The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
Sleep well and see you both soon! xx
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
OK, first I want to say that I've set a goal for myself of writing something here each day and posting at least one photo, even if it's with my horrible potato mobile phone (see above). One of the things I really regretted with Brogan is that while I have tons of wonderful photos of his travels, his stories are fast fading into the reaches of my memory, so until we land back in Regensburg on 1 December, this is my challenge to myself: something written each day (even if it's one sentence) and one photo (even if it is unedited and Carbon looks like a black blob).
Before I get started, here's a better photo of Señor Carboncito. This is in my dad's car in California with Dad's adorable parter, Donna. Carbon LOVED having Donna as a masseuse/pillow for some of his California adventures.
(Carbon is sporting his new crash-tested car harness here - thanks to @Emily and @snowbunny for the recommendations).
Before I get started, here's a better photo of Señor Carboncito. This is in my dad's car in California with Dad's adorable parter, Donna. Carbon LOVED having Donna as a masseuse/pillow for some of his California adventures.
(Carbon is sporting his new crash-tested car harness here - thanks to @Emily and @snowbunny for the recommendations).
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Not sure where to start. There was a PG-13 aspect to today's adventures: if I get that far before losing consciousness, I'll warn you before the ick kicks in.
It was a bittersweet farewell to my father on Thursday evening. We had a really good visit, achieving a sort of father-daughter harmony (with the occasional good-humoured clash) that I would not have been able to even imagine ten years ago. While it can be sad to be so far away, i truly believe we would never have gotten to this point without the miles between. We'd been studiously ignoring each other with the sporadic rabid dog scuffle for 20 years and there was no hint that would ever change. Somehow the distance has changed our relationship completely and for the better. I also absolutely love his parter of 10 years, Donna. I think she's had a lot to do with my dad's willingness to meet me half way.
Anyway, enough of that wobbling on. The real sad part to Thursday was having to separate Carbon and my father. Before the trip, he would ask me, "Does Carbon dance when he gets a backside scratch?" or similar "Does Carbon do what Brogan used to do"-type question. I had the feeling that he would be disappointed that Carbon does pretty much NOTHING that Brogan used to do. While it wasn't love at first sight, it was certainly love within a few days. Carbon utterly seduced my dad who ended up giving him pretty much anything he wanted (the cookies! Argh!) and playing with him for HOURS a day.
So when Carbon ended up sitting on my dad's feet while we were waiting to go through security, it didn't surprise me. "I'm keeping an eye on you, ML, but I'm keeping my bum on Cookie Man here. Neither one of you are getting out of my sight!"
But get out of his sight we did. One last hug for all of us and then it was through security. US security (TSA) is worse than anything I've ever been through in Europe. Silly things like take off your shoes. I was wearing my air cast boot and they asked me to take off my shoes. "No problem, but can I have a chair to sit in, please?" No chair. How are you supposed to take off your shoes with a cast on and no chair? Then it was on to the swabbing. "Hold your right hand out, now your left - wait, you did it too fast!" Um, you told me my right and then left...I was following orders?
Then came, "You have a tablet you didn't tell us about! You have to be re-screened!!" Wait, what? I don't own a tablet? Turns out they meant my ancient Kindle. While the agent was waving it in front of my face like I was a recalcitrant toddler who had just wet the floor in front of her, I was doing my best, "Oh, so sorry about that" face and trying to keep Carbon from licking the face of the other agent who was swabbing my air cast for cocaine. I'm not a multi-talker at the best of times, so when a big white boxer suddenly came lunging and barking at Carbon and me from seemingly nowhere, we both nearly had heart failure. At least I did - Carbon was busy giving a shout to the boxer with what seemed very much like the doggie version of "What the holy &**^?"
Sigh. It suddenly got very quiet at the security checkpoint. In the immortal words of Tupac, "All Eyes on Me".
I got Carbon in a sit stay in front of me and started nose touches - though no treats as my treat bag as still being held hostage by the TSA - apologised to the agents around me and said I'd be DELIGHTED if they re-screened my Kindle, thank you very much.
My Kindle proved not to be a bomb and my air boot proved not to be high on cocaine. Now drenched in a nice flop sweat, I re-assembled all my various parts and limped over to the glass where I told my dad I'd wave goodbye to him one last time. There he was...a few waves and Carbon and I turned towards the concourse and headed to our gate. Both of us were dragging our heels a bit but keeping a keen eye out for our beautiful nemesis, the white Boxer.
It was a bittersweet farewell to my father on Thursday evening. We had a really good visit, achieving a sort of father-daughter harmony (with the occasional good-humoured clash) that I would not have been able to even imagine ten years ago. While it can be sad to be so far away, i truly believe we would never have gotten to this point without the miles between. We'd been studiously ignoring each other with the sporadic rabid dog scuffle for 20 years and there was no hint that would ever change. Somehow the distance has changed our relationship completely and for the better. I also absolutely love his parter of 10 years, Donna. I think she's had a lot to do with my dad's willingness to meet me half way.
Anyway, enough of that wobbling on. The real sad part to Thursday was having to separate Carbon and my father. Before the trip, he would ask me, "Does Carbon dance when he gets a backside scratch?" or similar "Does Carbon do what Brogan used to do"-type question. I had the feeling that he would be disappointed that Carbon does pretty much NOTHING that Brogan used to do. While it wasn't love at first sight, it was certainly love within a few days. Carbon utterly seduced my dad who ended up giving him pretty much anything he wanted (the cookies! Argh!) and playing with him for HOURS a day.
So when Carbon ended up sitting on my dad's feet while we were waiting to go through security, it didn't surprise me. "I'm keeping an eye on you, ML, but I'm keeping my bum on Cookie Man here. Neither one of you are getting out of my sight!"
But get out of his sight we did. One last hug for all of us and then it was through security. US security (TSA) is worse than anything I've ever been through in Europe. Silly things like take off your shoes. I was wearing my air cast boot and they asked me to take off my shoes. "No problem, but can I have a chair to sit in, please?" No chair. How are you supposed to take off your shoes with a cast on and no chair? Then it was on to the swabbing. "Hold your right hand out, now your left - wait, you did it too fast!" Um, you told me my right and then left...I was following orders?
Then came, "You have a tablet you didn't tell us about! You have to be re-screened!!" Wait, what? I don't own a tablet? Turns out they meant my ancient Kindle. While the agent was waving it in front of my face like I was a recalcitrant toddler who had just wet the floor in front of her, I was doing my best, "Oh, so sorry about that" face and trying to keep Carbon from licking the face of the other agent who was swabbing my air cast for cocaine. I'm not a multi-talker at the best of times, so when a big white boxer suddenly came lunging and barking at Carbon and me from seemingly nowhere, we both nearly had heart failure. At least I did - Carbon was busy giving a shout to the boxer with what seemed very much like the doggie version of "What the holy &**^?"
Sigh. It suddenly got very quiet at the security checkpoint. In the immortal words of Tupac, "All Eyes on Me".
I got Carbon in a sit stay in front of me and started nose touches - though no treats as my treat bag as still being held hostage by the TSA - apologised to the agents around me and said I'd be DELIGHTED if they re-screened my Kindle, thank you very much.
My Kindle proved not to be a bomb and my air boot proved not to be high on cocaine. Now drenched in a nice flop sweat, I re-assembled all my various parts and limped over to the glass where I told my dad I'd wave goodbye to him one last time. There he was...a few waves and Carbon and I turned towards the concourse and headed to our gate. Both of us were dragging our heels a bit but keeping a keen eye out for our beautiful nemesis, the white Boxer.
My goodness @Emily_Babbelhund , you and Carbón are utter troupers. It sounds like you did phenomenally in the face of adversity- I’m not sure how you could have done better (at least this far into the story 
). My limited experience of USA border security was similar; God forbid any humour (don’t joke, definitely don’t joke) and really quite grim. Made me wonder for anyone outside the norm, we were all terribly conventional.
). My limited experience of USA border security was similar; God forbid any humour (don’t joke, definitely don’t joke) and really quite grim. Made me wonder for anyone outside the norm, we were all terribly conventional.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Despite Carbon trying to eat everything on the ground between gate 64 and gate 102 (who the heck drops AVOCADO on the floor every few feet - sadistic!) we made it to our gate with about 30 minutes to spare and no sight of the Boxer. As per my tradition, I called my friend Mimi for a last chat in the same time zone. I was still pretty rattled about the Boxer encounter, but talked myself down by saying, "Really, what are the odds that in out of the whole international terminal, that Boxer will be on our flight?".
When it was time to pre-board, I picked our way through the crowd and kept Carbon focused on my just in case the Boxer was tucked in amongst the other passengers. This was a good thing because just as suddenly as the last time, "Ar, ar, guaaaar!" comes from off to our left side. The packed gate goes quiet, but Carbon whips around to me with an expression that says, "You'd better ante up the biggest sossige of all time, Lady!". Which I promptly did...and kept him moving.
I got up to the counter and asked the attendant, "Um, you know that other dog - is he on the flight to Munich?"
"Yes, he is, "answers the attendant.
"Um, do you know if he's seated next to us?" (Please no, don't put all the dogs together, I'm thinking).
"No, "answers the attendant. "Did they make friends? I'm really sorry, but we have a policy of not seating dogs together."
I almost melt into a puddle of relief. "No, no, all good...that's a VERY good policy you have," I say, smiling like a fool.
Then I pretty much push my way into the disabled line right in back of the wheelchairs as I'm determined to get Carbon on that plane and his nose inside his treat bag BEFORE that Boxer passes us on the aisle.
I'd also asked the gate attendant which side aisle the other dog was on so i knew which direction to face Carbon. I got my bag stowed and carbon's blanket and pillow installed in record time. When the Boxer passed within a foot of Carbon, Carbon was gleefully munching treats and didn't even notice his nemesis. Whew!
The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. Carbon was not pleased with the take off or the landing. I tried a comforting massage on the take off and nose touches and other calming games on the landing. The games worked far better, so that's what I'll try the next time out. I think it also helped that I fed him a full meal 2 hours before landing. That would have been a catastrophe for Brogan, but it was just what Carbon needed.
For the Boxer's exit from the plane, I again stuck a treat on Carbon's nose and pointed him in the opposite direction. It looked like we were doomed to stand in a very long line with the Boxer at passport control, but a nice German customs person pointed out that we could take the tram to the luggage pick up where there was another passport control. Excellent tip, as there was zero line and no white Boxer.
Carbon saw the Boxer once more at the luggage belt but we were far enough away that he just kind of shrugged and shook me down for yet another treat. Good boy!
We had a bit of kerfuffle getting situated on the train - yes, bystanders can be TOO helpful sometimes - but overall the return to Regensburg went really well.
The saga of the white Boxer was, however, not QUITE over. This morning I took Carbon to the vet for his worm treatment required for entry into the UK. As we were new to this vet, I filled out paperwork which I then needed to take back to the front desk. Carbon and i got up, turned the corner out of the waiting room toward the reception desk and both of us stopped cold: there was a white Boxer! A white Boxer who promptly lunged at Carbon and shouted down the house. Ee gads! Both of us were temporarily stymied, but soon enough I pulled us back into the waiting room while Carbon had to let off a woof or two. Poor boy, wouldn't you? A few calming behaviours (thank goodness for chin rests) and all was right as rain.
But really....could we have a break on the white boxers already?
When it was time to pre-board, I picked our way through the crowd and kept Carbon focused on my just in case the Boxer was tucked in amongst the other passengers. This was a good thing because just as suddenly as the last time, "Ar, ar, guaaaar!" comes from off to our left side. The packed gate goes quiet, but Carbon whips around to me with an expression that says, "You'd better ante up the biggest sossige of all time, Lady!". Which I promptly did...and kept him moving.
I got up to the counter and asked the attendant, "Um, you know that other dog - is he on the flight to Munich?"
"Yes, he is, "answers the attendant.
"Um, do you know if he's seated next to us?" (Please no, don't put all the dogs together, I'm thinking).
"No, "answers the attendant. "Did they make friends? I'm really sorry, but we have a policy of not seating dogs together."
I almost melt into a puddle of relief. "No, no, all good...that's a VERY good policy you have," I say, smiling like a fool.
Then I pretty much push my way into the disabled line right in back of the wheelchairs as I'm determined to get Carbon on that plane and his nose inside his treat bag BEFORE that Boxer passes us on the aisle.
I'd also asked the gate attendant which side aisle the other dog was on so i knew which direction to face Carbon. I got my bag stowed and carbon's blanket and pillow installed in record time. When the Boxer passed within a foot of Carbon, Carbon was gleefully munching treats and didn't even notice his nemesis. Whew!
The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. Carbon was not pleased with the take off or the landing. I tried a comforting massage on the take off and nose touches and other calming games on the landing. The games worked far better, so that's what I'll try the next time out. I think it also helped that I fed him a full meal 2 hours before landing. That would have been a catastrophe for Brogan, but it was just what Carbon needed.
For the Boxer's exit from the plane, I again stuck a treat on Carbon's nose and pointed him in the opposite direction. It looked like we were doomed to stand in a very long line with the Boxer at passport control, but a nice German customs person pointed out that we could take the tram to the luggage pick up where there was another passport control. Excellent tip, as there was zero line and no white Boxer.
Carbon saw the Boxer once more at the luggage belt but we were far enough away that he just kind of shrugged and shook me down for yet another treat. Good boy!
We had a bit of kerfuffle getting situated on the train - yes, bystanders can be TOO helpful sometimes - but overall the return to Regensburg went really well.
The saga of the white Boxer was, however, not QUITE over. This morning I took Carbon to the vet for his worm treatment required for entry into the UK. As we were new to this vet, I filled out paperwork which I then needed to take back to the front desk. Carbon and i got up, turned the corner out of the waiting room toward the reception desk and both of us stopped cold: there was a white Boxer! A white Boxer who promptly lunged at Carbon and shouted down the house. Ee gads! Both of us were temporarily stymied, but soon enough I pulled us back into the waiting room while Carbon had to let off a woof or two. Poor boy, wouldn't you? A few calming behaviours (thank goodness for chin rests) and all was right as rain.
But really....could we have a break on the white boxers already?
Two white boxers in 48 hrs??! Is this some sort of sign? Very curious. But the major take-home I’d be taking from this is: all SDs are in development; and Senor Deliciouspants Carbón is actually setting the bar - he didn’t initiate any ‘chatting’, he was comfortably distracted and he Did His Job = got you from A to B with the support you needed (and heyyy, support can be a two-way street, verdad?). Massive congratulations to both of you, you deserve it 
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
You did well Emily that's for sure and Carbon too. Boxer's eek are Charle's worst nightmare. Think it's the squashed faces, they give off odd vibes. xx
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Thanks, Harriet. You are right that Carbon absolutely did his job. Both my formerly broken foot and my knee are pretty mangled at the moment and he was a superstar helping me with balance while wearing a heavy pack. I knew I was pushing it on this trip and am very proud of how well he handled it. Where he didn't handle things well is where he wasn't appropriately prepared or supported and that falls to me, not to him. Now that the Big Trip is over, we'll be going back to the proper order of his SD training. Nearly everything that threw us for a loop this time out is covered in the curriculum, we'd simply not gotten to it yet.Senor Deliciouspants Carbón is actually setting the bar - he didn’t initiate any ‘chatting’, he was comfortably distracted and he Did His Job = got you from A to B with the support you needed (and heyyy, support can be a two-way street, verdad?). Massive congratulations to both of you, you deserve it
This is something I need tattooed on my inner eyelids. It was a hard lesson learning this with Brogan and I am re-learning with Carbon. Luckily Brogan's lessons are still with me, so Carbon's road is hopefully a bit easier. I strive to be a kinder gentler Mama Lady.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Isn't it odd? Brogan hated them on sight as well. I personally love how Boxers look but have to admit I'm starting to dread when I see one coming our way!
You, my friend, are the kindest gentlest Mama Lady in town. Just keep it up - you set the standard, babyI strive to be a kinder gentler Mama Lady.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Drank too much Coke today to stay awake on the drive from Regensburg. It's 4:30 am and I still haven't gotten to sleep yet...
I'm never going to survive the six hour drive to Dunkirk tomorrow!
Edit: should have said the six hour drive TODAY.
I'm never going to survive the six hour drive to Dunkirk tomorrow!
Edit: should have said the six hour drive TODAY.
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Yikes! I think you’ve had your requisite amount of white Boxers for quite some time. Weird! 
I’d say Carbon did very well, all things considered. No major freak-out on the plane like last time, he was a support to you, and although the Boxer was a bit much, hey, who could blame him! Not me!
Thank GOODNESS you weren’t sitting in close proximity to the Boxer, though!
I’d say Carbon did very well, all things considered. No major freak-out on the plane like last time, he was a support to you, and although the Boxer was a bit much, hey, who could blame him! Not me!
Thank GOODNESS you weren’t sitting in close proximity to the Boxer, though!
Just amazing how well Carbon takes all the changes in his life. I am utterly impressed!!!
Have I told you how much I love your stories? I have? Okay. One more time then! Just my best way to start the day! I relay some of it to my husband, who then relays it to Snowie. Usually with much laughter between the two of them. Here’s how their conversation goes: On the flight, were there any Carbon emissions? <great hilarity and laughter and twirling of ears and licking and kissing—by the respective parties> And: There were two doggies on the flight. They did much stretching and even went to the front of the plane to do Pilates (pilots). <tail going thump thump>
Going through US security can be very embarrassing. Especially when your socks have holes in them! And all that unpacking and repacking. The worry of leaving your laptop and phone behind! When I travel, I certainly do not feel part of the jet set!
Can’t wait for the next installment. So pleased you've committed to a post a day. Yay!!!!
Have I told you how much I love your stories? I have? Okay. One more time then! Just my best way to start the day! I relay some of it to my husband, who then relays it to Snowie. Usually with much laughter between the two of them. Here’s how their conversation goes: On the flight, were there any Carbon emissions? <great hilarity and laughter and twirling of ears and licking and kissing—by the respective parties> And: There were two doggies on the flight. They did much stretching and even went to the front of the plane to do Pilates (pilots). <tail going thump thump>
Going through US security can be very embarrassing. Especially when your socks have holes in them! And all that unpacking and repacking. The worry of leaving your laptop and phone behind! When I travel, I certainly do not feel part of the jet set!
I did wonder if I’d mistaken Carbon for a jacket!
Can’t wait for the next installment. So pleased you've committed to a post a day. Yay!!!!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
This is good news to start my day!!!
I can't wait Wonderful Emily that you and your father have turned a corner in your relationship
I couldn't put this any better, absolutely right.
I love this
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Two sleepy people 
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Yes, take care @Emily_Babbelhund
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
We've landed! Here's my potato camera photo for the evening.
