Understatement. A dog and his blog.: 2014

Greetings folks!
I haven't had much free time so I haven't written on this post in a while. Much has been happening.

I have moved up in the ranks of agility. I am still stuck in AKC Open Standard but I am doing really well in Jumpers! I have gotten a bunch of first place runs! I just competed in my first USDAA trial---that was fun.

I love agility!

I really love agility--what isn't to love?

There are tons of people who adore me.
I get to play and run fast.
I get LOTS of treats and praise.

I haven't run a bunch with Dad but I love running with Mom or Dad so it doesn't matter to me. The only thing I don't like? I really hate it when Mom takes Hasten out to run and leaves me behind.

We have been on so many hikes this summer and I really like those. I get really hot and my tongue hangs out but I don't really like to get in the water like my water-crazy sister. However, I have learned that getting in the streams does help--so I am getting better at it.

Here we go on a serious walk to the Arboretum!

This tree was cut down and Mom was sad--at least they turned it into a cool chair!

My friend Fiona, who has lived with us most of my life, sadly went to live somewhere called "Florida." I really loved her. We were the odd couple--she, with her long legs, me, with my short ones...we played together every day with my sister (and sometimes with Barclay too!) I hope she is doing well there. Mom says she is...

All 4 of us head out to a walk.

Fiona, I looked for you out the window...hope you are good.

In my free time, I love to climb on top of the aframe or dogwalk and look into the neighbors yard. I hear we are moving--sure hope I can look over the fence!!!

The table isn't bad--but doesn't give me much height!

We had some fun with agility!

Hasten and I both have brought home a bunch of ribbons!

One of my happiest moments is with people. I love it when people talk to me or even better, when they come to my house!!! If someone sits--I join them!

Barclay got to go to school with mom this summer---he is so calm and just shows up in class with the students. I wish I could do that...maybe one day.

Barclay went to the public speaking class.

We have many adventures ahead of us and I can't wait until we get to go to another one of those places where you drive and then spend the night in a room, called a hotel. I LOVE these! We get to hang out, sniff a bunch of stuff and go to agility trials.

Maybe soon we can hit the road and trial again! I really hate being left behind--so hopefully...

That's all folks!

With nothing but adorable respect,

Ciaran, the world's cutest puppy.

Greetings Humans!

Yep, that's right, today I am two years old. I am the happiest, goofiest, food obsessed dog on the planet and I turned 2!

I have much to report in my blog. When I wrote the first post (I know, a month or two ago!), I was going to tell you about The Incident of the dog and the goat. The dog...Hasten. The goat--a very tall dude who was curious about Hasten. This all took place at an agility trial. Hasten went for her post run celebration to look for water. They did find the water--a really pretty pond with geese that Hasten could yell at. Mom then spotted a really tall goat...and being our mom and her obsession with goats, she had to check it out. She got closer (with Hasten on a flexi w/ her) and then a little closer and it was all going well. The goat then decided to sniff Hasten. Hasten then lost her mind!! She started barking at the goat and then...he started butting her! Hasten was REALLY angry then. So there is Mom, trying to hold back a dog who is on a flexi-leash, and a goat butting. She is trying to save the goat from a possible bite, save Hasten from a headache and all the time they are both dancing around an auger!!! Mom finally gets Hasten out of there and then worries if the owner of the property might come and yell at them!!! I so wish I had video of the whole event folks, alas, I do not.

My parents and Samy went to Florida--I don't know where that is, because I have never been there--but they say it is very pretty this time of year.

I am also "re-learning" my weaves with the 2 x 2 method. Since we have had lots of snow and rain and the backyard is either messy or uninhabitable---mom moved the 1st three into the house. So EVERYONE in our house (humans too!) have to weave to get down the hallway. I am getting much better...but it is so easy to get distracted.

There's The Precious at the end...the Manners Minder!!

We went to an agility trial this month--where I earned a leg in Open Jumpers with my dad. I had some focus issues but that horse barn is so smelly and there are people to talk to (ring crew) and other dogs that are distracting. It's hard for a little guy who is terrier AND hound to focus!!!

At that trial, I also got my own coat! I have only had hand-me-downs but finally got one that is MY color and fits me very well!!! It was a rainy day so it was nice to not get soaked every time I went outside!

Aren't I handsome? Do you have any treats?

Today on my birthday, I went to Hunter Mountain Farm with Peak Performance Dog Sports http://www.peakperformancedogsports.us and learned about rats and barn hunts. It was pretty overwhelming for me. Hasten and Barclay went on Saturday and spent the whole day and today we all 3 went. I met Raj--he was v...e...r...y. interesting. I was so excited that I tore open my nice agility soft crate and now I am told I will be in a hard crate...maybe forever!!! Sheesh! Humans are so cranky sometimes!

It was very cold over the weekend in that unheated barn!! We dogs were great!!

The rats are in thick PVC tubes and the tubes are hidden around bales of hay. We have 2 minutes to find the rat by scent (or sound) and the most important part--for our handlers to know if we have located it or the decoy (one with litter), we also have to climb on one bale of hay and go under a hay tunnel. That is just for Novice dogs.

Our two rats for the seminar were Sheldon and Raj (Yes, of Big Bang Theory fame)