Happy Birthday to Hasten

Hi Folks!

This week we celebrate my crazy sister, Hasten's 2nd birthday. This means she is going to be getting an official jump height card in AKC agility. It's hard to believe she is already two!

Here is a little bit of her birthday celebration-- 1st, shopping at PetSmart:

Hasten meets the cats!

There is TOO much to focus on!!!

What is in here?

For two weeks Mom has been sneaking Hasten out and taking her to Winchester to practice on the turf at the Blue Ridge Dog Training Club...yes, I know about it! Here's a video of one of her runs and some play with Hasten on her Bday.

Click here: Hasten's 2nd bday


In other news, my little brother, Ciaran has at least doubled in his length and is having a great time in agility. (Silly boy!) He and Hasten spend hours playing and he is a nice enough little brother. Mom has been trying to take pictures of his darkness (it seems he is hard to photograph and Ciaran does mean "little dark one" in Celtic). He graduated from beginning agility this week!

Ciaran can still get under the couch and drive his sister crazy!

My parents gave Hasten a bath the other day and I had a near panic attack! I was just sure I was next. Luckily I got away but I spent the rest of the night trying to avoid them by turning my back to them.  Here I am in the kitchen. They don't exist...they don't exist...

They tricked me! No bath that night--but the Groomer on Wed!

Have a great weekend people!
Peace Out!
Barclay, Reluctant Agility Dog, Wordsmith.

Of heat, relatives and agility

Greetings people of human land!
I am writing today to catch up on our last couple of weeks.

Our grandmother came to visit us from Florida. She was hoping for some cooler weather than was at her home but she enjoyed coming to visit anyway. We didn't get to spend much time with her because she doesn't really like dogs and doesn't think they should be in a house...I don't know what is wrong with her. I always sit quietly next to her but since my sister has absolutely NO impulse control, we all had to stay in the kitchen until she went to bed every night.

The humans all went to the Massanutten ski slopes to watch fireworks and had this thing where they put the food on a blanket in the ground...which I would have liked to have been invited to!!! That sounds like easy pickin's for food!!! I think they call it a picnic. Either way, we got to try some of the food that Mom made for about 14 people!

In addition, our human sister Samy drove her 1st road trip (14 hours)--to visit us from Florida!! It was nice to see her --we had missed her and love playing with her.

This past weekend we all went to Winchester, VA to a trial. Hasten competed in her 1st 3 day trial and she earned her Open Standard title and moved to her 1st Excellent class.

It was a good weekend. We had lots of Q's --and on Sunday, I earned another Double Q! It was tough--it was so hot outside and not much cooler inside that I got to stay home on one day but I didn't even do that much squirrel hunting! The most interesting news is that Mom ran me in Standard class!!! Here is our first run together in almost 4 months---Wendy ran me in Jumpers and together we Double Q'd---NUMBER 18--as if that is important!!! Actually our Sunday runs are here:

Winchester July 2012 Runs

Hasten started feeling sickly (tummy trouble) on Sunday and although she Q'd in one class, she did not in the last class of the evening. I actually felt sorry for my little bratty sister--she was quite pitiful. (Total Q's--3 for Hasten, 3 for me!)

Ciaran was, as usual, the hit of the day. He came to the trial with us on Sunday with Dad and everyone wanted to see him, pet him and ask what he is. Someone actually asked if there were more like him available. I guess they think he is cute.

Here is two little clips of him starting agility--he really loves it--kind of crazy--I don't remember ever being that happy in class...especially in my first few weeks...er months!

Ciran's 1st class tunnel and chute

Ciaran 2nd class



In other Ciaran-related news--he has learned how to jump up on the couch--not sure how something with legs so short can do this but here's proof!

Anyway, glad things have cooled off around here--we have been on two walks and have chased several squirrels. 

Thanks for reading folks!
I have to go snark at my little brother and sister!

Of Double Q's and HEAT!
Hi everyone! I am reporting on the past week and my adventures. Tuesday was Mom's birthday and the weather here was amazing! It was only 77 degrees and a steady breeze so we all went on a very long walk in the Arboretum. The only bad part of the experience was that the creek bed was completely dried out!! Hasten and I really wanted to play in the water but there was none to be found. As we rounded the park area, we got close to the duck pond and both of us jumped in! Ciaran just had his feet a little wet--he did not understand how much fun it is. Mom was not thrilled---when we got out our feet, legs and tummies were black from the mucky pond! We had a great time though!

Later in the week the temperatures rose terribly!  I knew something was up--Mom was packing up the agility stuff and twice she snuck out of the house with Hasten and tried to distract me so I wouldn't know they were going to agility practice. I guess it's OK---I didn't really want to go run doing stupid agility when it is so hot!

Sure enough, on Friday morning the three of us (Mom, Hasten and I), went with Wendy from Peak Performance to Lynchburg, VA. That was the hottest agility trial I have ever attended. I heard Mom say that is was so hot that I was going to pack up my stuff and leave. Luckily we had this really nice air conditioned building to hang out in and mom put our cool coats on us. I ran first in FAST class but I didn't understand the directions for my Send and missed it. I was in a good mood though. When I was getting ready for Jumpers I found this man sitting in the shade and I ran straight to him. He petted me and made me do the Dancing Booty and that made me happy. Mom was cheering me on and I gave her a bunch of kisses at the start line. (I have NO idea why!---what was wrong with me?--I was in a decent mood!) I ran with Wendy in JWW's and Q'd and got 2nd place! Mom was very happy---and she and Wendy couldn't believe I made time--since it was so hot and I don't usually do well in the heat.

Later, I gave Mom many more kisses and then they took me out to the Standard class. Did I mention it was really hot. Someone said 107 degrees!!! I did NOT like the 2nd obstacle--the dogwalk--it was SOOOOO hot! but Wendy said that if I would hurry up it wouldn't be over soon so I kept going. Guess what? I Q'd and got 2nd place! Everyone was so happy and talking about that ridiculous Double Q thing again. That makes 17--whatever that means!

My sister Hasten did well too--she got her 1st Q in FAST class (2nd place) and her 1st Q in Time 2 Beat (1st place). She never once went sniffing or ran out of the ring. We all thought she would jump the fencing and go visit since it was her first outdoor trial. Surprisingly my little freak of sister did very well.

When we got home a HUGE storm came and we had no power for 24 hours! Exciting! We all got to sleep down in the basement with Mom and Dad.

I have to say that going to trials now and watching her get treats out of the special treat bag and seeing her get her own frozen "baby food" jar is quite motivating. Perhaps I will do a little more agility...if I am made to.

My grandmother arrived from Florida so she will be here a few days--that will mean we have to stay in the kitchen--because she doesn't really "do" animals. My sister is going to go crazy!!!

Here's the video of our runs. Click here: Our runs

So, peeps--who knows why, but I had a good time on Friday! Heat and all!

Peace Out!
Barclay, semi-reluctant agility dog