My latest guest star: Toby the Bodeguero

Tuppence loves dragging her bedding (and Wispa's) around to get my attention. She will now 'drop' successfully (then rush to the treat cupboard) but leaves me to do the clearing up, so if anyone has any tips on how to train her to return each bit to the right place I'd be very grateful!

 

I hope @catrionas has got a broom and towels ready!

More hugs for Sunday, Emily. You've done a great job.

 

Wow what a brilliant job you've done with him. I'm going to miss your stories. I will be thinking of you as Sunday nears, my heart goes out to you.

 

Duncan (my first Rottie before Brogan) would bring his toys back to the toy basket at the end of each day - it was just something we did. To be honest, I can't remember if/how I trained it. It seemed like at first I did it and he followed me, then he helped me, then he just did himself with me as cheerleader.

Brogan never did it, but to be fair to him, by that time I had three dogs and it was a bit of a free-for-all chaos as far as the toy basket was concerned.

 

She very kindly asked for recommendations on toys to buy for him before his arrival next Sunday and I gave a few suggestions but told her that the towel and broom were currently his top obsessions. No idea why he loves (or hates?) that broom so much, but he gets a ton of joy out of it!

 

Another shopping trip for a new broom for me so Alfie has one waiting for him

 

Dont worry we will love him and keep you updated with his progress. Havent found him a suitable blanket yet but am looking!

 

I'm not worried - Sunday will be the beginning of his life with his real family.

Any "holey" beach towel will do. I wish I could send along the broom, though. He seems to have formed a true relationship with that thing!

 

Hola guapos y guapas! It is I, your favourite Bodeguero Alfonso!

Foster lady and I have been VERY busy...so busy that I may be, could be...might be...tired? No, I do not do tired. But still, my little feet are a little sore. Foster lady says I am going on a very big adventure on Sunday and she needs to enjoy every pequeño moment she has left with me so....dios mio! Every day so many adventures! So many Kongs with Salmon pate! I do not really know what this adventure is that she is talking about, but if I get salmon pate...and extra Dentastix, then it is "vale" (that's "OK" to you) with me.

Yesterday we went to my favourite place to hunt small creatures. Birds, lizards, bunnies, they are all there! I am a civilised caballero on my leash MOST of the time, but when there are so many things to hunt, I cannot be tamed. I must be ME, a magnificent Bodeguero made to hunt things. Can I hunt it? Can I eat it? Oh, si, si and double triple si!!!

Here I am, showing the other Bodegueros of the world how it's done. Did I catch anything? No. But sometimes just the chase is lo mas importante! And looking good during the chase, which of course I do, el guapo that I am!

 

What a happy boy

 

Look at that happy tail!

 

Little man's tail is SERIOUSLY spring loaded.

 

Lucky little man x

 

Wow! What a hunter! Bon Voyage for Sunday, Alfie x

 

Ah man, I'm going to miss this guy!

 

Love it!

 

Au Revoir Alfie

 

Hola guapas! It is I, the magnificent Alfonso!


Today foster lady and I are going on a hunt in a big park with cows and trees and many, many things I can hunt and eat. Si! Si! While she is doing all the human things to get ready for our last big day of adventure together - before my muy, muy enorme adventure tomorrow to meet my real family in Eeeeengland – I am sneeeeeking on to the computer to show you how guapo I was last week in Ronda. I would rather stay cozy under my magical duvet, but a dog has to do what a dog has to do.


Ronda is a small city in the hills with lots of old and crumbly bits. Remember what I told you before? For you humans old and crumbly means “historical”. It could have used a lot more of those flying rats from Cádiz, but there were no diablo bicycles, so I say “Bueno for you, Ronda”. I hate diablo bicycles… I can hunt them, but I cannot kill them or eat them. So frustrating, dios mio!


Where was I? Oh! I was in Ronda! Here is a crumbly castle wall with lots of plants to wee on: “Alfonso was here! And here! And over here too!” We walked through a BIG door in the wall and there were shops and dogs and smells of food. Que rico! My adorable little Bodeguero nose was very happy!






Then we took a trail that goes outside the walls on the outside of the city. Here were things I could hunt! Ojala! Just call me an urban adventurer (thanks again, Google Translate).




Ronda is built on a big gorge which means there are big bridges like this right in the center. Normally I do not care about this human stuff, but at the bottom of the gorge is water and exciting birds to hunt. Muy interesante for a dog!





There were muchas muchas personas in Ronda along with foster lady and me. Foster lady called them “tourists” but I know the truth: they knew I was coming and wanted to see me, the famous Bodeguero with many admirers. Here I am posing handsomely so they can admire me. Que guapo soy!





Foster lady was a little sad that she couldn’t take me to all her favorite places in Ronda because it has a lot big hills and steep stairs. You see, she comes to Ronda a lot, but this time with me was the first time without her big black beast, Brogan. I do not understand foster lady’s obsession with big black beasts, but apparently this Brogan was a good and gentle caballero who helped her climb all of Ronda’s hills and stairs. I am too small to help, even though my heart and courage are as big as the biggest big black beast. In honor of Brogan, foster lady took my picture here at “Brogan’s door”.




And why is it “Brogan’s door”? This is why! Although now I think I will call it “Alfonso’s door”. Better, no?





Then we went to the famous bull ring. What? you can’t tell this is a bull ring? Ja, ja, vale – photography while pulling a human on a leash is not lo mas easy, mis guapas!





And look at that! Mira! We walked on this balcony that stuck out over the valley! Foster lady was a little scared, but I protected her by barking loudly at the air. I am a caballero (that's a gentleman to you) that way.





Que lastima! My photos will not fit in one post...I will just make another! To be continued....

 

I'm back! And here is the famous bridge in Ronda. Yawn. Que aburrido. Can I hunt it? Can I eat it? No and no. I do not care.




I DO care that I am so adorable. Look at that face! I am giving all the handsomeness here.



And here too!




After a couple hours in the big city, my little feet were feeling a little tired. I am more of a country dog, after all. So foster lady decided to end our day with a walk in the country so that I could do some REAL hunting. Ah si, this is more my speed! Things I can hunt and flowers to smell. That is how to end a perfect day for a sophisticated Bodeguero such as your Alfonso!



Vale, mis guapas y guapas, that was your short tour of Ronda. Now I must go out and enjoy my last day with my foster lady. Tomorrow my new life and new adventures in Eeeeengland will begin but today I must soak up the Spanish sun and give foster lady lots of cuddles. The work of this magnificent Bodeguero is never done!

 

Your are a great Tour Guide Señor Alfonso!
The ladies will all have been a-swoon

My own photo and memories from Ronda and its famous bridge with little Sophie when we visited many years before you were a twinkle in your Momia and Papi's eyes.
(Sorry for hijack of your story)



Make sure you have Muchos abrazos (that means a zillion cuddles) with foster lady as I think she will need to stock up for a little while.
Buen viaje Brave and Handsome One.
Don't be a stranger xx xx