Wasabi's Visit to Vet

Well, we went off to the vet with Wasabi and Risa today and what could be worse than not being pregnant?

You guessed it - they are only seeing 1 or 2 pups and we won't know if it's two or more or less till December 15th as we will do an x-ray then as one or more may be mysteriously hiding or? The more we talk to others that use ultrasounds, the more I hear inaccurate amounts are norm but we will figure on the low amount and be surprised at the x-ray f it's more. She had 6 the last time but they saw six.

Now she is due December 24th so a holiday surprise for sure!

We will be in touch with our puppy people tomorrow. Not to worry - we have dear friends as well that will have pups too if some do not want to wait.

Yvonne - our dear friend's mother died and we need to go to the viewing tonight and just got back. We apologize but if it is only 1 or two - they are going to be the most loved and amazing pups yet cause we wouldn't have it any other way - but of course - that would be the case with 6 too.

This human will have a tough time getting puppy time with just a couple though as that Nathan guy will hog all the puppy time - you just wait.

Off to a show this weekend with Fiona - Friday til Sunday. Fiona is one of Yvonne's so wouldn't it be nice to give her some good news. Well - we will try.

Poochtini Gal: Abigail is Stylin'

Well, it's wet outside and Abigail has decided to strut her stuff. Do you get the idea that she thinks she is all that in her poochtini coat?

The storms are coming in.

The wet murkiness is outside and I spent 20 minutes on mats with Abigail last night due to her laying in wet so no more. I spent even more on Fiona. Puppy blowing coat time and wet does NOT match.

She will be stylin' in her coat and saving me MUCH time - for sure! Abs has a brown one - goes poi-fectly with her hair and Fiona has a black one. Kat has a black one and so does Wasabi. We are waiting for an x-large to come in for Risa and then we will do a Shoshi one too. Shoshi still has a less coverage coat from next year and is matting too so a poochtini coat will be coming for her as well.

And - when we get Treasure - our newest addition - we will post photos of her as well. Her Auntie Linda gave her an amazing fisherman sweater and blanket. Linda is one of the very few people we would trust for boarding that is in the city per se. She only takes one dog at a time but she gives quality care, lots of love and attention like we do. So, if we are booked or just think we are too dawg crazy for you - well get in touch with us. We will point you to her.

Well, today is a bathe Wasabi and Risa day as they are going to the vet tomorrow. Late in the day we find out if Wasabi is pregnant and Risa how we can melt the pounds off of her. Since she has been spade - I think she has been working the house. We have her on a diet and she's eating everything but the floor. Poor gal. But we want her to live a long life so we are in pursuit of peeling it off. Ahem...this human needs to do the same. Always bloody something. Who likes diets - marathon exercises - not I but with less weight you certainly feel better after the stomach shrinks but its getting there that's hell. Me thinks that's Risa's issue - but mommy can you see my tongue going in and out. You are NOT feeding me enough.

Okay - enough of that. If Risa has to put up with it - so am I. This is the 1st day of many days of diets. Exercise to come today too. What are you willing to do to get in shape for summer? It's coming faster than you think - I hope.

Busy Havanese Week

Bet you that you thought we forgot about you - this never missed a day post - crazy Talemaker house but we didn't - well ooops I almost did but what would that do to my 'never missed a day' plan. Gad..well we are here.

We had a way busy day washing Mags that you can see here, Lola, Downsey and Flora. Tomorrow is Wasabi's and Risa's turn as they are off to the vet Wednesday and we want them boo-ti-ful - not all that wet muck that is out there.

So, why did I wash any? Call me NUTS. Then on Thursday Fiona gets washed. Does it ever stop?

Well, tonight one of the human kids here made spaghetti - his own sauce and then our other human son left it on a tv tray. Needless to say, Kat had a pinkish red face. Don't you just love it? You get them looking so purty and then they just have to bring you back to reality.

Tomorrow we have the Gidget (Paris) staying with us for a few weeks. Maybe a visit from Zack and Cocoa - a show - a vet and oops sleep somewhere and sometime in there.

The dogs are calling me to bed. Time to snuggle and say goodnight. Did your dawgs stay dry today?

Should I Dress My Dog Or Not?

This is a jacket we just bought most of our crew from Poochtini.com (They didn't have Risa's size in stock at the moment. Natalie was kind enough to bring the coats over and have a play date with her Rex. It was fun and the coats are great. They will help save the coat, protect from ice balls and cut your time down in grooming - well worth it - in my opinion.

When you live in a city or suburb, does your dog really need a jacket and pair of boots?

If you think it's cold outside, consider whether your dog shares your shivers. This time of year, many dog owners put coats and other rugged outwear on their pets before heading outdoors.

Like their humans, urban dogs grow accustomed to a warm house. Their own coats may not be as thick as their rural cousins' coats might be, making it more difficult for the animals to adapt to the cold.

Footwear may be necessary in some cities to protect tender paws from de-icing salts and chemicals. We opt for the no boots route except for our show dogs on show days but if your dawg is a city dawg, if you go the 'no boot' route, you need to clean the salt and chemicals off their feet. You should also take care of their pads.

If you're not sure whether your city dog needs a coat, look for shivering during or after exercise. Just how cold are we talking? How long will the dog be out for? How typically active is the dog?

What is shivering? Muscular activity that increases as your dawg works to keep their body temperature up.

If this is your first winter with your Havanese, the snow when wet - that nice heavy snow - well it sticks to their hair, forms snow balls and downright is cold for them and painful. Put your stomach on snow bare and leave it there. Then tell me how it feels.

Plus - it's not fun to take out. You have to dry it or wash it out or brush it out but if left you will have an amazing amount of mats. Some can be prevented by shaving their tummies down but you still have to protect that bare skin.

Bottom line? Pay attention. Your dog's behavior will likely tell you when and whether he's uncomfortable. That's your cue to act.

If you're at all embarrassed by the notion of dog outerwear, it's typically the toughest of dogs who wear boots and coats. It's not just your fou fou dogs. Police and military K-9's and search-and rescue dogs all need foot protection. Search and rescue dogs that brave the elements use coats. Plus agility and games people suit their dogs up after a hard day on the run.
Real dogs do wear coats.

Early Morning Pondering Havanese Style

Why is it dark when we get up and dark when we go to sleep?

Why do all these Havanese chase an imaginary squirrel that they remember days ago as if it had the guts to return. Why is that human's pond still bubbling water. It didn't do that last year. Why is it slippery and sometimes it is not?

Why do ice balls like my Havanese pack mates hair but rarely ices on me?

Why do I have to go to the doctor's next week and what is this thing that human put on me?

It's today's moments to ponder and no one does it better than the soul-filled Wasabi.

Havanese Puppy People Warmth

We are lucky to have puppy people who adore their dogs and the people that own Sebastian took a video of part of the brace at the specialty here in Toronto. We uploaded it for your enjoyment. rate it - share it and we hope it brings a smile as it does us. Thanks!!

Typical Morning at Talemaker Havanese

Around about 6:00am Darlah has to check her pages from the night before to ensure that they went live correctly. Darlah builds pages in advance and posts them onto what is called a staging server. That server automatically pushes them live at 6 but Darlah always checks to make sure that everything is working as designed.

Naturally, when she gets out of bed so does "the pack". And off they go downstairs, Darlah to check her pages, the dogs to do their business outside. They don’t all go. Risa isn’t getting out of bed unless or until I do, Same with Wasabi. And Yvonne’s Maggie. The rest are off and running. This morning that meant they went outside into about 5 inches of new fallen wet snowball snow.

They played for 10 minutes, did their business and then came running back inside wired for sound. And where do you think they went to next? Yes, back to say hi to "daddy" who was, fool that he is, still trying to sleep at 6:10. Yvonne’s Downsey and Lola stayed downstairs with Darlah. The rest came piling back onto the bed, soaking wet and settled down to go back to sleep but not without first saying good morning to me. I’ve now been tongue washed by 5 frenetic dogs.

Risa can be heard telling her pack very nicely that if even one of them comes within a foot of her she will rip their lungs out and feed it to them. Maggie, behind my head on the pillow, is saying the same. Kat ignores all of them and curls up against my chest. Shoshi takes one look at this sad state of affairs and decides to cuddle up against my leg because Kat has beaten her to her spot. Abigail decides to flop down between and on top of my legs and Risa has now moved to my feet. I not only can't move a muscle but half the dogs on me are soaking wet. I stick it out for 10-15 minutes but it's a no go. And then Risa decides if she doesn’t eat shortly she will die. So she gets up and collapses on my chest, looking me straight in the eye and then slowly licking her lips so that even a not especially bright human such as myself cannot mistake her meaning. Either I feed her right now or she starts on my leg. I give up and get up, escorted to the bathroom by 8 Havanese.

They watch impatiently while I throw on a few things and then escort me down the stairs to the kitchen where the pack assembles, doing their best to intimidate me into feeding them RIGHT NOW!

I ignore them and make sure the coffee is on if Darlah hasn’t already done so. Some of them go back outside. The rest wait. I lay out the bowls; 2 larger ones for the Golden Retrievers and then 10 small stainless steel bowls for the Havs. Yvonne’s dogs eat different food then ours so I prepare theirs and then ours. I know, by bowl position, which bowl is whose. Besides the Fromm’s Chicken A LA Veg we are currently feeding them I usually add something extra. This morning it was some leftover chicken fried rice and a small bit of Fromm’s chicken in the can. This morning Yvonne’s dogs got their own dried food plus canned chicken and leftover rice too. I plan on feeding them steak every day for a week before Yvonne comes home so that her dogs all throw a complete fit and go on strike when she takes them back home. I will, of course, be totally innocent of any crime and scratch my head in complete puzzlement while assuring Yvonne that they ate no problem while here. That is pay back for the text messages we keep getting form them down in Florida bragging about the 90 degree weather.

Well, it is now 7am. Time for me to eat a bit of toast, drink a cup of coffee and read the morning newspaper. The dogs line up beside Darlah, as per usual, waiting for a bit of crust or anything else they can sucker out of her and then she blames me when the dogs put on weight.

After breakfast I head out to the backyard with the dogs and do a patrol, picking up what needs picking up. This morning I also shoveled the entire deck. Then back inside to check my email.

Shoshi lies on my left foot, Kat’s on my right. Fiona is in a cushy bed under the desk. Risa is in a donut behind my chair. Wasabi is in another donut behind Risa. Maggie is in yet another donut behind Wasabi. Flora is usually on a mat next to Maggie and by now on the other side of my desk and Abigail may or may not be in the crate under my other desk. That done I head upstairs to finally take a shower and get dressed. The pack accompanies me in case I need help or get lost or plan to sneak out on them from the second floor bathroom. And so the sun rises in Richmond Hill.
Nathan

PS: and if you want to know about the rest of our day - it has been event-filled. Sweaters or jackets on, out we go, inside, sweaters and coats off and into dryer - brusha, brusha, brusha and then we do it all again!

Poor Wasabi - you can tell just by looking at her that she finds this experience - oh hum ever so delightful --Darlah

It's Bloody Snow Time Havanese!

Okay, this is not a Havanese but the human who thinks its 60 below zero.

She is getting ready to dress the dogs in coats and get them conditioned to having something on. How long will it take?

Well the way Fiona is looking - it may take a very long time.

This is her first year in a coat and after having this experience many times over - by a week they are acting naturally. So persist. Will it take Fiona a week?

Fiona looks up at me and says - what the hey is this thing?

Well, Fiona got a new jacket - a poochtini jacket and the legs for her are a tad long so we will be tacking them up. I could have bought one size down but it would have just fit her and she is still growing so we decided to tack up the legs and allow growth. It's important to get the right fit. Abigail's needs nothing done to it.

But we went out the door. Fiona got her foot out and I went argh. I took my gloves off, got snow in them, put the leg back in, rolled up the legs and then gave her a tug on the lead as she thought she couldn't move. Kat already is used to the coat thing but even he went - argh coats but two houses down, they were bouncing all over the place acting as if they had nothing on and enjoying the weather immensely but guess what?

We got home. Took jackets off and they were DRY - yes DRY - just wet feet. So, we are getting more coats from them this weekend. I am going to love not having to wash their whole tummies, body etc.

Look for all of them stylin' when we have their coats. Plus Linda brough Treasure a sweater and blanket. Now how cool is that? She will be stylin' too!

Let It Snow But Let Me In

It's starting to snow and this lovely lady brought by a couple of coats for us - and we are going to try them out. We will let you know all about them after we get used to the guys getting used to being dressed.

This happens every winter as we usually have them in the pool so much that other than a bit of adornment - they are what you see.

So, if this is your first year getting your little one used to a jacket - well give it time and after a week, he/she will forget its even on.

Can you imagine if you never wore anything and suddenly you are draped in all this material? Okay - don't think about THAT but that's how it is for the Havanese dawgs.

Girls, Girls & More Girls Havanese

One day I woke up and all these girls were hanging out at my house. Most men - ahem - am I a man yet? Well, most would love so many gals kissing on them but this one particular gal named Downsey - well she just doesn't stop. So, I grr and she does it again as if to say - let's see what I can get away with.

Well, I am the step over the line dawg here and I have put up with Fiona being one too but two? Oh my!

Then this cute little gal comes along that they tell is their mom - and her name is Maggie. She plays just like a puppy like me and we rather get some spectacular play sessions in and then she pays attention to her kids. Is it me or them?

I am the king around these here parts and I am having to reflect on life with so many gals. Oh...they are so nice to have around but put them all together and this lone guy - well let's say - I am gathering my wits to see how to play this.

Life is interesting in a houseful of gals and only a few men.

I am off to sleep, ponder and enjoy those afternoon naps those humans took this afternoon with all of us. It's getting crowded on the bed but they - the humans seem to like it. Guess they realize what is important in life - all that love. Hope the rest of you are having a Havanese luv session too.

Got any tips guys - especially those of you with so many gals? I may need some help. Right now, it's tough being all that for each gal. hehehehehe

Wet and Soggy Feet

How do you keep their feet dry? You COULD buy boots but most boots won't stay on and it inhibits their play. But if its just for a 'duty' break, it could work. We use them for show dogs.

Here we simply just use some spray on waterless bath on their feet, baby wipes and wipe off the mud. I then brush - and let dry and brush again if necessary. It sounds like a lot more than it is.

I like snow as it doesn't mean mud comes in. But the snow is coming again they say.

Then we have Yvonne text messaging us about South Beach and hot weather and I say - who is this - what dogs? hahaha

We have Yvonne's crew here while she is on holiday.

Ice Worries with Havanese

Our deck is an ice deck this afternoon.

Watch out with your little ones that they do not slip and slide. They can damage ligaments just like us playing recovery.

It doesn't mean you can't walk them but be aware. If they start to slip - it's not the right medium for them.

Some are more sure footed than others just like us humans.

We start out our day early in the morning and end it in the dark. The winter seems pretty dreary to me due to it.

As you can see from the photos here, this was 6am. It looks pretty dark to me. The crew rather liked seeing snow on the ground. It sort of invigorates them.

They roll around like banshees having a grand old time.

They acted like kids that were brought to a candy store and told it's all theirs.

Well, I am off to put leaves in bags after raking - yep in snow, ROFL.

The dogs would love to be a part of that but I think I will do it alone and let them be a part of it in the backyard if I do not run out of steam.

I guess they will do what our visitor Mags is doing now - snoozing the afternoon away til it's play time. I think they are smarter than us and more capable as they choose and can nap whenever it strikes their fancy.

Wet Havanese Dawgs

It's a wet and rainy day out today and here Kat is waiting his turn for grooming.

When it is wet, you need to brush them out or they will mat. But until it is their turn, they are playing and having a grand time.

We bought furniture covers for the couch from Sam's Club and the hubby says - what do you want to do that for? Well, now he sees the reason why.

Wet dogs and a couch staying clean doesn't mix so we keep it covered.

If I found them there again, I would get 2 more. It takes 2 to cover the entire couch but we have an extra long one.

As you can see, we also put blankets and fun cuddly stuff on top of the couch as Havanese tend to like to sleep on high plus they like to nest.

We have a real dawg house around here and 4 visitors at the moment. The crew is having a roaring grand time.

Now back to brushing and watching TV and relaxin. Hoping this wet stuff turns into white stuff. Still do not have our leaves raked or furniture in or..but white stuff is better than rain - at least sometimes.

Havanese Smells & Baths

We had a bit of a glitch and I posted a long post that disappeared so let's try this again...

Abs was out today between the rain looking for Lola. She hadn't been groomed yet so what you see is all natural.

There's something about Lola wafting through the air. Lola just had a bath and I sprayed a finishing spray on her that smells like cologne.

Kat reacted to the smell too - not over the top but highly interested as she smelt good. It tells me that they are guided by their noses.

If you want to know how so - well read a post I had written last year here.

Wasabi and Lola was out strutting their stuff but what they were doing was investigating who was doing what where. It's an interesting subject - men being led by their noses - oops dogs being led by their noses but us ladies like things that smell good too.

Hairy Leaves Magnet

This is the time of year that I wonder if I should just attach a broom to my hand and never let it go.

Oh, it's not just the Havanese but us humans that bring in the leaves. Then it rains and it sticks to shoes, to hair.

Well, today we tried raincoats on that had 4 legs and well the dogs walked a tad like they had a broom up - well we won't say.

Yes, you are supposed to laugh but they didn't. For some reason one size was a tad too snug on Fiona and took 10 minutes to put on and we also tried mutt lucks and those wouldn't do either though easier to get on. I need a solution to save the show coats - the others will go with a coat or sweater or ala natural. But this wasn't it as much as I wanted it to be. If a coat takes you more than a few minutes to go on, you will never put it on.

We already have front legs only raincoats but the water wicks up and the entire coat gets wet so why try.

Now, I don't have to have the dogs stylin' as you can see with Fiona - she looks a tad ridiculous, IMHO but it does need to keep them dry so looking for ideas - send them our way.

As you can see, Maggie is a tad wet as she didn't have a coat on and it's been raining. That means brusha - brusha - brusha. Okay - we did forgo walks today. I just couldn't do the twice grooming thing on 12 dogs. hahahaha but we will be back at it tomorrow. We haven't missed a day of brr cold brisk walks and having grand fun with extras - and I am serious other than today but every now and then less work sounds better.

We played retrieve and snuggles and we look forward to massive snuggles at bedtime. Can't wait.

Hope you had a great day too!

City or Country Havanese?

What happens when a country Havanese moves into a city Havanese house - even if it is only for a bit of time?

Noises - bark - strange people - bark. What is the visiting Havanese saying? What are ours saying?

The visitors are simply unfamiliar with the sounds in the city. Ours are just joining the fun.

One would think the country and city are similar but it really is not. You have the water guy who delivers, the mail person who rings the bell. The 'sell you everything under the sun' people - well until they hear the barking. You have the garbage truck and then a recycle truck and this delivery and that.

Then you hear the dogs barking in another yard and I have to answer that. Sounds horrid - doesn't it? But it really isn't.

It's all about slow conditioning. When they figure out those strange noises are nothing to worry about - they stop with correction and your attitude. It's a good thing. When a city dog goes to the country, the same thing occurs though the noises are usually less. It's why people move out to the country and convenience is why people stay in the city.

As comfort settles in, the barking dissipates as long as you shut it down immediately.

Your dogs are what you put into them. If you put the effort in, they do too and you end up having a really amazing dog that everyone wishes THEY had.

Have you ever heard of the term - you are what you experience? Well it holds true for your dog too.

Miss Abs here in the photo says - just let me sleep. Yes - she was actually sleeping with her head up. It was the funniest thing I ever did watch and she did it for over 30 minutes. I wish I could sleep like that.

Comments are welcome

Reading my wife's daily posts it occurs to me that we'd love to hear from you all. We get comments in email, even on the phone but rarely does anyone post a comment in direct response to something Darlah has written. I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage you to post comments please, when you feel you have something you'd like to share with us. I know from the statistics that a lot of people are reading every post each and every day and that's great but really, we'd love to hear your thoughts on our thoughts. Don't be shy. Join in please. Thank you for listening.
Nathan

Havanese Sleeping: My Bed or Yours?

Okay, the human has a checklist on what dog was groomed per day and she checks them off as she does them.

When one has this many dogs - well 4 are Yvonne's visiting, you have to make sure you snuggle all, groom all and well daddy feeds them all - lucky him. How many bowls, daddy? Better make room for Gidget. Lola should be done her heat so fun relaxing times will be had by all.

But looking at this crew - where's my space? I also noticed that although all were groomed - they don't look like it 12 hours later. ROFL Poor Abs needs a bath bad - Kat again.

I want my bed space? Do you think they gave it to me? Who's the boss here?

Creating Knots Havanese Style

This is Fiona creating knots Havanese style. But you say she is just running on the pool cover. Well, when it is wet, they rub and create knots.

So, we are ordering coats from Val for winter wetness to protect show coats. You can keep them warm and reduce the work and allow yours to play in the winter wet stuff slush. It won't save the feet but you can use a slicker on them. Just spray and slicker. I wouldn't suggest doing it everywhere unless you spray conditioner on crazy as it tends to break the hair and broken hair creates knots.

Then you will spend much time conditioning it to get it back in shape. I know - I have been doing it with Katsuro.

Have you bought your Havanese Grooming book? If not, we have one for sale from the HFC. It's not ours - its theirs but we have some of our dogs and tips in it and its worth its weight in gold.

Fun Was Had at Sebastian's

Abigail says to Fiona, I hear tell we are going over to someones house today to do that 'run like hell' game. Do you think we can deek him out? You take the left, I will take the right and confuse the hey out of him. Do you think it will work?

Do you know whose house it is?

I heard it was one of Wasabi's kids, Sebastian, from her last litter and he even catches a Frisbee in his mouth.

How cool is that?

Daddy didn't teach US that trick.

We hear he puts his nose on the Frisbee to flip it up.

Daddy - can you teach us that trick too?

Looking at this photo, the Frisbee almost looks like its too big to handle but Sebastian is running with it with ease.

Sebastian seems to be all excited to have the crew at his house sharing his home.

Well, all the dogs that went had a grand time. They had some kids to play with and our dogs adore kids.

Something about the Havanese and kids seem to fit quite nice.

Even momma Wasabi had a good time, she who always seems to be stylin' no matter where she goes. This is her after no bath since she was at Yvonnes - almost 4 weeks ago.

It's as if she is saying - I remember that smell - that big ball of fur.

Remember folks, socialize - socialize and socialize!