Friday, March 16, 2012 at 9:35PM 
Ty and Cody is visiting and they were playing their hearts out today. It's been fun watching them.
No matter how I feel just by watching the dogs I feel a tad better.
It's time to get the crew ready for bed. I had many baths and a fever and sweating that won't quit so I need to bring an ice pack to bed.
I wonder if I do if the dawgs will cuddle with me and the ice pack?
We shall find out.
Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 4:52PM 
Nathan took this photo of Ty who is visiting and Truffie.
He got so many amazing photos today but not up to going through them to get them up.
The weather is good. The dogs are in their element having a great time. It can't get better than this!
Now off to crawl into bed or the couch. We will see what I get away with.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 5:10PM 
Today I lined comb you don't want to know how many. I do believe I am tired. I still have Cocoa's paperwork to do, blogs to do and more.
Friday I have 2 adults and 10 pups to wash. Washing 10 pups is interesting and a lot of work. Thursday I have 2 adults. Saturday night I have Cocoa as he goes home Sunday but I won't have time on Sunday. Then we have a full weekend with visitors so I may be crawling into bed each night.
I also watched the dawgs outside and clicked some photos. I also played with pups and made sure moms were feeding. I also made food for the pups, moms etc and I took my ipad into the grooming room and watched 'The Voice" and "Smash" while I groomed for the first time and found it went easier as I was distracted to a point. It was good. I did laundry while I groomed too. hahahaha Nothing like multi-tasking.
Usually I don't get to watch TV till about now and only bits and pieces and when I go to bed and I usually fall asleep 10 minutes into the show. So it was good to watch while I groomed. It made it more enjoyable.
I also had a great time clicking photos of visitors and snuggling with everyone.
What did you did today?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 8:17PM 
Today I washed Truffie, Fiona and Simba. I also groomed everyone and Nathan didn't pick up a brush but mumbled he was exhausted.
When I groom I do a thorough job. When he grooms he thinks he does a thorough job but the only way to do that is to take a comb through the entire coat to find any knots. That takes time that he doesn't have. You don't have to do it every day but you should be doing it at times to know what you missed.
Truffie's coat was a mess. Nathan has been brushing him and we have had a lot of wet, mud and well leaves and all sorts of things. So when I forgot to brush before I put him in the tub (I thought he didn't have any knots - silly me) I had some knots to get out that felted. As he has a show coat you must be careful on how you remove the knots. I spray, I pull apart, I spray, I take a brush and try to pull the knot apart, I spray, I take a comb and break it up carefully and on and on and on. Two hours later he was done. It was exhausting but his coat was in good shape when I was done but my arm wasn't and there isn't a single knot in his hair and now I will do his hair from now on. Shhh if I say anything to Nathan he will say you can do everyone cause I can't. hahahah So we won't say anything. I just will do show coats and visitors and he can do Risa, Kat etc. :-)
Can I go to bed yet?
Truffie was a star as he laid on his back and let me remove knots in sensitive spots. I am impressed. All that hard work to get him ti lay on his back works. Now my job is easier due to it.
Monday, March 12, 2012 at 4:55PM 
Panda Just Washed
Today I washed Panda, Logan and Katsura. Panda and Roxie are sisters to Abigail's litter right now as they share the same mom and dad.
Panda used to be known as Smudge as she had this look that she had a smudge all around her nose and mouth.
Logan in his Fave ChairPeople have a difficult time seeing what we see when the hair grows out. We have had enough that I can now visualize them as older.
The boy from Abigail's litter looks very much like the Panda.
When I wash a dog I take my time and do it right. How long it takes depends on the condition of the hair and the texture of the hair. I also am gentle and don't believe in pulling knots out or hurting a dog. Patience is a good thing.
Logan is not from our breeding and has a cottony type coat like our Shoshi. His hair takes me about 2 hours as I not only wash and condition him with extra oil added into the conditioner but today I put a product all over his hair combing it in called Protect-A-Coat Conditioning Oil w/Sunscreen, bagged him (covered him with saran wrap under a low dryer) and semi dried it in to help the coat along. I then brushed through all of his hair then used a comb to find any knots. Any knots I take Pek, spray it into the knot and pull it apart and brush it out and then check with a comb again.
I go through his hair one small section at a time making sure I coat it with Show Sheen lightly. It adds shine and coats the hair so it doesn't feel as cottony, doesn't knot as much and it protects the hair but you can only use Show Sheen when the coat is clean as it also locks in any dirt and ends up matting.
Logan actually looked grand but by the time I had finished Panda, he had already rolled in a bed or two and mucked it up. He has a riot of a personality and you just have to love him. I know I do!
It's raining and I wonder why I washed him today but it wasn't raining when I started. He also was overdue.
When a coat especially a cottony coat gets matted easily it is time to wash. You must get all the knots out before washing or they will felt up.
Panda's hair took me about 45 minutes. She has silky hair that rarely gets knots similar to Roxie.
I tell you all of this to realize that each dog is unique. You can get an odd one that has a cotton type coat if it is somewhere in the line or a whole litter with cotton coat if you breed a cotton coat to another cotton coat. I won't do that. Some people especially some show people like a thick cottony coat as it stands out and looks full but it isn't for the beginner.
You can create a cottony feel coat by over washing it and drying it out. If you are washing once a week you best have a high quality shampoo and conditioner and are adding some oil to the conditioner for that extra protection. If you are using a slicker you damage the coat and you end up with a nightmare. If you have a slicker I would only be using it on the feet for fullness. A slicker may appear to be easier at first but the damage it does in the long run is not worth it unless you are keeping the coat short.
Yanking out knots can also damage the hair. You are actually better off using thinning shears if the hair is thick and cutting into it and pulling it apart if it is felted or using a spray like pek, let it soak in and pull it apart.
There are so many grooming tips that you learn as you go. Our dear Shoshi had what I termed the coat from hell and I now am able to deal with it. Her coat taught me a great deal as I kept trying and trying and trying.
Show people rarely give you tips as they want the advantage. So you learn by trying. A low quality conditioner can change the feel of a coat.
I can now touch a coat and say it needs this or that and I am usually bang on. It takes time and a desire.
I like a long coat but a puppy coat even with a cottony coat is much easier. With a silky coat, long, short its all doable if you perfect your technique and brush thoroughly at least every few days. Me, I brush daily and take a break here and there.Brushing daily eliminates a marathon due to not brushing.
Then there is mud and stuck poo and snowballs and all that fun. With one dog its easy. I know a breeder friend who instead of washing her dogs back end if it has some poo streaks she puts corn starch on the back end, she lets it dry outside and brush it out. It works and its a show tip that you now have. :-)
This all makes it sound as if a Havanese coat is difficult. Many are not but it is easier if you learn a good technique and keep up with it and know what product to use. My only difficult coat in my house is Shoshi and even that now is easy as I tried to perfect and I did making the process an easier one. Shoshi now gets washed every 3 weeks and rarely has a knot and Nathan is not as thorough as me when it comes to brushing and combing. :-)
Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 10:02AM 
It's great to see Cody and Truffie playing together but it is also great seeing the visitors meshing and they are.
Today is a huge grooming day. I figure here and there all day. 4 done so far. I am tired as the moms came to bed with me without pups last night and every hour they tried to get me to take them downstairs to the pups.
This is the start of pups being able to have food and no moms at night. The pups did better than the moms. Lets see what tonight brings. I finally gave in about 430am and brought them down and crawled back to sleep.
Bleary eyed this morning I watched 2 visitors, Ty and Cody playing up a storm and I said be still my heart. No matter how tired I am I still manage to find fun in the dawgs and am happy when they are.
I need to get back to grooming but I swear the couch is calling me and the pups are sleeping after having softened kibble ground up and chicken added. No more mush.
Nathan took wonderful photos yesterday and will be sending them to people as I sent them to him. He asked me why I have to format a memory card each time I replace one. I tried explaining I leave the photos on the card vs. just transferring them as an extra protection but he didn't get it.
I think I need more formatted sticks just for him. :-) It takes 30 seconds to format but he thinks he will miss 'that shot' and so the camera bug goes.
Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 9:48PM 
I have to get a real mobile toy as the pups went NUTS about this one.
Get this, the adult dogs were highly interested too.
It's amazing what interests them.
Remember clocks ahead but do what I am doing. I am NOT putting it ahead till the morning when the computer reminds me and maybe I will sleep later that way? I can dream.
Friday, March 9, 2012 at 8:39PM 
I found this photo and it reminded me that maybe spring is around the corner. We shall see. The garden grows. I complain about the weeds and everyone doesn't see what I see so that's okay.
The plants growing give the pups places to hide and things to do. I rather like that!
Supposedly during March break its supposed to be as high as 18c. That means mud and lots of cleanup. Gad help me. You may be wiping me up from the floor but maybe I will continue to lose weight and get to goal before short season. We shall see.
Today I was rather spent but I watched Idol. I had to play catch-up. We were draped with dogs. We did this after we had puppies out in the hallway and I will probably share that video tomorrow.
I vowed tomorrow no grooming just so I have a day of recovery. Then On Sunday I will start my usual daily regiment. I have a sneaky suspicion I will be dealing with mud too. Wish I had a huge tarp that covered my backyard that shook off the dirt every time they came in. hahahahahahahahahaha
We have a few visitors as it is March Break and I do have fun when we have visitors but please can we eliminate the mud? Even Terra finds it these days and Treasure well she swims in it.
If I ever won the lottery I would hire someone just to do mud cleanups and grooming just so I could be the Disneyland dawgie mom. Yeah...right and what planet do I live on....
Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 3:27PM 
Frannie just had a bath before her mom comes to get her tonight. She looks white here. I think it was the flash but she is a pale cream colour. She used to have dark creamy tips on her ears but as that got cut it was lost.
Her mom Martha owns Handley's Shoes in Whitby and Frannie hangs out there. So if you are ever in Whitby stop by and say hi to Martha and Frannie.
If you have one of our dogs I am sure she wouldn't mind him/her getting introduced to the Frannie. She's highly sociable.
She keeps her in a short cut as it is easier for her but she keeps the ears long.
Frannie has silky hair and she was a delight to groom.
We can't wait to see her again!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 9:36PM 
Next week yet again we will have Wasabi and Abigail puppy people visiting. Due to it being cold we will be doing 2 days of visits as our house is simply not equipped for all that activity in a kitchen. heh
WE can't wait....
Off to make special food for the moms... as they think they have to eat and eat and they do!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 9:03AM 
Lounging Treasure Pup
Last night I stayed up till after midnight as I had to do Bentley's paperwork before he goes home.
Today I am washing Jlo and who knows who else. I need to get the bag ready for Bentley to go home as I won't have time tomorrow.
I am going to try to take photos but no promises. I did get my exercise in.
Tonight I go out to eat with friends I have still from my old neighbourhood in North York when the kids were young. They are all great gals.
Nathan has visitors tonight. I may or may not make it back for that.
I still have pen cleanup, weigh-ins for the pups, bum checks, brushing/grooming and the house needs cleaning and laundry needs to be done. It will be good as I won't eat too much as tonight I will and tomorrow I will have to work it off. :-) After losing 24lbs I can have a treat as long as I get back to it.
Pictured here is a Treasure pup and what I would like to be doing vs. what I will be doing.
I have yet to play with Photoshop (high on my list but never makes it). Last night I watched Idol, 2 of them with Nathan so it set me behind. I have yet to watch the selection of what 13 or is it 14?
Then there is Treasure's ultrasound and March Break craziness both I look forward to but what is sleep but a dream and time.
I wish I could wash all the dogs all in one full swoop but that's not possible.
Logan and Panda need washing and so does the rest and of course the puppy Bentley but he will get a bath right after eating tomorrow morning. I can't have a drink with the ladies and wash a dog, can I?
We shall see....
It's another dawg day.... and only 11 days till puppy people visit for the younger set. Wow!
Monday, March 5, 2012 at 2:32PM 
He just heard that Delilah is pregnant with 5 pups. Now how exciting is that? As you know Delilah is Abigail's sister.
Sorry about the photo but I just grabbed his show one as it was there.
I have yet to click today. We even had Kona over and we forgot to click. I must be brain dead. I know I am. :-( I really can't believe I didn't click and I was so excited about seeing him and his mom too. :-)
Delilah is due around April Fools Day. Seeing they only connected twice, well that date seems perfect. :-)
Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 9:07PM 
It's funny but Shoshi is an older lady that still finds the play. She is patient, loyal and loves the pups even though she has never had any of her own.
I caught this photo of her sitting watching the birds fly by. Her favourite past time is chasing them. I am not sure she would know what to do if she ever caught one but Wasabi has managed to catch squirrels.
She doesn't do anything with them. She catches their tails, holds on and then lets go. I think she just does it as she knows she can.
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 10:04PM 
I wish I was able to get better photos but it was wet, mucky and well not suitable for those that get sick with being soaked but we tried.
Next time I hope the weather cooperates.
Here are the photos I took and some are quite enjoyable. :-)
We really missed the Cooper and he rather enjoyed the pups so if you are a Teaser puppy person there are a few of those in these photos.
Friday, March 2, 2012 at 9:11PM 
Okay, it's not the dawgs but last year at this time I was dressed like this. Tonight it is raining and Truffie won't come in and neither will the Teaser pups.
Nathan is dripping while I am warm, dry and typing.
It's warm, almost spring like and muddy. Oh boy Truffie will need a bath and so will the Teaser pups in a big way but come Wednesday the 3rd pup will have his bath and go and the one remaining will have his bath too and yet another when he goes home.
Truffie is a water dog. I have a sneaky suspicion that Kat will have competition in the diving department when the pool opens.
I have a feeling the Teaser pups are water dogs too.
Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:30PM 
Can you believe after Cooper came inside from the wet sopping outdoors, when he dried he looked gorgeous. I kept looking at him thinking I best brush him.
Funny I didn't look at MY dogs and say that. I was just worried about him.
I guess cause I felt responsible taking him outside in that wet sopping snow that has been melting.
Cooper is a Teaser boy and he will be moving to Huntsville as soon as his house is ready...ooops his human's house but I am sure he thinks it is HIS house and it will be too!
Cooper is a tri-colour sable. In reality he has more than 3 colours in that coat of his.
He's done several obedience courses and will be doing a tricks class. I can't wait to hear what he learns from that. It is a fun thing to do with your dawg and its great bonding.
Cooper lived here for a fair bit of time till he went to his forever home. It was, will he be a show dog, will he not but when it all came down to it Paula was having kids and we were having pups so we are able to be blessed with having more dawgs in our life.
Cooper used to be called Sinner so if you are looking back at old posts about him search on Sinner as well as Cooper.
His parents were really nice and brought the pups some treats and some pad holders and a tunnel. It is most appreciated. Cooper is no longer using and well yes they will all come in handy so THANK YOU!!!
I realized how very much I missed the Cooper. It was so mice that he came. Hope to see him again soon. I rather enjoyed his human parents too!
We will add photos and a video possibly tomorrow or Sunday. With pups going home we will try....
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 8:58PM 
The two moms came out to play with us today.
Nathan was throwing snowballs and Terra was trying to catch it and the rest of the crew was actually picking up the snowballs to bring them back. It was a riot.
Who needs toys when you have wet snow.
I will tell you no one had snowballs today so it wasn't that wet.
The moms go to the door ahead of the rest to say, hey got to get back to those babies even if they just fell asleep.
I think they feel better just sitting inside or outside the pen watching.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 7:27PM 
Sometimes Katsura is so patient. He sees Truffie snuggling up to me at night. He sees Phantom and Logan doing the same and he must be saying, I am YOUR boy!
Today he was laying on me while I was in the TV room just before Lynda came in to see the pups. He had just settled in and I did too for that moment.
It's important to me to have those moments with each and every one of them each and every day.
Life is too short to not make the most of those moments.
I find when I get that extra nice snuggle my body just relaxes. You should try it!
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 3:09PM 
Socks is not one of ours but he came for a visit and I got him freshly bathed before his family picked him up.
He was not happy about the bath but he started warming up to it. His first response was to soak me.
I tell you this as this does happen with some. I do some bathing conditioning but some get one bath before they head out and its up to you to keep it up till they get used to it and they can and do get used to it. Sometimes even with several times before they go out, some just do the fight longer. It depends on the personality.
This puppy has a fun loving personality.
Now this photo is Chico who is a Wasabi and Kat puppy (dark black and white pup) who moved to a fabulous place. Fidel is from another breeder (silver and white) who they had before getting Chico. This is what they wrote:
Hi Nathan & Darlah,
Quick update from the west! Chico and Fidel have moved to our new home on Eagle Island, West Vancouver. The dogs are thrilled. It’s a pretty leash free life as there are no cars on the island, which is a friendly community of about 30 families. No wildlife to worry about (no skunks or bears here!) so it’s just pure fun, tearing up and down the trails to the houses and all over the island basically. Getting to the island involves a very short “barge” ride. Both dogs are very accustomed to it now, waiting for the command to get on and off the barge when directed. Nobody has gone swimming voluntarily or involuntarily – yet!
Lots of walks in the neighbourhood on the mainland too, lots of canyons, trails and beaches to explore. A few photos attached.
Hope things are well in Toronto!
All the best,
Kaarina
-----
From us... we are so jealous as it sounds like dawg heaven. We miss them and its sad that they are so far away but we are happy they have such a grand life! Thanks for updating us. :-)
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 6:09PM 
The dogs and the puppies had a blast so many times outdoors today that I am late getting the blogs done.
Tomorrow I have Socks to wash (not one of ours) so I may be late tomorrow as I SHOULD clean up a couple of others like Logan and Panda. It may be time for them. Won't know till tomorrow when we see them. :-)
Don't you just love this lazy pose of Roxie? What mom, no back legs. Here she was staring intently at the play till she could figure out where to pounce and what advantage to that pounce she would have if she made her move. You can just see them thinking it through then acting upon it.
Ah to be a DAWG!