March SNOW-NESS!!

Hello folks!
I come to you today as I celebrate the actual feeling of spring. Which means only one important thing...the squirrels are moving like crazy! 

I have had a good few weeks. We are settling in nicely with being a 4 dog house--now that everyone knows my particular rules about...EVERYTHING, we seem to be doing quite well.

We have received a bunch of late snow--so March has been fun for us--running and chasing each other through all the snow--and then coming in for some blow drying--to get warm and toasty. The humans do this for us. We just go stand by the bathroom door and then they warm us up and dry us off!

My brother and I both get this problem when we run in the snow--we get hundreds of  snow balls all over us! They become annoying because you can hardly walk. Because Ciaran is so much shorter, he gathers up the most snowballs! It makes him mad, but he tries to eat them. The blow dryer works best on dog snowballs!

See all the terrible snow balls? They SUCK!

Last weekend my mom took me to an agility trial in Winchester, VA at the Sportsplex and she was just planning on taking Hasten. She had originally decided she would just stay home because she had no one to run either of us since she is still not cleared for running. At the last minute she decided that practicing lead outs with Hasten would be a better waste of her money--than sitting home and doing nothing! So, because Dad was finishing two-12 hour night shifts--she took the 3 of us (leaving Fiona, in Samy's room) so that we wouldn't wake up Dad...well, it does happen--we get excited at the UPS man(have I mentioned how much I HATE that man?)...the squirrels...the air.

Anyway, it was a quite chilly day! I love a cold day!! We all loaded up and drove to the event. Mom took Hasten out to practice her lead out and planned 4 obstacles. Hasten was what the humans consider to be "good"--she sat obediently at the 1st obstacle when asked and she held her "wait" until she was released. Hasten got lots of praise and the BIG TREAT (frozen quality wet dog food in baby food jars!). Mom then said to a few friends who were standing around, "I have Barclay in the car if anyone wants to run him." John, a man I have never met, said, "I will run him." So, the two of us: man and excellent dog met, he gave me some treats and I said "Sure! I will run with you!"

Well, it was a fun jumpers/weaves course (and I don't usually like those) and even though I wasn't my fastest, I Q'd and got 4th place! Mom was ecstatic and I got to eat a BIG TREAT! Mom decided to stay at the trial the rest of the day, so John's wife, Stacy asked if she could run me. Stacy and John have always competed with labs...big, fast, loud labs. Stacy just recently got 2 Manchester Terriers--so she was excited to try her first run with a little dog. (It's an honor that I didn't mind bestowing on her.) 

My time for Standard class approached. I have to tell you, I really like working with Stacy--she gave me treats like I was a 60 lb lab!!! Not an 18lb terrier! Mom was worried I was going to throw up on the course! All that chicken made me happy!

So, back to Standard... A small, child-like being was the leash runner. We started at the first obstacle and then turned to the 2nd and 3rd and as we turned, the small child-like being ran really fast up behind me. It actually startled me so I looked back--right as I was going over the double...and you guessed it, I dropped the bar! The rest of the course was very scary. I am pretty sure that that small being and the judge were in cahoots! I felt very stalked. I looked back at the judge several times and tried to tell her "BACK OFF!, Didn't you see that thing run after me!" I would like to file a report!!!"  I was only 1 second under time with all that drama --and the judge asked to see my score sheet. She said that if I had made time she would have let me run again... well, I didn't make time (by 1 whole second) because I was busy worrying about my safety! Sheesh! Stacy was very unhappy--and then mom told her the news she had been keeping from everyone. That if I had Q'd in that class it would have been my 19th out of 20th for my PAX champion title. Well, that made Stacy even more upset. Mom reassured her--this was not the first of times we didn't Double Q because of one lousy second.  It was all OK with Mom and fine with me...I still got the BIG TREAT!!!

The next day, Mom and Dad decided to take us all three back to Winchester for the 2nd day of the trial. I ran with Stacy again and we Q'd in Standard. I was 12 seconds under time and earned another 4th place ribbon! Mom was very happy! In Jumpers, I ran really fast--it was a fun, flowing course--none of those stupid pinwheels or 270 things that make a dog slow down--just fast and fun! I actually had a great time! I was again close to 10 seconds under time. Now, I'm not bragging or anything, but people, I am usually the dog who is 1-4 seconds OVER time! So, I earned my 19th Double Q toward my title! Everyone was happy. Mom was thrilled that she decided to go to the trial and we all got lots of treats! Ever Ciaran, because he got to try the practice jump, get a measurement and go meet people. If we get the video of me running-mom will put it up.

So, playing in the snow, chasing my brother and sisters around and keeping a look out for squirrels--a good month!!!

Chow!
Barclay, the Reluctant, but this past week...rocking, fast Agility Dog!

P.S. Shhh! Don't tell too many people--they might expect me to be fast again!

Throw Me Somethin' Mister!

On behalf of Mardi Gras and Carnivale season coming to a close, I would like to provide you with a few thoughts. 

First, my parents held their annual Mardi Gras party...we were locked in our crates...with bully sticks at least. 

Before the party started...Ciaran was in the basement. Want to know what he was doing? Watch this short video. Click below:

Ciaran's Mask

I wonder how his hearing was in that thing? He is so silly!

In addition, there were many people, and much food! None for us! We were allowed to hangout at the end when the crowd had died down. 

Here is Fiona...greeting a few guests!

At one point in the evening, my sister Samy left her door open and I made an amazing discovery!!!

For the past several weeks, this gigantic rawhide candy cane has been hiding in her room! Gazinga!!

Yes folks, it's amazing!

They took it away from me...and closed the door. Humans are cruel beings!

Our friend, Vixen caught some beads!

There it is folks--humans are awful...terrible beings. But we had some fun. Hope you have a great week! Be kind to your sweethearts. I have my eyes on a new opossum in the backyard...I treed it tonight! 

That's all folks!!!

Laissez les bons temps rouler or in Cajun English...Let the good times roll! 

Barclay Quinn, Reluctant Agility Dog

I leave you with my goofy brother

Greetings Readers!

We have news at our house...another addition!!! I know, my parents sound like dog hoarders! My human sister Samara (AKA Samy) has moved back here from Florida and brought her dog Fiona!

No Terrier here!

As you can see, she is not small!

It was an exciting few days. The first day, we all yelled at her but went on a walk --all side by side and after about a block we settled down to just enjoying our walk.

Day 2: Our parallel walking started with a little bit of a hissy fit --mostly from my obnoxious sister, Hasten and the new sister, Fiona.  But quickly we all settled down. My brother Ciaran is mostly afraid of her...he kept hiding behind Dad's legs. I don't blame him...he is the shortest of us and she is scary big!

Day 3: A huge change in behavior! We had an uneventful parallel walk and then we were allowed to slowly, while on leash in the living room talk to her. Ciaran wanted to play, we all joined in at different times and no one tried to kill anyone. Later that day we were allowed to hang out together outside.

We have been doing better each day. I keep hoping she is leaving but she is still here. She stays in the Xpen when she gets to rambunctious...she has no idea how to play with us little guys, she has never been around other dogs and her idea of showing affection is placing her big heavy head on top of ours! Kind of annoying!!!

Fiona really likes Ciaran...here amongst all the pillows--they look happy.

The rest of the week went well but Hasten started limping. All that lunging during our walk must have caused a small tear in her paw and she had quite a few days of limping. Mom made her rest and we thought things were going well.

On Saturday, Mom and Wendy (Peak Performance Dog Sports) Peak Performance Dog Sports to Riva, VA for an USDAA trial. I got to stay home!!! Hasten ran off to sniff several times in her first run. Her 2nd run was better but she looked like she might be limping. Her 3rd run was Pairs and she Q'd with a  mini-Aussie partner. Her 4th run---she limped after the 2nd obstacle. Mom said she looked really pitiful. She was pulled for the rest of the run. It was also VERY cold.

Mom and many others were wearing funky hats--that looked like toys to us dogs!

Everyone checked out her foot--couldn't find anything and then at the end of the day Mom saw Dr. Bradley. You all might recall, that he did the  TPLO operation on my knee (and his partner did my other one) so we know him really well and he was running his Goldie at the trial. He looked at Hasten's paw and immediately saw the abrasion that none of the other humans saw!!! She had to stay home from the Sunday trial...no running for Hasten!

That night we had more drama as her foot had to be doctored and wrapped. Mom even put Duct tape over the bandage and bought an E-collar--but she had everything off in no time!!! Crazy Dog!

Boo-boo foot

It seems to be healing nicely...who knows how...but she seems to be improving.

In the meantime things are never boring here. If anyone has any information on what is living in the locust tree in our backyard...PLEASE let me know!!! I have been watching it closely...and its driving me crazy!!! I need to get that critter!!! Mom keeps making me come in...but 1:00 am is a GREAT time to be a dedicated stalker!

So, that's all the news worth reporting.

Peace Out!
Barclay Quinn, Reluctant Agility Dog

Hola! 
Merry Christmas and here's to a good new year!
I am writing a  wrap up our entire year and providing new pictures that hopefully  haven't been posted for the year.

So, 2012 began with Hasten's first agility trial. In January, she "ran" at the Lexington, VA. horse barn--if you can call doing an obstacle and leaving mom to sniff and then doing another obstacle and leaving mom to sniff... a run. That first trial wasn't terribly successful---at least she took a few obstacles!

She loves weaving!

She is jumping a little high here--silly sister--she should conserve energy!

Although there were some no Q days, she had many successes! She earned her Starters Standard title in USDAA and has earned her AX and AJ in AKC--so she runs with the "big dogs"--in the same classes with me--just not the same jump height.

I have tried to tell her to take it easy---there's no rush!

In March, Mom had ankle surgery on her very useless, dangly ankle. The surgery seemed to go well, although Mom was laid up awhile--so Wendy (From  Peak Performance Dog Sports ran us at a few trials.  Then Mom got a new problem. Plantar Fasciatis---from being immobile in the boot. She had that treated and then when she was running us at a trail in Fredericksburg, VA. she tore the fascia. So, for 12 weeks she has been out of commission again! Don't know when she will be back to exercise and running. In the meantime we have been playing with Wendy and doing little exercises in the backyard where Mom doesn't have to move around too much.

In the summer, we had a weird weather happening. The humans are calling it a Duracho. Sounds like a food item or maybe a movie. But, we were without electricity for a couple of days. We all stayed down in the basement where it was cooler. It was like camping... only we didn't see very much wildlife!  Many trees came down--here's a great picture of me standing on one of the fallen in the Arboretum. I wonder if some squirrels left because of this?

It's a weird picture---but yes, that gigantic tree is laying on its side!

Our most exciting news of the year was a new addition to our family. Ciaran Sinclair (named after my Scotty brother, Montgomery Sinclair) joined our family (See my earlier posts about his lineage).

I really liked him the first night. Then I realized he was staying! Hasten HATED him the first night, but now they are best buds. They play and bark and carry on for hours...the good news--they usually leave me alone!!!

Bonnie and Clyde! They just LOOK innocent!

Sometimes I play with him but not when humans are watching. One of Ciaran's favorite things to do is hide under the couch when playing with Hasten. Unfortunately for  him, he has grown and even though his legs are much shorter than mine or Hasten's...now he gets stuck under the couch. Hasten tries to help him...she grabs his collar and pulls until he is stuck no more! Good Hasten!!! Drag that Swifter (I mean Brother) around!

The best thing about having Ciaran in our family is how much he tires out my sister!

If they annoy me too much, I just go hang out in the big kitchen bed...however, Mom caught me curled up in Ciaran's crate (little bed!) in the kitchen.

On the home front, Dad got a full time job at Merck Pharmaceuticals--that is really good news, although he has really strange hours--12 hour shifts 6:30P to 6:30 A and the reverse 6:30 P to 6:30 A all in the same week! We are all trying to adjust. Mom keeps Shhh-ing us so we won't wake him.  Dad seems VERY happy with his new job.

He and Ciaran have been training together in agility. He has just finished Intermediate II --most of those classes with Mom and Wendy since Dad's schedule is wonky. The boy really loves agility! Silly short-legged dog!

Mom got the news that she was accepted to be a Faculty Member in Residence in London for Summer 2013. That means she will be abandoning most of us for 9-10 weeks! Also, she spent a great amount of time and paper on something called "Going up for Full Professor."  It caused lots of anxiety around the house!

That's a lot of binders!!

Mom caught up with her friends Arnold and Giusy.

In November, Mom and Dad left us to go to Orlando. They went to Disneyworld where Mom had a conference. Samy and Sven joined them but us dogs didn't get to see them. Humans are rude!

Mom's the little one!

Sven found girls who were taller than he!

Sven has really grown!

Team DeVoe

There is word among the humans that my human sister Samy will be coming back to VA to live with us. That will be exciting! 

For Christmas, Mom went to Florida (and did NOT take any of us!) to visit our grandparents. She said she enjoyed going to the beach where there were no humans! I might like that too--except humans give you treats!

Nona, Mom and Kelli

Train Trestle tags near Pcola Bay

Pensacola Beach, Ft. Pickens
I've been there!  

Finally, I am glad to report that we got some snow!!! A little on Christmas Eve that was ruined by sleet and a bunch on the day after Christmas! Woo Hoo!!! I love chasing my sister and brother in the snow!

Xmas Eve snow start---not great

Much better snow!

So, that is the year in review --- most of the news worth noting. I did leave out one brag. I have finally accomplished what I believed to be impossible. I can now catch and kill full grown squirrels!!! This was a long training process. I have watched, stalked and attempted many times...but finally this summer and fall, I perfected my abilities!! Mom is not amused--called me a murderer but if you saw my backyard--where there is a tree every 10 feet--you would be impressed! See, I can do great stuff when I WANT to!!!

Anyway, here's to a good new year everyone! 

Barclay, Reluctant Agility Dog, and Squirrel Specialist. 

Our Grandmother bought us these Holiday outfits!
I'm the grumpy looking one .

Peace out!
Barclay Quinn