The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Gosh he is just such a sweetheart. You can see the happiness in his face. 
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
His badge of honour - he earned it!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Today was a long-planned day out with my friend Nadine and her chihuahua Fine ("Feena"). We had planned a day cruise along the Danube but the water levels are so low on the route we wanted to go on that the ships weren't sailing. Instead we drove to Weltenburg Cloister - billed as the oldest cloister brewery in the world - though Nadine and I were a bit sceptical about that marketing nugget.
It was yet another day of 30 plus degrees, so our first goal was to get us and the dogs in the water. We spotted a really lovely shale beach across the river plus a nifty little ferry that was something out of the Hobbit. It seemed to be just a few planks held together with twine, but according to the price list, it even transported cars for the truly intrepid. Or I guess if you had really good insurance and were looking for a new car anyway, the ferry could be just your way to go.
The trip only lasted a few minutes, nonetheless I think it was Carbon's first boat trip, therefore a rather monumental occasion. He and Fine stood proudly at the prow - or was it the stern? Hard to tell. Then we hopped off and it was on to the shale beach and a good wade in the water. Carbon has gotten funny about water lately, as if the bloom is off the rose. He's lost all of his water toys in the last week - he just can't be bothered to retrieve them and they float forlornly down the Danube never to be heard from again. Today we tried to throw treats in and that worked for a bit but the truth is that Nadine and I spent more time in the water than Carbon. Clearly our young man needs to get his swim mojo back, so I'll just have to work on that!
After a couple hours on the beach which included two excellent distance recalls and one not-entirely-authorized visit to a family's picnic site, the four of us hopped back on the ferry and walked to the cloister for lunch. Another first - Carbon's first lunch at a beer garden! I thought it would be the same as a Spanish beach bar or our weekly sojourns at the Irish pub, but it proved a bit more challenging. Apparently there were culinary wonders hiding in the pea gravel - 'flooring' of choice for any beer garden - and Carbon had to be convinced not to stick his nose into the gravel and do his best imitation of a back hoe.
In a strange mixture of pride and embarrassment, I also witnessed Carbon put to use our recent work-in-progress training of "under" and belly crawl under our bench so that he could sneak under the neighbouring table to see what might be hiding in THEIR pea gravel. Sigh. Oh well. On the bright side, that dog has really mastered 'under', so...good boy?
Lunch was had, both dogs got lots of touristy pets, we took a little walk up to a pretty chapel and were able to go inside. Then it was back down to the river for one last cooling swim before the walk back to the car and back home to Regensburg.
Both Nadine and I felt like we'd had a real holiday, even if Weltenburg is only a 30 minute drive from home!
All the photos here
Swimming for goodies
I'm all done with this swimming thing, thank you
Fine and Nadine boarding the ferry
Fine and Carbon on the prow (?) of the ferry mid-crossing
Fine enjoying the trip (or trying to sneak treats out of her carry bag, not sure which)
The ferry in all it's Hobbit-y glory
Fine swimming for treats
Lunchtime at the cloister brewery
"This would be more fun if you'd toss a bratwurst under the table."
Still pensively thinking about missed bratwursts during our post-lunch walk?
A pretty chapel at the cloister
A last swim before heading home
And now we're off to bed!
It was yet another day of 30 plus degrees, so our first goal was to get us and the dogs in the water. We spotted a really lovely shale beach across the river plus a nifty little ferry that was something out of the Hobbit. It seemed to be just a few planks held together with twine, but according to the price list, it even transported cars for the truly intrepid. Or I guess if you had really good insurance and were looking for a new car anyway, the ferry could be just your way to go.
The trip only lasted a few minutes, nonetheless I think it was Carbon's first boat trip, therefore a rather monumental occasion. He and Fine stood proudly at the prow - or was it the stern? Hard to tell. Then we hopped off and it was on to the shale beach and a good wade in the water. Carbon has gotten funny about water lately, as if the bloom is off the rose. He's lost all of his water toys in the last week - he just can't be bothered to retrieve them and they float forlornly down the Danube never to be heard from again. Today we tried to throw treats in and that worked for a bit but the truth is that Nadine and I spent more time in the water than Carbon. Clearly our young man needs to get his swim mojo back, so I'll just have to work on that!
After a couple hours on the beach which included two excellent distance recalls and one not-entirely-authorized visit to a family's picnic site, the four of us hopped back on the ferry and walked to the cloister for lunch. Another first - Carbon's first lunch at a beer garden! I thought it would be the same as a Spanish beach bar or our weekly sojourns at the Irish pub, but it proved a bit more challenging. Apparently there were culinary wonders hiding in the pea gravel - 'flooring' of choice for any beer garden - and Carbon had to be convinced not to stick his nose into the gravel and do his best imitation of a back hoe.
In a strange mixture of pride and embarrassment, I also witnessed Carbon put to use our recent work-in-progress training of "under" and belly crawl under our bench so that he could sneak under the neighbouring table to see what might be hiding in THEIR pea gravel. Sigh. Oh well. On the bright side, that dog has really mastered 'under', so...good boy?
Lunch was had, both dogs got lots of touristy pets, we took a little walk up to a pretty chapel and were able to go inside. Then it was back down to the river for one last cooling swim before the walk back to the car and back home to Regensburg.
Both Nadine and I felt like we'd had a real holiday, even if Weltenburg is only a 30 minute drive from home!
All the photos here
Swimming for goodies
I'm all done with this swimming thing, thank you
Fine and Nadine boarding the ferry
Fine and Carbon on the prow (?) of the ferry mid-crossing
Fine enjoying the trip (or trying to sneak treats out of her carry bag, not sure which)
The ferry in all it's Hobbit-y glory
Fine swimming for treats
Lunchtime at the cloister brewery
"This would be more fun if you'd toss a bratwurst under the table."
Still pensively thinking about missed bratwursts during our post-lunch walk?
A pretty chapel at the cloister
A last swim before heading home
And now we're off to bed!
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
What a lovely day. The Chapel is so beautiful. Wonderful photo's Emily and wow isn't Carbon looking amazing. He has a better time than I could ever have! xx
xx
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
What a perfect day, I felt I had had a holiday just reading the description and then looking at the photos. Carbon looks superb and what a happy day he and Fine had, a very splendid day out. One thing, I wonder if Carbon feels a bit impeded when he swims with his harness on, my dogs swim naked as I am always worried the collar might get snagged on something under water.
- Location
- East Sussex
Looks, and sounds, like a really lovely day out for humans and doggies alike.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Looks beautiful Emily.
Is Carbon complaining a bit about the heat maybe?
Is Carbon complaining a bit about the heat maybe?
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
So gorgeous. Thanks for sharing with us!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Good point, but I don't think he feels impeded by his harness as so far he has (almost) always swam with it on. I do hear you about the snagging danger. Up until now he's been in clear, slow moving water so I've felt the risk was minimal, but it is something I have an internal debate about.
Thing is that currently he still has a far from reliable recall so I feel I need to keep ID on him (collar) and while he's getting so much better, he's still an occasional picnic raider, so that harness comes very in handy for doing the 'quick grab and apologize' routine if he comes too close to someone's picnic after charging out of the water. The one time I tried him without the harness, he knew darn well that he was slippery as a seal and led me on a merry chase.
Yes, I know - 'operator error'.
Also according to my own rules rolleyes: again) I shouldn't even have him off leash until he's 100% recall reliable. I just love to see him swim and have his hoolies, so I've broken my own rules. From that first time I let him off leash in Spain, I can't seem to resist the allure of a Carbon hoolie.
Yes, very well could be. We're ALL complaining about the heat! Yesterday we were out at the hottest part of the day as well, so that didn't help.
He has been less than enthusiastic in general lately about retrieving in the water, but he'll still go in and have a leisurely swim. I think it could also be that I've banned Kong tennis balls outright. They were like crack cocaine for him and I didn't like seeing him get so fixated on them. He's a very smart boy, so his 'ho hum' routine could be a bit of pouting over the loss of his Kong ball.
I had a few rubber toys on ropes that were great for the water, but he didn't love them as much as the Kong balls and let three of them drift on down the river by their lonesomes. At EUR10 a pop, I decided we need a solid recall before I invest in any more of THOSE! But well...I'll probably break the stalemate and buy more of them. I'm such a pushover.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I would let Carbon into the water off leash, if you never let him off how will you ever be certain he has a 100% recall
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
No dog has 100% recall no matter what they tell you. In the end we just let Charlie off lead after three years long lead recall training, he has improved massively. You don't know til you try!! x
x
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I would let Carbon into the water off leash, if you never let him off how will you ever be certain he has a 100% recall
Oh, he gets plenty of off leash time. That's why I said I like to leave his collar and harness on when he swims - for ID and also for a 'handle' to grab him by if he decides to go picnic marauding. The only time he's swam with a leash was at the lake near Munich as the park we were in had a 'leashes required' rule.You don't know til you try!!
Though I have to say that I was proud of him yesterday. There was a family with three dogs and LOTS of food and he came to me twice when he was headed in their direction. The third time I didn't even call as I could tell by his body language that he was determined to go say 'hi' and I didn't want to risk a failed recall. They were very nice about it and he didn't take any food, just wanted to get close to the dogs.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Sounds as if he is making good progress with his recall Sensible not to call him when you know his mind is elsewhere.
Sensible not to call him when you know his mind is elsewhere.
- Location
- Isle of Man
This is my view too. Coco is about 70%, but I want/need him to have some good off-lead romping.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I was very proud of Carbon today. It was his first time in my apartment without being crated when I wasn't here. I just popped out to the grocery store (about 20 minutes) so decided it was worth a try. He's not tried to chew anything inappropriate since he munched down my favourite socks on our first night here, so he was a pretty good bet.
He got his normal 'foster lady is going out' Kong in his crate, I just didn't zip up the door flap.
I came home to him greeting me by holding his Kong and going in circles as if to say, "See how well I did!". Absolutely nothing touched except his Kong and his Bunny. Good boy!
Though I don't think I've mentioned it yet, he's also now doing most walks 'hands free'. I toss the 8-way leash over my shoulder (like a cross-body bag) and he walks alongside hands free. We still have some challenges with keeping up concentration and being distracted by delicious FOOD on the ground but most dogs can now be passed hands-free and he's doing very nicely on our department store practice sessions. We go up and down the aisles (perfume is particularly hard for him to not sniff) to practice 'don't touch' and tight unpredictable turns.
Just so I don't give the wrong idea, however, not ALL is perfection.
Carbon has now memorised all of Regensburg and gets very opinionated on where to go on our walks. If I start to turn down a street that he doesn't want to go down, he will simply lock his knees and stare at me. My tactic is to stare back and wait until he starts moving in my direction. It's not exactly a fast solution, but he does eventually get moving again.
He also isn't quite getting the difference between a working walk (no sniffing and a brisk pace) and a doddle walk (sniffing allowed). I don't want to lure him away from an interesting-smelling corner with a treat, but I'm also aware that pulling him away isn't the best thing either. Any advice on how to get him moving along in a positive way?
He also still has a dismal recall. I'm beginning to think learning a recall for Carbon is like me trying to learn German. We keep whacking away at it, but it just doesn't sink in.
That's my 'all that and the kitchen sink' Carbon update.
He got his normal 'foster lady is going out' Kong in his crate, I just didn't zip up the door flap.
I came home to him greeting me by holding his Kong and going in circles as if to say, "See how well I did!". Absolutely nothing touched except his Kong and his Bunny. Good boy!
Though I don't think I've mentioned it yet, he's also now doing most walks 'hands free'. I toss the 8-way leash over my shoulder (like a cross-body bag) and he walks alongside hands free. We still have some challenges with keeping up concentration and being distracted by delicious FOOD on the ground but most dogs can now be passed hands-free and he's doing very nicely on our department store practice sessions. We go up and down the aisles (perfume is particularly hard for him to not sniff) to practice 'don't touch' and tight unpredictable turns.
Just so I don't give the wrong idea, however, not ALL is perfection.
Carbon has now memorised all of Regensburg and gets very opinionated on where to go on our walks. If I start to turn down a street that he doesn't want to go down, he will simply lock his knees and stare at me. My tactic is to stare back and wait until he starts moving in my direction. It's not exactly a fast solution, but he does eventually get moving again.
He also isn't quite getting the difference between a working walk (no sniffing and a brisk pace) and a doddle walk (sniffing allowed). I don't want to lure him away from an interesting-smelling corner with a treat, but I'm also aware that pulling him away isn't the best thing either. Any advice on how to get him moving along in a positive way?
He also still has a dismal recall. I'm beginning to think learning a recall for Carbon is like me trying to learn German. We keep whacking away at it, but it just doesn't sink in.
That's my 'all that and the kitchen sink' Carbon update.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Do your recall Carbon to all his meals? That usually imprints the recall! I use a whistle, three short peeps and they can react to it without thinking eventually, but of course have to be trained to it
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I live in a studio apartment so he's usually on top of me before I even get the bowl out.
But do you mean I should use his recall word before I feed him even if he's already right next to me to 'imprint' it. Now he has to sit and wait until I tell him to take it. Maybe I could have him sit at distance, wait, then call him to his bowl?
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Is there another room or hall you could sit him in and then call him from there? Or yes, sit him at a distance and then call him to his bowl.