Bragging Rights

Without Fanfare!!!

Since the last update, Declan has not been idle, aside from taking care of whatever vermin ventures into the yard.

He has somehow "learned" Agility by watching other dogs run and when he seemed anxious to do it too we let him try and he earned his beginner and intermediate titles in straight runs.
He is now in the Superior group and has one leg there too!
In Barn Hunt he is in Senior with one leg to date

May 07, 2015 - Early Birthday Celebration

Declan completed his TDAA Beginner Standard Agility title the night before his eighth birthday and just three weeks and one day after his first lesson.
His three Q ribbons all have a blue 1st place attached too! His Instructor (who runs him as Gwen cannot) is somewhat stunned and very impressed with him and with BTs over all

Barn Hunt, Robbinsville, NJ - March 16, 2014

Despite less than ideal conditions, Declan turned in a very credible performance to qualify in Open.

Garden State Terrier Rally & Obedience trials, Wrightstown, PA - October 02, 2013

Declan switches venues as easily as some other dogs switch tennis balls, and earned his first Beginner Novice leg quite handily with a very nice 96.

Hunt On

September 21, 2013 Barn Hunt, Marion Shaw's on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

From Gwen

"Declan calmly earned his third RATN leg with 4th place at the Morning Trial. I moved him up to Open class for the afternoon not knowing how he would handle giving up the first rat he found and having to find another but he "just did it" earning his first leg in Open and First Place. "

In The Hunt

June 15, 2013 Barn Hunt, Pawsable K9 Events Training Center, NJ

From Gwen

"Declan did his usual reliable and competent job in the Novice clases and I'm developing a better sense for how long 2 minutes really is, so he identified and disregarded the tube with the bedding and then found his rat with plenty of time to spare in one class and then in the later class went very quickly to the rat.
He earned two legs for his RATN title with a 3rd and a 4th place!
Declan also ran in the second Instinct class of the day and easily earned his title at that level."

Advanced ...of Course

Declan completed the six remaining runs for his Coursing Ability Advanced title in excellent style. His average time was 63 seconds his fastest 57 secs, not bad for a non sighthound over 600 yards! Jack ran him for all but his first CAA leg as Gwen was out of town for his second leg and subsequently spent the next several months recovering from a life threatening illness and most certainly could not have held on to Declan, screaming and struggling to get going!

These brags will benefit the SAVE no kill animal shelter in Princeton.

Moving right along....

Declan finished his CA in Palmyra PA. On Saturday June 02, 2012 running the 600 yards in 61 secs (2 mins. Allowed). He then earned the first leg on his CAA At the same trial and the second at the Bayshore Companion Dog Coursing Ability Test on June 03, 2012 with Jack slipping the leash as Gwen was in Florida.

Best Birthday Celebration

Just a few days after his birthday, Declan celebrated in fine style in Maryland on May 12-13, 2012 earning the last double Q's needed for his EE Title.
Aside from the Rosettes and accolades there was cake and ice-cream - doesn't get much better than that

Coursing Countdown

Declan was one of four JJ dogs to have fun at the Empire Saluki Club Coursing Ability Tests (CAT) in Colts Neck, New Jersey on April 14-15, 2012. He earned his first two CAT Legs running 600 yards in well under the 120 sec time limit (63 seconds on Sunday).

Tale of a Temperament Test

Best told by Gwen

"I took Teazle and Declan to the TT tests at Staten Island DTC on July 16th, 2011. I'd never been to one before and was curious to see what each of my dogs (so different from each other) would do in the various situations. I was not surprised at all that Declan took it all in stride except I expected he would ignore the "threatening stranger" unless he came really close enough to hit me over the head as Declan loves everyone! Fortunately , as the man came out of his teepee where he'd been hiding, he caused the bottom of the canvas to move and Declan was immediately out at the end of the leash indicating PREY! Personally, I don't think he "got" any threat from the man although he strained to get to him when he beat his staff on the ground! He wanted whatever might be in that tent!"

A piece of cake

It was a cinch for Declan to earn his AWTA Certificate of Gameness at the North American Teckel Club Trial on May 30th, 2011 under esteemed working judge Teddy Moritz.

Doing what comes naturally

Declan celebrated his fourth birthday in grand style with two textbook Masters runs to complete his ME!

The events were York County Dog Training Club Licensed Earth dog tests on May 7th and 8th 2011. Held at The Graham Farm, Bethlehem Church Rd. Red Lion, PA.
Saturday's judge was Daniel Graham and Sunday's was Pat Rock.

The Halfway Mark

Declan earned hisr second AKC Master Earthdog leg at the New Jersey Beanfield Earthdog Club fall tests in Crosswicks, NJ. November 7, 2010. Judge was Ron Sebastiani.

Flying the Flag - National Earthdog Test - October 11, 2010

Change of pace again. It was an arly start for earthdog at Village Green Farm hosted by the West Highland White Terrier Club of America.
15 braces ran in Master and Declan was paired with a little Scottie bitch who already has her EE! They were brace #13!!! Must be a lucky number for Declan who seemed to know exactly what to do and when, and calmly earned his first ME leg on his very first try :-).He was the only BT to Q in Master (judge Susan Chapman).

Finished Twice - Montgomery County KC Week Activities - October 06, 2010

Owing to an armband number mix up at the Specialty, Declan was not credited with one of his Rally Advanced legs (it was awarded to Teazle who was sat in her crate at the time) So rather than wait for the mess to be sorted out, Declan just did the right thing and earned it again.
He and several others were convinced there was PREY of some sort in the building wall (in the ring) and indicated it, but in his usual obliging way he still turned in a Q

Rally Advanced wrapped up - Lackawanna KC show, Bloomsburg PA - July 30, 2010

At his first Rally outing since the Specialty, Declan completed his Rally Advanced title with no fuss until it came to the picture! The judge was by then busy with her next class so Gwen and Declan we posed seated surrounded by flowers on the set up bench and then the photographer squeaked and threw a large rubber toy "to get the ears". unfortunately, it was a big rubber carrot (Declan loves carrots) so what he got was not just ears but Declan, who retrieved the carrot politely to him then hopped back on the bench! John Ashby the photographer has four LBDs of his own so he wasn't entirely surprised and agreed to just squeak another toy not throw it so all was well!

This Brag benefits the AKC Canine Health Foundation

2010 New Jersey Beanfield Earthdog Week Success - Crosswicks NJ - May 28 - June 06, 2010

Declan completed his AKC Senior Earthdog Title at the NJBEC Tests on June 5th and 6th with qualifying runs under judges Larry Sorenson, Pam Dyer and Judy Todd

2010 BTCA National Specialty Successes - Tryon NC - May 12-16

Declan placed second in pre-novice obedience (judge Minta Williquette). He also earned his second leg in Rally Advanced,(first leg was earned at the Garden State all Terrier Club the day before Declan left for the Specialty)

A Good Start to 2010

At the Princeton Dog Training Club's Trial on January 16, 2010. Declan completed his Rally Novice title.

In Gwen's words

Declan has not been to class at all but came to me knowing sit & down and is so mellow it wasn't too hard, in three straight shows. Mellow does not apply however if he thinks vermin might be anywhere around and he ran right at the end of the day. When we came out of the ring there were four big rolls of matting lying in the next ring and he was convinced they were ED tunnels and had to check them all out!

Impressing Santa

Declan definitely scored "nice" points at the Bayshore Companion Dog Club Rally OB Trial in NJ on December 05, 2009 when he earned his second Novice B Rally leg. of course he did it in his own style, in Gwen's words:

"The trial was in the facility where we train or rather Teazle [Gwen & Jack's other BT] does, Declan has not yet taken a class, he watches with great dignity from the sidelines:-) I think the location was a help to Teazle but Declan seemed bemused by the crowds and especially the noise level in "his" house. He was quite distracted but as always tries his very best to do what he thinks it is you want. (sitting very promptly & neatly in front of me but facing AWAY, was quite entertaining for the crowd)"

2009 BTCA Specialty and National Earthdog Tests Achievements - September 27-October 01, 2009 - Centreville, MD and October 05, 2009 - Crosswicks, NJ

Despite only having been with Gwen and Jack for a few weeks, Declan did his new owners proud and undoubtedly put a smile on his previous owner's face somewhere beyond this life.
He started with bang by qualifying in Junior at the Specialty Earthdog Test (judge Mary Opperman) and topped this off by qualifying in Rally Novice B.

A few days later, he completed his Junior ED Title at the National Earthdog Test under judge Sharon Yon