Carbón's Big Adventure (aka Labratour Part IV)

!!

 

Hopefully I'm not having a senior moment and have forgotten that I've already posted these, but if not...

...here's Carbon's very first real swim thanks to the guidance of Kate and Benson showing him the way. Although I doubt anyone at @Beanwood wants to take credit for Carbon's rather unique swimming style.

Oh, and by the way, the reason I'm squealing so much over Carbon's swim is that I've never had a dog - foster or otherwise - who could swim. So seeing Carbon out in the water is kind of like spotting a unicorn for me!

 

He’s like “I found my kind”!!! I ❤️ Him!!!

 

You have been through quite a lot! I admire you the way you stand in life!

Every time that I come here I have a lot of reading catching up to do. It is very nice the way you write, some day you will discover you are a writer in spe....you should really think about putting pen to paper and write stories!

 

Exactly! I'm very convinced that he previously thought he was a Galgo because he'd cry and whine pitifully whenever he saw one in Spain, wanting to go join them. He probably always wondered why he was such a short and slow Galgo. But hoorah! As soon as he started playing with the Beanwood gang, it was like he was saying, "Eureka! I've found my people! I am LABRADOR!"

A Galgo...


A not-a-Galgo...

 

Thank you! I AM search of a new career, so maybe I should add 'retiree who writes silly dog stories for my friends' to my list of possibilities.

 

Carbon came from a shelter where there was lots of other dogs. Then there was just Paul and then there were all the other dogs he met and played with on the Carbontour. He may still be finding his feet being an only dog. Psychologically he just needs time to adjust.

 

And there will be a house next door to us vacant in about a couple of months...…!!!!

 

Ah Emily, you've got so much on your plate between your health, your job, and your "German tax situation". I hope you manage to resolve the last 2 asap, and that the first one just...improves You remind me of @SwampDonkey with your positive attitude in the face of difficult situations.

Ah oh the videos of Carbon swimming are just delightful. Well, his joyous reaction once he's out of the water is just delightful. He's sporking! Or binkying! There are different words to describe that behaviour depending on the species. I like sporking

 

I so loved seeing Carbon swimming and the expression on his face when he was coming out of the water was adorable.

 

That is the most rambunctious swimming style I have ever seen!

 

Mmmmm....intriguing!

 

Nahh... Swampy is the tough one. I just kind of go underground and put the covers over my head when the going gets tough. Or I decide to drive across three or four countries...

 

We are all tough in our own way. I greatly admire you and everything you've done. I hope hoods things are just round the corner for you. Xxx

 

Those videos are so bittersweet. But just gorgeous how they played so beautifully together. And Carbon is adorably playful with his ball!!

What is on the cards for Carbon?

 

It's been quite a while since my last post and I apologize for that. I'm sure I've missed a lot of great posts from others as well, so I have a lot to catch up on. Things have not been so wonderful for me here in Germany since my arrival two weeks ago and I went underground to lick my wounds. Frankly things STILL stink, but my goal for today is to get some news out about our Carbon and catch up with the goings-on of Forum friends. So...onward!

While Carbon did not appreciate the city life at first, he has now adapted very nicely for the most part. I do think he is happier in the countryside and living with other dogs - I know he's still missing the @Beanwood gang, Monty and all the other lovely Forum doggies he met while in the UK - but he's soldiering along and making the most of his German sojourn.

Our biggest challenge by far is Carbon's firm conviction that anything on the ground is edible and in fact must be eaten at all costs. I never knew how many discarded pretzels there were in Regensburg! Even in the lift in the parking garage! A secondary challenge is having to learn that he can't play with all dogs that pass on the street. So polite greetings (or 'ignorings') and a solid 'don't touch' are what we are working on the most.

Considering that his first swim was only three weeks ago with Kate and the Beanwood gang, Carbon has developed an amazing love of swimming. He now swims every day in the Danube for at least 30 minutes. At first I would give his ball a soft throw only a couple meters out into the river, but now I just lob that sucker with everything I have and land it in the middle of the river. We go to the safe little part of the river between islands so it's still not that far (and I'm not that good of a thrower) but he has a great time paddling out and back.

Lots more to share, but in the interest of getting something out there in a timely manner, I'll wrap it up there for now and share some of my latest 'swimmy' videos.

Fine and Carbon kinda sorta not really walking together along the river


Ball!!! Part 1


Ball!!! Part 2

 

Lovely videos! Carbon looks really at home in the river - and the 'beach' and shallows look very dog-friendly in the last one. I'm not sure that I'd trust Wispa in those first shots of the river, as she would probably head for the other side. She's given me more than one heart-stopping moment swimming off the Ayshire coast on the Clyde, looking for all the world as if she were heading for Bute!

That sounds like heaven for Tuppence - she's a scavenger, too, so when you learn the secret of breaking the habit, please share!

Although Carbon wasn't actually walking with Fine for more than a second or two, he didn't dash off after the dog in the distance either! He seems to be very settled and loving life - all credit to you. I hope he's giving you a daily smile, despite the rough patch that you're going through at the moment.

 

Carbon is SUCH a beauty! I love that he's a swimmer now and he'll be such a well rounded traveler and lifestyle connoisseur that he will be an easy fit for anyone!

 

He's looking good xxx