thanks everyone.
MA- their defense mechanism is to turn their back so what ever is attacking them gets a mittfull of quills. Works extremely well, except when they try it against cars :(
Iggy- I wouldn't have gotten so close with a critter like a raccoon but these generally don't attack and after being harrassed by the dogs he/she just wanted to climb a tree and mutter about us for a while. That said, I stayed back about 7 or 8 feet.
HBG- I've done a few quill removals myself

D'Arcy is better trained and I've been able to call him off deer and rabbits. I'm less successful with Belle but she's coming along.

Those claws are fierce- they work well to climb trees, peel bark and dig up turf.