Update on Barley Bear

[Leslie and Halas]

My mom has had Barley for almost 3 weeks now.  He's had all of his shots, been groomed, and been neutered.  He's spent a lot of time with Halas, and they are getting along great.  Halas loves getting Barley to chase him around, and they take turns stealing toys from each other.  I figured Halas would have an influence on Barley, but I think Barley is having an influence on Halas, too.  Barley is either making Halas more brave, or Halas just doesn't want anyone to think that Barley can do something he can't.  The steps to my mom's basement are open, meaning they aren't carpeted or anything.  With Barley's size, he could pretty easily fall in between them.  Halas has never gone down those stairs, not once in his 4 years (even though we have 2 flights of stairs at our house that he runs up and down all the time), so Mom is used to being able to leave the basement door open.  Barley's first day with her, he followed her right down the stairs.  So now she always makes sure the door is closed. Halas gets on the sofa, but he never gets on the chairs, so Mom didn't worry about covering the chairs.  Barley jumps on the chairs, so now she keeps a sheet on the chairs, too.  So Mom is having to Barley-proof the house a little bit, but he hasn't caused any trouble.  He's a really good boy.

 

Here's how I think Barley is influencing Halas.  Last night, I went over there to use the treadmill, which is in the basement.  I put Barley back in his kennel, since I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on him, and I opened the basement door to go downstairs.  Halas was right next to me.  He took one cautious look, and then headed down the stairs!  The scary, open stairs!  Like I said above, he has NEVER gone down these stairs, even when I'm downstairs encouraging him.  But he sees Barley do it once, and now he has to do it, too.  A little while later, Barley jumped on one of the chairs, pawed at the sheet a little bit, and jumped off.  So Halas goes over, jumps on the chair, paws at the sheet, and jumps down.  That's the first time he's jumped on the chair!  My mom and I were just laughing at them both.  So I don't know if watching Barley do something is making Halas brave, or making him jealous, but either way, he's getting Halas to try new things.

 

Here's a picture of Barley that I took last night.  Now that he's groomed, you can see his cute little eyes.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Barley is just soooooo cute!

[Bonnie and Kona]

What fun! Barley is as cute as can be.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

It sounds like Barley and Halas a quite the pair! So funny how Halas is mimicking him! It sounds like they are really good for each other!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Little Barley is SOOOO cute! I just want to give him a big squeeze!!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Cute Cute CUTIE PIE!!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Very cute.

[Doris]

so adorable . . . .

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

It is so interesting how we put all this effort into training them but they learn from each other in just moments. Barley Bear is adorable.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Barley Bear has to be the cutest little guy, lovely to see him and hear about how much fun he is having with Halas too.

[Becka]

It sounds like things couldn't have turned out any better for little Barley--it's great to see/hear him doing so well and having so much fun with Halas!