Travels with Hansa

Background information about me and our journey.

Before… I lived in a house in the city. I sat at the window. I played in the garden. I barked at dogs, the mail carrier, occasional bunnies in the grass. I walked and ran with Mom through Ballard, Seattle. Now I don’t live anywhere.

Mom and Dad quit their jobs, stored their stuff in the back bedroom, and rented out the front of the house. They spent 3 months working on Non-Lucrative Visas for Spain (contact Mom for information with details), organizing my papers to take me to the UK (Mom also has information about this process), and creating an Airbnb in our guest studio (Mom can tell you how to do this too).

By September 3, we are ready to drive to the East Coast to see family, then head over to the UK and Spain. We leave for London on October 7^th if the visas arrive (the visa folks have Mom and Dad’s passports), and if I get a spot on the airplane (you can only reserve 13 days ahead of the flight) and if the UK is allowing visitors. Some people think traveling to Europe during COVID with a dog is foolish. We think it is an adventure!

Information about me:

4 years ago, right before they found me, Mom, Dad and Ellery lost their son/brother, Benjamin. So when they heard about me, Mom and Ellery took me home. I would help salve their grief. I excel at this job. I am an Australian Labradoodle: Labrador/ Poodle/ Cocker Spaniel (Mom’s friend, Karin calls me an Elaborate Cocka Doodle Doo). Mom and Ellery take me to puppy socializing classes, training classes, and many people visit us, but I am scared and shy. At the dog park I hide by Mom’s legs. I am getting braver, but I am nervous around new people and dogs. I am curious, so I wag, approach, but if someone leans to pet me or talk to me, I startle, bark and lunge. Mom and Ellery are teaching me to look at them for treats when other dogs walk by. They ask strangers not to pet me. I am becoming calmer. I am not an easy dog to take on an adventure overseas, but I am glad I get to go. My purpose is companion so I am meant to be near Mom. I love Ellery too, but she goes away a lot. She attends St. Andrews University in Scotland and she lived in Madrid for 9 months last year. She is in Scotland now. We are going to see her in October. Seeing Ellery is the reason for this trip!