[img]http://www.scifirpgbooks.com/skyrim/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/skyrim-dog-companion-barbas.jpg[/img]
Can this little dog,soo cute be something that is not really what his apperance tell's him to be?
I was searching about Clavicus Vile than i found some intersting stuff like these:
Around the Third Era: "The weird thing happened, the hound statue of Clavicus Vile jumped in to the champion's bag, and it introduced itself as Barbas. Further it said that it would be best if Clavicus Vile not to retrieve the sword at all. Somehow returning the Umbra Sword to Clavicus Vile is a mistake, likely to cause great ruin to Clavicus Vile's domain. Barbas also states that whenever Clavicus Vile deals with Umbra, nothing good ever comes of it. It is unknown whether the champion followed the instruction of Barbas or not, but most likely the champion would follow Barbas' instruction. This "sword causes great ruin to Clavicus Vile's domain" is indeed bring more speculations."
"Hello? Hey! Pay attention! In your pack. The dog. I swear, you heroes aren't particularly quick on the uptake.... Good. Got your attention. I'm Barbas, the Hound of Clavicus Vile. Not that I've always been a hound, or always been called Barbas. I've also been a Redguard. For a while I was a scamp, making deals with Orcs. But, for now, I am His Hound, and I serve the Lord Clavicus. A word of advice here. You've made a bad deal. This Umbra -- bad business. Things always end badly where that one's concerned. Clavicus has always been a little blind to that. And it'll end badly this time, too. So, just leave things be. Walk away. It's your best bet, really"

Also there are two images that are intersting:
http://chorrol.com/files/244/old_clavicus_vile.jpg
http://halo2and34u.com/images/12345678901234.jpg
The apperance's of him changed much?Doesn't it?But this is probaly about "how the graphic in a game should be better" anyway.Look at his apperance back in obvilion.Looks like a demon/goat-svcker than an actual dog don't it?
Also the dialogues on Clavicus Vile quests through the games makes even more intersting.How can barbas...a simple dog(as Clavicus Vile states in skyrim).Can know what's better to a Deadric Lord?An Immortal being with insane powers?
Also back in Obivlion,Barbas clearly says that he was other things before: A Scamp,A Redguard.By just saying what he was makes me wonder even more what he trully is.I don't know any character or creature in the TES: universe(with the exception of Tosh Raka and the Tsaesci,but Tsaesci is just expeculation...) with the ability to turn into other things(Werewolfs and Shegorath dosn't count,it's clearly a curse than an ability to metamorphosis).Also i don't know but,in TES:LORE looks like that Barbas was already killed(by already being a scamp i really doubt if he can really die...) by the same ways that he can die in skyrim,or could in Obvilion like:
"How about you keep that awesome axe?But first kill Barbas[...]"
But if he trully died in TES:LORE sometime.He camed back.
On my opnion barbas is a creature that we can call a "Methamorph" an immortal being with powers similarity of a Deadric Prince(but not strong as),With great knowlodge of the universe that surrounds him,that can chooses certain forms,and likes to disturb mortal creatures.But was slaved by Clavicus Vile too works for him on his deals with mortals...Or just like him too much.But it's just a theory.What do you guys think?
Also there's a reason to Clavicus vile order us too kill him.He is ANYONG!

It was my understanding Barbas was a semi-independant part of Clavicus, similar to how Umbra was.
Umbra seemed to be quite destructive, whereas Barbas seems to try and keep his master's more destructive side in check.

Thing is, why does Clavicus have a like for splitting himself up?

The scamp has often been seen as an indication that Barbas used to be Creeper, the scamp trader from Morrowind.
I dont know about the Redguard.

Fixed.

Also, the IL used to have pictures of some of the other forms he takes in Redguard...a goat, a pig, a cow...

Not entirely sure what Barbas is. Like in the http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1317893-barbas/page__p__19891035__hl__barbas__fromsearch__1#entry19891035, I'll take the side that he's some sort of receptacle for Clavicus Vile's more benign nature. That way, we can call him a separate entity, but also provide a reason why Clavicus puts up with him so much.

Thanks for the thread,and now makes even more sense.But anyway,without more clues we could be unable to know what he trully is.I agree that he can probaly be Clavicus Vile temperament/reason/feelings.This may explain while he is with Barbas he is more powerfull.