The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Wonderful! Before you mentioned the cruise ships I didn’t realize that it was a port city. It looks very beautiful!
It's a river port on the Danube. So "port" in this case means a place to dock riverside. In high season the ships stack two deep to fit them all in. However unlike ocean cruises, the ships hold less than 200 passengers each so we're not too overrun. :)
 

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Erm, did you say buses go round those streets? :|
Yes. And they are electric so you can't hear them. It really keeps you on your toes - and has ensured that Carbon has a very reliable "go to the wall" behaviour so that I can tuck him out of harm's way as they pass. You get used to them and the drivers are careful - we've never had a close call. Unlike a meal delivery service called "Dein Butler" whose drivers zip around the Old Town in tiny cars in places and times you wouldn't expect. I say often (and not jokingly) that I will meet my end run over by a stupid "Dein Butler" mini-car. :mad:

Thank you Emily that was fascinating, I can't believer how quiet the streets are, what time in the morning was this? Does Carbon ever go off lead these days, is this his normal walking place? He looks very happy and very well behaved.
It was about 10am this morning. Unlike the UK, nothing is open on a Sunday in Germany: it is usually very quiet. Out of the cruise season, you can have a walk on Sunday morning without seeing hardly anyone. I was actually surprised at the number of cruise ship groups. During the week they don't stand out so much as there are plenty of other people walking around!

Unfortunately because of my foot, Carbon has only been off lead once this summer when Nadine took him out. He honestly doesn't seem to mind. He gets squirrely if I miss his training for the day, but he's perfectly happy with the short town walks. That's my normal walking pace, I'm sure he'd be happy to go much faster! Much of the video I sped up to 2x speed as I limp around rather slowly. :sneaky:
 

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
I asked Emily, as Rourke is supposed to be lead walking, he has done so for months with no improvement in his lameness, so I now let him off some of the time, so it was good to see that Carbon looks just as happy and fit with lead walking and makes me feel better.,
I'm glad. :) The adjustment was a bit rough for both of us (mainly because it was hard to learn to walk together with crutches), but now I can really say I don't think he misses the off lead walks. Not to say he won't enjoy them once he has the chance again, but he's still a happy boy without them.

I also don't have to worry about any ill-effects of too much exercise while he still has his heart worm treatment. That's an added weight off my mind and a side benefit of my own restrictions.
 

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
I’m starting to feel somewhat human again, so time to start writing! We’ve got a lot to catch up with, so here goes. By the way, if anyone’s counting, this is now LABRATOUR PART SEVEN.


CARBON’S FIRST FLIGHT, Part One

Normally I am a very good planner, but this time around I was a terrible, horrible, hang-your-head-in-shame planner. Why? Because I left way too much until the last minute and ended up getting only three hours sleep two nights before our flight and zero hours sleep the night before our flight. That’s right, I packed through the night and started out at 7am for the airport feeling like I’d been run over by one of the beer trucks that rattle along my street in Regensburg every morning.

Luckily Nadine drove the TARDIS from Regensburg to the Munich Airport (about 1,5 hours). Because Nadine thinks I drive too slow and I think she drives too fast, being for all intents and purposes stoned out of my mind from lack of sleep made being a passenger with her much more relaxing than usual. Actually she was lovely to take us and even drag my suitcase from the car to the check in desk and wait with us. I was sad to say goodbye – Carbon and I will both miss her until we start up our Wednesday night pub nights again in December.

Check in at Munich was VERY easy. The Lufthansa person at the special needs check in could not have been nicer and went completely gaga over Carbon. So much so that even when I reminded her that she probably would like to see his passport and his other documents, she just waved me off in favor of coming around the desk to coo over Carbon. Yes, there were other people in line. No, she didn’t care! This was a harbinger of things to come for the whole Munich to Denver experience: one dog-adoring encounter after another.

We had an hour to spare until we needed to go through security, so I made sure Carbon had plenty to drink and then I walked him around the outside of the terminal with lots of grassy spots. He’d had his breakfast at 3:30am and a wee and poo in Regensburg at 4am. Then he had another poo – and lots of wees – at the airport up until 10am. Then it was time to tackle security. Next wee break: 13 hours later in Denver.

I was concerned that we may have an early stumble at security. With Brogan I would ask him to stay, drop the lead and then walk through the scanner, calling him through after me when signaled by security personnel. This wouldn’t be a good idea with Carbon as his unattended stay is not 100% reliable yet.

I needn’t have worried. The security person cooed over Carbon, dragged him behind the bag belt with lots of kissy sounds (a little jarring as he was a large robust Bavarian man) and then called his colleagues over to “come see the cute dog”. When it came time for me to go through the security scanner, I just handed Carbon’s lead over to yet another very eager security person so that Carbon walked through before I did. They asked me to remove my orthopedic boot and Carbon’s service dog vest so that they could be scanned separately. My hands and Carbon’s fur were swabbed for drugs.

After we passed muster, Carbon just lay down and waited while I fiddled with getting everything put back together. At that moment I had such a sense of déjà vu: Carbon was properly taking the baton from Brogan, who surely must have been doggie-whispering encouragement in his ear. I have to admit I couldn’t help tearing up, though hard to say whether it was out of sadness or happiness. I guess it’s possible to feel both at the same time.

We were then off to the gate. As I’d waited as long as I could for Carbon’s last wee, it meant that we had no time to doddle before boarding. We arrived and were greeted with, “Oh, my colleague upstairs at check in told me how cute you were!” directed to Carbon (sadly NOT to me). We were also assured that our seat-neighbors on the flight had been told that they were flying next to a dog. “They have a dog themselves and are thrilled to be next to Carbon,” I was told.

We were allowed to board first with the other special need passengers. The seat was amazing: it wasn’t actually a bulkhead but the first seat in economy class. This meant we not only had the extra space but also a seat in front of us for my bag. There were no issues with Carbon melting dangerously into the aisle as there was plenty of space. I just used my legs as a border for him on either side: easy peasy.

We had dog lovers seated all around us not to mention the cabin crew. Everyone had to have a pet and a greet even before take-off. This was lovely in terms of creating a great atmosphere for Carbon, but people also kept calling him out of his spot and into the aisle. He didn’t understand that this was not just our regular Wednesday Irish pub night except for in a funny looking train. I kept having to settle him and explain to people that he needed to be laying down for take-off.

Take-off itself was totally anticlimactic. I filmed the whole thing and it’s a whole lot of Carbon looking alternately bored and giving me a look that said, “Seriously, you got me up early for THIS?”

Trolley service, which was my greatest worry with Mr. Bottomless Stomach, was equally a breeze. Yes, he stuck his nose up and sniffed. Yes, he gave me sad pitiful hungry Labrador eyes. However he did not launch himself bodily at the cart and swallow down three airplane meals before I could even unfasten my seat belt (yes, I’d given this scenario a LOT of consideration).

The fact that I had a massive supply of his roasted bratwurst tucked into the seat pocket above him may have helped quite a bit.

While he was very good, he wasn’t really settled. He’d shift around, resting his head first on my left foot, then on the boot on my right foot. He’d stand up and lay down again. We had visitors throughout the flight, both passengers and crew who just couldn’t seem to stay away. While I appreciated the kindness, it didn’t really help Carbon’s lack of zen.

One unknown before we started out was how was I going to use the WC. I asked a flight attendant (not hard as I was the hang out point of the flight) and he said dogs were not allowed away from their seats. Then – no great surprise – he volunteered to watch Carbon while I went. When I returned he assured me that Carbon had been good as gold, but the look on Carbon’s face told me that my Spanish Gentleman Dog did not appreciate the couple minutes apart.

In true Carbon form, any misgivings about his first flight – including the somewhat bumpy landing – were quickly forgotten as we made our way out of the plane and into the Denver airport. He all but waved goodbye to his new subjects (aka the flight crew) with his plumey tail and had a big old smile plastered on his face as he bounced down the jetway.

“Whew,” I thought, “There’s the hardest part over!”. We had a four hour break in Denver and then a short two hour flight to San Jose. We were home free, right?

As Carbon would say, “No, no, no, mis amigos, the story does not end there!”
 

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
CARBON’S FIRST FLIGHT, part two

Hola, mis amigos, it is I, Carbon. Sabes, your Spanish Gentleman Dog? I will take over the second part of the story as I know Mama Lady (ML) will not tell you what REALLY happened. De verdad, when it comes to truth, you can really only trust a dog.

First of all, we spent a very long time in the train that was not a train. It was also not a car. Or a bus. Or a restaurant. I do not know what it was, but it was a little bumpy like a car and there were lots of people like a train and lots of food like a restaurant. There were so many nice people who came to visit me and tell me how guapoI am, so it was alright for me.

I also got lots and lots and lots of the sossige-that-makes-everything-better. However it was still very boring and ML kept sticking the camera in my face and I was very ready to say goodbye to my new friends and get on the real ground again.

Pero que lastima, what a shame: first we had to wait in a very long line. It was fun for a while. I practiced my backing (cha cha cha!) and made people laugh. I did some turns and hand touches. But after a while I just wanted to go. Sabes,you know: GO. On the ground where I am allowed to water the flowers!

But no, first ML had to show her little book with her photo in it. Then we had to wait for my suitcase: I know it is mine because it has MY food and MY toys and MY harness in it. ML had to talk a long time with a tall man who wanted to take my food away. ML said, “Don’t worry, Carbon, if they take this food, we’ll just get you more.” It was a scary moment, mis amigos, when a Labrador’s best friend is threatened with imprisonment. No, I do not mean ML: I am talking about my kibble!

Ojala! Thanks to ML’s magic words and my truly sad Labrador face, the man let me keep my food. Then ML said, “Carbon, let’s get you OUTSIDE”. What beeeautiful words! I thought I was never going “Outside” again! We walked and walked and walked and finally there was a special spot for me that smelled like the wonderful wee of a hundred doggie friends and I had the longest wee of my life. And mis amigos, that is saying something because I am a very skilled wee-er.

After that I got a drink. The water was hot – ML said just wait and I’ll get you cold water but I didn’t care – and I drank and drank and drank. Then we visited more security friends, though these American security friends were not at all friendly like my German security friends. No hace nada, no matter – I am friendly to everyone even if they aren’t friendly to me!

All of this took a very long time. ML says it took three hours to get to the next place where we had to wait for the next bus/train/restaurant. While we were waiting to get on, we met a nice man who petted me and said, “Follow me onto the ‘plane first!”. So we followed him and got on first even though we weren’t officially invited. Did I mention these Americans did not seem to like dogs very much?

Our seat was all the way in the back and so small that I couldn’t lay down. I had to sit with my head in ML’s lap. I love ML’s lap, but the space was so small that it made me feel funny. Then a lady sat down next to ML and screamed. The other humans then had big argument about who was going to sit next to ML. I think ML was sad because no one wanted to sit next to her. Maybe she needs to work on her people skills?

Then the bus/train/restaurant started to move. O la la, it was so bumpy! I did not like it. I wanted to go home to our TARDIS car and my soft bed. I wanted to crawl into ML’s lap! It stopped being bumpy for a few minutes and then it really started. It bumped so hard that it hurt my head. My heart started to beat too fast and drool came out of my mouth. I want to be on ML’s lap! I want to go out of the window! I want to GOOOOO anywhere but here!

ML told me I was a brave boy petted my neck over and over in my favorite spot, but I did not notice. She wrapped me up in her arms as much as she could and leaned over me, making a safe small space. Poco a poco,little by little that helped. The bus/train/restaurant got not so bumpy. Finally after a very long while, ML said, “Nearly ALL DONE, Carbon…ALL DONE.”

I know what ALL DONE means. It means that I have been working very hard but it is time to stop working and take a siesta. The bus/train/restaurant did one last big BUMP and then it stopped. All the people got out and then we did too.

I was so tired and ML was too, so now it was time for a big rest. Grandpa Man (GPM) was waiting for us and took us to a big house where we have our own room and GPM feeds me ALL THE TIME. Shhh…do not tell ML, but he has fed me soup and spaghetti and cantaloupe melon and sandwiches and apples.

ML looks at me and says, “Isn’t he starting to look a little round to you?” and GPM winks at me at says to her, “I don’t know what you mean…”. Te quiero, I love you, Grandpa Man!

I have also been to a Mexican restaurant (that - que bien- did not move or bump at all) and have met a duck named Tito wearing shoes and overalls in a store. California is muy estraño, very weird. More adventures to come, mis amigos!
 
I have just landed in Seattle after 30 hours of travel and I can’t tell you how lovely it is to sit down to a proper delicious meal (I’m in a vegan diner with groovy music) and read of your travels and adventures. What a lovely experience on your first leg, and too awful on the second one. I can’t believe they made you sit in a seat that had no place for Carbon to lie down! No compassion whatsoever.

That aaaahhhh photo—does Carbon not lift his leg? Or was it just so long that he couldn’t balance on three legs for so long?

Snowie saw me off at the airport on Saturday night. He loves the airport! I guess because everyone responds so well to a dog in the airport. While I was checking in, the lady behind me went gaga over Snowie (I wasn’t watching cos I was busy checking in, but he sure was tugging on the leash to get to her and she was going coochi-coo). When we walked off, she said to him, “I love you!”
 

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
I can’t believe they made you sit in a seat that had no place for Carbon to lie down!
It was just a normal economy seat on a small plane and every seat was full, so not much choice. We're taking a non-stop flight for the return - very happy about that!

That duck... what happened to its feet?
He's wearing rubber shoes to protect his feet - it's really hot here and he was walking on the pavement. See the black braces he's wearing that connect to his black-covered bottom? That's essentially a diaper/nappy but looked very dapper. I called him over and he came and nibbled at me and leaned into me to let me pet him. He was quite the charmer!
 
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