Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 8:14PM Just in case you want to see the videos we did today, we did a wet Havanese video - the Treasured one before her bath and Treasure Retrieving. Can you tell how much Nathan loves the dogs in the retrieve one?
Hope you enjoy. Can't wait till we can teach the puppies to swim but boy am I getting ahead of myself. Still another week and a bit till ultrasound day!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:06PM 
We had a really great day despite the human mom being sick. She gave me a bath - (Treasure) as I have handling class tonight and I like mucking it up and she took some wet videos of me. She's working on it now hoping to get a new video up (it's been forever) and another of me playing retrieve today.
When Daddy comes into the room to play the game with me, I have a bounce in my step and lots of fun is to be had. PS: I always manage to get the ball no matter when we play. I wonder what that is about...heh
Kat (our male chillin' in the background) says...I can touch it and get it first but why play that silly game. I much prefer diving in the pool. So, when is the pool opening up?
Look for videos coming soon. I know...it's been too long...
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 5:07PM 
Do you know you can choose to connect with your Havanese or just be another being in your home. If you want a real bond with your Havanese, you have to create it. Sure, they will love you unconditionally but when I see Treasure climbing up her Daddy's chest to give him mega kisses all over his face, I realize to him, she's not just another being in the house nor is he just another to her. They have a real bond.
Sure, we get busy in our lives and there's always one more thing we have to do but there's nothing like watching that crazy guy stand out on the pool safety cover to grab that ball that the dawgs just won't get this one time and throwing it and laughing and allowing me to capture it on camera as a memory.
As that ball gets released and even in anticipation, the dogs are flying to get it. With camera in hand I get to capture that moment.
But you too can create your memories - like the photo book a friend did for her son's birthday with a Havanese called Sebastian.
Our moments are what we make them. Find a way to connect - to bond to make memories and celebrate a bond like none other. It can be as simple as massaging your Havanese while watching TV but take notice of your Havanese and don't just exist next to him. Touch and talk to him as if it matters - cause it does!
Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 3:07PM 
It's my toy - no, it's mine. There are so many games you can play with your Havanese and then with each other. It's not limited to retrieve.
Did you know you can teach them object recognition? Start calling a toy a certain name and get them to play retrieve with it. Then use a different toy and give it a unique name. Then put both toys down after they truly know the name of each object. You just expanded their vocabulary. You can also keep going. How fun is that?
Our dogs know walk, ambulation, W-A-L-K etc all for that great - do you want to go.... that they adore. We started using different words to each other so the dogs didn't understand but these smart Havanese caught on REAL fast! Try it!
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 4:10PM 
Have you taken your dog out and watched their hair blowing? Maybe it's the artistic side of me but hair blowing - messy as ever and that's my memory.
Really - Wasabi was perfectly brushed earlier..but that's not Wasabi. She just enjoys mucking and romping it up and loves that breeze flowing through her. You've seen those type of dogs - the ones hanging their heads out the window. That would be her, if we allowed. When I blow dry her - she just loves it when its on air only and it's blowing right in her face. Most dogs find this to be rather unenjoyable but not her.
Looking at this photo, she looks 50 lbs but she's a svelte 12 pounds - hopefully soon to be a heavier dog with pups. She's already getting that sucky - just need to be close thing they do and I love that as I am her one to cuddle with.
It's raining and all that tough snoozing is over for today. One does have to come in from the rain. It doesn't appear that the sun will come back out.
Zack and Coco is visiting for a week and fun is going to happen for sure this week. Let's see - we already had a run-like-hell session - snoozing - hiding in tunnels - retrieve game and more to come. Okay - we do need to get a life but our lives are the dogs - so excuse us for celebrating such delightful moments of the Havanese.
Your life will never be the same once one enters your life and you will wonder how you ever did without one or two or like crazy us...many!
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 6:43AM 
Warmer days are coming and yesterday the garden furniture went out. It's about time don't you think? But don't put out plants just yet - cooler weather is coming tomorrow. Remember all sensitive plants shouldn't be placed out til the end of the month.
Well, we made progress. Nathan pulled a million and a half dandelions and I cut back some branches and shrubs and the dogs just had a grand old time dragging the sticks from my cutbacks from here to there.
The Havanese are like us - they can't wait til warmer times but when the really hot weather arrives - hey give me that pool or air conditioner - any old time.
Yvonne's puppies from our Kat and her Lola's are already 10 days old. WOW! We still have 12 days to go till Wasabi's ultrasound and tomorrow Zack and Coco are coming for a week to play. It's going to be great fun.
Then today Linda's mother and Linda of course are coming - 89 years old to be surrounded by all these dogs. It's the start of a great holiday weekend. What have YOU got planned? How about a walk with your fave Havanese. Did you know that they create conversations wherever you go? I find that to be rather nice and when that happens - you get to human socialize them. That's a GOOD thing!
Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 10:59AM 
When you show your dog you have to look at it without the glow in your eyes that your Havanese meets the standards and tends to stand out but that is all subjective.
Is there more?
Well everyone who sits and says their dogs LOVE the shows - well they aren't ALL right. There are some dogs that grow into it, others that tolerate it and others that never get their groove on but could be amazing moms and still can finish.
So, why do it when your dog isn't totally in love with the sport? I guess to say they achieved their championship.
There are various reasons why you may not show your dog to championship.
They are not in love with the sport but do adhere to the standards and would be amazing brood bitches etc. or in one instance that we had to deal with - another dog ripped out one of our dog's top knots all in fun. The dog didn't do it to delay the show career but rather to play.
Another reason could be a blown coat that does happen once in a Havanese life or you are simply too far away from the shows, the costs - to name just a few of the reasons.
We struggle in keeping the hair intact, having a balanced Havanese that enjoys life and is not segregated from others and figuring it out.
Is this really that important and is it fun for the dog?
Treasure last night in class had a ball. Her body, her bounce, her smile - yep a smile said it all.
She loves the time in the ring but she likes to be the only one.
In Chatham she was 'on' just like last night. With company - well she wants to play. Is it that she wants to be the only one or having your pack mates just means fun and you can't do that while the focus is on so many?
This show business is tough. It's a dance between you and the dog - a view from a given judge and yes you can have an exquisite dog that doesn't win in a sea of professional handlers. Yes, that happens and we have watched it not just in the Havanese when we haven't had dogs in but in a number of breeds but being a judge isn't easy, I imagine and when you do not win even when you are on your game - your Havanese is on its game - well you did win as you achieved that special dance between handler and canine that should be applauded. Add that the dog and handler enjoys the experience and you have achieved more than any championship, imho.
When our dogs do achieve their championship - I celebrate. We relax in this hair business and don't worry as much when they play hard, rough and tumble style and life is good but we do manage to make sure they enjoy life before championship and just do it with less than perfect hair as the dog counts the most in all of this....at least for us.
Puppies are the things we celebrate - play - achievements - balanced - healthy - fun - all the things that if not in their lives here - well we would choose to forgo the shows as the dogs and their lives matter the most and we do not fool ourselves into believing that all dogs love the show ring - as they don't. But that's okay. Do you like to do everything?
Just call this written exploring - and food for thought!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 4:14PM 
Well - not - never but it's done - ah...and till the next time. I adore male dogs - I do and I mean totally do. They are so lovees etc. but not stud dogs that are kept away from a gal in heat. They are an entire 'nother beast but today - calm...no interest - and tomorrow a bath as the marking outside has stopped.
We were going to take Kat out to class tonight to get him to get away from the scents but now it will only be the Treasure. She's practicing for the show coming up and we like to keep her exposed to kids, other dogs, different scenery etc. It's important especially during their fear stages.
Treasure hasn't been around screaming - running kids so last night I asked the kids to stop at class (class was outside) and say hello to her. All of this is done to make her realize that no matter how headache driven the screams are - it's all harmless.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 8:15AM 
Last night we went to handling class with just Kat and Treasure was miffed, to say the least. She rather likes the classes but she had just finished 3 days of show and we felt she needed a break despite what she thinks. Tonight she is back to handling class.
There's a fine art to balance when training. You can't do it so much that they get bored or don't find it as a treat to go to class so leaving Treasure behind at times is a good thing despite her - but daddies that she so prominently displays.
We bought these 'no bark' devices from Home Hardware and placed one at the front door. We had a few barkers that we were boarding at the same time and it got our pack barking in unison. I don't mind a few barks but then that should be enough. It hasn't stopped the barking totally but it has stopped the number of times. What it does is put out a high pitched sound that they can only hear. It doesn't hurt them. It's a sound correction. Will it work long term - don't think that is necessary if you use it as an attention thing and use your usual correction - you should be able to shut them off and still have the same affect with the anticipation. So far - day 1 - it's doing the attention thing so we can correct. We will see what happens when we get a boarder or two that likes to bark. We have one on our deck but may need another further out. We shall see.
Bad news - they need batteries and who knows how long they will last.
Two weeks till Wasabi's ultrasound. Why do the days string out when you want them to go by fast and zip by when you don't want them to?
Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:03PM 
This weekend someone asked Nathan to show a 130 lb dog. Can you guess what it was?
When the judge said run it around twice, Nathan got his full workout.
Nathan really enjoyed the experience though a dog that size - when it wants your treats - well who is going to win?
Well, today was a catch-up day with much grooming. Due to rain, and not being here - well I had work to do and - well sometimes they say - there are days like this....
Can we have another day?
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 6:54PM 
Well, Abigail now has 13 points - you need 10 for their championship and the question is - do we cut her down or do we leave her in full coat? What do you think?
That's it - Abigail can play to her heart's delight and muck it up, swim and not have mommy give her all those deep conditioning baths.
Life is going to be sooooooooooo much fun. ROFL
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 4:58AM Well Abigail does it with a bang - beating out all the specials for breed and finishing her championship and get this - with a blown coat.
More after today's show and a champion photo tonight.
Gad - am I tired or what and soon we have to pick up our friend Valerie Weston that helped us and continues to and I get to watch her TT in the ring today as she is on this afternoon while Nathan is on this morning with Abigail and Treasure. Fiona gets to hang out at home and enjoy already getting her championship just a few weeks ago.
We are sooooooooooooo excited to have 2 champions in such a short time.
Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 5:19AM 
Here's the 3 at the show yesterday. If you think it is easy showing 3 at a time - well it's a tad - well challenging the way we do it but that's okay. I had all three on the table waiting their turn to be brushed.
Last night I had to wash the crew. I fudged - I half washed Treasure - fully washed the other two. I was out of steam. Treasure wasn't dirty other than underneath and her feet and her face so that is what I did. My bad but it was almost a full bath and thinking back on it, I may as well just had done the whole thing but it did save me a bit of time. Tonight I get to wash only 2 as Fiona is staying home. It will be much easier with 2 but get this, we are on at 9am - yikes - yeah Happy Mother's Day to me.
I then went to bed crashing hard with Wasabi, Shoshi and Katsura. Kat would have none of that sleep stuff so I may be sleeping in the car. This heat business is getting old. It's almost 530am and I have to wake the crew up soon anyways so we can get back on the road yet again - to another dog show.
No dog show next week - hooray and the next one is only with Treasure - much easier for ME!
Well, today we are going to drop Val off and we are - well I am hoping to buy some plants. There are a bunch of greenhouses and nurseries out that way and that will be my Mother's Day or celebration to me for surviving. Don't want to do it tomorrow as it will probably be a zoo but hoping we find the time today. We shall see.
Hoping for a good day at the show. Win or lose - it's a great chat!
Friday, May 8, 2009 at 7:52PM 
Last night Darlah bathed no less than three dogs: Abigail, Fiona and Treasure.
This morning we picked up our friend Val at 7:00am and then headed for Simcoe, Ontario. Today was Abigail's day.
In spite of the fact she's in heat and dealing with the fact that Kat wants her as much as she wants him, she was wonderful in the show ring. She won Winner's Bitch, then Best of Winner's and Best of Opposites picking up two more points towards her championship.
She needs just two more to finish. She's almost there! Val helped. Rita helped on lead when I had to show two dogs at once. Darlah helped most of all by doing a wonderful job on Abigail's coat even though its still growing back. And right now as I'm typing this Darlah is doing it all over again in anticipation of tomorrow's show.
Nathan
Friday, May 8, 2009 at 4:43AM 
As those of you who follow the blog know, we have one male in our home, a single boy among eight females. Some of our females are spayed for various reasons and will live out their lives with us happily ever after but four are not. And when those bitches come into heat our boy, Kat, knows it. He also knows what to do about it. Last week, for example, Wasabi was in heat and right in her prime and he knew it. This time, lucky boy, he was allowed to breed Wasabi and breed they did, eleven times. As soon as her time was over she growled him off and he understood.
Then Abigail went into heat. Our bad luck she didn’t go into heat at the same time as Wasabi but one week after and this time he was not allowed to breed. So instead of last weeks’ experience, with Wasabi flirting and dancing and him flirting and dancing right back, tails wagging, snuggling, licking ears and generally loving each other, followed by a tie, this week as much as he is desperate for us to understand that Abigail is in heat, we don’t seem to get it. Worse, as much as he pathetically whimpers, whines, claws at doors, crates, barred gates and windows, we aren’t seeming to understand that Abigail is calling him and she needs him right now! As I look up from my desk Kat is standing in front of the gate across my office door which prevents him from getting to Abigail. Of course Abigail is playing right along, lying a foot from the gate on the other side slowly wagging her tail and batting her eyelashes at him. If there was ever a more perfect name than the designation ‘bitch’ for a female dog, especially one in heat, I’ve never heard it.
At night I am now sleeping in a separate bedroom from my wife so that Kat is with me and away from Abigail. Risa, Shoshi and Fiona join us. The rest stay with Darlah. Just about all night long Kat comes to me to ask if he can please go see Abigail now. It reminds me of our children, once upon a time when they were young, asking repeatedly “are we there yet?” In Kat’s case he jumps on the bed, off the bed, snuffles at the closed bedroom door, back on the bed again trying to make his suddenly dumb daddy understand that Abigail really needs him right now. “Don’t you understand, Daddy? Abigail NEEDS me” he says in his best telepathic manner, willing me to understand and let him out.
He has finally settled down sitting beside my leg and is looking up at me with these big wide open eyes. He’s not quite sure why I’m being so particularly dense but he’s no dummy and he realizes I control the gate. In fact, he is so very bright and alert at the moment I wish I was showing him this weekend. Instead, we’re showing the bitch and she is in a mood.
We are travelling to the dog show in our van each day. We are bringing Treasure, Fiona and Abigail. But we are also picking up our friend Val and she’s bringing her fantastic Tibetan Terrier and another male dog she is showing this weekend. Imagine, if you will, five dogs in the van together for no less than 4 ½ hours each day, back and forth from our home to Val’s to the show. My two other girls could care less that Abigail is in heat but Val’s two males are certain to be in a special mood by the time we arrive at the show. We warned Val but she says this happens all the time in the show world so the boys have to learn to tough it out. I think she’s nuts and I’m really glad I’m driving, leaving Darlah and Val to deal with the whining and whimpering while I zone out and focus totally on the road.
Wish us luck this weekend.
Nathan
Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 6:42AM 
I have the wet blues. Mommy says I have a show tomorrow but I do adore the rain. I like to stand out in it, jump in the puddles, and simply get a terrible mess. Puppies are supposed to do that and usually she lets me but not the day before a show. I mean - she's going to wash me TONIGHT but she's afraid she will have to do it earlier and then have an extra long time keeping me clean. Mommy - can't you bathe me twice? I never thought I would say that ...but....
Well, if that wasn't enough, Wasabi is acting like she is the boss around here. That's usually Risa's job. Okay - even if you are preggie - don't you know *I* am the real boss around this place. Just watch..I give this look and everyone just does whatever I want - yeah right!
Last night Daddy did nails on the dogs and Fiona just HATES her nails done. So, he tried - she squirmed so Mommy held and he cut and all was good but if she had her way, she would have not had them done even though they were truly needed.
Some of us have strong willed dogs but you must persist with baths, nails, brushing tummies and feet - anything that they feel they don't like as it's necessary. If you can't do the nails many vets will but that costs and many groomers will. But don't think the nails are getting grounded down naturally unless you are doing marathon walks on cement daily.
Ooops and don't forget to check the ears - smell them and make sure you don't have an infection coming on. We do not usually have one but Wasabi had one that just wouldn't go away and after two different meds and lots of treatment - it went. It does happen - just not all that often.
After this wet - do a brushing to eliminate any knots setting in. You will be glad you did.
Oh well - shows - busy times and hopefully we will survive. Hoping you have an easier time and we get Zack and Coco a week from Friday - how cool is that? We are excited!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 8:22AM 
This heat business....argh... We are sharing this lovely stage of breeding with you so you 'get' that its not all fun but despite it all - we are trying to laugh - and hope you laugh with us - not at us!
We are showing a semi-old photo of Kat as you do not want to see him today despite that I bathed him thoroughly and do semi baths daily.
Someone suggested I use lavender scented things to help but it doesn't work!
I tried using the disguise scent method but we must be in the height of things as he has reached an entirely different level. It doesn’t work. Problem with multiple females – they aren’t all in sync. If they had started at the exact time Wasabi did – all of this would have been history as today is day 21 for her.
The good news in all this is we really believe after all the mating that the Wasabi Woo is preggie.
Oh well – just going to make staying awake for the shows this weekend impossible. Think I will be taking the boy with me at bedtime so Nathan can drive and I don’t have to worry. I am hoping I can sleep in the car. Now, I get up and Nathan grabs the gals and goes to bed and Risa and Shoshi and Kat and the retrievers stay downstairs with me so he can get an hour of sleep. Then he has to take a nap to feel human. Not sure how he will do that at a show unless he goes out to the car himself and snoozes. If he wins – no rest for the weary. ROFL – Can you say HELL weekend for both of us? If it wasn’t for the points for others and the $$ we already paid or the extra person we are driving there that is counting on us – I would stay home.
But thanks…appreciate all tips. It’s just a dawg house at Talemaker Havanese….yeah…that’s it!
PS: If I won the lottery, I would design a house that only the male dog and human can frequent at this time with electric security gates that send out aromatherapy scents that distract the males at this time - yeah right - now can you see how much sleep we are getting?
Good thing this is over when Zack and Coco come visiting. ROFL
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 3:56PM 
Each year we bid on some items at the auction. This year we won a pencil drawing. The HFC (Havanese Fanciers of Canada) auction ia a great event for the Havanese Rescue and this is how our winning item came out. Can you guess which one of our Havanese it is?
The auction that happens each year is for a good cause and we love this memory we ended up with. Now to frame and get it on the wall.
We are still dealing with gals in heat. Wasabi is done - but we have others and the dear boy losing his head but we are surviving.
We are off to a dog show this weekend a huge drive away back and forth and all day at a show. Will we survive? Time will tell.
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 9:57PM 
You meet all sorts of friendly faces at all sorts of places. Here, Treasure was touching noses with a Beardie. This is a correct meet and greet and if you notice, both were ever so relaxed.
Treasure and Abigail was at handling class and tomorrow it will be Fiona and Abigail's turn.
It gives them practice but it also gets them out and about.
We have a busy week - and a show this weekend.
Then we wait and find out if the Wasabi is pregnant and with all the ties, I would be very surprised if she wasn't. But we won't know till the very end of the month so stay tuned...
Kat and Lola puppies will be making their debut any day now. We can't wait!
Tomorrow....rain...sigh or so they say...
Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 4:00PM 
Remember Lil' Man? He's now known as Milo!
Well we went to see his human pack leaders, Helen and Suzi and Milo of course and then lo and surprise, they got a Bichon called Hugo to keep Milo in line or is that keep the humans in line or???
Well, you know these precious little ones. They tend to wrap you around their fingers and look at you with those eyes, and it's all over.
Here, Treasure was hanging out on Helen's shoulder doing her neck warming job of playing, cuddling and standing on high and Helen was kind enough to accommodate her.
Isn't it wonderful to spend time with like minded people who adore their dogs?
Milo just had the snip, snip so he gave us loving but he also was a tad more subdued than usual.
Wouldn't you be if you were snipped, snipped?
I know *I* would be....
Milo couldn't wait to introduce us to his new pack mate, Hugo. We have a feeling Hugo is going to be a delightful playmate for Milo who is a dog who just adores mucking it up with him. It was really nice to see.
Of course Suzi and Helen was way too generous as usual offering us pastries that were delightful and fruit and coffee. Oh my - will my stomach ever fit into a bathing suit.
Then Nathan just had to stop to get that fatty, smoked meat sandwich that is to die for - oh well - tomorrow is another day. Besides - if Wasabi is preggie - who has time for such things.
Shows, puppies - gracious puppy lovin' friends - how much better can it get? I know - a crazy partner (husband/wife) that loves the dawgs as much as you do.
