Waving at waves

 or: Can two peeps with two dogs make a La Ola wave?

There is a specific, highly anticipated moment when the local authorities of the Dutch coast throw their hands in the air and officially declare total beach anarchy. By October, the summer tourists are gone, and the municipalities issue a decree that turns the coastline of Zeeland over to its rightful rulers: the dogs.

For our party—two humans and two enthusiastic dogs—this was the cue for our annual pilgrimage to the holy waters that are the North Sea.

Our lil' house in the dunes

The first thing you learn about the North Sea is that nature does not do "gentle breezes." The wind blows with an industrial force, providing a free facial dermabrasion while ensuring your hairstyle remains strictly, permanently fuzzy. 

But for the dogs, it is pure euphoria. They transform into low-flying missiles, sprinting through the surf until the wet sand adheres to their fur with culinary precision. By noon, our little sand torpedoes are fully breaded like four-legged schnitzels.

***

Which brings us to a question of physics: Can two peeps with two dogs make a La Ola wave? 

In Vlissingen, home to the longest promenade in the Netherlands, massive container ships glide so close to shore that our dogs viewed them as personal insults. 

Vlissingen harbour

Vlissingen town

Vlissingen beach

The resulting sequence—a dog lunging left, a human dodging right, the second dog leaping, and the other human tripping over a wooden wave-breaker—created a chaotic, undulating ripple of panic. A La Ola of domestic disaster.

***

When the high tide swallows the beach, we retreat to the pine forests and bogs, before the relentless headwind eventually drives us toward the nearest beach pavilion. 

 

The beach pavilions are true culinary sanctuaries. Nobody cares that you look like traumatized survivors of a maritime catastrophe. You collapse into a booth, and the dogs immediately crawl under the table to perform a synchronized, heavy-duty full-body shake, effectively returning a solid pound of the coastline to the floor before dropping into a deep, twitching sleep.

By the end of the week, our minds are cleared of all civilized thought, the dogs are fitter than Olympic athletes. And yet, the vacation never truly leaves you. Thanks to the relentless wind, we will continue to find sand embedded in our shoes, our clothes, and somehow, inexplicably, inside the zipped compartments of our wallets for months to come.

Bruno: Can a dog have spilt personalities?

Test results of Bruno’s DNA came back and revealed a hilarious software package: 60% Eastern Anatolian herding dog (Kars) sprinkled with Shepard dog genes, plus 30% French Pointer, and for the rest it's a mystery box of several pet dogs. This genetic cocktail results in very interesting personality treats.

Bruno loves other dogs but considers human owners highly suspicious. Strangers see an elegant pointer and think, "Oh, let's play fetch!" and he just stares at them with his stoic Anatolian gaze, thinking, "I don't know you. Do you have a permit for this area?" 

When his nose hits the ground, the Pointer takes over and his hearing system completely shuts down while reading the local news. All of them! Be patient and stay calm!

At a mere 20+ kg, he is a featherweight for a livestock guardian. But when trying to herd his family into a neat little pile, he feels like a 100 pound block of granite.

In the evening, the majestic guardian as well as the agile hunter leave the building, and Bruno becomes a couch potato squeezing his body into the tiniest gap on the sofa because his inner 10% convinces him he is a tiny lapdog.

The Verdict: Besides Bruno currently being in his peak teenager mode, he is a cute and smart pup, and eager to learn and explore. Obedience remains a mere option though, and every command goes through a strict review: "Does this benefit a) our security or b) my stomach? No? Then I'll skip it." 

A professional dog trainer has been summoned to make an appearance shortly. We'll see how that goes...

Back from Hiatus

Hello, y'all! It has been radio silence over here for a while, and honestly, life decided to drop a whole season’s worth of plot twists on me all at once. Behind the scenes, I’ve been navigating a mix of big life changes - from recovering after surgery and handling some serious family matters, to adjusting to a somewhat untimely career transition. But because the universe loves a chaotic balance, there’s also our newest family member Bruno. Our fur baby has become a massive source of joy and is keeping me blissfully busy.

Right now, life consists of recovering, evaluating my career options, trying to convince a furry little land shark that armrests and pillows are not chew toys...

...and enjoying my daily dog walk routine along the river:

Life is good!

Welcome to the Pack!

Hi, I’m Bruno. a medium-sized, completely pedigree-free pup of 9 months, full of curiosity and a big heart, but with no manners. 

I spent my early days in the world's biggest animal shelter - Smeura - in Romania, when someone bought me a ticket for the bus to Germany. It was a long and stressful journey to the dog shelter in Koblenz, where I waited for months on end for a family to find me. They even made me a poster child but fame never came to me.

Then finally, a family noticed me, we had several dates and dog walks, and they decided to take me home. The dog shelter wasn't too bad, and I had made a couple of friends there, but now I’m learning what it means to have a real home and to be part of a pack. I’m excited, a little goofy, and eager for every new sniff and hug.

I still have a lot to learn the doggy 101. I’m working on basic commands, leash manners, staying calm around other dogs, and playing safely. I admit I am afraid of everything, cars, two-wheelers of any kind, strollers, particularly little kids, loud noises such a the rustling of leaves or the wind in the trees. And walking aids are pure evil. But with patience, consistent guidance, and lots of love, I know I’ll grow into a well-behaved, loyal friend ready for adventures with my new pack.

And aunt Hilda will nudge me, shout at me and correct me whenever I'm doing something wrong, that's a given.