Turning an Ooops Into Training

Well, Zack fell into the pool not once but twice in excitement so we taught him how to jump in and how to find his way out.

The point is, we turned it into a positive training process and he LOVES the pool. He is an excellent swimmer too. Though Kat went - hmm I WAS the center of attention - as Kat had been in and now I have competition. heh

Any ooops that you have, if you think about it can lead to a training session that ends positive.

How did we do it? We stayed upbeat - positive and then showed him how to get out over and over and then when he wanted to jump in, we showed him how.

We never just let the dogs out so we are not afraid of them falling in accidentally but we will spend the rest of the week showing him that he doesn't go in unless invited.

We will fill you in as that occurs.

Right now Abs and Zack are playing up a storm and after a good brush out - well he is air drying. More tomorrow....

The Antics of Havanese

This fine - should be sunny Monday - bright and early - Fiona thinks she is holding court. It's not like the rest can't get up but she thinks she can hold them all at bay as if to say - hahaha - this is my top of the mountain.

Havanese play funny games.

Well the crew all needs to be washed but our visitors will get a waterless bath and come the day they are going home, they will get a bath.

We hear that Miss Mags pups are doing so well 1 gal - 2 boys. Well boys are such huge lovees anyways so if its the lovin' you want - well the boys are amazing!

More of their antics later...

Long But Fun Filled Day: With No Bark

We came back from Queens Quay, at the new Paws Way building. We were - well the dogs were ambassadors for the breed. Yesterday Nathan, Alex (thanks, Alex!), Kat and Abigail did the socializing stint and today Nathan, Fiona, Kat and I did. Although they liked seeing the dogs and people - there is nothing like home and the fun things they do around here.

Here's Kat after his return with Coco saying, "Is it time to swim, daddy?"

Here he is brushed for the show and he wants to swim? Okay - mommy will spray and brush and laugh at you jumping in the pool. Who owns us? The dawgs!! Oh, but the love and snuggles they give you in return - well they can own me any old time.

So - daddy is it time yet?

Let me tell you how crazy it was. We - okay Nathan - if we are going to get the story right taught the 'no bark; and that's a tough one when the dogs are all worked up as a gang excited about going swimming. Even if they are not interested in actually swimming.

Terra barked - Nathan said 'no bark' and she didn't listen so in the house she went. Then Shoshi barked and into the house she went. Poor Zack was watching this all in amazement without a peep. He does like to join in but is easily corrected. This time not a peep. The rest of the gang got it and no sound but the game wasn't the same. Still Nathan kept at it putting his finger up as a signal not to bark and they tried to contain themselves almost appearing as if that emotion was going to burst right out of them. Then he let the barkers out and they also learned. Hmmm this works.

What did we learn? You 'can' control the bark. You must be serious about it showing you are not going to put up with it but we also found out that we sort of like the excitement of the bark but one can't have it both ways so 'no bark' it is. There are times for barks and times that you simply can't. Not all barking is bad but you have to get control over it so they learn when it is acceptable and when it is not.

Then after the swimming and running around time was done, the crew all found their spots on the lounge chairs (See Zack on Nathan) and settled in for a long day's nap.

The crew was all smooshed on top of us and next to our bodies. I think we must have slept for an hour all wet and then I woke up and said - oh no I didn't brush Kat and he's almost dry.

A dab of spray on the brush - spray all over him and brush and I let him air dry - no knots.

Then it was time to brush the rest. I think Coco looked at me cross-eyed then put her little head down and went back to sleep.

Who me..you want to brush little old me...well I suppose it's okay but wake me up when you are done, will ya?

I decided to do her last so she could catch some more zzzzzs. it's been a simply exhausting day but now you know you can teach 'no bark' even if YOU like the barking. ROFL!

Havanese Play With Interesting Toys

If a toy holds the Havanese interests long as this one does - well it has to be cheap. I tell you - they love empty bottles. Throw in some water into a bottle half way, throw it in the freezer then when it is good and cold and has ice in it, throw it on the floor and watch the fun. Just be sure to take it away if they happen to puncture it. It's a cheap fascination.

Here you can see Zack and Coco (Zack is one of Wasabi's that we used to call El Blanca Grande and (Coco who is Fiona's sister) and looks like her mom Maggie who is about to give birth to more little ones in a matter of days.

Well, here they are trying to bat this ball around. What is this toy? Well it's a cat toy and can be found at any Petsmart or any other pet store that carries cat toys. It usually has a wad of paper in the middle so the cats can scratch it. Your Havanese will bite it into a million pieces so if you don't want to sweep a million pieces of paper up - well throw that section out. The real fascination is the ball and why they can't get it out. Zack and Coco spent an entire 98 minutes playing with this thing. I timed it so I knew how long they kept at it. I think they hold the record of being fascinated the longest.

Today Kat and Abs is down on Queens Quay meeting and greeting people that want to know about Havanese and they will be there tomorrow. The rest of the Talemaker crew waves paws at those that are there!

There's NOTHING like the Havanese - I tell you - except 2 is better than one. ROFL!

Havanese Tips on Wet Feet

We have Coco and Zack over and as you can see in this photo, Coco is smiling about the play.

We have had a busy day today. We went on walks. Everyone was groomed and we had some crazy play sessions.

ALERT: Check out the latest puppy photos on Yvonne and Alex's site at Chicadoro. All the pups are getting colour other than the colours black and white with the exception of one. Oh - and Mags - well she's still eating so no pups yet!

Then tonight Nathan played the guitar and Tal sang under the gazebo while the dogs hung out - Coco kissed my ear and Fiona couldn't figure out why Tal was singing or Nathan was playing a guitar. It's been too long.

Tomorrow Kat, Abs, Nathan and Alex are hanging out somewhere downtown to talk about Havanese. Me - I am going to catch up on work seeing I couldn't after grooming and getting stuff ready for this thing they are doing tomorrow.

Maybe I will get a quick dip in and it won't rain like they say it is supposed to or maybe I will be doing extra grooming with the rain.

If yours hate wet feet like some of ours, pick them up, put them smack dab in the middle of the grass and tell them to go. More times than not - they will. Years later Shoshi still hates her feet wet - funny for a dog that loves to roll in the snow but she deals.

More tomorrow...

Say Cheese Havanese

Trying to get the Havanese cooperating - even saying cheese is I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E.

We have Coco and Zack for sleepovers and are having an amazing amount of fun.

Fiona, Coco and Abs is out walking with our son Jonathan and his girlfriend and Zack just came back with Nathan and Kat.

Ramona: Zack did great on the walk. He barked at one dog that barked at him once. He was corrected and didn't bark again.

Abs is really making Coco feel welcomed and it's all working ever so well.

Ah - Havanese heaven. Couldn't be better than this!

Are Two Better than One Havanese?

What you see here looks like a mass of hair and it is. In this photo is Shoshi, Abigail and Fiona.

We started this Havanese journey as our daughter has a Coton du Tulear and we loved to watch her Coton play with our Golden Retriever.

We are truly glad we made the plunge but there are days we check our sanity at the door.

When Shoshi came to us, she was too young, in my opinion and missing what the dam usually teaches those last critical weeks. Shoshi has been playing catch-up on how to be a Havanese since day one. She seems to have finally fully arrived.

Our Golden played with Shoshi wonderfully that first year placing her snout in the snow and throwing a spray of snow at Shoshi and soon Shoshi was doing the same in return. I have pictures of that memory that are truly precious. Terra and Shoshi fast became best pals.

Then we saw Shoshi playing with her sister with that run-like hell game and said - oh we need another. So our journey began to find a playmate that didn't fall on their face when Shoshi stopped on a dime - which often happened with Terra. Terra had longer legs but Shoshi could just outrun her by cutting corners and it was endearing.

Then Risa came into our lives and she just wouldn't play with Shoshi but she took a liking to me and would follow me around like we were connected at the hip. So, although she didn't play with Shoshi, well, she was ours. She is now Nathan's dog through and through since he sat and helped her through her last whelping.

After that, Paris and Wasabi came to visit and Wasabi alone played with Shoshi but with Paris - well Paris was her focus. I loved the antics of both Paris and Wasabi and when it came to picking between both to add another to our home, Wasabi won out due to her play with Shoshi. Paris only wanted Wasabi. But Paris was amazing - so difficult to choose. Paris could jump straight up on my hat box to an amazing height and curl up like a ball to sleep. But after we chose, Wasabi got in a funk without Paris and stopped playing with Shoshi.

Now if you are following this story - we got 2 dogs to play with Shoshi and neither would play with her. Now how did that happen? Then Kat was born in our home and well, he was Risa's and he was the one dog that climbed over everyone saying PICK ME - PICK ME and he took no backseat to his mom or to his grandsire, Mojo. He was one of the very select few that got away with challenging the Moj. Now Fiona also gets that designation, Risa's grand daughter, Mojo's great grand daughter. Something about that line and their personality. In their minds they definitely think they count the most.

Then we were lucky enough to get Abigail, to show and to bring some puppy life around this place. After 2 litters - we were really missing puppy-hood. Abs is an old soul before her time. She has this magic where she calms those around her and unites the pack. She has a delicious unbridled way about her in her play that all the dogs tend to gravitate to. They all want to play with the Abs - perhaps due to her being so accommodating.

Then we added Fiona, who has that 'pick me' attitude that makes you laugh. She also has that pouting thing going on much like Kat - no patience for taking too long and sees nothing wrong with walking up your body to get you to pay attention to her vs. anyone else.

The pups adore each other. To answer the question - are two better than one - absolutely. More work in training but once you get past that - and even while you are in the midst of it - the memories they create are priceless. But you have to invest time in spending one on one time with each so they bond to you not just the other puppy and that has happened here.

As you can see in the photo, due to Abs, Shoshi finally has a play partner that we were looking for when we started this journey. The introduction of the pups has helped Shoshi become the dog she was meant to be.

Shoshi and Abs are now playing wonderfully together. We started this journey for her to get her a playmate. She came to us at 7 weeks – way too early and it has taken her years to learn how to act like a Havanese from the pack. It’s hard to explain but she mounted Abs and I celebrated – not for Abs but that Shoshi finally has some perceived backbone in her mind. It’s a wonderful relationship Abs and Shoshi are developing and I have Abs to thank for that. Shoshi has made the entire circle to acceptance and becoming a critical part of the pack that has a job. No one should let dogs go at 7 weeks – as they miss so much learning from the dam.

That Abs…she is a heart dog – a calming force that reels them in and gets others to feel relaxed, loved and wanted. That’s a special quality she has.

So, are two dogs better than one... heh - do you now have the answer?

Wild Child Fiona's Play Method

Every Havanese has similar and unique styles of play. I call Fiona's method 'wild' and thus our nickname calling her the 'wild child.'

I can comb Fiona's hair and 2 seconds later, it looks like it was never combed at all. part of that is it has a wild abandonment thing going on with her waves. Yes, there goes that wild word again. Another issue is she sticks her head and scrunches it up immediately and another is she just has this real joy about playing with her packmate Anigail - her most fave Havanese.

Fiona pounces and hops and scats and has this way funny way of showing excitement and 'attitude' that we adore.

each Havanese has their very own personality. Abigail is an old soul in a young body. Oh, she plays her heart out but she has this real calming thing going on where Fiona's personality is a bit more frenetic. if she doesn't get her treat after performing fast enough, she scats her back legs as if she is kicking dirt to tell you that you are too slow or you are not paying attention or she is excited. It's funny as some dogs do this after doing their business but she has incorporated it into her communications to you. You can't help but laugh.

Fiona and Abigail balance each other out and although having 2 pups is walking two, taking two out to train etc - well what you get in return is non stop craziness. I am not sure how we ever did it without 2 pups at once in our lives.

Fiona is now off by herself with her human daddy doing handling class so she can do her first show. Abs is home with me taking a break but getting almost daily training.

but the human around here has been working too hard and the human dad is taking up the slack. With no air - crankiness was setting in. I think we went 5 days without air - yeouch. Don't believe air guys when they say they will come. they may not.

The dogs are happy with the coolness. They may get back into bed with us instead of laying on the bathroom tile. Will we be able to swim this week? Time will tell.

Visiting Dogs in Heat

What do you mean? What's this heat business about? What you don't see is the gang is all at Rita's house and the girls - not mine - hers are all inside just coming out of heat. Our intact male is at the door peering in and Mojo - who thinks he still has it - well he's doing the same.

You never know what you are going to get when you have 2 males and girls in heat. It could be an explosive situation but it wasn't here.

Kat and Moj seemed to have an okay relationship of mutual respect and as long as Kat didn't go inside and sniff up the girls - well life was good. Perhaps a week earlier it may have been an entirely different story.

Well, it has cooled down a tad. We still don't have air and we are making the best of it.

Fiona is off to handling class tomorrow and daddy is going to work on her scat? What's a scat? Well, the funniest thing you ever did see but we won't tell till it's perfected and we can get it on video.

More tomorrow...

Heat, Visits and Rain

Darlah has kindly allowed me to post today. Toronto continues to experience a heat wave. It's hot, humid and raining. And our air conditioner, naturally, broke down.

After the excitement yesterday, seeing Lola and Kat's puppies, now 10 days old, Maggie who is huge and very pregnant, Flora, Downsey and Britney at Alex and Yvonne's place and then Ali, Opal, Mini and Mojo at Rita and Willard's place today was a huge contrast. Both Yvonne and Rita have huge fenced-in backyards perfect for Havanese running games. Today it is raining non stop so our visits outside are more like dashes to do our business and quickly back in again.

However, we did have two visitors as Kat's litter mate Bailey and Abigail's half brother Dickens came by to visit and brought Duncan and Monica with them. They have recently returned from an awesome trip overseas and it was a pleasure to see them again. But, Bailey and Dickens are boys and boys will be boys. No, not that! They marked, everywhere, and every chance they got. And of course Kat marked over them because after all, it is his place. We still enjoyed the visit in the heat and humidity but we sure did wish it had been nice outside.

Whitney hasn't been feeling well today and I suspect it has something to do with us leaving her and Terra behind yesterday and only taking the Havanese. The stress of being left behind has upset her stomach, another added bonus when it is raining outside. If you'll recall, Whitney doesn't do well in rain and thunder so that's not helping. Yesterday we just didn't want to take the chance of the Golden Retrievers upsetting Lola. I do recall the time Whitney and Terra came cautiously and politely close to the room in which Risa had her pups and Risa growled at them in such a way that both Retrievers hit the ground instantly, on their backs, in complete submission. I know that Risa assured them both in dog talk, which we know is straight and to the point, that she would rip their lungs out and feed it to them if they came any closer to her pups and they believed her.
Nathan

Lola & Kat's Pups

Kat got to see his pups today and was he excited. Okay - he was excited to see LOLA but he did look and was impressed. heh Lola and Kat make really nice pups and Kat agrees. ROFL

Check some of the photos out below:

We were visiting Yvonne and got to see the pups. We managed to get a few photos and check out the Chicadoro site for more. I am sure once Yvonne catches her breath - she will add some there - if she hasn't already.

Tomorrow we will be posting photos of Willard and crew - Rita popped in at the last minute back from breeding Opal. Willard got to see Kat that he hasn't seen forever and got to see the scat of Fiona which he laughed at - as we all do.

We will also be posting photos of Yvonne and our crew having a grand time. Watch for those tomorrow but till then, check out some of the puppy photos we took. What you can't see is the colour that is coming out on a couple that look black and white but seem to have grey and beige - ah time will tell what they end up like. They are gorgeous but can't wait til they are doing more than eating and crawling and snoozing.

Road Tripin' Havanese

I hear tell that I have really small offspring and anyone who has been following this blog knows I adore the little ones. I get to have that human mom take some photos so she can share them. It is my first crew you know and I am the proud papa.

Well, we are road tripping today and will be getting a ton of photos of the little ones. We promise and posting. So exciting!

More tonight about our adventures of no air, seeing pups and well sweating Havanese style.

Abigail, The Flying Havanese Squirrel Dog

I had to share this one.

Kat is playing with Abigail. Abigail runs up the stairs, does a dash around the upper deck, turns and launches herself off the two steps onto Kat.

Darlah captures Abigail in mid air. What a shot.

Abigail, the flying Havanese squirrel dog.

Nathan

Darlah Here:
What Nathan doesn't tell you is the crew was an amazing amount of fun and he missed it all. He was working. Our air conditioning is not so I took the portable outside to work and clicked away.

Be sure to click any of the photos to see a larger view.

Wasabi had just become extra comfie in her viewing slot in the very best spot to watch these antics. I will only share a few but gad I just kept laughing and trying to hold the camera still.

One day I a going to have a camera with a stabilizer and that takes fast shots so these shots aren't the kind of clicking before it happens.

None of these photos are staged. If they were, I would have to brush them first. ROFL

As you can see the two stooges are doing their Wrestlemania shtick and Kat's looking on. Oh - he got into it too!

It's why he looks a tad disheveled.

The boy once he gets into it just has a way of adding something to the mix.

Yep, the Kat was having a free for all with Fiona who was loving it and Abigail was running to save Fiona?

Nah..she wanted to have fun too or maybe she wanted to play with Fiona herself - nah couldn't be - its usually Fiona that wants Abs to herself.

The gals just love it when Kat joins in and it takes it to an entirely new level of fun that I would categorize as delirious.

There is something about more than one Havanese.

They love - they live and they play like none other with such a zest for life. We could learn from that!

When all was said or done Havanese style, Fiona had her tongue hanging out with satisfaction...

(Hey Fiona - mind your manners and get that tongue in - hahahahaha)

We don't call her the wild child without a reason.

...and Abs...well she found the bowl of ice and chilled out.

From the Talemaker crew to yours - we hope you manage to have this much fun and are staying cool somehow - someway this weekend.

Posing the Darling Havanese

Taking photos with a slow camera is a fun adventure. We figured today we would try to get 3 of our Havanese posed on the bench after their bath and to say it was difficult - well that's an understatement. It's sort of like taking photos of a large family and there is always one sticking their tongue out or doing something equally distracting.

I had the camera most of the time and Nathan had the treats. I think we got - how many decent shots? I think one. You tell me.

The idea of this is one dog is easier. Three dogs or more can be interesting hint and starve them - well not really but do it just before they eat and it MAY work or get a faster camera.

Saturday we plan on taking lots of puppy photos so watch for those Saturday night.

Havanese Bug Catching

Oh yeah - you have that right. The bugs are out and the dogs think they are going hunting - yuck!

Wasabi caught a bee in her mouth mid-air and ended up injuring it and Fiona is fascinated with the ants.

Havanese are known as companions, circus entertainers at one time and therefore they are easy to train to do all sorts of interesting things but hunting for bugs? I didn't train them for THAT!

I am amazed at how very fast their reflexes are. I just wish their targets happened to be something other than bugs but it was hot as you can see in Fiona's face and she was close to the ground and action was happening and mommy - I couldn't help myself.

Oh my..the things they try to eat.

Here's a perfect opportunity to practice - LEAVE IT!

Well, mommy had to work too hard - she's still working and daddy is outdoors playing with Remy and the crew.

More later....and does yours retrieve and know the 'leave it' command?

Wild Child Fiona Goes to Class

Fiona went from swimming today to rolling all over the cement and straight to her first handling class without Abs. She went to one previously with Abs but didn't get that much time as Abs had a show.

Take a look at how it went. I was the distraction with the camera.

Havanese Style: Got Your Back

Where is our head - no photo of Sebastian leaving today. Gad - he is missed already. Do send photos. Can't wait to see him after he is bonded. There are some that just are so lovie and well, he will have a grand adventure.

Last night the siblings came over - a couple of them and here you can see Sebastian rough housing with Coach as if to say - I got your back, Coachie.

Fiona's a tad bit of an adventurous troublemaker and as you can see, she's up on the table behind John's back trying to get at the flowers on the table and Sassy is checking it out. Wish Nathan had got all of Sassy in that photo but you can get the idea of what was going on.

Havanese can leap tall what have yous in a single bound if they think they can get away with it. I caught Abigail jumping on one of the kitchen table chairs the other day after Risa went into the doghouse on her little table trip and she thought - hmm they are cooking - better get up here and wait. I corrected her and she hasn't done it since but it surely gives you an idea how intelligent they are and how their minds work.

Well, a good time was had by all as you can see on Sebastian's face. He does adore the play - human and canine alike. Wish more photos had come out last night but they were moving so fast many were blurry.

Life is an adventure that takes us down roads for reasons we often don't understand but when we arrive where we can get that one on one attention, feel loved, stimulated and cared for - well we have arrived where we need to be.

More later...

Dog Shows Are Ruff

Well, here I am hanging out in the car as someone sabotaged our tent last night. Yes, you got that right - they cut the cords, stole our tarps and damaged it beyond repair. How nice of someone. I was rather fond of it too as it allowed us extra shade in the backyard and human mommy loves the shade rather than the sun like human daddy. The tent was brand new and I gather we will have to buy another and could use not having to.

Then today, in the ring for Best in Breed, with one other dog, one of the top Havanese in Canada, handled by a professional, they started to run right in front of me and everyone knows we don't run like that in the ring but I thought he was playing the run-like-hell game that I love and I started to run too. Daddy couldn't get me to walk properly after that. People do the darnedest things to win but I guess I should feel good that this handler thought I was competition. One day, soon, I will be. Look behind you, buddy. I'm coming.

On our return home, we stopped at the new Pet Supply House location in Guelph and got a new brush or two. Mommy is always looking for that ultimate brush and she rather likes the ones she got so far. Someone held me and I snuggled with her as I am a dog that can tell when someone likes me. She just adored how soft I was and mommy does too as she is really finding that perfect combo of clarifier, shampoo/conditioner etc that make me look good. It's been a ruff road but she has finally arrived at what is right for me.

Well, I got lots of ribbons today but the only thing I care about is that I have no baths for a bit and I can play my heart out. Coach and Sassy is coming over to play and we will have photos tomorrow. Sebastian is going to his new home tomorrow and he gets to hang out with his siblings tonight. Then we get him back after his transition while his family goes on holidays and he gets to go to Rita's Havanese get together in August. Fun!

Soon we will have Remy sleeping over and Zack and Coco. talk about a Havanese love fest and with no shows it will be relaxing and enjoying life time. Can't wait.

Oh my tons of barking as Coach and Sassy just arrived. Off to have fun!

PS: Saturday we get to see Kat and Lola's pups - can't wait!!

Competition and Tsk Tsk Oh No Havanese

Yes, you are seeing this photo right. Kat has competition big time now from the Fiona.

She gets so excited, she jumps around on her back legs not being able to contain herself. She's an absolute riot and then she jumps in and I actually managed to capture it with my camera - which doesn't do action shots all that well.

This isn't the first time but it is the first time I managed to catch in on digital.

I just adore her enthusiasm. Does the girl swim right out? No - just like Kat she swims all over enjoying herself before getting out, shaking herself off.

She's not a stupid dog either cause when she gets tired, she hitches a ride right on human daddy's back. That was her idea.

You have to love this tiny little thing filled with enthusiasm. She's going to be a riot in the ring - I tell ya!

I think I have the key. Take over the top personality - mix it with excitement and - well you get fun in the pool and I wish I had captured her strutting her stuff so proud of what she did. She is indeed a 'look at me' dog.

Well, everyone knows that we stopped walking dogs during puppies as it is too easy to pass things on to the so - Risa got - well there is no other nice way to put it but - wide in the berth or mid-section or all over. ROFL Well, the gal is on a diet and exercise and she thinks he throat has been cut. She's not a happy camper and she sometimes sulks and whines and Risa never whines about a thing till this - food.

Well, Risa is perfectly behaved - never has anything she does wrong except get grouchy at times but today the smell of lamb chops and daddy leaving the room was too much for her to handle and when daddy got back, the lamb chops were mostly eaten and she was munching away on the table. Needless to say - Risa understands she did something wrong and she actually realized it when Nathan came into the room and I suppose even before she got up on the table but as I said - hell hath no fury like a starving woman. ROFL

Owner/Handler Showing Havanese

In this photo, you can tell the difference between groomed and not groomed. Fiona, on the left is not groomed and Abigail on the right is. Nothing wrong with either - but an entirely different look.

Abigail is doing shows - not getting her points but was told by the judge that she had excellent structure, beautiful hair and she is positive we will finish her fast. ha!

More to these shows than you ever want to know but we are in for the long haul.

What have I learned? Professional Handlers have the edge with many judges. It is their day job after all.

I have also learned - not just in our breed, that a dog can win that is not within the standard and that boggles me. A huge winner in another known breed just got thrown out of the World event, disqualified due to a teeth issue but yet it has huge wins elsewhere in the United States and in Canada. It was the talk of our handling class. Go figure.

I could go on but just know this is not for the weak at heart.

What positive things have I learned? I have perfected my skills at grooming. I have learned how to allow a puppy to play and find balance for the dogs. I have placed the love of my dog over my desire to win. I allow her to play and live and enjoy and what will be will be. Doesn't make it right or wrong with those that keep their dogs separate - just this is what is right for 'us.' And yes, we realize this will take longer than it would if we completelyt seperated Abigail from her best friend in life, Fiona, so that they weren't jumping on each other and playing all day long which can affect her hair. Oh well, so it will take us longer.

We did have a Professional Handler tell us they could finish her in a week or two but it would be their win and hers not ours so we will plug along and you may get bored with this insight that I am bringing to light to those that may never show or are thinking of showing.

If Abs wasn't enjoying it (she does wait at the door to go and knows when we are) well - then we would say - this is WAY crazy. Our dogs matter more than any goals we may have.

Till who knows when - we will continue to fill you in and now I am afraid I must wash Abs yet again. Two more baths over the next two days and then a real break.

PS: Heard the pups at Yvonne's house are doing ever so well. Can't wait till we can see them.

More tomorrow>>