Me too - that was exactly my impression of Carbon when he sat down. The funny thing is, he'll let Paul absolutely beat the living daylights out of him for quite some time, then the whole game reverses. The first time I saw it, I really thought Carbon was going to kill Paul, but it's all just play and little Paul gives as good as he gets. Carbon puts Paul's whole head in his mouth and Paul's tail will still be going 300 beats per second. I just love watching big/little dog play sessions.
Butbutbut, it's a Bodeguero, not a Jack! You can still get one, though.. https://www.facebook.com/pg/bodeguerorescue/about/
Inclined to agree. I had ruled out a "small dog". Every time OH points one out I say "it's too small"....I think Paul might have turned my head..
I'm a bit scared of a Bodeguero after the stories though - and as a very lazy person . But they look very similar to Jack Russell's
Hah, I personally think Jacks aren't for the faint hearted, either. Supremely intelligent mischief-makers, the lot of 'em
Again, I must point out that I am quite willing to provide door-to-door delivery for both Paul and Carbon. Paul is much more chilled out than my Bodeguero foster Toby last year. He walks nicely on the lead - well, he does like to grab Carbon's lead but he doesn't do that with the other dog I walk him with. Maybe because Carbon is his buddy? Or because I let him because I think it's cute? (I'm bad). He plays hard and tough with Carbon - they are a completely blast to watch. Apparently their bedding is always out of their beds in the morning because they roll around like maniacs in their kennel. He makes a very good play buddy for a Lab... just saying. He has nothing against cars and bicycles (unlike Toby who went into a murderous rage for both). He is a little timid with new dogs when out of the shelter, but in the shelter is in the general population and in fact is the smallest dog out there with the 60+ much bigger dogs every day. He very much holds his own. Outside he shrinks back a little, freezes and waits. No barking. If the other dog comes up to him, he's fine - he just won't go bounding up to them on his own. He's not a big barker that I've seen (and he's had plenty of opportunity as we walk by dogs behind fences going nuts). When he wants my attention if I'm on the other side of the fence he doesn't bark - he does this pitiful thing of pawing through the bars, pointing his noise in the air and making this soft little sound that's almost like a "meaow, meaow". It's a killer move and why I even started taking him out - I just couldn't stand it. Unlike Toby, who had a very angular face and long legs, Paul has a very delicate rounder head and shorter legs with a rounder body. Maybe he's mixed with something and that's why he's not full-on crazed Bodeguero. Even though I thought Toby was drop-dead rakish handsome, I actually think Paul is a prettier little dog...much softer looking. Finally, he LOVES to be picked up, carried, held and cuddled - in that way he is very like Toby. In short, he's a very cool little dude. So if anyone is really interested in him or is considering it a smidgen and wants more info, PM me. OK, doggie sales pitch is now over. Back to our regular programming...
Today's walkees were Paul and Cobi and then Carbon. No branching out much as I was still feeling out of sorts from yesterday's non-doggie adventures and I kind of wanted my little rays of sunshine. Cobi is NOT a ray of sunshine, but he was being a sausage head riling up the other dogs through the fence, so I snapped a leash on him to get him away from the fence line. Then the shelter manager said, "Well, he's already on leash so you might as well take him for a walk." And before we even got out the door, the little sucker bit me AGAIN. He's not the one that got my hand last Friday, but this is second time Cobi has nailed me and practice must make perfect because this time my thumb was nice and bloody. It's not that big of a deal, but yeesh - I just can't seem to figure out what I'm doing that turns him from Ewok to land shark! And I'm not kidding about the Ewok thing. As a reminder, this is Cobi: But at least I had Paul along for the ride. Unlike walking with Carbon, he completely ignores Cobi, so they are quite easy to walk together as they just trot along and sniff independently. Paul is a great one for picking up along the walk and giving kisses to. Such a sweetie! I do NOT pick up and cuddle Cobi, because I fancy keeping my nose perforation-free. Then it was Carbon's turn. My goal for today was to get him into the back of the car, turn on the engine and roll at least a few feet without him trying to land on my head. Did this work? Boy howdy! I am VERY proud of our boy, because not only did we roll a few feet, we made it all the way to the beach! And NO dog on my head! Yay! Here's what we did: Get in the car. Treat. Clip on seat belt. Treat. Sit/calm down. Treat. Unclip seatbelt and get out of car. Treat. Get back in car. Treat. Clip on seatbelt. Treat. Close car door for 2 seconds, open. Treat. Clip off seatbelt and get out of car. Treat. Get back in car and sit. Treat. Clip on seatbelt. Treat Close car door for 5 seconds. Treat. OK, well you get the idea. Eventually I moved to the driver's seat facing Carbon giving treats, then turned facing forward in the seat and gave treats, then turned the engine on and gave treats. And then there we went out the dirt road and onto the motorway and treat, treat, treat. Then this... That's a silly happy face... And a just plain handsome face... Laying on my leg watching the people go by... Yes, I took a lot of photos - so many that I've run out of caption ideas... There were a lot of people at the beach and so many came up to Carbon to pet him or just smile at him rolling in the sand as they walked by. I know they say people are afraid of black dogs, but I guess Carbon's got that thousand watt charm that sucks them in. The ride home was more of Carbon sitting in the back and getting treats until the last five minutes. I think I just pushed him too far for one day and he suddenly got a bit nervous and tried pushing his way into the front seat. Because he was on his seat belt properly this time he couldn't get past mid chest. But then a weird thing happened and he sort of got stuck there. He couldn't go forward, but he couldn't figure out how to go back either. Reminded me of something... So I stopped the car, got out, opened the passenger door and pulled and pulled and pulled and "pop"! Out he came from between the two front seats. I expected him to try to get out of the car, but he just looked rather sheepish, sat down in the backseat and took his cookie like a good boy. Then it was treat, treat, treat for the last two minutes and we were back at the shelter. Adventure over and ended on a good training note. And considering how tight he was wedged between the seats, he may not even try that again.
I love your posts Emily, I always look forward to what the dogs, particularly the love Carbon are up to.
Jeepers, you're selling little Paul very, very effectively. If only it didn't cost upwards of NZ$10,000 to ship a dog from Europe to NZ, I'd be very tempted!
Yeesh, really? $10K? How about if I just come for a visit and stick him under the seat in front of me?
It looks as if Carbon's walk more than made up for Cobi's misdeeds. He looks so blissfully happy. You need gardening gloves if you're going to keep your fingers intact - although maybe they're not as effective against dogs as they are against cats!
I had one growing up and he was gorgeous. Such a lovely dog. OH isn't a huge fan, otherwise they would have definitely been my dog of choice
Carbon is adorable . I love reading his progress. Paul seems like a cutie with lots of character . Look after those hands of yours.....some sort of gloves might be worth investing in?