this trip---it was very pretty and most interestingly enough we saw the end! The humans were very excited and upset there was no pot of gold...guess you can't eat that either!

I also met the cutest puppies at this trial....they were baby Bedlington's and they were so cute! I was amazed at how fluffy they were. I LOVE babies!

On Thursday, I was a tad slower--3 days at a trial are VERY taxing. You get up early and wait in your crate for most of the day. A dog's life is tough! However, I was able to make  my human happy again with another Double Q.  My friends Sassy and Parker brought home ribbons and Q's too! I also got some toys that you get when you Q.

On Friday I ran the back yard, chased squirrels and just hung out. Then that evening I noticed that mom was gathering up all of our agility stuff again. Sure enough, come Saturday morning we were off to another agility trial! I did ok--but really folks, 3 days is more than enough! I got a 3rd place ribbon and Q and did enjoy running with my friend Wendy in Jumpers on Sunday. I have been feeling really itchy today and I had to stop and scratch while I was in the weave poles....that took up some time...but Wendy waited for me. Later, I ran with my sister Sammi--that was really fun too. I listened to her and was generally happy.

I am really glad that there is no agility this week! I am on Doggie Vacay!
Keep the faith my doggie friends...and hope for me that I can catch a squirrel this week!
My best,
Barclay Quinn, reluctant agility dog

This week: Dirt, pistachios and excellent actors.

Well folks, I don't have a great deal to report. A few things are notable though...

1st I got to spend some time with some mud! That was a great time! I LOVE dirt!

Then I went to the groomer--and mom has really been watching me to see if I roll in something before we head off to Kimberton, PA for the terrier trials...it's a tough job being a Westie.

Other events of note this week include my sister Cordeliah played with me a little. She is 15 years old and lately she has been playing with me ...I don't know what's up--but it is SO much fun. Somedays it seems like she has more energy than  me! I also got to play with Sulley the adorable JRT of Aunt Stephanie's. I could play with him for hours! He was soaking wet from the amazing mouth wars we did on Friday night.

Onw night this week, Dad cut up some chicken and Deliah and watched with great hope....

But nothing very exciting happened there.

I found a pistachio shell on the floor in the kitchen and started crunching it... I really like them but mom came running in the room to try to stop me. A few days later I started choking and coughing...couldn't get the darn thing up. Mom took me to the vet on Friday... I have to tell you that place gives me the shakes!

 Dr. Arneson said I was OK---but probably had a scratchy throat. I got a shot and some antibiotics. So, word to all---keep pistachios away from us dogs! One shell costs at least $80.00 and mom complained! But she is glad I am feeling better. No more coughing or choking!

Agility this week was OK--I tried... a little. Mom's anxious about the terrier trials so I need to pay attention. I had some good contacts but I had a really hard time with a "Fred" Friday night... (a 270...but my mom doesn't do numbers so we have to call it a Fred)..it was really spread out and I just kept thinking I should come in to my mom...Our teacher, Wendy, asked her if she said anything to me...and she said "no."  Later she tried saying "out" and I said "why didn't you say so? and got it eventually"   Humans are just dumb. sometimes.



Finally, tonight I found something under the holly bush! It was an opossum!!! I LOVE those! So, mom saw me chasing it and called me but I was too busy to really listen---and I pounced on it, had it in my mouth and the strangest thing happened....it died.

Stopped moving...I kept staring at it and then at Mom...what's up?  Mom made me come in...and then she and Samy went outside to look...sure enough it was dead. Then my dad went out to get it and it was....GONE!!!! Mom was very happy! I am still looking for it. Any ideas? Let me know if you see it. I would like to try to play with it again.

That's all for this week...I am being dragged off to 3 days at the Terrier Trials where only us terriorists will be competing!