Fall--and my Arboretum!!!

Greetings All,

The days have grown much shorter and I am confused. Why is Mother not feeding us earlier? It seems she is waiting too late...it's dark...I'm hungry!

This time-change-human-thing also means that we are not getting as many walks in. Today we got at least an hour in MY Arboretum and I happy to report that there wasn't a single strange dog in my woods! So, I was completely happy to just look for squirrels and other vermin...and walk beside my sister.

Mom took a few pictures--but they are with her phone--so the quality isn't so good---but here goes.

Hasten doesn't understand just hanging out in the leaves.

Lots of fall color!

We have had beautiful blue sky days and great temperatures!

There are a MILLION squirrels here!

SQUIRREL!!!
Hasten is well camouflaged!

That's all I have for now folks! 

Chow! (like the dog?) 

Barclay, the reluctant agility dog

Happy Halloween!

Hi there people! 

I love Halloween! There are spooky sounds, cool air and treats!! Monday night children will come to our house, ring our doorbell and Hasten and I will bark at them and scare them!!! Hee Hee! We are very friendly--just hate doorbells!

We went to a Spooky Agility class last night. We played a version of Gamblers and I ran with my Dad!!! I had such a good time. See my video below--this was my second run--and I was slower in this one than the first one. Dad did a good job handling me, but I was looking for more information sooner.

Dad and my Halloween run

The humans had good food--which we didn't even get to get near--as they put it in the other room! How rude!  The saddest part of all was when mom dressed Hasten and I up in costumes. This is Hasten's first Halloween costume---get used to it sister!

Wendy and JoEllen

Planning the course.

Jeff is our newest Friday night person...he is a good sport!

I'm a little devil!

Dad, Why do we have to do this?

Later, the white stuff that falls out of the air---that mom gets so excited about-- came down last night. There was much ado about this stuff falling early.

I think the snow makes the halloween decorations look interesting!

Lots of tree limbs were breaking...very heavy wet snow!

Neighbor kids sledding--we only got about 3-4 inches
but enough to sled before it melted!


I close this week with comment about my sister. She heads off to an all day seminar tomorrow at AClickAbove and there should be MUCH to report!!!

Here she is with her BELOVED Elk Antlers...I do NOT know what she sees in these things.

Ciao!
Barclay, Reluctant Agility Dog

This, That and Kimberton Terrier Trials

Greetings everyone!


It has been quite a while since I blogged! I have (and mom ) been VERY busy. It seems she has been doing something called Graduation Applications and a bunch of grading so free time for the computer has been slim.

Rain doesn't bother Hasten and I!

I have much to report. Our walks this past month have been sporadic--mostly because of the rain!!! However, the rain has brought out some very cool fungus!

These were a pretty orange color.

This one was almost as tall as me!

We took our annual trek to Kimberton, PA to see all my peeps!! There were so many Westies there--we looked amazing! Being at an all terrier event was lots of fun. I did come home with 4 ribbons but Mom was most happy about the Double Q on Thursday.

Here's a link of me running but first you will see Ms. Beth and her Parson:
Barclay_kimberton

Mom found some really cute Westie babies! I got to see them and I thought they were SO cute as they played! Here's their link:

Westie puppies

There were some other highlights:

We saw a very different kind of MACH cake...a gigantic Pretzel! You know you aren't far from Philly---lots of cheese sauce and mustard was there to accompany.

On the way we home we saw this beautiful, colored bird. Mom said it was a Hot Air Balloon!

After 3 days of competition Mom brought me home to compete in our local Weyers Cave trial. I don't know what she is thinking. I rarely like 2 days of a trial let alone 3 and then in the same week I am supposed to do more? 

Mom realized this pretty early and we had a new situation. She had Dad run me!!! It suprised me--but not enough to make me run any faster. Check us out on the link. 

Dad's first competition run!

People---4 days of trialing is 4 days!!! 

On Sunday, I got to go home early... and have the whole yard and house to myself!! 

Finally, I am reporting that my sister, Hasten's running contacts are getting a smidge better---here's her most recent practice video. 

Running Contacts Practice with Hasten

I'm off now to see what might be in our back yard. 

Very Reluctant Agility Dog,

Barclay

It Happened One Night

It was a perfect night for a terrier.
The air was filled with...with the sound of college students partying en masse! No, really--they were--it was terribly loud and about 11pm. When all of a sudden my very good terrier nose smelled a rat! Well, kind of a rat--a really large mammal with a rat-like tail. I am not sure of their names but I have tasted them before. I think Mom calls them "possums." I don't know if that is correct but when you mouth them they lay there nice and still and it's so much fun.

Anyway, I am getting distracted from the story...so I smelled the opossum and I began looking for it. I looked up and there...before my very eyes---up on the cable between the houses in the back yard was a very large female! She was perched on the cables and that was the sign to alert my parents! So, I started barking---madly! But nothing happened.

Then, my mom opens the bathroom window and calls me and I call back--"there is a rodent almost in our yard!" and I keep telling everyone in the neighborhood. Mom knows my "critter in the yard" bark really well.  Dad comes out (I guess Mom sent him) and goes back in thinking I am just barking at all the college student noise.

So, yea! I have more time to bark and convince it to come down and play! A few minutes later Mom comes out and then she looks up...sees my prize and goes back in the house. A couple of minutes later, she and Dad come out with a flashlight. I think "cool! They are going to help me!" Hasten has now learned to bark at these creatures too so she is helping and jumping almost as high as our board fence---I keep thinking maybe she could jump high enough to knock it down for us.

Well, then the party poopers (also called parents) come and shine the light on the creature and it doesn't move. Then they make us both go inside and then the worst thing happened...they locked our dog door! I KNOW!!--an outrage!!! Our connection to nature--the portal to my very essence of happiness... is sealed shut!


I parked near the door and waited patiently and about 20 minutes later mom goes back outside with the flashlight and won't let Hasten and I out with her. She comes back in and tells Dad something and they go back outside. I looked out the window--and they found that the creature had not moved---not an inch!!! They picked up a really large limb and were trying to scoot it across the power lines. She finally did walk slowly down the line and eventually they were able to convince her to jump down on a tree limb and escape to the neighbors' yard.

It wasn't until then that Hasten and I were allowed to go back outside. I hunted for her for hours. I sniffed and sniffed and paced the fence line...but alas, my dear readers...no possum. How very disappointing. It was a sad ending to a fabulous evening.

So folks, it just goes to show you that parents ruin everything! Humans intrude and then us terriers don't get to mouth possums!

Sad, possum-less and reluctant agilty dog,
Barclay

Contacts and Adventures!

Hi everyone!

Really tired after our day out!

Amazing! Hasten DOES get tired!

This was an exciting week!  On Tuesday, Hasten and I felt something weird and started barking...then the glass in the house started shaking---and Dad said it was something called an Earthquake...I don't know--it really made us bark!!! Later in the week we had one day of wind and rain from Hurricane Irene.

 I was wondering, why don't earthquakes have names?


I had a great day today. Mom and Dad took Hasten and I to Camp Pendleton (the one where our teacher Wendy lives--not the Carolina's) and we had MAJOR adventures!

First, I ran---and ran and ran and had a great time. It's SO much better than agility!!

Then Hasten went off after Cheetah and she went to the creek, swam a little (she doesn't like it when it is over her head and she HAS to swim) and then disappeared.

All three humans were calling and looking for her--she showed up finally on the other side of the creek.  My 16 year old Goldie friend Tegan also got in the creek. She loves swimming--but getting out at her age is tough! Here she is getting a little help.

Click below:
tegan post swim

Later, they were playing with us and taping Hasten running for the Goddess of Agility in Slovenia and Hasten took off again--went to the creek and everyone had to go look for her. It was Exciting!!!

Here is me playing a little:
Click below:
Barclay and Hasten play

Here are some links to Hasten's video. They made me stay on a leash for the videotaping--I found that very mean--and I did get angry and raised my voice at everyone.  I don't want to DO agility really--but Hasten was getting attention from both of my parents AND she got treats!

Hasten has VERY naughty contacts---NO YELLOW!!! But she looks happy--don't know what the humans are so focused on!

Click below:
Hasten Running and in slomo

Click below:
hasten contacts

Anyway, that's all I have to report for this week...mom is prepping for school to start back!

Ciao!
Barclay, The Reluctant Agility Dog--who likes to run free (no rules!)

Agility competition and odds and ends (mostly odd...my sister)

Hi everyone,
I had a 1 day competition yesterday. I was 1 second over time in Standard--I had some sightseeing to do on the dog walk and that thing is loooong! I was in an OK mood--had a good Aframe. Later that day I ran a jumpers and weaves class that wasn't too bad. Mom called Dad and told him I didn't Q. Later that afternoon Mom was writing down our scores and saw that not only had a I Q'd in Jumpers but that I got 3rd place! Silly Mom--she just doesn't DO numbers! I was in the best mood...when I was leaving the trial! :)

Hasten had a birthday celebration last week that I forgot to post. Here are a few pictures...I enjoyed celebrating...mostly because I got to enjoy some steak!!

Some other things happened last week--

Hasten finally had 6 successful "waits" outside at LOAL in front of at least two jumps! (Whoever heard of a dog WANTING to do a 2 jump lead out and be excited about it!)  She also had 3 or 4 "waits" in front of a jump and tunnel inside! These are really big deals because my sister does not like to WAIT for anything!

What? I'm resting here!

Really! What I do?

Hasten has SO been trying to play with me more every day--she isn't happy with one or two little plays--all that I want to do.
 Here she is trying to be coy. I don't know if you can tell--but NONE of her feet are on the floor---she has them all pressed against the couch ---how this is supposed to make me want to play with her I don't know. As you can tell, I was NOT amused ( I was growling really low so Mom and Dad wouldn't hear me) or interested!

She is also yapping at me!

Goofy Girl Dogs!!!

I leave you all tonight with this clip of my sister's Hissy Fit!!! See what I have to live with people? This is just one short moment of her craziness! Click the blue font link below:

Elkhorn hissy fit

Good Night!
Barclay---still reluctant agility dog!

Happy Birthday Hasten!

Hi everyone!
I have a few things to report:

So, today's my sister's 1st year birthday...big whup! She got to go to PetSmart today---so here are a few pictures of her field trip.

]

She couldn't decide between toys and treats...Hmphff! I would have gone for the treats! She was somewhat overwhelmed with the smells of the place, all the toys and all the treats.  Silly girl!

I went to an agility trial this weekend...with mom and Wendy and Cheetah. My first move when we checked in was to hide under the bed frog legged.  She wouldn't stop taking pictures of me so later I stayed all the way under the bed. Here's a poor quality picture taken with Mom's phone:

The first day they tried to trick me by leaving me in the hotel room but I KNEW it was an agility trial--I know what luggage and junk mom packs that means: Agility Trial! They didn't fool me at all--but I guess I was lucky as the humans complained about how hot it was and I stayed in the AC most all the day.

My friends Sully, Parker and Sassy were competing too---Parker got a 2nd place ribbon!

Mom took a picture of a thing called a Pay Phone---she thought this picture was funny--something about the sign...and the booth.  I don't get it...there is NO phone! Humans are weird! I am calling this Signs of the Times:

Bigger News:
Cheetah got her Mach 2--much excitement was generated about this event...and I must say I am really glad because I was getting tired of people talking about it! I don't know why the humans get so excited about these things...so boring! Cheetah looked happy--and she got lots of treats and a toy. They also had cake--but Cheetah and I got none! Then Deva got her MACH 3 and there was more cake...still, we dogs got nothin'!

Saturday I ran--but didn't have too much fun. I didn't make time in Jumpers and Mom only ran a few obstacles in Standard (that was good). I have to keep the humans guessing.

Sunday for some reason I felt like running and I had a great run in Standard--at least that is what Mom said--she was VERY happy and I was 11 seconds under time--so she got one of those coveted (and far too often talked about) Q's and a 2nd place ribbon.

Here is a part of my run--mom's camera ran out of space. Wendy was in the other building where she and Cheetah were busy Q-ing in their first Time2Beat class...all my other runs (er...walks) are on her camera.

Click here: 

Weim2011 Standard Run:abridged

I will admit that I thought the course was poorly designed for a reluctant agility dog...there was a pinwheel at the end!!! Don't judges know that I can tell if a course is fun or not? No place for me to open up--no straight line to see---but I actually enjoyed it because I CAN count and knew it was the end...but mom didn't get that part on camera...a true historical moment as I HATE pinwheels!!! People--going in circles is NOT fun!!! 

Here's a picture of us getting ready to leave---I decided to take a little "rest."

Overall, it was an OK weekend. I got LOTS of treats and I didn't have to see my sister for 3 days!! Can't really complain...well, yeah--I can and will--that's what this blog is all about! Right?

Later Peeps! 

Barclay...the reluctant agility dog

Of Pond Scum and Tandem Agility

Hi folks! 
First, I want to address the most recent videos on Dramatic Irony of me playing with my sister. My mother clearly took the blog away from me and leaked those videos without my permission. Very embarrassing! Here is my official statement: I was forced to play with her! I WAS FRAMED!!!


Today, Hasten went with mom, Wendy and Cheetah to Ms. Barbara Hunter's farm. Hasten went to do agility but she also took some time to get in the disgusting pond!! She found out that swimming isn't that great---but unfortunately and completely just like her...she liked all the water and the black gunky pond scum stuff! Ick! HAve I mentioned that my sister is WEIRD?

Here's the link:

http://youtu.be/nxjRYx60r3g

My mom was out trying to work with Hasten on agility for her dinner and I decided that I wanted to play. Look--I know how it sounds friends, but there was FOOD involved. So, I went out and played a little. 

Here's the link to click: 

Tandem agility

That's all folks!!! 
Barclay the Reluctant Agility Dog

Water, Water Everywhere

And REALLY not a DROP to Drink! (I'll explain later!)

Hi Folks!
I am reporting on the week events and the big news was my sister Hasten was reprieved from her Xpen incarceration.  She also had to wear a cone of silence at night---but as you can tell...it doesn't work. My parents should get a refund!

Click on this link below:

Hasten Bedtime

So, her big day of freedom arrived. Mom and Dad we SO happy! You can click on this link and see her happiness...she really wanted to play with me but also didn't know what to do with her kooky self!

Click on this link:

Hasten Freedom

We also had a small pool introduced to her...I personally don't like to get in water much--maybe a stream or occasionally a lake or beach--but I don't want to swim. I don't get why Mom thinks this is so important!

A man can't even get a decent drink of water...every time I try she digs and splashes it everywhere! It's SO annoying!


Anyway, here's her in the water...embarrassing! Perhaps she will get in more later...I just wish she wouldn't try to play with me later...she gets me all wet!!!

Click on this link:

waterbaby?

Here's one more clip that Mom really likes....

Drink and Drive

Don't think she is so innocent by this picture! 

Ciao! Barclay, the Reluctant Agility Dog