Fashion Statement: Snood Stylin

Abs says: What is that thing on my neck??? Is mommy totally crazy? Geez mom - let me play. I will finish my championship - I promise and hey anyway - I am a star despite my moments of roughhousing - okay - I am actually cute doing THAT too.

Oh - it's tough being a show dog. I just want to play...Life's ruff!

Today we have a couple of people coming over to see Lil' Man. We have Gina going to her handler (Beth's dog) and Zack and Coco going home this morning. Wow - busy times and then the mom has to finish work and finish grooming and maybe take a nap - heh right. Handling class with Treasure and Fiona tomorrow. Fiona's in the show again this week and Treasure has to get ready for her debut in a month or two.

Lil' Man Available to RIGHT Home

Total Recall Class: Lone Havanese

Did we have a blast or what in class! Treasure was the littlest dog in the class next to the Jack Russell Terrier pup who put quiet in someone else's conversation. What a high charged dog - heh

Treasure came in - looked around - saw a couple of - almost can't control this enthusiasm dogs - well more than a couple - a Samoyed - a Bernese mix, a lab - and some more puppies and some more even keel dogs such as retrievers and who else did I miss? Her tail was down as she went - oh my but daddy took her for a walk by all the dogs - quiet and rambunctious and immediately the tail went up and it stayed up as you can see in this photo. Nathan brought his all into it and Treasure reacted wonderfully to his emotions that obviously ran down the lead.

She was amazing in the class going through dogs without issues, retrieving when she was supposed to and even coming past me to daddy when he called her. The games were fun. The energy was fast paced. The barking and the distractions was great slow conditioning. Perfect for the show ring distractions that we deal with.

Then the Jack Russell did a play bow to Treasure. She play bowed and barked back. She's not a barker so this was funny. Then he challenged her. She challenged him back and did a full out - let me have him not in an aggressive way - it was bark - bark bark - don't you think you are going to intimidate me - little man.

As you can see, Nathan after laughing inside had to correct her and get her to stop but for the whole night, she was having a grand time across the room (yes they moved this duo apart) trying to get the Jack Russell going as if she was a kid teasing. We took the opportunity to keep her enthusiasm up but direct her to the fun at hand. The Jack Russell was wanting to play with her and then challenging her - just because. These pups are learning dog communication so all was grand in what we wanted to achieve.

We did play this game where I held Treasure and Nathan called her but I wasn't supposed to let go till it was her turn. Oh my gad was that funny. I never saw a stronger willed Havanese wanting her own way and beside herself that I wasn't letting go. She barked, she pulled, she jumped. She was so filled with excitement - I have never seen her quite like that ever before. It was all great as when I did, it heightened her enthusiasm in getting to daddy even more.

Katsuro also took this class a year ago and did amazing going through dogs without fear. But Treasure - I have to admit - the spunkiness - well it's all hers. She plays quick recovery after she checks out the room and puts her little heart into it. She's got her very own grand personality.

Anyone who is in the Durham or Toronto area will benefit from this class. The goal is to get your dog doing a total recall no matter what the distraction is but the class is more. It is a slow conditioning to dogs of all personalities, sizes, being able to walk through them to you, passing by in different directions and focusing on you etc. in a very fun and safe environment. The class was run extremely well and with a ton of fun that you can continue at home.

We can't wait till the next as we will take yet another dog and have just as much fun - and fun we had!! Can't wait till next week's Games class. Hope that is as fun!

Well, everyone is still sleeping. I just checked my work pages and I think I am going to eat, have some coffee and then get back to work.

I am still on that 'oh my gad, Treasure you did wonderful' high. I remember feeling that with Kat too. I believe this class is geared for success and your dogs love it and are better off by taking it. Hope to see you in the class next time. We could use another Havanese or two. We hear there are 5 in the Games class.

Running Like a Banshee Havanese Style

Nathan does a pick up patrol each day several times a day and after he does, he runs around the yard like a crazy banshee and the dogs run after him. It's a riot to see.

Here, Wasabi and Lil' Man is sitting on the deck in wait til he is done anticipating the run. Even Lil' Man now gets into it though he's not as fast as the others but he makes up for it with the pounce and jump.

We have a few people coming by on Sunday to see the 'all personality' Lil' man. We are looking for a really good fit and I am positive anyone who sees this guy will laugh and thoroughly enjoy him. I can't wait to see him as an adult and I do hope they visit and let us take care of him when they go on holidays but here I am getting ahead of myself.

Tonight we are off to a class with Treasure and Yvonne and her crew including hubby will be staying over due to a family situation. We look forward to seeing them.

Tomorrow we will fill you in on the class and how the Treasure does - all of it - the good - the bad - and the awful! Will there be an awful... Time will tell. I am told she'll be the only small one in the crew - me thinks.

Secrets, Lil Man & Class Tomorrow

I have a secret says, Fiona - no more baths daily for awhile. Abs sighs with relief.

Mommy says: When the girls are doing the shows - bathing each daily is the norm but poor Abs had enough of THAT! Plus - if you do something like that - the dog's hair can get brittle and dry. Today was a Vellus day..hehehe Guess who does this bathing and grooming business?

Today was a clean Wasabi and Katsuro day. Tomorrow is a Risa and Shoshi bath day. Lots of dogs equals lots of baths.

But tomorrow night Treasure gets to have fun, fun, fun and so do we going to Total Recall Class at Who's Walking Who. We did this class before and it's bound to be as fun as it was the first time. We'll tell you how it went on Friday. We just love what obedience and these seminars bring to us and getting the dogs to be all they can be with fun.

Well, Lil' Man is getting way comfie playing his little heart out and tuckering himself out. He goes to bed at 10 and wakes up in the morning with us. He sleeos all night long. He wriggles his little tail telling you he's having a grand time. I swear he embraces life in such a way that he puts a smile on your face.

Gad this puppy is delicious!

Lil Man Available to RIGHT Home

We just spent a very long and exhausting 4 days attending a dog show. The only reason we entered all 4 days is that the show was held at the Markham Fairgrounds about 15 minutes from the house. Abigail got 2 more points towards her championship, Fiona got 3 more towards hers.

It’s a race.

Meanwhile, back home we had a little pistol waiting to greet us, tail vibrating his entire body, frantically eager to say hi in true puppy style. L’il Man is a real pleasure. He is full of life, enthusiasm, curiosity and intelligence.

That means he plays with everyone here, flies up and down the smaller steps, pokes his head into everything and figures out ways to have fun. I happen to love this personality type. I’m surrounded by them. This is not a laid back quiet little boy. Here he is looking back over his shoulder at me.

I managed to capture a great shot of him tearing after Treasure. She has an unfair advantage being a month older but he doesn’t let it slow him down at all. And finally here is a close up head shot. Notice he’s staring right at me, posing.

As I write this in the background I hear the pitter patter of little feet. Treasure and L’il Man are tearing all over the main floor of the house. You can hear them scrambling to get a grip as they go sliding across the wood or tile floors. I love it. By the way, he plays an excellent game of retrieve which includes tugging the toy away from anyone else that got to it first, if they'll let him.
Nathan

Fiona & Abigail: Show Life

Is the show over yet, Mommy? Well today it was Fiona and Nathan's turn to shine and they received 3 points. Nathan did a fab job and he will kill me for saying so. He is a low key guy about all his accomplishments and the shows are not so easy. So the doggies and us say bravo, Nathan!

Fiona was on her game scatting and having a grand time in the ring.

I guess after a few days - she was rather comfie in her environment.

Here's a photo that was taken while Fiona hung out to get her photo with the judge. She had to wait till the judge was free so there was a lot of hanging out. It's okay as she is closer to getting her championship and that's what it's about.

We will get there but the team is improving and then there is the next show then Treasure then puppies and can't wait till the fun part.

The fun part for us is our doggies hanging out, learning - playing and puppies - puppies and puppies but hey winning can be nice too especially when it's an end to a means.

Now back to resting, working and catching some zzzzs with the puppy we have visiting called Lil Man. What a card. If interested - do send us mail.

Shhh we may also be getting Gina to visit - we shall see. It's never a dull moment at Talemaker Havanese.

Shows, Lil Man and More

Well, we are having a blast with Lil' Man but looking forward to the dog shows being over so we can spend even more time with him.

He's going to make someone an amazing member of their family. I never saw a dog whose tail wags so much. He's so full of personality.

Well, back from the show and Abigail got another 3 points - 3 points to go to championship. Bravo - Abigail!

But does she look happy - nah - she just wants to stop getting bathed and go back to having fun. A show dog is often bathed daily - can you believe that?

I don't blame her. If I wash another dog - I may scream - oh I do have to wash more dogs but later in the week.

I do LOVE how they look clean.

More tomorrow...

Treasure is Showing It

Well, Treasure's not showing but she's off to the show for some show noise conditioning and we have lots of people to help her get exposed. Here's hoping she has fun and we get some points.

Abigail's Brother from an earlier litter got 3rd in the Best of the Best.

More later. We are exhausted as shows go...

Show Lessons

No points yesterday. The moral of this story - don't have both of your dogs in a ring at the same time especially when one of them is handled by someone they don't know and you are also in the ring.

Poor Abs did the bucking bronco thing trying to get to daddy and she may do so all weekend. It got Fiona going too. It's wasted money but we learn another lesson.

Ah - but I was told my grooming was excellent. hahahaha minor thing in the scheme of things but felt like I was making progress with grooming.

Later today - look for photos of Lil' Man. He continues to be a star.

Lil' Man: Available to Right Home

Don't have much time. We have a show to get ready for but we have a little puppy boy available to the right home.

We talked Paula into letting us keep him for a bit as all her enquiries were coming from here and this way folks can see him up close and personal. We have only had him since last night but what a riot this guy is. You can't help but love this winning personality. He's a riot - tail wagging a mile a minute. We are going to have FUN, FUN, FUN with him.

If interested, send Nathan mail and he will tell you the particulars but no visits till after show weekend is over. I have to take video of this one as he is so deliciously friendly, loving and way funny. Gad if I didn't already have a house full.

Nothing is Safe With THIS Havanese

Well we are off to the show this weekend and this little Treasure will be staying home everyday except Sunday when she will be visiting the show too.

Will we have any plants to come home to after she gets to stay home? Not sure...heh But we love her anyways.

If you are in the Toronto area, do come by and say hello to us. We are socializing the Treasure on Sunday to everything show related and we can use all of you putting your hands on her. I promise - she won't chew your buttons off.

The show is at the Markham Fairgrounds at Elgin Mills and McCowan. We are on in the ring on Friday around 3, Saturday 930ish - same Sunday and Monday. Hope to see you there!

Big Dogs and Little Dogs

One would think in this photo that Terra, our golden was going to eat Treasure up but this is not true. For those that know the dogs or know body language - you would realize that nothing but faces and Treasure getting the better of Terra goes on here.

Treasure is a puppy and is relentless with her play. She is seen many times hanging off Terra's hair and Terra gives her that grr but its not a grr that says leave me alone but a grrr in play.

Shoshi does something similar but hers almost sounds like a mixture of a purr and a growl together.

Next to Abigail, Terra seems to be Treasure's best pal. Perhaps that is due to the reality that she was born in a house (Rockhurst) that has a golden as well.

Can a dog distinguish between breeds? Yes! Due to our Golden's, our dogs gravitate to other Golden's. It's interesting to see their comfort level with a strange dog if its a golden. With others, they take the time, read the body language and meet and greet. All of this happens in a minute or two but it is a process they go through. They tend to skip this process with a golden.

Take the time to open up your dog's world to larger but safe and friendly dogs. It will help them to become more balanced.

Conformation: Is it Easy?

When you go to a conformation show, from the outside in it looks easy. But is it? Thinking about teaching your dog to walk next to you. Does it do it from the moment you acquire your pup or do you have to train it to heel? What if you had to teach it to stack a certain way or keep that tail up or find how to get a bounce in your dog's step when it would rather be playing.

Then throw in the mix that your dog is unfamiliar with strange noises, lots of dogs, a guy or gal (judge) going all over their body and getting up close and personal. How would YOU like someone doing THAT to you?

Can you imagine being a dog and looking at what a conformation show is from their perspective? I often thought about it. Have you?

If you get into that mindset at your next show - fill me in on what YOU think the dogs are thinking.

Relationships & More

In a pack, relationships can often change. I have tried to figure out what the catalyst for changed attention but haven't totally figured it out yet but I still find it mighty interesting.

Fiona and Treasure used to be best buds and now lately it's all about the Abs. If you pay attention, you see a dance of manipulation in vying for someones attention. I swear I am in grade school again or the bug in the wall watching it all unfold.

Today, Kat tried to take Shoshi's bone and years ago she would have walked away but not today. She told him off and he listened. Nothing violent - just a growl and a body move to protect and he walked away. That's 'good' communications. If I had corrected Shoshi, she would have been the dog that always had everything taken away and me trying to protect her. I do not let it escalate but communications should be allowed otherwise the dog doesn't feel as if it has any control over his environment and that can make for a very unsure dog. You have to know when to step in and when not to. There is a difference. No one attacks anyone around here but they can communicate.

Well, we are taking 3 dogs to handling class tonight - Fiona, Abigail, and Treasure. Abigail and Fiona will be where the attention is but we may take Treasure around a time or two to get her used to a ring. She'll be in the ring in April and that's sooner than we think.

More tomorrow.

Slow Conditioning & Oops of the Mouth

I was sitting back in the recliner actually reading a book, covered with my usual carpet of dogs, when Darlah said something that made me sit up and pay attention.

Shoshi, Abigail, Kat and Fiona bolted off the chair, almost as fast as they'd leapt onto it and me, as I sought to get up. We had been discussing taking two of the dogs, Treasure and Fiona, to the local Pet Smart for a bit of socialization.

Treasure graduated 6 weeks of Obedience training last Thursday but it remains very important to get her out and about. Fiona has a show coming up this weekend and we continue to take every opportunity to get her exposed to noise and commotion. They are both complete pistols within the comfort and security of their own home, pack and family but not as comfortable in a strange environment, with different sounds and echoes and such.

Anyway, I'd asked Darlah when we might be ready to go and she replied "when my hair grows". Now you and I both know that she meant to say "when my hair dries" but what she said is what I have to put up with all these years. It was Valentine's Day yesterday. Darlah, of course, is my Valentine forever. There will be no other especially if I have to wait to go to the store until her hair grows.
Nathan

Confidence in Havanese

Are confident dogs just that or do you have to cultivate it? It's the latter. Although some have more confidence as a base - even the most balanced dog from the onset in the litter can be spooked by strange noises, people, things, events etc. Don't assume that always confident dog will remain that way unless you expose them.

How do you get your dog to be all it can be? Training!

By investing the time in training, you build your dog's self esteem by giving him a challenge that he can achieve over and over again and we all know if we can do things right eventually - well it feels good. It also works his mind and creates a bond like none other. But be sure you only practice POSITIVE training.

Bonus is a training class will give you slow conditioning to exposure of other types of dogs.

I am a firm believer to find an instructor that can control their class with presence and always knows how to handle a situation. For us, we want our dogs exposed to larger dogs as that is what we have in life. I do not want them to be skittish around them so a mixed class is great for this. We go all the way out to Blackstock as we really love the instructor at Daytripper. For us - who teaches and the way they teach matters.

At the top you will see Treasure in her obedience class strutting with the ease of confidence. She also has that stance when out in the backyard as you can see in this photo here.

She tends to have a good base but a garage door opening made her jump to say what was that on a walk. It was sudden and she didn't know what it was but I bet you next time it will be oh - its that.

We are afraid of what we do not know and that's true with the dogs. Slow conditioning is the answer to any fears that have set in and any fears that appear suddenly. They do have fear periods but we mustn't coddle but help them to understand and not validate their fears but instead show them by our body language and with a good base of training that they can play recovery and not hold on to their initial reaction. When they do play recovery and realize it's nothing to fear, they have started the process of being all they can be - with your help - of course.

So, puppies - adults - all can benefit. Do your dog and yourself a favour - have fun and enjoy a class or two. It's the best money you will ever spend if you invest the time in between.

Happy Valentine's Day from the Talemaker crew. May you spend it with loved ones and Treasure the ones that are there for you - always - your 4 legged crew.

Well - we are off to the vets for Treasure and Risa. Enjoy the moment and think of fun ways to get your dog to be all they can be. It's the most rewarding thing you will ever do.

Show Conditioning: Havanese

All wet and no place to go? Well Fiona has a show next weekend for 4 days, Abigail too and Treasures going to hang out to get show conditioned. It's always a good thing to expose them to different environments.

I don't know about you but its been mighty mucky out there and it's called - clean, clean and then clean again.

Well we are off to the vet tomorrow to get a calcified growth dug out of Risa and to get a Rabies shot and kennel cough for Treasure so she can start showing. We want her protected from the possibilities.

So off I go - brusha, brusha brush and then wash Risa and play with the dogs. It's a long weekend and I am sooooo excited to have a day off. How about you?

Blowing Coat: Havanese

Havanese usually blow their coat once. Some are gradual - some are all at once like our Abigail. What is blowing a coat and how can you tell?

If the coat is coming out in any degree more than the usual and you are seeing those small knots halfway up the shaft or closer - well there is a good chance it is happening.

Abigail with each brushing, her coat kept coming till she is now down to a single coat and now the undercoat is starting to come in. That's what creates those lovely knots.

Just use a hair conditioner and gently pull the knot apart, brush and comb. Take one knot at a time and don't pay attention to the whole. This only happens once in their life and you can get around it if your dog doesn't show by cutting them in a puppy cut and letting them grow out later or you may decide you really like that puppy cut.

Shoshi is in a puppy cut and needs a brush once a week - Risa too. The rest of ours are in full coats. Now brushing once a week can be done while you are watching TV and can be made to be enjoyable for both of you.

We have pups in their new homes that are cut shorter than the traditional puppy cut and really do not need to be brushed all that often. It's all what you want/need and what YOU like.

But if you are keeping them long and dealing with the blowing coat stage - this too will pass.

Be sure to buy the book From Nose to Tail that is filled with EXCELLENT info on how to take care of a Havanese. It's really worth the read.

Too Wet Outside For THIS Havanese

Can a gal ever have too many toys? I don't think so!

What you didn't see is Treasure taking a nose dive into this toy box and coming out from under and Fiona barking at her as if a monster was coming up for air. Where's the camera when those things happen and you know what I mean. I swear - the shots that should have been caught.

Well this Saturday, we have Risa going into the vets to get a growth frozen and dug out. It's nothing to worry about. She's getting a tad older in age and this was one of those things like a pimple that grows and breaks off but doesn't entirely but gets caught in the brush.

Treasure has her last class this week and maybe her first handling class a week Monday. We shall see. Oh and don't be lazy like me. Brush the little ones after they come in from the rain so they don't get knots. hehe. I am about to do that with Fiona.