Lincoln's way of life: June 2012

29.6.12

Change is always for the better

Change is always for the better, that's what I've heard and I hope it's true.

I told you our life had been a bit hectic during the last months, and we though it was coming to an end but it was actually just starting. My humans are finally spliting up for real and one of them is going to live in Paris and so I'm going to stay here in Bordeaux with Laura.

We have until the end of august to find a new flat and move into it... and as Laura is still studying at uni we're going to be living in a tiny flat so Laura is all stressy about it because she's also going to have to do extra hours of work to get enough money to pay for everything + it comes at the worse time for her as she's entering in september her last year of study and in top of everything else she also has to write her end of study report ! Oh dear.

I'm tired already!

Well, I've always been living in a flat so that's OK, it's gonna be a smaller one but I told Laura I was sure I'd settle in very well. It's not because I'm a Great Dane that I need a panthouse, right ? What worries Laura is that although I've been used to stay on my own a few hours during the day, I'm going to have to stay on my own a bit more then. I told her no problem! I'm gonna be a good boy, and we'll just go on bigger walks and on the weekend I'll go and play in the countryside with my furiends as often as we will be able to!

My sissy the cat is going to live in Paris with my other human and my brother the cat is going to go on a little vacation at Laura's mum's house until we (Laura and I) are settled in properly.

So I'm sorry if I do not leave comments on your blog as soon and as much as I would normally, but it's just going to be a few busy months coming up. I'll catch up as soon as possible !

See ya my furiends !

15.6.12

I don't know how to drink !

Yes, I'm not telling a joke here : I REALLY don't know how to drink !

Let me explain; instead of drinking the water catching it with my tongue, I just put my head into the water bowl and just open and close my mouth!

Results : there's water everywhere in the house except in my stomach!
Well, after my humans gave me 3 entire bowls of water I guess I manage to catch some of it, but still - it is quite an issue as I have and always had regular problems when it come to ahem-- doing the wee! The vet says it's because I don't drink enough - even though I always have fresh water in the house it is true I don't go to my water bowl very often on my own. (except when we go for a walk! I'm the BIGGEST drinker on earth then!)

The Big Tongue Gang after a massive walk !

But guess what ? Every time I start drinking, everyone starts laughing and making fun of me !! Not only my furry buddies but also their humans ! I can hear them - it's so embarrassing. My humans thought it was a great dane thing but my great dane friends just drink like normal dogs. Is there some of you here using my technique ?

Here the normal drinking technique :

Here's mine :

As you can see, no tongue out - and almost no water gone from the bowl ( except the water I drop on the floor !! ) ;-)

I guess asking about tips would be silly as no one could really "teach me" how to drink.
But eh, I feel good talking about it and I know YOU - my dear blog friend - are not going to laugh at my problem.

( oh, come on !)

8.6.12

Reacting to strangers

Lincoln is quite weird when it comes to meeting strangers. As you can imagine, it is very often that people stop in the street and start talking to me when I'm walking my dog.

Lincoln with Louise, one of his furry friend's human :-)

I hate it when they do from a long distance, they start talking about Lincoln and they do it really loudly so they make sure I can hear them and maybe answer their questions or talk to them directly - some day, I feel up to it, other days I just wish they'd go away. Lincoln hates it when he sees them coming from a long distance too and he can see they're talking about him - sometimes it makes him anxious, I can see it by the way he starts getting closer to me, raising his ears.

Today, we were going for a quick walk just around our building and two young people crossed the street and came to ask me questions like "What type of dog it is ?", "How is it to live in a flat with him?" - and then the usual and boring "Does he bites?".

Do I look like a biting-doggie ?

I could see Lincoln feeling very stressy and getting closer and closer to me - I bet it is just like me when I meet new people; sometimes I like them instantly, and sometimes I just don't.

Anyway, Lincoln did not seem to like the man talking to me and I answered: "No, he does not bite - but he can act like a scaredy cat sometimes so he might not want you to touch him".
And I was right, the man insisted on trying, and then Lincoln started to back up, and back up like "Leave me alone! You're invading my personal space!".

The man felt a little upset I think, he looked at me and said " Well, what a strange dog! Do you let him meet other people sometimes ?"
I wasn't exactly in my best mood and asked :

" How would you feel if someone you don't know crossed the street and tried to touch you?" . He answered " But I'm not a dog! Dogs don't mind that kind of stuff".

Oh yes, they do.

People are so annoying sometimes. Well, I get it, when they come to talk to me and want to pet Lincoln, they are being nice, but sometimes I'm tired to see that 70% of people just don't know anything about dogs really and think they are just fluffly creatures, made to entertain humans. Lincoln is a friendly dog but what can I do when some days, he just does not seem to like the person walking toward him and when this exact same person stop, and wants to pet him ? Walking away would be rude - so what can I tell people so they don't get upset by Lincoln's reaction when they try to pet him and he starts backing up ?

I'm sure some of you have some tips to share with me :-) That'd be very nice !

( PS: I'll let Lincoln blog on his own about all the walks, playdates and new friends he had when we were away from Blogland very soon !)
Talk soon,

Laura

6.6.12

FRENCH CRAZE CONTEST : THE RESULTS !!

Sorry it took me sooooo long to post the results on my blog ! Loads of changes in our lives, but I am OK and that's what's important after all. We are all happy now.

So here it is... because you've been waiting for too long, I've decided I'd pick 2 winners instead of one ! Plus, as I promised you, I'll sent a postcard from France to EVERY pawticipant !

So, we put the names in a bowl ( one paper for one picture) and my human randomly picked two papers. I was there to make sure there was no cheating ! You never know with those two-legged...

Here's a little video so you can see I checked it all !

( YES, Lincoln IS trying to EAT the papers with the names... oh dear. )

( sorry for the add right in the middle of the video, just could not make our usual video editor work so had to quickly find something on the internet )

Well done guys !!!

BRAVO LES MECS ! (in French)

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Here are the wonderful entries to my FRENCH CRAZE CONTEST:

Lightning

He chose the world "Joie" : Happiness. As you can see, one of his favourite thing is to have fun in the mud ! Haha :-) I love it too !

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Milka

She chose the world Amour : Love!

How cute is this picture ! Hugs to you Milka !

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Baylor

Baylor chose to use " le mien" which means "mine!" ! I love his face. Roaaaarrrrr ! How impressive Baylor !

He also added " Alerte, alerte" to his picture, which of course means Alert! Alert! "

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Here is Reilly, Denny and Jackson's entry

They chose the world "nourriture" which as you can see means " FOOD!" and I get why !

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! Food is my favorite thing!

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Sasha

Here's Sasha's entry ! I love Sasha, I think she looks beautiful!

She chose the world "Lunette" and "Livre" which means "Glasses" and "book"!

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This is Miz Becky'z entry !

She chose the world "nourriture" : "food!"

Look at what she has to wear when she eats! OMD isn't it SOOOO cute ? I love it!!!

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Bubba !

He chose the world Joie! (Happiness) I bet you can see why!

Which I could come and play with you Bubba !

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Sampson

Here are Sampson's beautiful two pictures!

He used the world "Joie" (Happiness). I bet I'd be very happy too if I could be there with him and run free in this beautiful landscape !

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Bert

Priceless ! Don't you agree?

He chose " Le visage de la folie" : "The face of crazyness"

Look at those wrinkles !!!!!

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Lassiter and Benji

Lassiter and Benji chose the world "Livre" : as you can see it means "Book" !

If you look carefully, you will see they are holding their very own books : Lassiter holds "Horray for Lassie", and Benjamin holds "Benjy's Dog House" ! How cute!