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

[Stacia]

I wonder what Carbon was thinking as you did your 'mad distractions', they made me smile

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I think he'd decided you'd flipped!

We both decided I'd flipped.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

It's SD training Wednesday...a little early!

I tried something different this week, mainly because it takes me so darn long to do all the usual titles. And also I saw the little microphone icon on my editing app and thought "Mmm...wonder what that's for?".

 

[Natalie]

Oh his little tail wagging all the time! lovely video with commentary x

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Here's a belated SD training Wednesday. Full disclosure, I debated whether to post this one. Carbon and I didn't have the greatest week. We'd had a great training session last week with our trainer, Donna, where we did some of the games together. Carbon did great. Then I tried to do them by myself without her guiding me and just fell flat. It got to be a couple days in and I lot my patience. Carbon's a pretty tough cookie, but my loss of patience just made everything worse.

We took a couple days off and then came back to it yesterday so that I could film for our training session with Donna on Wednesday evening. Carbon was clearly remembering Mama Lady Grumpypantalones of a few days prior. First we tried to film a settle under the bed and he wouldn't even lay down on his mat, let alone settle. I decided to give up on that and go back to working on the box, which usually he really likes. He already learned stand, but now we are building for time with the end goal of having him hold a stand in heel position as part of our loose leash walking class.

It made me so sad to see him with his ears back and retreating to the safety of his crate. I really had to tempt him out and build back up his trust. I guess in some ways it's testament to the relationship we've developed that me being an old grump can even effect him. Back in his shelter days, it was quite clear that he'd been hit but would still come back to humans (any humans) for more. There were times early on with him and Paul that I'd get frustrated and it didn't even dent his composure.

However now I can see the result of me ending a training session abruptly and giving him the cold shoulder - and several days prior to boot. It's clearly effected him badly and something I need to be more careful about going forward. On the bright side, I'm very lucky to have Señor Carbón here to teach me some important life lessons, and he's a very forgiving trainer.

 

[Stacia]

How interesting. I cannot imagine you being 'cross', he is obviously sensitive and very aware of how you are feeling. Maybe it is something to do with his past, as his body language showed fear in the beginning, it was so good to see him as a happy dog at the end.

 

[Cath]

We all have these day Emily. Don't worry about it. The lockdown will not be helping you or Carbon

Time for a cuddle you two

 

[Atemas]

Carbon’s expression and body language reminded me of Sky when she has done something like eat other dog’s poo and we weren’t happy with her. As she was 5 months old when we got her we did question what she had experienced to be fearful but probably we read too much into it. He’s doing so well - they can have days when they don’t want to do something too

 

[HAH]

Thank you for posting this, it’s not easy to look straight at the uncomfortable bits and I really feel for you with a tough week. What I find fascinating In the video is the evolution of both your body languages and reactions. I’m sure you noticed your vocalisation and movement changed as the session went on, mirroring Carbón - or vice versa. It’s lovely to see how in tune you are, and how exceedingly patient and forgiving you are with each other. This, my friend, is the big story here; the point you both came back to, from where you’d begun, was a real pleasure to watch. Thanks again for sharing a really valuable session xxx

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Maybe it is something to do with his past, as his body language showed fear in the beginning,

He's definitely been hit, I noticed that from the first walk we took together at the shelter. I had to be careful not to raise my arm above my head at first.

The lockdown will not be helping you or Carbon

Yes, we've definitely been more isolated, as everyone has. We got to see @kateincornwall , Paul, Rueben and Nelly on Monday and that was wonderful and did us both good.

I have to acknowledge as well that I've gotten even more overweight and have lost mobility during lockdown, all my own doing as I've had plenty of chances to eat healthily and exercise and to my embarrassment have not done so. I've become less patient and more anxious because I'm unhappy with the state I've gotten myself into. Having to film every week for our training and watch myself lurch around is not a particularly cheerful exercise. Yes, I know nobody is looking at me, the videos are about us learning, not about my appearance. However I still have to watch the darn things to learn and...well...ugh.

What I find fascinating In the video is the evolution of both your body languages and reactions. I’m sure you noticed your vocalisation and movement changed as the session went on, mirroring Carbón - or vice versa.

Yes, you are right - I was NOT in a good mood at the beginning either! It is something that our trainer has called my attention to in the past: me and my grumpy faces and frustrated sighs.

Even though it was sad for me to see, Carbon going into his crate was absolutely the right thing for him to do: it made me see what an a** I was being. From there I changed my criteria from "You have to stand on this box until I can count to ten" to "I just want you to come out of your crate, wag your tail and touch the box with any body part." Once I redefined 'success' to something achievable in that moment, it also helped my own mood genuinely improve.

I was very proud of Carbon and how quickly he was able to start working again. He's such a resilient dog. It also prompted a good conversation last night with our trainer, who set finite achievable goals for me for next week's session. Not saying that I won't get impatient again as it's a learning process, but hopefully I can adopt some new strategies and improve over time.

This, my friend, is the big story here; the point you both came back to, from where you’d begun, was a real pleasure to watch.

Thank you.

 

[Boogie]

I feel for you @Emily_Babbelhund

I’m having all sorts of problems with Echo just now, most of which I put down to lockdown. I find myself disappointed in him and me - and I need to train myself far more than him.

Things will get better.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Things will get better.

Thanks, Mags. Back at you.

Not that I want you to have any problems with Echo, but somehow it does make me feel a little less yuck about our training to know that you - professional puppy trainer - are also having some bumps.

 

[Cath]

Yes, we've definitely been more isolated, as everyone has. We got to see @kateincornwall , Paul, Rueben and Nelly on Monday and that was wonderful and did us both good.

I have to acknowledge as well that I've gotten even more overweight and have lost mobility during lockdown, all my own doing as I've had plenty of chances to eat healthily and exercise and to my embarrassment have not done so. I've become less patient and more anxious because I'm unhappy with the state I've gotten myself into. Having to film every week for our training and watch myself lurch around is not a particularly cheerful exercise. Yes, I know nobody is looking at me, the videos are about us learning, not about my appearance. However I still have to watch the darn things to learn and...well...ugh.

I think we have all put on weight Emily. It is the sign of the times. Your lovely smiling face is what I look at. I am trying to lose some weight, making a cake a day didn't help but my OH and son loves them

 

[kateincornwall]

Put weight on ? Empathy here in bucket loads but then , as we keep being told , these are unprecedented times , being locked up means that turning to food is what many of us do . You are a very pretty lady @Emily_Babbelhund , inside and out xxx

 

[Selina27]

@Emily_Babbelhund , thank you so much for sharing your difficult times, as well as the successes you undoubtedly have. Still he wags his tail!!

This lockdown has been so tough for us in so many ways, my wine consumption has definitely crept back in the last 3 months, I've developed a wine belly I think -- oh yuck !

But as already said you are special, inside and out.

 

[Candy]

Emily, I found that quite moving and beautiful to watch. Carbón is so clearly in tune with you and you managed to turn the situation right around and bring about a happy ending. Well done you and thanks for sharing. A valuable reminder of how sensitive our dogs can be.

 

[Joy]

It took courage to post this and it was sad to see Carbon lose his happy bounce at the beginning. But a big well done to you for recognising what was wrong and changing things to put it right - and it was lovely to see your dear boy looking happy again at the end. I don't suppose a single one of us has ever not had moments of crossness - I think the thing when we fall out with a human or a dog is to be sorry, make it up and try to recognise signals in our own emotions that we are heading in that direction so we can head it off at the pass.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I think the thing when we fall out with a human or a dog is to be sorry, make it up and try to recognise signals in our own emotions that we are heading in that direction so we can head it off at the pass.

Very well said!

 

[Stacia]

Your video was very valuable @Emily_Babbelhund as it showed me how sensitive a dog can be to our emotions. However, remember we are not saints, we are humans and we will be impatient at times, we would be so boring if we were saintly all the time! I met one lady who appeared to be saintly all the time and it just made me want punch her in the nose The best part was to see Carbon become his normal happy self again and to see you do the same.

As others say, you are beautiful in and out and an amazing girl xx

 

[Boogie]

Thanks, Mags. Back at you.

Not that I want you to have any problems with Echo, but somehow it does make me feel a little less yuck about our training to know that you - professional puppy trainer - are also having some bumps.

Big bumps - I nearly sent him back yesterday!

I really don’t know what to do. He goes wild every time he sees another dog, which makes me avoid other dogs, which makes him go wilder every time he sees another dog.

Rinse and repeat.

I’ve spoken to my supervisor and she says lots and lots of pups are the same just now and to go back to first principles as if he’s five months old.

Trouble is he’s nearly 40Kgs and not easy to hold on to when he wants to go elsewhere than my suggestion. Lovely cat food helps, but not really enough!

Consolation - he’s a darling indoors.