Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Bless him 
The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
He's so lovely 
And so is the background.
And so is the background.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Oh my that boy is so handsome 
x
x
Sweet boy xxx
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Carbon and I just had our early evening walk and saw a Rottweiler boy in one of the main squares. Carbon has been SO good with his minor leash reactivity lately. The last episode was weeks ago and that's when a Dalmation next to a bicycle nearly bowled us over coming around a corner - and I think that would be a hard challenge for any dog.
For some reason today I was already feeling sad about Brogan - sometimes I just have 'those days' - and then I see this beautiful Rottie boy, which is a rare site indeed here in Germany. I did the normal "See the puppy" (Carbon's LAT cue) but I guess I just stared too long or got too close, because Carbon went off like a firecracker. It was all over very quickly, a loud "Ar, ar, roof!" from both Carbon and the Rottie and then they were both over it.
I got Carbon a little distance away, then put him in a sit stay and asked him to "See the puppy" from a distance. He was just fine (as was the Rottie who was walking happily away paying us no mind), but for some reason I was just gutted. Not about Carbon, he's doing so well and this was just a little blip, but just missing Brogan. He's been gone for 3.5 years now and I STILL don't feel ready for my own dog. And that just makes me miss him even more.
You really were my sunshine, big man...
Now I'm going to go ask Carbon if he'd lend me his Bunny for a good cuddle.
For some reason today I was already feeling sad about Brogan - sometimes I just have 'those days' - and then I see this beautiful Rottie boy, which is a rare site indeed here in Germany. I did the normal "See the puppy" (Carbon's LAT cue) but I guess I just stared too long or got too close, because Carbon went off like a firecracker. It was all over very quickly, a loud "Ar, ar, roof!" from both Carbon and the Rottie and then they were both over it.
I got Carbon a little distance away, then put him in a sit stay and asked him to "See the puppy" from a distance. He was just fine (as was the Rottie who was walking happily away paying us no mind), but for some reason I was just gutted. Not about Carbon, he's doing so well and this was just a little blip, but just missing Brogan. He's been gone for 3.5 years now and I STILL don't feel ready for my own dog. And that just makes me miss him even more.
You really were my sunshine, big man...
Now I'm going to go ask Carbon if he'd lend me his Bunny for a good cuddle.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
It's perfectly OK to have these sad days that's just true love, it never fades. I can't even imagine going through this loss, it makes me cry to think about it. Hope you are OK Emily. xxx
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Emily , I so empathise re your Brogan sadness . Big hugs , I know just how you felt xxxxxx
Last edited:
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
P.S. And you are helping Carbon so very much , thank you for being you xx
Brogan was very special, so it's understandable that you feel sad. It took us several years (and two other dogs) before we were ready to have another lab after our first lab, Penny, died - and then it couldn't be black, hence a yellow Wispa. It was also hard in some ways to see Penny's sister (owned by friends) live to a ripe old age and think what Penny might have been.
None of our dogs has ever been a 'replacement'. They are all special in their own way.
You're doing such great work with Carbon; he's a very lucky dog.
None of our dogs has ever been a 'replacement'. They are all special in their own way.
You're doing such great work with Carbon; he's a very lucky dog.
I'm sorry Emily.
- Location
- East Sussex
Brogan was obviously a very special boy and you will never have another quite like him. But there may be a dog in your future who will fill your life with happiness in a different way. I've loved all my dogs and they have all been different and my darlings in their own sweet ways.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
It is heartbreaking to be reminded of a beloved dog, it took me 6 years to get over the death of my first dog, even though I had another two dogs to love. I think it is a testament to the dog that we miss them so.
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Aw sorry you’ve had a bit of a sad reminder. Sending hugs.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I know you know exactly how I feel, Kate.
Thank you all for the kind messages - it really helps. The 3.5 years have gone by in the blink of an eye. Sometimes I turn around and still expect him to be there.
I think I'm likely also getting a bit more raw these days as I know my summer with Carbon is coming to an end. I may just be a way-station for him to his final destination, but it's never easy thinking about saying goodbye. All fosters are special, but some of them just dig a deeper spot in your heart and stay there long after they are adopted. In that way at least, Carbon isn't going anywhere.
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
I've been meaning to post since you shared your amazing day-trip to Weltenburg - sooooo beautiful! The abbey is just *sigh* so picturesque. It's always a delight to see photos of Fine. And I'm sure if your friend had a dollar for every time somebody said "you look like Louise Brooks" she'd be a wealthy woman but...she totally looks like Louise Brooks. I wish I could pull off a sharp bob like that!
I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling down about Brogan. He was such a special dog.
I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling down about Brogan. He was such a special dog.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
It has been a trying week in the Land of Bratwurst, but with some glimmers of hope on the training side.
Every day has been an early morning something for me, which has meant no big walk/free run for Carbon but rather a lot of 'boooooring' (to quote Carbon) city walks.
At least as usual I've been dragging him along to everywhere he's allowed - so shopping trips and trips to make appointments at the hair salon and to the lawyer's office and to the pub. So hey...mega socialization, right? On the other hand, lots of hours logged in his crate and having to put up with me being too cranky and tired for nice long evening walks. Boooo, foster lady!
WARNING: way off dog/Carbon topic, skip ahead to get back to pup tales...
And cranky I am, because after three separate days and NINE HOURS of waiting in line for my ever-lovin' residence permit extension - not including a surprise required emergency trip to the US Consulate in Munich to get my passport renewed - I was told to come back in December because I'd come in too early to renew the darn thing. This was after being told by three other people in the same office that it was SO good that I'd come in early as it was taking them six months to process the darn things. I was so mad, I could hardly see straight... but what can you do? It's bureaucracy.
So even though I was hoping to avoid the weather roulette of driving across Europe in December/January, it will be back to Regensburg and the foreigner's office for yet more jumping through hoops.
Did I mention,
?
The bright side? While waiting in line for NINE HOURS (did I mention NINE HOURS?), I ran into a friend from Mexico that I'd not seen in years. We had a great chat and exchanged contact info so we don't lose each other again. It was really nice to see her... and to let my brain chill out with Spanish. Then two days in a row I was next to a very chatty Russian lady so I got to know her too, plus got hours and hours of German practice in. I also had to go back to the hospital to chase down even more documentation at the last minute, so that ALSO gave me a mega-dose of German conversation.
So, thank you, Regensburg Foreigners' Office, because I got tons of free German language practice to help me pass my last test this Saturday.
Poor Carbon's exercise hours were also upset by my foot. Not because it still hurts like a
(thank you, @snowbunny, for all these new little faces) but because I went to see the ortho surgeon on Monday afternoon after four hours of line waiting in the morning.
As I mentioned on another thread, I was told that I had old flat feet that needed an operation. Maybe. First he wanted to jab me with a needle with some pain killer to help diagnose it, but I was not having that.
"The needle only stays in your ankle for 40-60 seconds - it's really fast."
Seriously? A needle shoved all the way in to your ankle for one minute is FAST? Then I asked what he would do with this diagnostic tool.
"Well, if it stops hurting for an hour or so, then we know more what it is and we send you for an MRI".
"And if it doesn't stop hurting?" I asked.
"Then we send you for an MRI."
"Then how about we skip the ONE MINUTE with a needle going half way through my ankle???"
To be honest, he got a bit frustrated with me after that and told me to think about it and come back if I wanted an MRI. So I went back yesterday and they told me they couldn't get me an MRI appointment until October, when I'm no longer in Germany. Grrr. Thankfully when I had my cancer treatment, I had to have an MRI and so I said, "I'll get the MRI myself and I'll be back for you to read the results, OK?" They looked at me like I was welcome to try, but good luck getting an MRI done within the next month.
I got an appointment for the next day (today) and handed the ortho surgeon the films at 9am this morning.
That'll teach them to underestimate someone who has seen half the medical community of Regensburg in one capacity or another.
So it'll will be back to the ortho surgeon on Monday after he has a chance to look at the MRI. Then I bet it will be me not feeling so smug as there is sure to be a 'very fast needle' or some other horrible thing in my future. Ick. But joking aside, one reason this stupid foot as gotten so bad is that I was really worried that somehow my cancer had gone into my bones and I was done for. I know...it sounds silly, but it was there in my head and I did NOT want to find out that news. So I put it off and off and off. At least now even if there is some horrible treatment in my future it won't kill me.
Even though they may have to knock me out cold to stick a needle through my foot!
OK, back to dog stuff now....
All that to say that it's been a tough week for Carbon in the sense that he's really not gotten the best of me or any meaningful exercise. Frankly by yesterday evening when he found an enormous chunk of hard cheese on the ground (who drops this stuff??), I was at the point of saying, "Hey, knock yourself out...enjoy the gourmet bounty that some unknown benefactor has bequeathed your royal canine self."
I even let him drag me into the dog bakery and snarf down all the free treats he could stuff in his face. Clearly, I've lost my will to live. Well, in terms of dog training that is.
However, we have been doing the 'recall for dinner' thing and Carbon loves that. He jumps on the bed ("home base"), does a wait and gets called to his food bowl.
He's VERY enthusiastic.
And today after my MRI and trip to the ortho doc and trip to the grocery store, instead of buckling down and studying for my last German test (for now, until the foreigners' office dreams up some OTHER icky German test for me), I decided that I was tired of Carbon trying to stand on my keyboard and it was time to GET OUT.
We went through town and off to the river. Frankly, Carbon was a bit wacky in the head plus no one was around, so I let him off lead. He had some serious, serious zoomies, but he also had some excellent and enthusiastic recalls. Yahoooo! We also continued the scatter treat thing and that effectively kept him by my side through two dog sightings. Yahooo again!
He wasn't perfect - I made (again) the mistake of letting him go just a tad too far past "Hey, that was a success, let's end on a high note now." He ran into a picnicking couple's area before I could grab him. Luckily (?) they were so drunk that I think they thought he was a small furry child and just gave him a pet and sent him on his way, so no harm done (and no food stolen).
And icing on the cake, he got mistaken for a guide dog in training on our walk back through town. That was kind of funny as he was still wet and wearing his purple Hawaiian bandana. Not sure what kind of guide dog organization that would suggest?
Now dinner has been eaten and he's on the sofa next to me NOT trying to stand on my face. At least for the next hour or so. Mission accomplished!
Every day has been an early morning something for me, which has meant no big walk/free run for Carbon but rather a lot of 'boooooring' (to quote Carbon) city walks.
At least as usual I've been dragging him along to everywhere he's allowed - so shopping trips and trips to make appointments at the hair salon and to the lawyer's office and to the pub. So hey...mega socialization, right?
On the other hand, lots of hours logged in his crate and having to put up with me being too cranky and tired for nice long evening walks. Boooo, foster lady! WARNING: way off dog/Carbon topic, skip ahead to get back to pup tales...
And cranky I am, because after three separate days and NINE HOURS of waiting in line for my ever-lovin' residence permit extension - not including a surprise required emergency trip to the US Consulate in Munich to get my passport renewed - I was told to come back in December because I'd come in too early to renew the darn thing. This was after being told by three other people in the same office that it was SO good that I'd come in early as it was taking them six months to process the darn things. I was so mad, I could hardly see straight... but what can you do? It's bureaucracy.
So even though I was hoping to avoid the weather roulette of driving across Europe in December/January, it will be back to Regensburg and the foreigner's office for yet more jumping through hoops.
Did I mention,
?The bright side? While waiting in line for NINE HOURS (did I mention NINE HOURS?), I ran into a friend from Mexico that I'd not seen in years. We had a great chat and exchanged contact info so we don't lose each other again. It was really nice to see her... and to let my brain chill out with Spanish. Then two days in a row I was next to a very chatty Russian lady so I got to know her too, plus got hours and hours of German practice in. I also had to go back to the hospital to chase down even more documentation at the last minute, so that ALSO gave me a mega-dose of German conversation.
So, thank you, Regensburg Foreigners' Office, because I got tons of free German language practice to help me pass my last test this Saturday.
Poor Carbon's exercise hours were also upset by my foot. Not because it still hurts like a
(thank you, @snowbunny, for all these new little faces) but because I went to see the ortho surgeon on Monday afternoon after four hours of line waiting in the morning.As I mentioned on another thread, I was told that I had old flat feet that needed an operation. Maybe. First he wanted to jab me with a needle with some pain killer to help diagnose it, but I was not having that.
"The needle only stays in your ankle for 40-60 seconds - it's really fast."
Seriously? A needle shoved all the way in to your ankle for one minute is FAST? Then I asked what he would do with this diagnostic tool.
"Well, if it stops hurting for an hour or so, then we know more what it is and we send you for an MRI".
"And if it doesn't stop hurting?" I asked.
"Then we send you for an MRI."
"Then how about we skip the ONE MINUTE with a needle going half way through my ankle???"
To be honest, he got a bit frustrated with me after that and told me to think about it and come back if I wanted an MRI. So I went back yesterday and they told me they couldn't get me an MRI appointment until October, when I'm no longer in Germany. Grrr. Thankfully when I had my cancer treatment, I had to have an MRI and so I said, "I'll get the MRI myself and I'll be back for you to read the results, OK?" They looked at me like I was welcome to try, but good luck getting an MRI done within the next month.
I got an appointment for the next day (today) and handed the ortho surgeon the films at 9am this morning.
That'll teach them to underestimate someone who has seen half the medical community of Regensburg in one capacity or another.
So it'll will be back to the ortho surgeon on Monday after he has a chance to look at the MRI. Then I bet it will be me not feeling so smug as there is sure to be a 'very fast needle' or some other horrible thing in my future. Ick. But joking aside, one reason this stupid foot as gotten so bad is that I was really worried that somehow my cancer had gone into my bones and I was done for. I know...it sounds silly, but it was there in my head and I did NOT want to find out that news. So I put it off and off and off. At least now even if there is some horrible treatment in my future it won't kill me.
Even though they may have to knock me out cold to stick a needle through my foot!
OK, back to dog stuff now....
All that to say that it's been a tough week for Carbon in the sense that he's really not gotten the best of me or any meaningful exercise. Frankly by yesterday evening when he found an enormous chunk of hard cheese on the ground (who drops this stuff??), I was at the point of saying, "Hey, knock yourself out...enjoy the gourmet bounty that some unknown benefactor has bequeathed your royal canine self."
I even let him drag me into the dog bakery and snarf down all the free treats he could stuff in his face. Clearly, I've lost my will to live. Well, in terms of dog training that is.
However, we have been doing the 'recall for dinner' thing and Carbon loves that. He jumps on the bed ("home base"), does a wait and gets called to his food bowl.
He's VERY enthusiastic.
And today after my MRI and trip to the ortho doc and trip to the grocery store, instead of buckling down and studying for my last German test (for now, until the foreigners' office dreams up some OTHER icky German test for me), I decided that I was tired of Carbon trying to stand on my keyboard and it was time to GET OUT.
We went through town and off to the river. Frankly, Carbon was a bit wacky in the head plus no one was around, so I let him off lead. He had some serious, serious zoomies, but he also had some excellent and enthusiastic recalls. Yahoooo! We also continued the scatter treat thing and that effectively kept him by my side through two dog sightings. Yahooo again!
He wasn't perfect - I made (again) the mistake of letting him go just a tad too far past "Hey, that was a success, let's end on a high note now." He ran into a picnicking couple's area before I could grab him. Luckily (?) they were so drunk that I think they thought he was a small furry child and just gave him a pet and sent him on his way, so no harm done (and no food stolen).
And icing on the cake, he got mistaken for a guide dog in training on our walk back through town. That was kind of funny as he was still wet and wearing his purple Hawaiian bandana. Not sure what kind of guide dog organization that would suggest?
Now dinner has been eaten and he's on the sofa next to me NOT trying to stand on my face. At least for the next hour or so. Mission accomplished!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Oops, he's back to trying to stand on my face so I guess we're off for another walk. Maybe Carbon has some Bodeguero in him and it's just now coming out, because I can't seem to find the off switch.
You must feel totally shattered after dealing with all that bureaucracy and the surgeon's appointment too - never mind the threat of 60 seconds of needle in your ankle! Just relax with Carbon this evening. I hope he manages to be as chilled as he looks for more than an hour!
(No, Tuppy, I don't want your ball in my lap, I'm typing a message to Emily!)
(No, Tuppy, I don't want your ball in my lap, I'm typing a message to Emily!)