Saki-Sized Visit at Talemaker Havanese

Saki came to visit us for a few hours today and it was fun. She has a really cute puppy cut that Val did. The owners say that it is much easier to care for especially during her blowing coat stage.

Saki comes in with grand exuberance and joins Teddy, Daisy and Shanty along with our crew in running around the backyard.

We also have Emma a golden visiting us and she's an absolute sweetheart. I adore her!

Check out yesterday's video on the Boarding and Visitors Videopage. We took video today but between playing and walking and grooming and snuggling and dealing with a boy over the moon and a gal in heat - well I hope yesterday's videos is enough. I wil be glad when Fiona is finished...pretty please let it be tomorrow?

Shanty leaves us tomorrow and she gets a bath tomorrow. She has truly grown on us. <sigh> Daisy and Teddy leaves us and I will miss their bubbly personality. More baths. :-) Emma is also leaving but no bath. She's an absolute sweetheart. Then Monday or Tuesday Penny leaves.

Then we get 2 sweeties tomorrow that are regulars that we love.

More about everything tomorrow! I need to grab a couch, get warm and snuggle with draping havanese.

Oh and the camera died AGAIN - ARGH!!!

Talemaker Havanese Immense Fun

We had Hugo and Milo join us for the day. Teddy also came for a couple of days. Daisy has been here for a bit and Shanty is here till Sunday. It was a TRULY fun day today.

I got a ton of photos but I am only putting up a few that turned into a slew but still not all.

Check the photos out here.

I also placed up a video with Penny, Shanty, Daisy and the Treasured one. Tomorrow I will put up a video of the rest of the visitors. I just ran out of time. Sorry.

Teddy brings such fun to the mix and so does Hugo and Milo. You already know Daisy is a play monster.

We had such a fun crew that I spent less time cropping 247 files - yeah that's right. I have 247 photos getting uploaded and I am only putting up a sliver.

Treasure is getting back to herself. Fiona is almost done her heat. The crew was playing hard and long and delightful. Watch for today's videos getting uploaded tomorrow. Till then, wish me luck with sleep tonight as we have the moms joining us for zzzzs.

Yeah, Saki is coming for a few hours tomorrow. FUN!

Playing By My Havanese Rules

As you probably know by now, we are big on the retrieve game. It's fun. It tuckers them out and it usually teaches them the spirit of competition.

It took a bit before Treasure 'understood' the spirit - meaning it doesn't always have to be about HER.

Well, Daisy reminds me a bit of Treasure where she rather would get YOU to do the chase game - you chase her - which I refuse or she covets the toy. So, we are practicing walking away and ending the game. This method may take a few days but it DOES work. I have never had a dog that it hasn't.

But you have to laugh watching the mind clicking away waiting to see what you will do. Will she give in this time?

PS: I didn't but we are about to go back out and try it again.

Mucking it Up Havanese Style

Daisy gets brushed up and voila, you would swear I didn't touch her. Personally, I love the chaotic look. Shoshi has that look too.

Daisy has been mucking it up and if there is a mud patch in the back, well she finds it. You have to laugh at such fun. Sure it is extra work for me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Today we hung outside, played up a storm - found mud and just enjoyed life. Then comes the walks and catching zzzzs.

Now that's a Talemaker Havanese Life. hehehehehe

Baths, Going Home & Play * ^&%$

Little by little I am getting my dawgs washed but today I got Ripley done as he was going home and Penny who is staying for a bit but I wanted to take a 4 generations photo while Fiona's mom was still here. She leaves tonight.

I intended on doing one more but I got side-tracked.

Shanty goes in to get her teeth done tomorrow. So, it's just me and the dawgs. Daisy is visiting us again and Ripley left us. <sniff>

Charlie and Kitzie came to visit us and I had video of that visit and Ripley playing up a storm and the bleepin fingers of mine pushed format vs. finalize. I could shoot myself. It's called *&^% happens. I have yet to tell Nathan but he will find out reading this. oy as it was his video. It was one of those things that you do and you go - oh no, how could I have done THAT!

But we did get photos of today so I am hoping you enjoy those on the boarders and visitors photo page.

I guess I am tired. What's new?

New Video Available

Penny & Shanty are playing up a storm. Check it out on the Boarders and Visitor's Videos page.

It Happens (Sigh)

Both Fiona and Treasure are in heat. Well, Treasure is out in a few days and so is Fiona. Treasure is a dominant dog and with hormones going and all, she went after Fiona. You see, Fiona was getting cozy with Kat and Treasure was beside herself - sounds like a doggie soap opera. When the heat cycle is over, Fiona and Treasure play like the best of friends that they are. It's crazy - truly. It is amazing what hormones can do to us humans and canines alike. Each female dog acts different. Some sleep a whole lot. Some get cranky. Some get sucky. Some get way emotional. It sounds a lot like humans, doesn't it?

Is this another good reason to get your dog spayed or neutered? YEP! 

So what is the answer? Separate the breeding duo or if no one is being bred, Kat gets to stay out of the equation and voila - no issue. I can have any amount of males here during this time and no issues but throw a couple of gals in heat, and as long as Kat is going from one to the other, well Treasure doesn't want to share THAT. Out of sight, out of mind is bang on for harmony.

If you want to know how Fiona feels about it... well look at the photo with her hair things coming out. But right now Kat's in Nathan's office and the pair is snuggled up together with Ripley.

Well, Shanty gets her teeth done Wednesday. She has a couple of canines that need to be pulled as her adult teeth didn't push the baby juveniles out.

Tomorrow Ripley leaves (he gets a bath) and Daisy comes. Ripley has really fit in playing up a storm with Treasure and Shanty. It's been a delight. He will be missed. He lays and watches TV with me on my lap with his head on the recliner. He sleeps cuddled up to Nathan at night. He just came in, fit like a perfect glove and ate up a storm. hehehehe

Oh well, tomorrow brings another day.

Treasure, King of the Retrievers

I started to write about all the dogs in the house but I think today I’m going to focus on Treasure. Those of you that have been following my wife’s blogs over these past few years must know each and every dog of ours by now. Treasure is special. I can’t say it any clearer than that. She has an attitude and a majesty about her that is unique. She earned her Canadian championship without missing a step by seven months of age. Now going on two nothing has changed. She’s all attitude and she looks wonderful. Darlah keeps her in “show coat” which means long and flowing. Sometimes it’s as if her hair is floating around her and she races around the back yard chasing whatever is thrown. It isn’t that she is the fastest but that she is "The Treasured One". So when we play retrieve, she wins. If another dog is getting ahead of her she simply projects her aura and intimidates whomever right off the ball. She retrieves perfectly. That is to say she will always bring the ball back and drop it just out of reach. When I don’t move to get it until she brings it closer she will pick it up without being told and drop it closer, a foot at a time, on purpose. It’s part of the game she plays. Mark my words, one day she will be alpha in this house, when Risa decides it’s time for her to stop worrying about such things. Until then, we all get to enjoy every minute of her.

Before I sign off, for those of you that have been waiting, the first issue of Talemaker’s Havanese Breed Magazine is going to be available tomorrow. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to subscribe at www.havanesebreed.com/subscribe/. (Blatant plug, no shame whatsoever) I hope you will enjoy reading the magazine as much as I enjoyed doing it.

Nathan



Havanese: The Natural Look

Ripley is visiting us and is having a grand time but I brush him and voila he looks like I haven't done  a thing.

He has this Rastafarian thing going on that I adore.

He just LOVES Treasure and he can't understand why she has to wear big girl panties.

But he loves yanking on them to get her to do what he wants. hahaha

Treasure is in heat but almost finished. Still, we find it easier to put them on and not have to worry about her teasing all the boys. Yes, she teases them all and she loves the attention.

But she is not her usual bubbly self when she has them on.

No one is intact here except Kat so do we really need the big gal panties?

No, but they look so cute. hahahahaha

Doesn't she look so cute?

Well, it's been a cool day and it's time to walk dogs and snuggle and play and Ripley is a class act in the snuggle department.

Ooops, there goes Ripley and Treasure again. I do believe they are smitten with each other. heh

More tomorrow!

We had 4 Generations of Havanese Here

Why oh why didn't we take a photo? We have Risa and Fiona and we had Fiona's daughter Penny and Fiona's mom Maggie here. How silly of us not to take a photo but we have been a tad crazy around here trying to get a magazine out - well Nathan is so I am pulling up my bootstraps, so to speak with other things.

We had Penny go home and Ripley come to visit. It's downright quiet - well as quiet as it ever is here.

More tomorrow when I am a tad more awake. Had little sleep last night. Dawgs were great but Nathan had to go to the airport at the crack of dawn.

No rest for the weary but hey we are getting conditioned. ROFL!

Havanese Jay Leaves Talemaker Havanese

Well, all good things come to an end and we will be waiting for the next visit. These past few months, we have had some truly outstanding Havanese and non-Havanese.

Jay's a funny guy. He just loves everyone. It's that fun guy craziness that adds an element of fun to this place. They also help others find their fun. Each dog has their role when in a pack and we always help that along.

We also have Miss Maggie and her grand daughter visiting us. Penny has been finding fun in puppy play. Miss Maggie is enjoying Nathan and his taking her for errands. Her best time is when the pack lays down to watch tv, that's when she makes sure she cuddles right in.

Penny was born here so when Nathan says, puppy, puppy, puppies - well she reacts bigtime. It's a riot to watch. They do remember.

The crew has been running up a storm inside and outside only for short spurts as it has been heavily raining. Check out today's photos. Grooming was done early today. Shoshi was washed and so was Jay and now it is Cesar's turn as he will be going home in the early morning and Nathan will be out.

I best get started so we can all snuggle and watch TV. :-)

Penny Visits Us Today

This is one of Fiona's daughters. She looks a lot like Fiona but also like Fiona's mother. Fiona is getting bred soon and will the pups look like this? No and yes. Each time they are different and the sire will not be Kat. Will they be wonderful characters? No doubt.

Will she have all blondes or apricots like her? You never know. She could have sables or black and whites or... well it is a wonderful surprise.

It's quiet around here. It's raining! We have Yvonne's Maggie visiting. Jay goes home tomorrow, Cesar goes home Friday. Ripley comes Friday.

No photos today. Sorry but I want to snuggle with pups and dawgs and enjoy them inside while they track in mud. hehehe

It's a Havanese dawg residence - what can I say!

Havanese Shanty Gal

Shanty's breeder is a friend of ours. She found a home but sadly the owner fell 2 weeks after getting her and was bed-ridden. Eventually the owner went into a nursing home and at that time, Shanty came to us.

Check out this video showing Shanty playing with our boarder, Cesar.

Shanty's Breeder just had a baby and lives far from the Toronto area so we offered to help her be all she can be till we can find her a forever home. Shanty is still a puppy, under 1 years old.

When she came, she wouldn't walk on a lead. We were told she was never on one except for one obedience class at which she froze. When I first placed the lead on Shanty, she hit the ground and played dead. She would not move. Now, after weeks of working with her, she is starting to become comfortable on the lead but has yet to go for a proper walk. WE are hoping by weeks end she will be investigating the neighbourhood. She is food motivated, which is helpful. We believe in positive reinforcement only so using a treat or even a single kibble to motivate her to get up and walk works for us and is something she understands.

She plays with the boarders and visitors and is not shy. No question the environment in our home is helping her as she has many dogs to watch and learn from now. It's as if she had limited development due to a lack of opportunities to socialize for so long. We are making up for lost time.

If you think you might be interested in acquiring this sweetheart, knowing that you do have some work ahead of you, obedience courses for certain, making chances to socialize, just being with her and loving her, please let us know.

Grandkids Played With Havanese Visitors & Our Crew

I washed Kat, Shanty, Louis, Coach and Sassy. Coach and Sassy are going home tomorrow morning and Louis went home tonight.

It was a whole lot of washing. We already miss the Louis.

This afternoon we also had our daughter and the grandkids stop by to play a game or two with the havanese. Do yourself a favour and check out the photos today to see how much the havanese enjoyed the kids. It was a pure delight.

It's their visit and the washing that set me behind in posting but it was worth it.

They will be back on Friday but everyone will be gone except Ripley who comes on Friday too.

It was a delightful and warm day other than that spitting rain this morning. The crew walked and played their hearts out. It will be sad to see more go tomorrow. Ah, it's the life if the Holiday Talemaker Havanese crew. How else could we have so many dogs? When they come to hang out, well our hearts - well it does one good.

Havanese Basking in the Warmth

The crew can't get enough of this fabulous weather. When it is time to walk, they all want to go over and over. hehe

Nathan is out nonstop with them as am I.

When it is time to play outside or simply lay out and watch, well it's like the revolving door. In out, in out, in out, well you get the point.

That toy I got at 'All About Pet Show' is still their all time fave. I wish I got two. Silly me. Maybe they will have them at Woofstock in June.

Check out today's photos.

All the crew is fascinated with the pups. If they make their little noises, their heads cock to see what that's all about. I can't wait to see them when the pups can go outside.

Well, tommorrow Louis goes home. Such a short visit for a sweetheart of a dog. We love it when he comes.

Before the Windstorm: Havanese Fun

Jay & CoachToday has been an interesting day. We went to a seminar while our son watched the crew. He helps out with the dawgs and is walking the crew as I type before teh big windstorm hits. The subject was BODY LANGUAGE: YOURS, MINE AND OURS.

It was enjoyable. I haven't got out much lately as it's been dawgs and more dawgs so to get t a show and a seminar was a treat but then you get home, you snuggle with the dogs and you play catch up but it was worth it.

Nathan took a few photos today. Check them out.

Everyone is playing so well together.

Dawgs got groomed. We had play sessions. They are walking now and soon I wil be snuggling with them at bedtime.

I go from one to the next all giving them their own time before I close my eyes to go to sleep. That's what makes it truly special - that extra time just before we all catch some zzzzs.

New Visitor Today

LouisLouis came early this morning and will be here till Monday. He's always a delight.

Coach and Sassy are here till Tuesday morning and Jay and Cesar are here till Thursday. Then Ripley comes on Friday. We will have a lot of changes this week.

As I type this Cesar and Jay are playing up a storm running up and down the hallways here.  Coach and Sassy are snoozing after playing a very active game of chase.

It's been a wild house and while I was off at the 'All About Pet Show' Nathan also had Yvonne's 4.

By the way, I really enjoyed getting out and it was a huge treat. I am also going to a seminar tomorrow while our son watches the crew for a couple of hours. It's been forever since I have been out. The subject is 'dog language. WE tend to try to keep learning so any of the dogs and boarders can benefit. It's a win/win for us and them.

Shoshi & TreasureI bought this absolutely grand idea of a toy at the show. You put a plastic bottle inside of it and they use it to crinkle and retrieve but the bottle doesn't get splintered or a mess and you can always put a new one in to replace it.

Here you can see Treasure nearly having a heart attack as Shoshi had the audacity to beat her to it first.

You can get a better photo of this toy in today's photos. Still don't have tons of photos but as things wind down in the busy department, I will.

This toy is a huge hit!!

As you can see, although exhausted, I came back and played with the dogs, snuggled with the puppies and cropped photos and updated the blog. I could use sleep after getting up at 5am.

No, the dawgs didn't wake us but Nathan was doing a favour for someone and driving them to the show. If you do go to the show, go to Breeder's row and say hello to Val Weston. She's in the Bichon booth and she has one of Fiona's pups and yes she is bouncing and saying hello to just about everyone. Give her kisses for me.

Lost Dawg Day

SSassy and Coach came last night and are fitting in really well. Remy and Jay are really enjoying the additions. Tomorrow Louis joins us. It's a truly fun house and Shanty is joining in on the fun.

I know I promised photos but it was a nice day and I couldn't help but get caught up in dawgs and playing with puppies and then Yvonne came with her dogs and Audrey came with Gidget and the day got away from me.

It happens and I hope you forgive me but I have been having lots of snuggles and fun with the dawgs and the human visitors than came. Forgive me!

The Havanese Dance

Jay & TreasureIt's fun to watch the play - what I like to call the Havanese dance. Treasure loves it when the boys pay attention to her like this. Jay is heavily smitten. What will we do?

Today Cesar won the retrieval toy more than Treasure did and it drove her crazy. It was so silly - this game. You swear you are watching pre-teens.

Tonight Coach and Sassy arrived and Friday Louis comes. Tomorrow Yvonne's crew wil come for a visit. It's going to be a crazy house for sure but a fun one. Watch for photos tomorrow.

We moved the puppies downstairs so we had a lot of moving and changes so it was moving, playing, walking and fun but not much time for photography but I promise tomorrow brings more dawg fun!

Chasing Games in the Yard

Cesar Got the Ball & Treasure & JayUsually Treasure gets the ball but not this time. Cesar beat her to the punch. Any game that is played, Treasure plays to win. She should just play to play. She's learning.

It's great that Treasure learns the game of fair play. That's the bonus of having boarding, she gets to deal with a variety of personalities and more exposure for any of them equals a better dog if done right.

Socialization is important. I believe it is key to a balanced dog.

Today we played ball a number of times. We did the grooming thing. Someone asked me how long it takes to groom a dog. Well puppies about 5 or 10 minutes but the more dogs you do, the faster you become. It used to take me over 2 hours to do a proper bath and blow dry but I can do one in just over an hour depending on the condition of the hair, of course. I line comb them completely looking to see if there is a knot I missed.

Now if a coat is going through the 'blowing coat' stage and I had 3 visitors here this year that was doing so at once, I have to brush and comb several times a day or you face a huge job and I try to avoid this.

It's warm weather, dried what have you is yanked through the house especially if you are us and you don't do a proper fall cleanup. That increases grooming time but hey, it's warm and who is going to the All about Pets Show? Don't know what it is about? Check out the Events page. Then check out some dog action with ball seeking fun on our visitors photo page.