Havanese Show Dog Struggle

When you show your dog you have to look at it without the glow in your eyes that your Havanese meets the standards and tends to stand out but that is all subjective.

Is there more?

Well everyone who sits and says their dogs LOVE the shows - well they aren't ALL right. There are some dogs that grow into it, others that tolerate it and others that never get their groove on but could be amazing moms and still can finish.

So, why do it when your dog isn't totally in love with the sport? I guess to say they achieved their championship.

There are various reasons why you may not show your dog to championship.

They are not in love with the sport but do adhere to the standards and would be amazing brood bitches etc. or in one instance that we had to deal with - another dog ripped out one of our dog's top knots all in fun. The dog didn't do it to delay the show career but rather to play.

Another reason could be a blown coat that does happen once in a Havanese life or you are simply too far away from the shows, the costs - to name just a few of the reasons.

We struggle in keeping the hair intact, having a balanced Havanese that enjoys life and is not segregated from others and figuring it out.

Is this really that important and is it fun for the dog?

Treasure last night in class had a ball. Her body, her bounce, her smile - yep a smile said it all.

She loves the time in the ring but she likes to be the only one.

In Chatham she was 'on' just like last night. With company - well she wants to play. Is it that she wants to be the only one or having your pack mates just means fun and you can't do that while the focus is on so many?

This show business is tough. It's a dance between you and the dog - a view from a given judge and yes you can have an exquisite dog that doesn't win in a sea of professional handlers. Yes, that happens and we have watched it not just in the Havanese when we haven't had dogs in but in a number of breeds but being a judge isn't easy, I imagine and when you do not win even when you are on your game - your Havanese is on its game - well you did win as you achieved that special dance between handler and canine that should be applauded. Add that the dog and handler enjoys the experience and you have achieved more than any championship, imho.

When our dogs do achieve their championship - I celebrate. We relax in this hair business and don't worry as much when they play hard, rough and tumble style and life is good but we do manage to make sure they enjoy life before championship and just do it with less than perfect hair as the dog counts the most in all of this....at least for us.

Puppies are the things we celebrate - play - achievements - balanced - healthy - fun - all the things that if not in their lives here - well we would choose to forgo the shows as the dogs and their lives matter the most and we do not fool ourselves into believing that all dogs love the show ring - as they don't. But that's okay. Do you like to do everything?

Just call this written exploring - and food for thought!

Havanese Heat NO MORE

Well - not - never but it's done - ah...and till the next time. I adore male dogs - I do and I mean totally do. They are so lovees etc. but not stud dogs that are kept away from a gal in heat. They are an entire 'nother beast but today - calm...no interest - and tomorrow a bath as the marking outside has stopped.

We were going to take Kat out to class tonight to get him to get away from the scents but now it will only be the Treasure. She's practicing for the show coming up and we like to keep her exposed to kids, other dogs, different scenery etc. It's important especially during their fear stages.

Treasure hasn't been around screaming - running kids so last night I asked the kids to stop at class (class was outside) and say hello to her. All of this is done to make her realize that no matter how headache driven the screams are - it's all harmless.

Leaving Your Havanese Behind

Last night we went to handling class with just Kat and Treasure was miffed, to say the least. She rather likes the classes but she had just finished 3 days of show and we felt she needed a break despite what she thinks. Tonight she is back to handling class.

There's a fine art to balance when training. You can't do it so much that they get bored or don't find it as a treat to go to class so leaving Treasure behind at times is a good thing despite her - but daddies that she so prominently displays.

We bought these 'no bark' devices from Home Hardware and placed one at the front door. We had a few barkers that we were boarding at the same time and it got our pack barking in unison. I don't mind a few barks but then that should be enough. It hasn't stopped the barking totally but it has stopped the number of times. What it does is put out a high pitched sound that they can only hear. It doesn't hurt them. It's a sound correction. Will it work long term - don't think that is necessary if you use it as an attention thing and use your usual correction - you should be able to shut them off and still have the same affect with the anticipation. So far - day 1 - it's doing the attention thing so we can correct. We will see what happens when we get a boarder or two that likes to bark. We have one on our deck but may need another further out. We shall see.

Bad news - they need batteries and who knows how long they will last.

Two weeks till Wasabi's ultrasound. Why do the days string out when you want them to go by fast and zip by when you don't want them to?

Oversized Havanese or WHAT?

This weekend someone asked Nathan to show a 130 lb dog. Can you guess what it was?

When the judge said run it around twice, Nathan got his full workout.

Nathan really enjoyed the experience though a dog that size - when it wants your treats - well who is going to win? You, of course but it gives new meaning into getting your dog trained. This one was a rather well trained special who already had his championship.

Well, today was a catch-up day with much grooming. Due to rain, and not being here - well I had work to do and - well sometimes they say - there are days like this....

Can we have another day?

Abigail Championship

Well, Abigail now has 13 points - you need 10 for their championship and the question is - do we cut her down or do we leave her in full coat? What do you think?

That's it - Abigail can play to her heart's delight and muck it up, swim and not have mommy give her all those deep conditioning baths.

Life is going to be sooooooooooo much fun. ROFL

Abigail Finishes

Well Abigail does it with a bang - beating out all the specials for breed and finishing her championship and get this - with a blown coat.

More after today's show and a champion photo tonight.

Gad - am I tired or what and soon we have to pick up our friend Valerie Weston that helped us and continues to and I get to watch her TT in the ring today as she is on this afternoon while Nathan is on this morning with Abigail and Treasure. Fiona gets to hang out at home and enjoy already getting her championship just a few weeks ago.

We are sooooooooooooo excited to have 2 champions in such a short time.

Another Show Day: Simcoe

Here's the 3 at the show yesterday. If you think it is easy showing 3 at a time - well it's a tad - well challenging the way we do it but that's okay. I had all three on the table waiting their turn to be brushed.

Last night I had to wash the crew. I fudged - I half washed Treasure - fully washed the other two. I was out of steam. Treasure wasn't dirty other than underneath and her feet and her face so that is what I did. My bad but it was almost a full bath and thinking back on it, I may as well just had done the whole thing but it did save me a bit of time. Tonight I get to wash only 2 as Fiona is staying home. It will be much easier with 2 but get this, we are on at 9am - yikes - yeah Happy Mother's Day to me.

I then went to bed crashing hard with Wasabi, Shoshi and Katsura. Kat would have none of that sleep stuff so I may be sleeping in the car. This heat business is getting old. It's almost 530am and I have to wake the crew up soon anyways so we can get back on the road yet again - to another dog show.

No dog show next week - hooray and the next one is only with Treasure - much easier for ME!

Well, today we are going to drop Val off and we are - well I am hoping to buy some plants. There are a bunch of greenhouses and nurseries out that way and that will be my Mother's Day or celebration to me for surviving. Don't want to do it tomorrow as it will probably be a zoo but hoping we find the time today. We shall see.

Hoping for a good day at the show. Win or lose - it's a great chat!

Abigail's Almost There

Last night Darlah bathed no less than three dogs: Abigail, Fiona and Treasure.

This morning we picked up our friend Val at 7:00am and then headed for Simcoe, Ontario. Today was Abigail's day.

In spite of the fact she's in heat and dealing with the fact that Kat wants her as much as she wants him, she was wonderful in the show ring. She won Winner's Bitch, then Best of Winner's and Best of Opposites picking up two more points towards her championship.

She needs just two more to finish. She's almost there! Val helped. Rita helped on lead when I had to show two dogs at once. Darlah helped most of all by doing a wonderful job on Abigail's coat even though its still growing back. And right now as I'm typing this Darlah is doing it all over again in anticipation of tomorrow's show.
Nathan

Havanese Bitches in Heat and the Dogs Who Love Them

As those of you who follow the blog know, we have one male in our home, a single boy among eight females. Some of our females are spayed for various reasons and will live out their lives with us happily ever after but four are not. And when those bitches come into heat our boy, Kat, knows it. He also knows what to do about it. Last week, for example, Wasabi was in heat and right in her prime and he knew it. This time, lucky boy, he was allowed to breed Wasabi and breed they did, eleven times. As soon as her time was over she growled him off and he understood.

Then Abigail went into heat. Our bad luck she didn’t go into heat at the same time as Wasabi but one week after and this time he was not allowed to breed. So instead of last weeks’ experience, with Wasabi flirting and dancing and him flirting and dancing right back, tails wagging, snuggling, licking ears and generally loving each other, followed by a tie, this week as much as he is desperate for us to understand that Abigail is in heat, we don’t seem to get it. Worse, as much as he pathetically whimpers, whines, claws at doors, crates, barred gates and windows, we aren’t seeming to understand that Abigail is calling him and she needs him right now! As I look up from my desk Kat is standing in front of the gate across my office door which prevents him from getting to Abigail. Of course Abigail is playing right along, lying a foot from the gate on the other side slowly wagging her tail and batting her eyelashes at him. If there was ever a more perfect name than the designation ‘bitch’ for a female dog, especially one in heat, I’ve never heard it.

At night I am now sleeping in a separate bedroom from my wife so that Kat is with me and away from Abigail. Risa, Shoshi and Fiona join us. The rest stay with Darlah. Just about all night long Kat comes to me to ask if he can please go see Abigail now. It reminds me of our children, once upon a time when they were young, asking repeatedly “are we there yet?” In Kat’s case he jumps on the bed, off the bed, snuffles at the closed bedroom door, back on the bed again trying to make his suddenly dumb daddy understand that Abigail really needs him right now. “Don’t you understand, Daddy? Abigail NEEDS me” he says in his best telepathic manner, willing me to understand and let him out.

He has finally settled down sitting beside my leg and is looking up at me with these big wide open eyes. He’s not quite sure why I’m being so particularly dense but he’s no dummy and he realizes I control the gate. In fact, he is so very bright and alert at the moment I wish I was showing him this weekend. Instead, we’re showing the bitch and she is in a mood.

We are travelling to the dog show in our van each day. We are bringing Treasure, Fiona and Abigail. But we are also picking up our friend Val and she’s bringing her fantastic Tibetan Terrier and another male dog she is showing this weekend. Imagine, if you will, five dogs in the van together for no less than 4 ½ hours each day, back and forth from our home to Val’s to the show. My two other girls could care less that Abigail is in heat but Val’s two males are certain to be in a special mood by the time we arrive at the show. We warned Val but she says this happens all the time in the show world so the boys have to learn to tough it out. I think she’s nuts and I’m really glad I’m driving, leaving Darlah and Val to deal with the whining and whimpering while I zone out and focus totally on the road.

Wish us luck this weekend.

Nathan

Havanese & Wet & Nails and Ears

I have the wet blues. Mommy says I have a show tomorrow but I do adore the rain. I like to stand out in it, jump in the puddles, and simply get a terrible mess. Puppies are supposed to do that and usually she lets me but not the day before a show. I mean - she's going to wash me TONIGHT but she's afraid she will have to do it earlier and then have an extra long time keeping me clean. Mommy - can't you bathe me twice? I never thought I would say that ...but....

Well, if that wasn't enough, Wasabi is acting like she is the boss around here. That's usually Risa's job. Okay - even if you are preggie - don't you know *I* am the real boss around this place. Just watch..I give this look and everyone just does whatever I want - yeah right!

Last night Daddy did nails on the dogs and Fiona just HATES her nails done. So, he tried - she squirmed so Mommy held and he cut and all was good but if she had her way, she would have not had them done even though they were truly needed.

Some of us have strong willed dogs but you must persist with baths, nails, brushing tummies and feet - anything that they feel they don't like as it's necessary. If you can't do the nails many vets will but that costs and many groomers will. But don't think the nails are getting grounded down naturally unless you are doing marathon walks on cement daily.

Ooops and don't forget to check the ears - smell them and make sure you don't have an infection coming on. We do not usually have one but Wasabi had one that just wouldn't go away and after two different meds and lots of treatment - it went. It does happen - just not all that often.

After this wet - do a brushing to eliminate any knots setting in. You will be glad you did.

Oh well - shows - busy times and hopefully we will survive. Hoping you have an easier time and we get Zack and Coco a week from Friday - how cool is that? We are excited!

Havanese Males Intact Woes

This heat business....argh... We are sharing this lovely stage of breeding with you so you 'get' that its not all fun but despite it all - we are trying to laugh - and hope you laugh with us - not at us!

We are showing a semi-old photo of Kat as you do not want to see him today despite that I bathed him thoroughly and do semi baths daily.

Someone suggested I use lavender scented things to help but it doesn't work!

I tried using the disguise scent method but we must be in the height of things as he has reached an entirely different level. It doesn’t work. Problem with multiple females – they aren’t all in sync. If they had started at the exact time Wasabi did – all of this would have been history as today is day 21 for her.

The good news in all this is we really believe after all the mating that the Wasabi Woo is preggie.

Oh well – just going to make staying awake for the shows this weekend impossible. Think I will be taking the boy with me at bedtime so Nathan can drive and I don’t have to worry. I am hoping I can sleep in the car. Now, I get up and Nathan grabs the gals and goes to bed and Risa and Shoshi and Kat and the retrievers stay downstairs with me so he can get an hour of sleep. Then he has to take a nap to feel human. Not sure how he will do that at a show unless he goes out to the car himself and snoozes. If he wins – no rest for the weary. ROFL – Can you say HELL weekend for both of us? If it wasn’t for the points for others and the $$ we already paid or the extra person we are driving there that is counting on us – I would stay home.

But thanks…appreciate all tips. It’s just a dawg house at Talemaker Havanese….yeah…that’s it!

PS: If I won the lottery, I would design a house that only the male dog and human can frequent at this time with electric security gates that send out aromatherapy scents that distract the males at this time - yeah right - now can you see how much sleep we are getting?

Good thing this is over when Zack and Coco come visiting. ROFL

Pencil Drawing: Havanese

Each year we bid on some items at the auction. This year we won a pencil drawing. The HFC (Havanese Fanciers of Canada) auction ia a great event for the Havanese Rescue and this is how our winning item came out. Can you guess which one of our Havanese it is?

The auction that happens each year is for a good cause and we love this memory we ended up with. Now to frame and get it on the wall.

We are still dealing with gals in heat. Wasabi is done - but we have others and the dear boy losing his head but we are surviving.

We are off to a dog show this weekend a huge drive away back and forth and all day at a show. Will we survive? Time will tell.

Meeting of the Noses

You meet all sorts of friendly faces at all sorts of places. Here, Treasure was touching noses with a Beardie. This is a correct meet and greet and if you notice, both were ever so relaxed.

Treasure and Abigail was at handling class and tomorrow it will be Fiona and Abigail's turn.

It gives them practice but it also gets them out and about.

We have a busy week - and a show this weekend.

Then we wait and find out if the Wasabi is pregnant and with all the ties, I would be very surprised if she wasn't. But we won't know till the very end of the month so stay tuned...

Kat and Lola puppies will be making their debut any day now. We can't wait!

Tomorrow....rain...sigh or so they say...

Visiting Friends: Havanese Style

Remember Lil' Man? He's now known as Milo!

Well we went to see his human pack leaders, Helen and Suzi and Milo of course and then lo and surprise, they got a Bichon called Hugo to keep Milo in line or is that keep the humans in line or???

Well, you know these precious little ones. They tend to wrap you around their fingers and look at you with those eyes, and it's all over.

Here, Treasure was hanging out on Helen's shoulder doing her neck warming job of playing, cuddling and standing on high and Helen was kind enough to accommodate her.

Isn't it wonderful to spend time with like minded people who adore their dogs?

Milo just had the snip, snip so he gave us loving but he also was a tad more subdued than usual.

Wouldn't you be if you were snipped, snipped?

I know *I* would be....

Milo couldn't wait to introduce us to his new pack mate, Hugo. We have a feeling Hugo is going to be a delightful playmate for Milo who is a dog who just adores mucking it up with him. It was really nice to see.

Of course Suzi and Helen was way too generous as usual offering us pastries that were delightful and fruit and coffee. Oh my - will my stomach ever fit into a bathing suit.

Then Nathan just had to stop to get that fatty, smoked meat sandwich that is to die for - oh well - tomorrow is another day. Besides - if Wasabi is preggie - who has time for such things.

Shows, puppies - gracious puppy lovin' friends - how much better can it get? I know - a crazy partner (husband/wife) that loves the dawgs as much as you do.

I'm Going to Get You Havanese Style

Who says big dogs can't play with little dogs just fine? Treasure just adores her Terra and I can understand why. She has the patience unlike any others despite Treasure acting like the puppy she is. She yanks on Terra. She jumps at her till she says okay, I will play and I do believe she loves it!

Are two dogs better than one? You bet but 2 Havanese can do that famous run-like-hell game unlike any other but still the Terra tries - and oh does she try.

The weather is getting better and it's time to take photos. Look for photo opportunities. You will be glad you did!

Havanese Communications

More dogs die as a result of behavior problems than all preventable medical problems combined. Frustrated owners simply give up, and their untrained dogs often end up in animal shelters with uncertain fates. Luckily there is a Havanese rescue but the answer is to find a way to make it work - not give up or you will be wondering why things happen as they did.

Part of the problem lies in miscommunication. It's easier than you think to teach your Havanese the wrong thing. Well meaning owners do it all the time. We've all seen owners yell and yell for a dog to come as the dog blissfully ignores the command, madly chasing squirrels instead. When finally the dog comes, the frustrated owner may pop the dog on the nose and yell some more. The message? Would you go to somebody who might hit and yell at you? Consistent training and positive reinforcement with treats and praise work a lot better to enforce the right message.

Teaching a dog proper behavior means knowing how to correct him when he does something inappropriate. There are both good and bad ways to correct your Havanese. Owners should avoid spanking, kicking, rubbing his nose in it, or yelling at a dog. Besides rarely communicating the message the owner intends, this type of correction can cause even more behavior problems.

If you spank your Havanese for going to the bathroom inside, the message is, don't do it when I'm looking. Havanese are intelligent but they need to know what you are asking.

A common history in dogs with behavior problems is that they are not walked regularly. Owners may have difficulty walking a dog that pulls or barks, so walks become less and less frequent. A Havanese that is not exercised regularly will find other -- often destructive -- ways to vent his energy. That's why teaching your Havanese to walk calmly on a leash is so important. If your Havanese pulls on the leash, change directions suddenly. Whoever determines the direction has leadership. The idea is to interrupt the bad behavior and praise the good.

Learning to communicate with your Havanese is complicated. But when it comes to your Havanese, a little patience and consistent training will earn you years of enjoyment. Enroll in a local training class to master the communication tools you need to make the most of your relationship with your Havanese. You will create a bond and learn how to achieve the 'desired' behaviors you are looking for.

Not all schools are equal. Ask others that have attended or visit an ongoing class and then join. If you practice what you learn, you will end up with an amazing Havanese doing what you want it to with personality thrown in.

Teeth & the Havanese

I am a puppy so my teeth are still coming out and new ones are coming in. My teeth are rather white but what if you have an adult with plaque? What should you do?

Someone who follows the blog mentioned that they took their nail and scraped it off - well you can do that and many a show person does. It surely beats going to the vet to be put under.

The tartar can be irritating to the gums and can cause an inflammation called gingivitis. This can be seen as reddening of the gums adjacent to the teeth. It also causes bad breath. At this point it is necessary to remove the tartar with a special instrument called a scaler - that works much like your fingernail does. Problem with this method is it works but it also doesn't polish the teeth. If plaque is bad, you may still want to have it done at your vets office. They not only clean them but polish them.

But if you are simply trying to stay on top of the issue, you can brush daily, use a scaler to take off minor plaque and/or use a product called Leba. Leba works but it is pricey.

What else can you do? Bones - chewing on bones helps scrape the plaque of naturally and most times it does an excellent job.

Well, today was bath time for some - hang out time with daddy outside but now it's raining yet again.

Now where is that sun? The lack of it surely didn't stop this play.

Moody Havanese

Mommy gave me a reprieve - no bath till Friday - ROFL So, I am a tad messy but I rather like it that way...hahaha

The weather is gorgeous. The dogs are hanging out and we enjoying it before the rain comes...yeah rain yet again. Oh well, the garden will grow.

At Talemaker Havanese, we have a house filled with girls in heat and 1 male. Only Wasabi is getting bred so it's interesting times. This too will pass. Let's just say - it's keeping dogs separate - washing tummies and just lovin' them. They tend to get a tad - please just love me during this time and I rather enjoy the moments. I do not enjoy separating them. Good thing there is two of us so we can manage it easily and this is just twice a year - remind me of that - will ya?

Soon, Kat/Lola pups wil be born and we can't wait to see if we get Wasabi/Kat pups. I want to have puppies swimming this year - oh how fun!

Handling Class: Socialization

When you go to handling classes, you meet all sorts of dogs, from big to large to SUPER large. It's a great way to socialize and slow condition your dog to all sort of breeds.

It takes time to do classes with your dogs but it can be ever so rewarding. It doesn't matter what type of class - from obedience to tricks, to agility to handling - it's all fun but you do have to practice in between.

Today, I did day 2 of exercise, planted plants in the rain and the dogs got muddy and wet. Then had a backup and cleaned out the laundry room - wow - huge mess then handling class and oh yeah I did lots of work too. I know Fiona has knots from today so guess what I am doing next...sigh --- and that bed is calling me - and you?

Craziness at Talemaker Havanese

I woke up and exercised today as I need to get back into that groove - the you know - nothing fits groove so I have no choice and it's HOT and why did I wait so long. But that's okay - Nathan is doing the same running around the backyard like a banshee with the pack and walking the entire pack two by two - the usual.

We have a weekend home doing nothing but dawgs and gardening, I suppose.

Running with the dogs is grand fun. Why don't you give it a try? Maybe all this exercise won't kill us and we will become healthy - yeah - right - and you?