Adapting

I am outside, I am messy so THERE! I keep getting sticks and every other darn thing stuck in me as the weather is too warm. Where is winter?

I want to play with the Teaser pups in the snow. Will we ever get a really good dumping?

Okay, I am most attracted to mud but shhh don't tell mom. She just shakes her head and says WHERE WERE YOU? NOT BEHIND THAT POOL HOUSE AGAIN!

But Mom, I can't help it and well Daddy let's me. He comes in and says Darlah Truffie needs to be cleaned. Sometimes Mommy says Nathan you can do it!

This has been the all time worst winter for mud cleanup. I want to pave the backyard. hahahaha

Where's Mommy?

I think Truffie and the other dogs miss me. Miss me at bedtime I mean. We have a ritual and I am not the same as Dennis and Dennis is not the same as me.

I miss the snuggles and hope tonight I get them back again. We shall see.

Of course I still see the dogs after I get up but they don't have me at night and not while I am sleeping during the day. Of course I have yet to be able to sleep more than 4 hours but still - it's all precious time. hahaha

Crazy Times

Let's see, I got 90% of the dogs washed and/or groomed and Nathan finished the rest. Phantom must be done daily as well as Kat not just groomed but washed thoroughly underneath as they are breeding. That means shampoo, hose off, brush and dry. Nathan doesn't do this so that is on me.

Boys also stop marking outside when the heat is finished. I am looking forward to that. Let's see we have 12 more days of that.

When I got up I washed Truffie's bum. I brushed him out, I washed several others on their back end. It was the %$& mud.

I did Terra's ear and Nathan swept the floor after I mentioned it for the 50th time. He mumbled he hasn't sat down yet. I said welcome to the club. hahahaha

But otherwise we are playing with the dogs, getting everything done. I am not sure I brushed my hair. I did get a shower in and it lasted about 10 minutes vs 2 minutes.

Puppies for the 1st few days are a lot of work. You have to clean the mom's bottom each time they go out and blow dry it so pups don't get a chill. You have to feed them several times and they don't want to leave the pups so half the time you are hand feeding the, to make sure calcium intake is up and the rest. Milk production, their health and minimizing stress is important and we do spoil our moms. I didn't forget about Teaser. She got a massive massage all over today and she was in heaven. You also have to make sure all pups are on the nipples each feeding and that's not always easy.

I have listened to the same TV show 5 times and have yet to hear it all. Laundry is going and going and going.

Tonight when everyone is sleeping I will clean all 3 pens and sterilize and change the beddings. Teaser pups will go upstairs and Abigail and Wasabi will have their gates open so they can go in and out. They work well together and trust each other. Interesting enough they don't trust Teaser yet but Teaser trusts then. Go figure. That will come.

Well back to moms. Blogs done, I think.

Chill Out Day

Everyone is doing well.... no elaboration or stories today. If I do puppy duty tonight I will update later but if not it will be tomorrow. Dennis and I are trying to figure that out.

Update on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 2:03AM by Darlah

What was I thinking? Of course I am doing night time duty but I am not truly awake enough to do a real update. Let's see, Thursday night I had a full sleep. Friday night/Saturday day I was up all night and all day except for 2.5 hours of sleep. Sunday no sleep till maybe 7am but most likely 8am as there will be things to fill them in on and well it just happens that way. Who wants to figure out how much sleep I have had since Friday morning at 630am when I woke up.

I am doing okay. I am tired but I am not able to update photos with the right photo with the right dog. hahahaha ooooh must be tired.

I will have you know when we arrived home the dogs were crazy to see me. I may drag Abigail to bed with me at 7am. We shall see. She was nesting and she did have temps drop to high 98s but back up again. That to me says false drop. Time will tell. As long as she doesn't decide 7am is the time to start.

Pictured here is a photo of Miss Abs nesting in the blankets at around 10pm. Dennis told me - hey that is cute take a photo of that. Then when I took her outside with Wasabi she was digging in the leaves.

My big guess and watch me be wrong but I was right about Wasabi is today or Monday. My bet is on today...

Fiona Hanging Out

Fiona today just wanted to investigate the back yard.

It was warm today for winter and I am glad that we got the pups out.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring but somehow, someway we will get them out again tomorrow. :-)

Hard to believe Fiona's hair is so long after having pups. Most people shave them down as it is easier. Her hair grows like weeds.

Icy Ground

Quito (not one of ours but owned by a dear friend) is here with Panda in the background.

I posted this photo so you could see the condition of our yard. It is trecherous.

The pool cover is clear and they can run across that but the grass area is icy and slippery. It is also muddy too in the non ice sections - joy - not.

I am hoping that we can get the pups outside tomorrow before their baths but time will tell.

Teaser the Character

There is no denying that Teaser is an absolute character.

She goes, goes, goes making sure those babies are all taken care of and them she crashes relishing a belly rub.

As her hair comes in I realize just how pretty she actually is. When you shave a dog down you really lose their looks. If you keep it at a puppy cut or longer they tend to have some stylin.

Well, that is just MY opinion. hahahaha

Logan

Logan was acquired from Yvonne Poole who is a dear friend to us. He lives with Panda, Roxie's sister.

We had a mystery as Logan wasn't himself and then the mystery unfolded. Lynda his owner wrote about it. I thought you may enjoy!

PS: Logan was playing up a storm today with Fiona and I mean crazy play. Nathan was diligently taking a video but my guess he forgot to push the record button or had it on playback mode or something. arrrgh

Now on to Lynda's mystery...

How Nana’s Logan became the Chow Hound

A Dog Fairy Tale

Once upon a time (yes, that is how it starts), a lovely little sable puppy was brought home to live with the Tam clan.  The intention was that the little puppy would be wonderful company for Nana, a sprightly eighty-eight year old senior.  The puppy was registered as Chicadoro’s Nana’s Logan, or Logan for short.  The “Nana” part is very important because Logan loved his Nana and sat by her chair and played with her and scurried after her around the house. 

One day, Nana decided she would like to try living in a retirement home and make some new, two-footed friends.  After a few months, she decided all the old folks were just too old and crabby and she moved back home with the Tam clan.  In the meantime, Logan had found a new daytime home away from home visiting his dear friends Nathan and Darlah and their little band of Havanese (and Terra, of course, the big, retriever).  Whenever Logan had a chance to visit with them, he was thrilled to go and couldn’t wait to get in the car.

When Nana came home, Logan was very happy, and after a little while, he didn’t seem so eager to leave when he had the chance to visit his Havanese friends.  In fact, he was sooooo reluctant, he would plank himself in Nana’s chair and the six foot seven inch young Jonathan Tam had to pick him up and put him in the car.  Soon, this was happening every single time Logan was going to visit his furry friends at Nathan and Darlah’s.  The Tam clan was stumped and asked Nathan and Darlah what could be wrong with Logan.  Nathan and Darlah were also stumped.  Logan was one of the happiest little Havanese they had every met and he had such a jolly time each time he visited his little band. 

Nathan, being a very wise man, thought he had figured it out.  He said that the only thing that had changed in Logan’s little life, was the return of Nana.  Perhaps, suggested Nathan, Logan felt he should never leave Nana’s side, even for a really fun time.  Darlah agreed and so did the Tam clan.  “What a loyal dog Logan is”, they all said.

That night, now that the mystery had been solved, Logan came home and ran, as usual, right up to Nana’s chair.  Lynda Tam told Nana how the mystery had been solved and that Logan was obviously sooooo devoted to Nana. 

Then, a funny thing happened.  Lynda Tam noticed that Logan, sitting at Nana’s feet, seemed to be focused on her big telephone on the table beside her.  Lynda asked Nana if she was feeding Logan treats.  At first, Nana said that she wasn’t, but then gave in and said that she had a little stash of treats under her phone which she gave to Logan every night.   No wonder Logan would sit on her chair and rest his chin on the arm within inches of the phone every morning! No wonder he would have to be torn away from the chair to go to visit his furry friends!  Shocking!

Ah, so Logan is not really devoted to Nana after all.  He is devoted to treats.  He has become a chow hound!!!

Truff Wild Child

I do believe the snow brings out the fun in Truffie.

He doesn't understand all the heat business. He's still too young - thankfully!

I am glad he can just play and not be preoccupied.

They grow up too fast....

Snow

We finally got a dusting to cover all that grime. Now let's see how long that lasts.

They say tomorrow may bring 2 inches.

Let's see if it happens.

We may be seeing Meeko and Andy for the day. Now that will be fun for us. They get a bath so not sure if fun for them - well that part but the rest will be!

Last Night's Surprise

Spice is in heat - 1st time going on 16 months old. It's going to be a long 3 weeks. Spice is not happy getting segragated with the gals.

Me, I am yawning and need to get motivated to exercise but all I want to do is climb back into bed. It's one of THOSE days.

Blurred Moment

This is not a good photo but to be fair to Nathan who took it the glare off of Steven and May's floor was throwing me off too.

I also couldn't get any decent photos, at least none I was happy with.

The dogs had fun and we did too. Steven and May are such great people and crazy dawg people like us. They don't breed just have fallen for the breed and have 3 Havanese.

Personally, I think that is rather special.

PS: This was Roxie and Dash playing. Dash is usually a tad reserved and well Roxie doesn't believe in anyone being that way. I think Dash rather appreciated her enthusiasm.

Run Run & Watch the Landing

Oh to be a puppy and not even think of the way you land. You just go with the flow and 99% of the time it all turns out right.

Panda and Logan had a bath after this photo and I tried that new product on Logan so I am looking forward to hearing what Lynda thinks.

The dogs love to run like banshees here and Logan's favourite playmate is Truffie. Panda's remains Roxies. It's not that they don't play with all the rest but they tend to have that strong connection and it is nice to watch.

Treat Time?

So what do you want me to do? Sit, stay, down - okay what just give me that treat!!

Yes, we reinforce training at various tikes and you can too even during walks etc.

Training should never end. Besides, if done the right way it can be fun!

What's a Day Like?

Risa had a bath today

I got up at 7am this morning, helped get food out for the dogs. I changed all the water bowls cleaning before putting fresh ones down. Occasionally Dennis cleans them the night before and leaves them on the counter.

Then Dennis or Nathan goes out with the dogs after they are done eating and I start my exercise. If one is not available I go out and we always cleanup on site.

Then I either go take a shower or I start grooming. Today I took a shower first, groomed everyone but Logan and Panda who gets done in a few minutes before going home.

I also washed Risa and Shoshi today. While I am grooming/washing, Dennis or Nathan is doing pups, dogs, playing, cleaning etc.

Inbetween grooming I am transfering or folding laundry.

Shoshi had a bath todayI take photos throughout the day. I clean the puppy pen. We clean floors, counters and what have you. 

I take the pups out to play now twice a day, soon 3 times then 4 to 5 times a day. We condition and socialize them.

I eat somewhere inbetween things. I also resize photos, do blogs, transfer videos and play with the pups in their pen.

I know I forgot a bunch but I am just giving you an idea of what we do. We also take dogs for walks, play retreive, cuddle and train.

I had someone ping me and posted on Facebook as I hadn't responded to her fast enough. Well, the dogs count more than anything and I fit computer time in when I can.

I do believe I have my priorities right.

Then at bedtime they all go out one last time. I cleanup the pen and get it ready for the morning so pups can come down into a clean environment. Before bedtime the upstairs gets cleaned and sterilized.

Now off to clean and brush Panda and Logan.

PS: What do you think about Shoshi's whites and blacks? I tried this booster that you add to the shampoo - any shampoo. It's not cheap but you can add it to any shampoo and so far I like the results. The blacks look blacker and the whites look whiter. Now how did it do that? I don't know but I am impressed. Waiting for the apricot version to come in to see what happens with that.

Grooming Day

I got everyone brushed and combed up and they are relatively staying that way now that the rain is gone.

I love it when they are clean and just brushed.

Phantom woke me up this morning and then Truffie.

Boys are funny. They walk up your body and say hello - it's time where most of the gals, at least mine will just lick your face or nuzzle you.

Not all boys are like that but intact males tend to be, it's about me when it comes time to wake you up. I just laugh but if it's too early after I half open my eyes and look at the clock, I tell them off and roll over and go back to sleep. I used to not be able to go back to sleep but these days I manage to. I think its this daily exercise program I am doing called p90x.

My rule is not before 7am. When Nathan was working downtown we got up at 5am and by 9pm I was half dead.

The dogs were a bit disjointed as Nathan had Delilah and Kat in our guest room with him due to Delilah being in heat. Tonight the dogs will know the drill. Last night I went to sleep watching 'The Finder' on my ipad with dogs draped from my neck to my toes all over me literally. At one point I wondered if the numbness in my feet were due to a dog or the exercise I do daily. Then that particular dog moved and I got feeling back in my foot.

Now I know.

Today's Photos

Truffie still likes to climb under this desk and fall asleep. He no longer fits all that well but he still does it. It is amazing he can get back out as the drawer is where is head is and you can't go forward or sideways. He can only back out and he does.

Truffie had a bath today and then climbed under the desk for a long nap.

Phantom, Truffie's dad also had a bath and didn't stay looking groomed for long.

Two minutes after I clicked the earlier photo he proceeded to do everything to not looked groomed. I have to laugh.

It's treacherous outside. As you can see, Truffie is walking on sheets of ice and I have to brace myself out in the back to make sure I don't fall. The walkways are a mess.

Even in the grass it's ice and more ice as you can see in this photo of Kat taken today.

Although I washed Kat, Phantom and Truffie today I am not sure they will stay clean long. <sigh>

They say it is the rainiest winter we have ever had and the mud is back but so is the ice. I am hoping tomorrow is a better day.

New Scenery

Treasure and Roxie had a blast at Benji's house. Check out the photos on Fiona's blog.

Now I want Benji to visit during the summer so he can get used to all that water they have surrounding them. He needs conditioning, you know. hahahaha

The crew that came with us crashed fast asleep after getting home.

Me, I am off to clean up Logan as he goes home in a couple of hours and you don't come to visit here and just hang out, you play and muck it up and have so much fun that sometimes you need a cleanup.

To our Chinese puppy people and our friends that don't yet have a havanese, Happy New Year.

The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Conformation is a Dragon's curse. Rules and regulations are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The Dragon is a beautiful creature, colorful and flamboyant. An extroverted bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible, everything Dragons do is on a grand scale - big ideas, ornate gestures, extreme ambitions.

----

I know some Havanese that would fit that description at least in their own minds.

Bracing Herself

Roxie almost looks like a owl perched on the deck, don't you think?

It's actually Roxie standing real steady with the wind whipping by.

She's looking forward to seeing Benji. I know I am too!!

Next week I may have to do a bath marathon anytime ending before pups come. :-)

Run Like Hey

Well it is really called Run Like Hell but some take offense. The Havanese do an amazing job at it with themselves, with others. They know how to expel energy.

It was so windy that you swear Truffie had a flagpole tail but he doesn't. Some Havanese do. It's usual if relaxed, or concerned that their tail doesn't go over the back for those that truly don't have a flagpole tail.

It does help you to understand what is going on. Body language is fun to learn and can teach you so much about what your dawg is saying or how they are feeling.

I know my dawgs so well that I know if something is wrong whether it is being ill, a concern they may have or just plain having mischievous fun.

Today Truffie managed to get his first real mats on his chest and he was giving me the evil eye but without complaint. They are all out now but his first ones since he was born. The snow, the play and the rubbing fun can do that but it's not usually an issue for me as I stay on top of it even if they never have knots as I believe in conditioning them to grooming. It makes your life easier in the long run.