Snow Squalls

I have more photos from our weekend visitors but I won't resize and post them till tomorrow. All our human and their canine friends are keeping warm from the snow squalls in their own home today. Us, we are playing recovery from the busy-ness. We enjoy it so but we do think we are getting old as we get tired. ha

I said I would take a break from grooming but I didn't.

Next weekend Raylan is in a show so between baths that are due and his getting ready for a show, it will be a busy weekend next week.

So we are taking a moment to exhale and then the busy-ness happens again.

I bet you that you can relate with all this holiday shopping and festivities. Take your own moment to exhale. It's important to seek balance!

Some Busy Weekend

We have had lots of visitors, human and canine alike this weekend and tomorrow afternoon I think we will all take a snooze. Yeah right...

Siblings got to see each other, old canine friends got to visit and the human owners got to visit. It was great though I must admit I am totally tired.

It used to be that December was a crazy boarding month for us but now we just have friends drop in to say hello, visit, catch-up so we don't lose touch completely. Thank you to those that have allowed us stolen moments to play catch-up and click a few photos for memories.

We really love having people reconnect with us, drop in, say hello and allow us to cuddle with their precious ones. Check out our moments from today.

Visitors

Yvonne was in town to meet a potential puppy buyer with her dawgs and pups. We are friends and help each other out. Her house is mine and visa versa. Our house was just closer for these potential buyers (yes they got a pup) and they got to see the dad, the grandma and hang out and hey I got to hug and snuggle with Yvonne's pups - yum!

This is one of her cuties.

It is really important to socialize puppies, adults always. We had a lot of dawgs here today and it reminded me why I used to board. It is that critical exposure to other dogs that lend a comfort ability that is necessary for a dawg to become balanced.

Here is an excerpt on socializing from an article I had written.

By socializing, we help our dogs learn how to cope and respond, in a healthy and acceptable manner, to the spectrum of people, animals, places and things they might encounter in this world. We also practice a word association to help our dogs relax when they encounter something different.

By exposing our dogs to different kinds of people, we as owners, can help create a balanced dog. What we do makes a difference. Everything from dog obedience classes to vet visits to walks in the park, to visiting our home and other people's homes, can help them develop confidence and ease. This goes a long way in helping them become stable and balanced in the face of unsettling situations.

Socialization does not end at puppyhood. It is a lifetime adventure that will lead you into making new friends and much laughter and joy with your addition. In the book "The Other End of the Leash", applied animal behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell talks about "juvenile-onset shyness", a period in adolescence when dogs become more cautious and perhaps aggressive towards people and animals who are unfamiliar to them. If this aggression is due to a lack of experiences in adolescence or early adulthood, one way to prevent it would be to continue socialization well into adulthood. We embrace this and have seen it create positive results.

So socialize but do it in a safe way!

Taking Photos

Ever take a photograph and someone is doing something you don't want? Well, with the Havanese all you have to do is keep on clicking as they always seem to be dong something that you want to remember.

Sure they may squint like in this photograph or maybe they got dirty or ... but isn't that something you want to laugh about for years to come?

When taking photos for holiday cards, you can get them done professional but you can also do them yourself. Just try your hand at being creative. Have fun and enjoy!

In a couple of months Raylan will be off to England so we are doing a lot of memory keeping with him and click, clicking away. The same goes with Red. We will miss them but they will be loved dearly in their forever home. We know that.

Today was a funny day for the dawgs. I got them playing retrieve every chance I got. We got a lot of cuddles in and I am tired today. But I doubt they want t go to bed like me. hahahaha

Lessons Learned - A Mark in Life

Yesterday, in the pouring rain I had to take Whitney in to get put down. She hadn’t been eating for several days and she was vomiting. She was down to 48 lbs. That is very tiny for a golden. She had lost 20lbs. All the way there I had to listen to her choking and trying to breath. It was one of the hardest and it felt the longest trips. Mixed that in with the last time I went to the vet we had lost a puppy – our 2 ouncer that wasn’t meant to be. The other I was supplementing gained 3 ounces since we started eating food – oh my. She is almost 2lb at 4.3 days. She will be fine. Save one, not another. One was meant to be and the other not, I suppose.

We all arrive at the rainbow bridge eventually. Intellectually you know this. Your heart still breaks. Whitney was an exercise as lessons learned. She taught me to be more patient, understanding, to go for it despite everyone saying she will never be more than a broken fearful dog. I can’t begin to tell you how many trainers told us just to love her and it will never be better. They were wrong. It took walking her next to traffic 8 times a day and walking by that dog on the other side of the fence and peeing on couches and not getting angry – just getting a new couch and putting waterproof coverings on it – just understanding fear and having a strong desire to release her from those constraints. On and on she had so many issues and we are not give up people. When she stopped walking 2 years ago Nathan took her in the pool several times a day and exercised her legs. She began to walk again.

She transformed into a happy dog and I am pleased that she graced me with learning about fears, how to eradicate them by slow conditioning and what true unconditional love is about.

There will never be another quite like her but her memories and lessons will remain for a lifetime. I am better due to her. We are all better if we allow our dawgs to teach us what we often don't take the time to learn.

Life is too busy...too hard...too everything but they live in the moment and a broken dog can become whole with love and patience and time. Maybe if we took 5 minutes each day to connect with someone else's fears, feelings, loss etc something special would happen to us.

We would suddenly be better than if we didn't take the time. Life is memories to treasure. You can choose to make them special or not. Life sometimes gets in the way but suddenly you arrive at your own rainbow bridge without leaving a mark. Now that's the real crime.

Breathe... get past your own issues and connect and care and love with your dawg - with your family, your partner etc. Life is too short not to and what is the alternative? You will mourn missed moments.

We have so many memories and if I had to say what created that glint in her eye that you would see here and there – it was the puppies. She LOVED them so. It was as if they transformed her.

Allow your dawgs and your loved ones to transform you. They are worth it! All you have to do is try and want to.

I think I have had all but an hour of sleep quite literally. I took her bowl out to feed her and then put it away. I am beyond sad.

It's Raining

Today I drove to our vet and held Whitney as she took her last breath. It's moments like this that you wonder how life can be so short for our pals that give us so much.

I am not even sure how I made it back but I think the rain was pouring off my face inside my car. But I won't bore you with my sadness.

What did Whitney teach me in her short life? Patience, unconditional love and that being broken can be turned around. Whitney was a rescue with a heart of gold.

We never put so much into a dawg as we did her trying to turn her around and rid her mind of fears and we were successful with much work. She was happy. Her only residual fear was thunderstorms and even that was minimal as the years went by. She taught me that when others tell you something is impossible, go for it as it may not be so.

She is already sorely missed. Our gentle soul that adored the puppies all the way to the end.

Why Do Dogs Nest?

Dogs "dig" at the ground or on a bed to create themselves a den. It's also why they turn around before curling up to sleep at times.

Canine moms also create a den for their impending brood up to 24 hours before they give birth. They know before we know.

Is it instinct or a learned behavior?

They say instinct but when you watch moms, they do show the little ones what to do so perhaps it is a little bit of both?

The dawgs had a wonderful day today getting groomed, playing retrieve and doing a hunt and seek game.

Another Dusting?

Did you know if we get wet snow your havanese can get snowballs that form on their legs and tummy?

The quickest way to remove them is to just run them under warm water but then you have to dry them and brush them.

Next way is to take a brush and brush them out and then dry.

Another way is to put a jacket with legs on them and avoid it all. hehehehe

Or just enjoy the season and laugh about it. I do!

Closer to England

Nathan went out to Lindsay and Raylan won Winner's dog and Best Puppy in Breed getting him closer to that championship so he can go to England.

The roads were treacherous but they went, they won and now they get to chill till tomorrow.

We are so proud of the little man but let's see how proud he is when I have to bathe him again tomorrow morning before he goes. At least he's on later in the day.

PS: We won't tell you the stories of the missing dress shoes and how Nathan was on the hunt.

One has to plan these things AHEAD of time.

We went tp Woofstock and I have to say I like the summer one MUCH better. Less vendors at this one, too crowded and dogs peeing everywhere in close quarters. We ended up buying a huge bed rrom Mammoth. That's all.

Big and Little Dogs

 Do big and little dogs get along? Depends ... Absolutely! You see it depends on the dawgs.

I find big and little relationships fascinating.

Do Havanese know other Havanese? Yep!

Well tomorrow Nathan is going to a show with Nathan so I am off to wash Raylan.

Me, I am staying home and doing dawgs and pups. What about you?

Bella Goes to Forever Home

Bella is a puppy from our Kat and our friend Paula's Teaser. She was here to go to her forever home and she left tonight. This saves her new owners a drive to Sudbury.

I work with Paula on the Rescue committee and we just had 2 rescues come in that need adopting. Check them out. They are not at our home as they usually are as we have been told we have a bylaw limit of dawgs (no more rescues or boarding) so we are attempting to find foster homes and forever homes as quickly as possible. It's VERY tough.

So, if you know of someone interested, please let me know. I will hook you up with our foster home parent and she will tell you more about them. She will have the day to day with them and will know them best.

Well, we are already missing Bella and so is Raylan and Red. It's already so very quiet around this place.

I do love the puppies sooooo and you all know Nathan does too!

Remember, if you are getting a puppy, be aware during the teething stage to stop the play when they nibble on you, and over emphasize the ouch. They are babies learning from you.

As always, if you need anything, and questions, just ask. We are always glad to help. Without the dawgs we would not be who we are nor be fulfilled.

Baths Today

Mommy is losing it. She thinks I need another bath but I swear I got one last week. She says she is going to look it up.

So when she put that apron on, I went outside and decided I was going to stay there. It's not that I dislike baths as I do get a nice massage and treats and Mommy one on one time but I have better things to do, don't you know?

If you were a dawg how often would you want to be washed? Mommy says as soon as we feel or look dirty.

Baer Testing

What is Baer Testing? it's a hearing test. We have never had a deaf puppy but we still check the pups. Deafness can happen from the environment, nutrition, genetics - so many reasons and rather complicated but testing is important to evaluate the pup and it allows us as breeders to make decisions based on what we know, not what we assume.

Two pups from our friend Paula is here as they were in for Baer testing. In Sudbury, where Paula is from you have to wait for clinics or drive 10 hours round trip but here in Toronto we are blessed with having someone local.

One of the pups will be going back to Sudbury as soon as we can make travel arrangements and the other is going to her forever home (her name is Bella) on Thursday. We are excited for her. These are our Kat's and Paula's Teaser pups. One of the pups is going back to Paula as a show potential after her adventure here getting a test done and getting to socialize with the other dawgs. We will miss these two and so will Red.

We now have a date in March for Raylan to make his way to England and then it will be Red's turn. Talk about missing.... These pet passports from Defra are so complicated.

But they will be loved!

Playing With Pups

Once a mom, always a mom? Fiona was playing with a visitor we had that is a real pistol.

I am always so fascinated at their maternal instincts even though they are not the mom.

The dawgs are really fascinated by the pups. Can you blame them?

They are also pleased that our son is doing night time duty now and I am back in bed to snuggle with them. It's amazing how excited they were. I missed them too.

Shhh I also missed Nathan too. hehehehe

Can't Miss That Snow

 Yes, it snowed today - can you believe and the dawgs LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! Can you blame them? It's nice and cool.

We had visitors today, canine and human so we had a very long day. Now it's time to put my feet up, play with the ipad and wait for the pups to wake so I get to play with them.

Something about the cool weather is invigorating to them.

But when pups go out in winter that first time, it's like a person moving from California to Toronto in the dead of winter. Well, it's a tad jolting but they adapt much faster than humans. Aren't you glad?

Plus wouldn't you love to watch this much enthusiasm over white stuff? I do!

No Brush Yet Day

The dawgs play rather hard around here enjoying life and if I don't get to brush them quite yet, well they are a sight for sore eyes.

You have to laugh.

I do and shake my head and take the brush out but today is my day off cause tomorrow I have baths to do.

Plus I am going to go get a massage - can you believe? I need one after all this couch non-sleeping taking care of this little one but good news no supplementing last night though I checked and weighed as if I was - progress.

I love to see hard work pay off. it helps when she was a fighter along with me.

The crew is mucking it up in a big way.

Lucy is smitten with Raylan but shhh you didn't see my dawgs this way - unkept heathens - hahahahaha

Well, okay natural wonders.

A dawg should be a dawg too!

Crazy Daze

We have a puppy here from one of our good friends, Paula that is a Kat pup visiting till she goes to her forever home on Thursday. This saves the owners a drive all the way to Sudbury. She's a true pistol and so is her sister. The black and white is down here so I could get an upclose and personal look at her. She's a show potential. She's heading back to Sudbury about the same time her sister goes to her forever home.

I have to say, I adore their personalities and puppies are plain fun. I will miss this splash of fun but soon the Wasabi and Abigail pups will be similar in age and doing their own splash of fun.

Lucy also came by to say hello. Oh Lucy...she's a dream gal. I just adore her. I am reminded of Ricky Ricardo every time I hear her name.

Then Fiona had her bath. It's about time. hahahaha. Risa needs one next. but I am getting a deep tissue massage tomorrow and I think the last one I had was oh 5 years ago and I adore and need one. I am usually the last one to treat myself. The dawgs come first so wish me luck and hope I don't fall asleep and miss it.

Penny may be coming by with her human to pick up a Havanese calendar and say hello sometime this weekend. Otherwise, it's dawgs and dawgs and fun and fitting in showers, cleaning and snuggling and training and lovin and well dawgs!

Birthdays are Special

Shoshi had a birthday yesterday and I was a bad gal for not mentioning it even though I wished her happy birthday many times.

Two weeks from now Nathan and I have another anniversary. I expect a fabulous meal. ROFL

But what did Shoshi get? A fab meal, I hear.

Don't fotget birthdays or anniversaries. It's a moment to make memories and life is way too short to not treasure the memories.

Hug your Havanese today and guess what, you are apt t get one back. Now how great is that?

Messy Times

Fiona is our tiniest Havanese and is a delightful ball of hair but sometimes no matter what you do, she gets her hair looking like she just got out of bed.

Personally, I find this delightful. I find dawgs better looking naturally than brushed and kept on a table to stay just right but they still need to be brushed. heh

I miss sleeping with the dawgs. I am still sitting vigil with the pups and the crew is sleeping with Nathan. Fiona loves to snuggle up close to me and I do miss that but so do most of the others but I guess Nathan is enjoying and getting his fix and hey that's okay too. 

It was raining and windy today and I was so busy I didn't get photos but there is something magic about the wind and Havanese. They go together quite nice especially when they are in full coat.

The crew is highly interested in the pups but we keep them separate at this point. We do take them out, let them sniff and look. This is the start of socialization with others.

So, if you have a messy dawg? Get your camera out and click, click and share. I wouldn't mind seeing.

Mother's Have Time Outs Too

Today Yvonne was supposed to meet a puppy buyer at our home and they decided to opt out. They don't know what they are missing with missing out on a Havanese.

The day we we were exposed, the day our lives changed. They are amazing beings - I tell ya!

This is Abigail out for a run in the backyard. She's ever so busy these days but balance is important. So, she gets out for play and running in the backyard and snuggles and massages. Wasabi also does and the rest get mini massages when they are groomed not quite the full body ones that moms get daily but they still do that ooohm does that feel good tune out thing.

One day I am going eat something delish, get a massage and do nothing but play ipad games. ROFL

But if I do that, I will miss the dawgs. hehehehe