Carbón's Big Adventure (aka Labratour Part IV)

The dead rabbit plus cow pat smell is around his neck. I can't comment on what the other end smells like!

 

12:30 am. Seven toys on the bed. Carbon snuggled against my legs. Paul biting Carbon every place he can while somehow simultaneously sitting on his face...despite aforementioned two facts.

Welcome to Bodeguero life. Where's the off switch?

 

12.30 am....not good Emily. I hope you get some sleep soon

 

Is Paul, in actual fact, a Labrador puppy?

 

Aie aie aie, that's not great. Can't you just go back to crating him overnight, or will he howl the house down? As cute as he may be, I think I prefer my bodegueros in photo only!

 

Hope you eventually got some sleep, Emily.

 

Put Paul in the crate over night. Then you and Carbon will get some rest. If Paul was a puppy you would put him in the crate.

 

I think there is a distinct possibility!

Bodegueros are such cool, funny and incredibly entertaining little dogs - but as I've said before, they have only two speeds: 100% on and coma mode.

They're fine if they get enough exercise/mental stimulation. The problem is that for various reasons (mainly trying to balance out Carbon's very different energy level) I've not been able to do that for Paul. Toby/Alf from last year was much higher energy than Paul but slept like the dead from 10pm to 10am - because I took him our jogging or 'hunting' three hours a day. So really there's only myself to blame for Paul's midnight chomp-on-Carbon's-tail party.

He screams in the crate at night - and no one gets any rest. He'll stop after 30 minutes or so, but then restart a couple hours later, then rinse and repeat through the night. So I've gone back to the drawing board with the crate training with much smaller time increments during the day and then increasing. He also gets his meals, all treats and a few special toys only in his crate - all to try to build a positive association. He now goes in by himself and can go about 20 minutes staying calm and happy. Eventually he'll be fine overnight in a crate (he used to scream the house down in the car as well and now he's just fine) but it's not now.

Baby steps.

 

I love reading this post - so interesting, and dare I say it - entertaining! I know, at your expense, but you describe it all so humorously!

 

It's been a little quiet in Carbon-thread land, due to a lot of reasons including sorting out something good for Paul. He has been with me consistently now for over two weeks and I can 100% say that he will not be going back to the shelter. He's also not going to be with Carbon and me for the long haul, and though I'm already weepy at the idea of him moving on to his new home, I know it's the best for Paul and ultimately Carbon as well. Paul and my tiny basement flat in Germany would not have been a good fit (he loves sitting in the garden and 'hunting' the birds and other imagined - or not - furries) and Carbon needs to see what life will become when he has to think for himself, have his very own personal human and...well...not have his back leg chewed on like a chicken wing 18 hours a day.

Knowing that our time with little Paul is now limited, I can honestly say that BODEGUEROS ARE THE BEST CUDDLERS EVER and I am making sure to thoroughly both appreciate and take advantage of that fact. Toby/Alf certainly was an amazing cuddler last year, and Paul is coming in to his own as cuddler extraordinaire. I think it just must be part of Bodeguero DNA. Yes, they drive you nuts (and make you laugh) with their antics, but when they go into coma mode, there is simply no better love machine.

Plus seeing Paul and Carbon together makes me think that more Labradors should have Bodeguero best friends. So if you are thinking about getting a second (or third, or fourth) dog, may I recommend a Spanish rescue Bodeguero? There are lots to choose from and I (or @snowbunny ) can hook you up with a great one.

Today the three of us are off to a dog-friendly art show hosted in an old castle on the coast near Malaga. Long drive, looks like it's going to be hot, but it should be fun and it'll surely be a wonderful evening of happy and tired sofa pups this evening after a full day out.

Good morning, Mr. Cuddles...

 

Awwww, Mr Cuddles.

 

That sounds like a super-happy future for both your boys (and hopefully you too!)... have fun at the art show!

 

Please, lots of photos of your trip to the art show....and some of the art too! Hope you all have a terrific day...

 

Your dogs are so cultured! I hope you're all able to enjoy the art

 

Have a Wonderful time today together

 

So pleased that Paul will not be going back to the shelter, you are an angel.

 

Have a smashing day Emily , bless you for what you do xx

 

Looking forward to the next instalment

 

Some days you just feel a little goofy...



Got lots of great photos from yesterday - well, 'great' in the sense that you can tell Carbon is a dog and not a black blob - but right now the beach is calling and our time with Paul is limited, so off we go!

So...to be continued???

 

Carbon