A Special Delivery

Hi folks!
So, Thursday night--Mom came home with a new baby! It was a total unplanned event. We now are trying out a very cute short legged, long bodied puppy. Let me introduce you to who is certainly going to be my new brother...

We think the humans have named him  Cair'an--which is Kieran for you American folks. Mom has always wanted a puppy name Innis (or Ennis) but she said that since he will be Dad's puppy, Dad should name him. Dad liked that one--it means "little dark one"

As you can see--he fits his name nicely.

Want to guess his lineage?

He was a happy accident--a Dachshund and a Sealyham Terrier! His owner calls him a Dasham but we like Sealyhund. As you can tell, he has short legs, long ears and a reallllly long tail. He is very sweet and I really liked him the first day alot!!! Hasten however HATED him.

Yesterday, Hasten decided she LOVED him and I got really jealous and mad because they played together for over an hour! Mom said I was a grump and a pouter! I can't help it--I wanted him all to myself. I LOVE babies!

 Our friend, Felicity, took Hasten and I on a long walk in the arboretum (an hour and half!), then we went to Friday agility-- then Hasten played with Kieran....so as you can see below, they both collapsed later.

I ask my sister to NOT touch me when I lay on mom or in my bed...she is really close! Ick! At least she was still--a rare moment!

Isn't he cute?

His feet are almost the same size as mine!

Today, I spent the day sunning...and basically ignoring the other two brats!

Mom has found a way to slowly get down the three steps to the backyard so she spent some time with us outside today. Her ankle is looking so much better and she has been driving this week (w/the wrong foot!)--so she has been talking about having her freedom back. She still has much more time in the "dreaded boot" but she is happy to be moving around...I have to say that boot coming toward you is kind of scary! We try to stay out of her way.

The blisters are all healing, the incision---drying up nicely--and hardly any swelling today!

Anyway, I am sure that there will be much more to share on my new brother and I. Hasten and I have at least a month off from agility competitions. We think Aunt Wendy (of Peak Performance Dog Sports http://www.peakperformancedogsports.us/) will take us to the Cocker Club trial in May.

I will leave you with this picture of the new baby sleeping on Dad's clothes and shoe while he prepares to take a shower.

Peace Out!

Barclay, Reluctant Agility Dog and New Brother

Mom's updates

Greetings!

It's week 3 and Mom's foot is doing better--she has now moved to walking with only one of those big long metal stick-like things that scare the crap out of me. They are always falling or sliding and it seems always toward me! She is walking more in the boot, which she refers to as "an abomination" I don't know what that is, but it sounds bad!

Her foot really swells up now and her skin is still peeling from the blisters--looks like leprosy! I saw it on TV once!

There are days when it really does look better:




Ick! See how it swells? The compression sock makes big "creases."



She still has to spend lots of time on the couch with ice packs.

 Hasten doesn't mind--she is happy to hang out on the couch and sit with mom.

We have had a few outings. Miss Wendy has taken us to Hunter Mountain twice now...for agility practice and nice walks in the woods. I got in the pond twice!!! It was so nice and cool!

I have been VERY brownish lately--Mom kept threatening a dreaded water torture thing she calls "a bath" and I have been able to avoid it for 3 extra weeks!!! Tonight they tricked both of us!

Here I am all fluffy and stinky like human fake scent! Mom says

 I need some grooming!



This weekend, Mom had a really nice outing. We all went to Hunter Mountain for a workshop on Nosework with Peak Performance Dog Sports. It was fun! Hasten and I got to look in boxes and find treats! Who wouldn't like that? I got in trouble on the 4th attempt. I was having so much fun that I  got carried away and marked a box that I wanted to be sure anyone going after me would know was MINE! The instructor said I was done. I have never marked anything in public before--so Mom was shocked and embarrassed! I don't know what all the fuss was about.

Mom took some video of us searching but she hasn't downloaded it yet.

Anyway, Mom is getting better--talking about trying to drive this week and we had lots of adventures! Wish we could go on more walks but we are a handful and not everyone is jumping up to volunteer to take us! I don't know why.

Peace Out Folks!
Barclay, Reluctant Agility Dog.

Frankenfoot and my great escape!

Hi my peeps!

It has been somewhat of a quiet few weeks. After my fabulous Double Q at the Winchester trial, I have been vacationing--Watching squirrels, barking at 1 in the morning at the opossum that hangs out by our fence and taunts me and overall, enjoying spring. I am quite beige and Mother has been threatening to bathe me for a couple of weeks now!! Have you ever rolled in earthworms? It's amazing!!! Hah!


Mom had to have surgery on her wimpy, dangling ankle so Hasten and I are getting really bored. We have had very few walks and this week only Hasten got to go to agility with Aunt Stephanie.

This leads me to talk about my GREAT ESCAPE!!!
Twice this week our friend Alex took Hasten for a walk--mom thinks that it's too much to ask someone who isn't that familiar with dogs to take both of us! That sucks! So, when Alex came over on Friday, and she put the leash on Hasten, and opened the door, I just figured I was getting to go for the the walk---'cause in this house, if you hesitate--you lose! So, I walked out the door and down the sidewalk and guess what? A squirrel ran across the yard and I went after it and up the hill! Yippeee!!!! I was free!!!! I ran and ran and chased and had a great time!!!

In the mean time, I guess Mom was very upset that I was gone...but Alex and her friend found me and brought me back. I was VERY happy!!!! I had a big smile and felt so proud to have gotten out!!! You can't hold me back humans!!! So, yes, Mom was quite unhappy when I came home but later Dad took me for a special private walk to Purcell Park. Ahhhh! Finally! I am getting the attention I deserve.


As for mom and her surgery---it has been a painful week. I don't really like her ankle--it smells funny and reminds me of all my knee surgeries...but I have checked in with her every day, and rest on her tummy and gave her some kisses.

Here's her ankle pictures...

Day 3--ICK!

My momma has never had an ankle this big before!

Day 7---MUCH better! For a human ankle!

Hasten has spent the most time with Mom---I would rather lay in my bed or chase squirrels or look for moles--Hasten hangs out with mom and her iced ankle.

Anyway, that's about all I have to report. Hopefully I will get to go on more walks soon and maybe even practice some agility. Mom is getting around better but I don't think she will be doing anything with either of us for a while!

Take care peeps!

Barclay, Relunctant Agility Dog...and recent escapee!!!!   Tee hee!!!

Trials and Tribualations

Hola Everyone! 
I haven't had access to the computer lately--the humans have been hogging it! So, I now have time now to report on our weekend trial-ing experience. 


My sister Hasten went to her first 3 day trial. I luckily only had to compete one day and could stay home and chase squirrels. 


On Friday, Hasten did FAST class---and since the handler can make up the course (as long as they get the "send" that the judge creates, mom was able to convince Hasten to do a few obstacles while she ran around sniffing the horse arena. She didn't do too badly--but we have no video footage.  


Her Jumpers class was abysmal! She only took 2 obstacles total! I was a much better Novice dog--I did what I was told...yes, I was a little slow but I was dependable! She was a crazy sniffing monster!  HeeHee! You can see her in her link below.


Saturday I blessed the family with my presence and I had a good time in Standard, I felt quite happy and did a really good job. In Jumpers, I was a tad bit slow but I Q'd---could have been one of those constantly talked about Double Q's--but I had a small problem with one jump in my Standard class. 


Click on the link below to see my runs:
Barclay's Saturday Runs


Saturday, Hasten was a little better. Mom had learned to give her very little space so she could have less chances to run and sniff. She improved and I wasn't terribly embarrassed to call her my sister.  


On Sunday she improved even more and she Q'd and got first place---almost 20 seconds under course time AND she still ran off and sniffed twice and had a little twirl--so I guess she is going to be a F-A-S-T sister.  Here's her link: 


Hasten's runs


Overall, it was a good weekend---I had the house all to my house for 2 glorious days sans Hasten and I got lots of treats and had some fun on Saturday. 


Well, that's all I have to report folks...


Peace! 

Barclay, Reluctant Agility Dog

Hasten's First (sort of) trial

Hey there!
This week I am writing about an event that I was not invited to go along on...my sister, Hasten went with my friend Sully to a new USDAA Intro to Agility trial. This new program is for dogs who are new to agility and like in Hasten's case, not old enough to compete legitimately yet. (You have to be 18 months old for USDAA, 15 for AKC.)
 Info about USDAA if you are interested.

Anyway, I have given permission to report the outcome of Sully and Hasten's experience today on MY blog.

First, Sully ran in Gamblers. His first move was to take off from his mom--but he came back and they had a pretty good run! Sully's Standard run was really good--he stayed with his mom and he looked like he was having fun. His weaves were awesome!! He didn't want to do the down on the table but he did do the dog walk.

In Jumpers, Sully was a good boy--he looked very happy--skipped a few jumps--but was able to be corrected. He would have Q'd but he missed the very last jump to go sniff and look at the Aframe that was off to the side. We think it is really cool that you can get a refusal and fix it and it not count.

Sully's runs combined video--click here

Hasten's Gamblers run was just... a run with lots of sniffing. She NEVER took one obstacle--because she never picked her nose up from the ground. She sniffed all over the horse barn.

The Standard run for Hasten was pretty good--mom was allowed to add her into what is called FEO---For Exhibition Only--and she was able to take a toy out there. So, if she took off to sniff (and of course she did), mom could get her back. We don't have video of her run in Standard--Dad mistaped it and only got the end.
Hasten received a 1st place ribbon and Qualified in Standard! We don't know HOW that happened.

In Snooker, Hasten did a pretty good job. She stayed with mom mostly--and when she did run off, she came back. They did the run they had planned even! Hasten missed one aframe contact but got the other one..guess what? She Qd!!! So, she received a pretty ribbon.


Here's the two runs that were recorded... Dad did some great Giant Panda butt shots!
In the first part--you can see mom stop at the invisible line that really was just the electronic eye--silly mommie--why didn't she just keep going?

Click here: 

Hasten's first trial run(s)

As you will see --she runs really well at her 1st trail and at 16 inches--which she really hasn't practiced doing much at all.

Hasten's Jumpers was not as good--she took off some but came back. At one time she almost left the ring, but someone blocked her exit. She came back to mom and almost finished the course---but mom was happy to have her running. She was a good girl!

There is no tape of that either--because Ms. Bates accidentally taped the beginning and end---and no middle--we do however, have some great video of her very pretty vest. :)

Overall, it could have been a much worse day!!!

I'm glad I didn't go...those are really GIRLIE ribbons!

Peace out folks!

Barclay, Still Reluctant Agility Dog...but I kinda wanted to go today...Shh! Don't tell Mom!

Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone!

I have been SO busy that I haven't been able to post on the Dramatic Irony blog. I am writing today to share some pictures of our trip to my grand-human-parents in Florida. We went there for Christmas and had all kinds of adventures. 

First, here are some pictures of me and my sister that Uncle Mark took of us. 

We went to Pensacola Beach.  My sister and I bit a bunch of these wave things--that was fun. Hasten chased every single sandpiper, seagull and even tried to take on a few pelicans!

Mom said it was really chilly!

Here's Dad and my cousin Winston the Glen...he didn't like Hasten so we never got to play. 

Dad was almost eaten by a shark!

At our grand-dog-parents' house we were not allowed to be IN the house--so we stayed in the glassed in porch room...which was really cruel...there was a goat and some horses and a cat out there! 

I really tried to convince the humans with eyes and my sad look to let me in....

Finally, we both gave up---it is exhausting staring at people!

The humans opened presents.
There were lots of presents for dogs too!

 

Aunt Kelli, Uncle Mark and Dad tried to take pictures of us!
My sister was not very cooperative! Of course!

Ciao everyone! Here's to a great new year!

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