This is Holly, one of our boarders and she leaves tomorrow. She was hanging out on Nathan today while he read. She is rather enjoying doing so.

This is Penny. She's Fiona's daughter and is visiting us till tomorrow. She played up a storm with the puppies and found them so fascinating. She really knows how to engage them in play. Wait til you see the video tomorrow.

This is Missy and she lives with Holly. She thought the puppies were Martians but its good conditioning. With ouur crew, some enjoy them more than others. They can be persistent in their desire to feed and sometimes they try to feed on someone other than the moms and that sends the adults scrambling. heh

Sunny Times at Talemaker Havanese

Coco One of Our VisitorsWe have had a truly fun weekend filled with way exciting moments. But unfortunately, Zack, Coco and Jessie are on their way home.

Tia and Sydney are still with us playing up a storm.

In the middle of Tia and Sydney going home, we have party guy Jay Jay, Jasper (one of Wasabi’s pups), Charlie and Weaver coming.

It’s really a lot of excitement and it always is something new with each bringing their very own personality to the mix.

Zack, Coco and Jessie all had baths. Tomorrow I will get in a couple of baths with our resident Talemaker guys. They get groomed daily but with all this dirt from the walks, well they look a tad dingy no matter how hard you try. So, with snow coming, we will spruce them up again.

Are any of you sick of all this sand you are bringing in from walks and visitors? Will they stop sanding the sidewalks and streets?

It was a fantastic warm and sunny weekend,  as warm as any winter day can be. I almost felt spring in the air and then they say snow is coming.

I guess it is mother nature keeping us on our toes.

Let’s see, Jessie loved his bath – yes loved it! Zack just wants the treats and Coco doesn’t seem to mind a bit.

Sydney One of Our VisitorsSydney is a stick monster. No matter where she is, she finds them and we have tons in the garden. She just thinks it's a delightful game to take one and run with it while Treasure chases her.

We really had a great time running around. The little ones found fun running under the deck from one side to the other side. Yes, it is safe.

The visitors, Tia and Sydney taught themselves. Maybe it had a lot to do with watching Wasabi run in and out.

 If you want to see a few photos taken today, well check it out here.

Changes for Talemaker Havanese

We are building a new website and will be porting over our tips, our puppy and our crew and boarder's blogs. You will also see all our video links and our photos as well. In porting this over, I got to see photos from Wasabi's first puppies, her c-section. It brought back amazing memories. Soon I will be working on the photos from her 2nd pregnancy which she had naturally.

You will still be able to find us by typing http://www.talemakerhavanese.com/. If you have us saved as a favorite, you may have to wait till we post saying you can find us.... and then click on the link and save us to your favorites. We are not sure of a date yet but we will leave this area up as a pointer for a month or two.

We are still working like crazy to get it done. So stay tuned. The blogs will be a bit more interactive so we like that.

Now that we teased you, you'll just have to wait till it is done.

February is turning into a fun month with a number of boarders coming. We are excited. We are going to get our video camera rolling to make photos and videos a part of the fun. I have been so busy with the camera that I forgot about the video camera. Got to plug it in and charge it up

It's been too quiet around here. We also have ultrasound slated for Feb 8th for Wasabi and Abigail. We are also attending a seminar about dogs this weekend. We continue to glean whatever info we can get and it enables us to continue to learn and therefore help the dogs, if needed. I am really looking forward to this one and will fill you in after we have attended.

We started getting flurries today but nothing to write home about. I really want more and so do the dawgs!

Wasabi seems to have a tummy and Abigail is still experiencing morning sickness. We are loving and cuddling and enjoying all of them.

Risa and Kat went for their cerf and passed and the others all passed in December.

Today has been a day of how to coerce Abigail into eating. Any ideas are welcomed!

Correct Play?

Play, by definition, is fun. When play stops being fun it stops being play.

During play, Havanese behave without real seriousness - running, jumping, chasing, mouthing, chewing, wrestling, biting, hiding and even humping. In play, all behaviors are a game to the players and are performed for fun. There is no hidden agenda.

Sometimes it can even look menacing with bared teeth but there is a distinct difference between play for the fun of it and aggressive play.

Dawgs have a unique gesture, the play bow, that signals "play mode." The signal involves dawgs going down on their elbows with their rear end elevated, tail raised and wagging. During such posturing, they have on their "play face," with mouth open and ears pricked. They may bark to signal their wish to solicit another's involvement, and may approach or withdraw from a potential play partner while pouncing and leaping about. Some puppies will bark to an irritating degree but they are learning how to initiate play. They will hone their skills.

Social skills are honed by playful interactions between individuals. One pup may jump on another pup, pin him, and then mouth him around the head and neck. If the pressure of the pup's bite exceeds tolerable limits, the temporary submissive will roll over, yelp or run away. Both parties learn an important lesson. The biter learns to inhibit his bite if he wishes the fun to continue, and the pup that is bitten learns that deference or escape will cause the unpleasant experience to come to an end. Of course, sudden role reversal is also a feature of play, with provisional submissives suddenly becoming pursuers and "attackers."

Here you can see Fiona, Treasure and Saki in full out play. Treasure at times tries to dominate the play but as a puppy herself, she is learning that for the play to continue, it has to be fun for all parties. They learn so much from play.

There is nothing like more than 1 Havanese.

December 25th at Talemaker Havanese

Looks like a snowy day today and yep - the snow was there on the ground but the rain came late in the day. What we will end up with tomorrow - who knows. I am hoping it's not too icy.

We had a full day today that started at 545am.

We had a play session outside and then came in and ate. After eating, that human groomed us all and back outside we went and here are some of the photos from today. I have many more but I just grab a chunk and resize and put them in a slide show. I hope when I do, I get everyone and I do try. I just don't have the hours in the day to post them all due to needing to resize all the photos. Check them out here.

Well, the crew also got their presents today and they had yum chew bones. They loved them and we enjoy it when they enjoy.

The crew played hard and seemed like they were never going to stop until the rain came. Then we came inside, played with Tiger Lily who is about to go home any second and cuddled and hugged and enjoyed.

A crazy game of retrieve is always played and Zack, Fred, Cesar, Treasure and Abigail is the - I will always play and the rest join in when they desire.

Sorry to make this short but we are tuckered out and we have a few more visitors coming tomorrow. It will surely be a ton of fun. Catch you tomorrow.

Exciting Day Today!

First thing this morning, Fred came to visit. I was busy grooming dawgs so when I was done the crew, Fred went up on the table and got a thorough brushing and complete comb out. I groom the crew daily - visitors and my own crew.

I like a knot free dawg and the dawgs seem to like that too. Though some like grooming more than others - they do like the hugs, snuggles and kisses but most of all the treat at the end.

Late today Zack and Cocoa came. Their grooming comes before they head to bed. We had play and walks - yep they all walked and puppies visiting. We had a full day of play and fun.

Check out some of the photos from today and if you want to see more, soon I will be posting puppy pics on Havanese Life.

Fred fits in really well - playing with all but really loves playing with Bailey and Cesar. They muck it up bigtime.

Zack and Cocoa are hanging out and playing with Abigail, Fiona an Risa.

What a full day we have.

Due to Wasabi being in heat, we are splitting up the crew. Some will be sleeping with Nathan and some with me. Usually we are in the same room but she's being bred to someone other than Kat so it is what it is. We are hoping this brings in Abigail. Miss Abs will be bred to Kat. It's starting to look that way...stay tuned.

Ah..the life of crazy dawg breeders that love the dawgs and thank gad the humans share this passion as it is way crazy!

More tomorrow.

Collision Fun

The dawgs often play a collision game all in fun and now the pups are running in trying to join in the fun. It's a riot.

It's quiet around this place with only Gidget as a visitor.

Terra, our golden with the operation tries to join in but she can't but in her mind she thinks she can. Thursday her stitches come out and her rehabilitation begins.

The crew has been wonderful with her. It's just Terra that has no patience.

Well, back to play and grooming and walks...and what about you?

Talemaker Love

Even when friends and family come over, they just get to have lots of dawgs to cuddle with and the dawgs don't mind a bit.

Today, our visitor Missy rolled in a plant that had seeds and boy can I say a tad bit of hair with lots of seeds? It sure felt like it. Took me ah but an hour to get it out but she didn't mind as she got some treats. Me - I am going to kill that plant when I find it.

Well, the dawgs are having a grand time running around like banshees. We have Nathan's brother and wife staying over and they tried to get pool time but off and on we had rain. That's okay - tomorrow's another day.

Off to post about the pups...at Havanese Life. Gad - they are growing!

Checking Out the Rain

Just because we have puppies the crew isn't forgotten. They still get their exercise, loves, cuddles, brushing and games. Even at bedtime we have one on one with each. As a mom and dad of 7 kids, we realize how important it is to make sure everyone counts - visitors included.

Th red one in the picture is Teddy - a Havapoo and the grey one is a Havanese called Oreo that turned various shades of grey instead of the black and white it started out as. This is a Kat/Lola pup. I am interested to see if any of the Wasabi/Kat pups turn similar.

Then of course the one nuzzling the statue is our Treasured one. This trio is having a roaring grand time rolling around as pups usually do. It's exciting to have such activity.

Our two sons have pitched in to help with play/walks and watching pups while we do mundane things like showers. one has to do THAT...

Oh..and there is that grooming thing. I have worked my way through half of them today. I will get the rest this afternoon. Even our visitors - after the first time now wait their turn. The trick..the treat at the end. :-)

PS: Puppy Saga is going on at Talemaker Puppy Life.

Picnic - Wasabi & More

The picnic was a blast and we at Talemaker want to say to Yvonne, Alex, Rita and Willard bravo - we will have ours in August and to all those that brought food, helped out and had great conversation with - well we enjoyed it.

I suspected Wasabi was in early stages of labour. I was right. In the car she started pushing. Her labour was not hard but she wasn't pushing all that hard. Last time was a c-section so this was new to her. It was great that she went natural.

Follow us at Talemaker Puppy Life as we continue this saga. We will be updating it with pix shortly and telling you about puppies and how life changes with them.

WE are tired but enjoying those dogs that are with us and the pups and making the most of living and loving the dogs despite the lack of sleep and food but hey I can use less of THAT...

Hope you enjoy the picnic pics. It took all day as I had to edit each to reduce the size but otherwise I did nothing to them.

Check out the picnic slideshow. We hope you enjoy!

Taking the Plunge

Ah...pool life - we have it so ruff...

When Daddy dives in the pool, so does Kat but there is a whole lot of activity going on when he does this.

The dogs run around like banshees till he hits the water and then they still run around till he surfaces.

Risa jumps on the diving board with him but never goes in till invited.

Every now and then another dog spills in or shall I say jumps in but not in the fashion Kat does. For him it's a passion.

Diving or jumping in even for human young ones is not always easy.

You have to be fearless about it. Not all of us are like that. Some need to work into it.

Then the crew watches as everyone comes out.

Doesn't Treasure fit nicely under Terra?

Well - is today the day Wasabi delivers? Daddy is trying to feed her..she panted though not badly all night - she's tried to nest under the deck - all signs...but follow us at Talemaker Puppy Life to see when they make their debut.

We will be posting photos and telling you how it all went.

Double Trouble

Can it happen twice? What do you mean?

When gals are intact, they come into heat usually every 5 or 6 months. Well, not Fiona - she's back in heat after 2 months.

What timing. See what you are missing? NOT!

It is what it is....

Wasabi is still in waiting... I am hoping for Sunday morning after much rest. ROFL

Again... It is what it is!

We will be posting everything puppies when they come on the puppy area at.....Talemaker Puppy Life

Just know - we are waiting too!

Swimming Observation of the Havanese

In watching Risa, I realized that she uses her tail as a rudder.

I am not sure why I didn't notice it before but Kat does the same thing.

Not all the Havanese do this but those that do tend to glide in the water as if they were meant to be in it.

Risa is on a mission to lose weight so she now has a daily ritual of swimming in the pool and now that her hair is shorter - still love long hair but short isn't so bad - well I can get Nathan to brusha - brusha - brush!

One thing I notice about the dawgs is all of them have a grand time and you can see them smile.

It's hard to explain but if you look at the photos - you can see Shoshi smiling and I have another of Kat doing the same.

They also love our dawgs and visitors alike the game of running around the pool to bark and get excited to watch Kat jump in and it is a game. All Nathan has to do is put his glasses down and they come running and Kat jumps in.

It's never a dull moment and we love it!

Wet Havanese Equals Fun

Today was a hot, hot day that hasn't started to cool down yet. We decided to pool it and the human mom will work tonight. This is how we survive - heh

Treasure, Kat, Shoshi, Fiona and Risa all went into the pool today.

If you haven't taken your Havanese swimming yet - well it sort of gets them in high drive - the wet skin and all.

Treasure was running around like a banshee up and down chairs and all around.

You can click on the photos to see a larger version, if you want.

She's not the only one that loves the wet and now that Risa and Shoshi has a haircut, well the human mom can ask the human dad to brush away and it only takes him minutes.

The mom still had to dry Kat, Fiona and partially dry Treasure but cutting out two sure saved me time. These short haircuts are nice...heh

Wasabi also hung out at the pool and did her usual snoozing. Check it out here. When will she deliver? We are taking bets....heh

After the pool was done, we pressure washed the deck now that all the weeds are gone - well gone around the pool.

We still have to weed the rest of the yard but we aren't looking if you aren't.

We are getting excited about having new little ones here. We haven't had any for a long time.

We had much to get ready but now it's all done. Even the video camera is charged.

HairCUTS: Havanese Stylin'

Shoshi was hanging out in the backyard pondering the meaning of what Mommy said about it's haircut day.

What does that mean, Mommy?

Well Daddy took Shoshi and Risa downtown to Val's while Sylvie watched how she cut the duo. This way Sylvie gets to watch 2 Havanese get cut. Sylvie is feeding her passion - learning how to groom. Our dawgs get cuts - so win/win.

I am a fan of long hair but Shoshi and Risa have thick hair. Shoshi's being cottony and Risa's silky but way profuse so we decided to cut them down.

I brush out everyone daily and this will actually help me in my grooming load. Is that why I did it? Partially but not really. I know that doesn't make sense. I like long hair - what can I say but the thickness of their hair mixed in with swimming made the decision easier. This way they can swim, shake off and I can do minimum brush out and all that hair won't weigh down Risa.

When Shoshi came home, I tried to get a photo of her and all she would do is shake her body, rub it and roll around like a banshee.

It's a tad hard to get a photo like that but as you can see, I captured her in action.

Treasure just stared at her like she lost her mind.
Oh Shoshi, can't I see how you look?

Yes, Mommy - okay - Val and Sylvie did a fine job. I have less hair. I actually look smaller though I could lose a bit..tsk tsk but as Daddy would say - it's all muscle - really it is!

Risa was a bit more accommodating letting me capture her new look before she rolled into Daddy's office and found a cool spot on the floor.

Risa really needs to lose weight but now that I see her without her hair, I realize Daddy is doing a great job getting her back to her svelte self before kids.

All of you that have had kids - especially multiples know how tough that is but we try and now without that hair, pool exercise is in the cards daily as long as the weather cooperates.

Are you cutting your Havanese down for the summer?

Oh That Snuggle Love

Shoshi is a heart dog. What does that mean? She managed to capture our hearts the first time we laid eyes on her. It's crazy - these emotions but we still love her as deeply even after adding a number of playmates for her.

More than one doesn't mean divided love. We know that well with 7 kids - now grown up. We love them all.

Our oldest daughter is going to be x tomorrow - well shhh we won't tell you how old but the moment I set eyes on her - well she captured my heart and as each one came - they did the same. You end up going crazy with somethings they do and loving them for them being unique.

Each Havanese also have unique personalities - similar in some ways - different in others.

They are amazing - truly and we love them!

Wake Up Havanese Blues

If you look real close you can see Kat's reflection in the pool. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

As you can tell, he's been having fun in the pool. You don't have to coax him in - it's the other way around - getting the Daddy to come in.

Last night I played a fun game with Abigail and she adored it. Okay, I know when you go to bed - you should go to bed - no TV - no distractions or you are asking for a sleep that is anything less than satisfying but I can't help myself. So, when Abigail was laying next to me, I blew at her head and she started twisting and turning then coming back for more. She loved it. Treasure tried to get the focus on her and Fiona was miffed but we played and played til Daddy started playing with her in the same fashion then he watched TV (in our room - I know) and I went to sleep.

At 4am Treasure decided it was time to get up and play. Lord knows she had enough exercise for even the most fit to feel tired but nope - let's get up, Mommy so I said NO and rolled over - put the sheet over my head as she tends to lick your face and she laid down. I said - hmm okay this is good though once I am up, I am up. But 10 minutes later she did it again and then 5 minutes later so off we went downstairs. Nathan came too - usually it's just me and he went back to bed and here I am deader than a door nail typing and the crew is sleeping on the floor.

I think the Treasure should play retrieve before bed tonight and wear herself down even more and she needs to know 4am is NOT it. Why this happened last night - I haven't a clue but we will be doing everything to make sure it doesn't tonight.

Maybe it was my silly game with Abigail that set the stage for her wanting to get up sooner or later...my bad!

Treasure: New Champion

As a Junior puppy still - the Treasured one gains her Canadian champion - with Nathan - of course.

This one loves the shows and we will be enjoying life in and out of the ring with her.

Treasure had taken a swim the night before and I ran out of steam and didn't wake up at 5am to wash her. Her hair was wonderfully soft from the pool.

I should air dry her from the pool more often. ROFL

Photos from the pool later and more about the rest of the crews antics.

Although we are doing the show scene - we firmly believe the dogs should be dogs and embrace and enjoy life. If they have to be left in playpens and segregated to keep their hair then what about their minds? It's a difficult balance.

First Pool Moments of 2009

Just thought we would share some photos with you on the first day of this season back in the pool. We also have a video we have to convert which is better than the photos but still - I think I captured some hair raising moments. Kat, Wasabi and Treasure - Treasure's first in the pool moments. Yes, Kat jumped in the pool but you wil have to wait for the video for that. Treasure not yet and Wasabi - well she is too big to do that - please!

Havanese Conformation Ring

Well, one thing we stick to is we tell you the real story without flowering it up. Treasure has been trained to go outside - in the grass and yesterday was her first outdoor show. So, as you can see in this photo, she took a break and did her business.

She's a puppy and this is her first time ever having a break midstream but the judge laughed about it especially when it looks like she has the largest bladder for a dog of that size.

She still managed to get winners bitch and that now puts her closer to that championship. She's almost there.

Today's another bath day, more competition and a sweepstakes. Then win or lose - if Daddy - (Nathan) can remember to crank up the heat in the pool, we will come home and Treasure will have her first swim and Kat will have his first dive of yet another season. He's been patient but he certainly wants in.

Me - before I swim I will have that video camera going and perhaps a photo or 2. Then another bath for the Treasured one for that show on Sunday then a Woofstock break.