Anytime, I Suppose

We found out a bit ago that our Fiona is pregnant.

We had intended to have a litter with her when she next went into heat. In spite of our best efforts, which I thought were most diligent, Kat and her had other ideas and beat us to the mark.

Wasabi’s litter of five start leaving on Friday to their new homes and Fiona is most likely going to grace us with 4 more before they even get out the door. Timing wise this comes as an unexpected surprise but we know we’re going to love them to pieces nonetheless.

So, we will be continuing Talemaker Puppy Life with the progress of Fiona's pups. We expect small pups from this crew as Fiona is a tiny thing. She's had a haircut and belly shave. Pics to come later.

Changes for Wasabi

Wasabi had her first experience without the pups and she acted okay. The pups went to get their hearing test without her.

When they returned she did stand on guard but she is starting to make the moves of - 'they are flying the coop' soon. They know and she will be fine.

Wasabi is an excellent Mom and tends to truly enjoy motherhood. As she will be bred next heat, she will have that experience again soon and wil relish it.

Her only fault is teaching the little ones her fun and games such as going behind the pool house - through the plants and under the deck. But Wasabi - her care free attitude and her way agile body - well she's a special gal.

I expect her to be enjoying long walks with her human mom while they both get into shape - her for another pregnancy and the human mom - just because it is overdue. Then the white stuff hits and paths will be made and all sorts of fun begins and hopefully we will be able to get some of her pups back for a play session or two through those white paths we dig out.

Grand Kids and Pups & The Talemaker Crew

The grand kids are here from North Carolina and also our 2 grand children from Toronto. It's been a bit of an adjustment for the dogs and each reacted differently.

Risa tried to jump on the diving board with one of them as that is what she does with her Daddy and Wasabi barked when Luke cried. Shoshi had a grand time watching and being wonderful where she usually is not fond of sudden movements.

The house noise level has increased 10 fold. The pups were taken aback for a second when they saw so many people - so much noise but off they trotted to the grass and had a rip roaring time. So - they survived.

Daddy will be remaining home tomorrow where human Mommy will be doing the ex for a bit of the day. The thought...I don't know how the daughter does it comes to mind - or I am way too old and forget and the they give you a hug - make you laugh and the you know.

It is indeed a crazy dawg house here today. Peel me off the floor next week. Pups going home. Lots of activity. Well at least the dogs will get their conditioning in for sure.

Now tell me, what are you doing? Don't tell me you are relaxing with your Havs.

Messy Times

This is a photo I took today.

We have the Treasured one in heat so Kat tends to get to be a messy boy frequently. It's nothing pet people have to deal with when they neuter their males but us breeders - well we look for new ways to keep them clean and looking good if they are showing and are exposed to gals in heat but can't have them.

Most breeders will cut them down but we are a glutton for punishment or I am.

It is NOT fun.

The crew has fun despite the busy-ness of the day.

They walked and ran and had a grand time. It's important to get quality time with all many times throughout the day and we manage to do that. Wow what a week this will be...

Pool Time and Hanging out

It's just pool hang out time today. It's too cold to swim and human Daddy is helping out stewarding at the show amongst anything else they need.

It means the human mom is all alone waiting for family to come over and doing pups and all that fun stuff.

Poor Treasure is in heat so we are juggling dogs and Kat is - well not happy without being with one of his gals. Guys...they just have to deal. Good things com to those that wait.

Puppies love the kitchen but they adore outside.

Gad can they run up and down the stairs these days.

We heard from our friends at Chicadoro that a couple of her dogs got nice wins in the Maritime. We are so excited for them.

Pups and human may take a nap and the big dawgs too. It's one of those days before the crowd hits.

Puppies Exhausted

We just had one of our puppy people over and the crew is mighty tuckered out but look who is still awake (first born).

Oh, he is sleeping now but I think he thought....one more game...perhaps. Then his little body couldn't muster any more spirit and he is fast asleep. I expect the crew to sleep for hours.

Fidel had them running like banshees and it was a delight to watch. Fidel is a Havanese!

Tomorrow we have our grand children coming and we will be socializing the crew with wee ones . Going to be a full week for sure. Now to get some food into us while the little ones nap.

Follow the gang at Talemaker Puppy Life. Soon they wil be going to their forever homes and then what will we do...

Havanese Smiling

Play sessions are really important with the crew. If anything, they can't wait till the moments appear where they can run-like-hell, roll around like banshees and just smile and smile.

Do Havanese smile? YES! All dogs do. You just have to give them something to smile about.

It's easy to do and if you make them smile you end up smiling too...win/win!

Get out your camera and find that smile.

Food Time

You have to understand that some dogs would eat and never stop eating and others you have to figure out what they like.

Our Treasure is one that would eat and eat and eat and waddle out the door. She's my kind of gal. I like to eat too but I would not be showing her how much I love her if I allowed it.

A Havanese can clearly get over weight fast without you noticing.

How can you feed your Havanese less if you have been indulgent? Count the treats as part of their diet in the day. All calories count.

Go to the dollar store and get a dog bowl. The new ones that they have are smaller. Why smaller? Well, when you put that 1/4 cup max into that bowl twice a day (puppies excluded as they need more calories), it will look like you are filling the bowl to the brim and YOU will feel better about the amount. It's all about your eye.

Now our Risa has been on a diet and has been slowly losing. She looks at you with those baby eyes saying - but Mommy but you can't go there. It's tough. Gad I can't do it with myself yet but I will after the pups are gone but love is having rules, boundaries and guidelines. Love is more than giving in to your Havanese. You must learn to say no when it is for their own good.

If we don't, it may mean we are shortening their lives unintentionally - out of the goodness of our hearts.

Now what do you do if you have a Havanese that doesn't eat so well? We had one of those but when she matured, she eats quite fine. For her, we fed her twice the amount everyone else had as her metabolism would burn off everything in sight. We also got creative and fed ger many things nixed in with her kibble. Now, she had gained and needs to maintain at her weight. That means back to that 1/4 cup twice a day and then monitor her weight. If she starts losing again, add a slight amount more till you get it right for her.

As your Havanese gets older, you also need to watch and monitor.

Food hounds are wonderful as they perform well for treats but if they are in obedience class once a week, take into consideration how many treats you are feeding and either skip their meal class night or reduce. You will be glad you did. A hungry dog will work for you and strive to get what you want him/her to do for that treat and the upside is you get a perfectly behaved dog and they relate belly filling times with class and suddenly that class isn't half bad but it's FUN!

Then you can make that transition to having fun without the treats.

Emptier House

Fred, one of our guests is going home tonight. He's just had a bath and decided to go outside and roll. Is he telling me something or WHAT?

Fred had a really great time with the pups. He wasn't totally sure of them at first as Wasabi - like any mom will do till she knows you are okay - well she guarded them and got the pack barking - rallying them around her but that went rather fast and Fred was out playing with the pups, the other dogs including Kat, Shoshi and Abigail and the last couple of days - Treasure.

He's become so comfie that you can find him relaxing on his back a great deal. It's rather nice.

We had Missy and her mom come to visit for a grooming session and I don't think her mom needs me any longer. hehe It was good to show her what I use so she can try it. She also got down on the floor and played with the monkeys. Did I take pictures - sigh wasn't thinking about it.

It's hot - want to swim. We had all the dogs out for runs etc. but Daddy has to go set up for the Richmond Green Dog show in Richmond Hill and we will be there Thursday and Friday at 10am. If you are around, stop by and say hello.

Puppies are snoozing and we have increased the x-pen space. More on Talemaker Puppy Life.

Chase Me Game

The first things puppies learn is the chase me game and they find it immensely fun. It's okay for them to play it with each other and even you but they need to know the rules that you control the game.

What does that mean?

When the game is over, you shouldn't have to chase them to get them to come back in.

At first you have to learn to be creative as even 8 week old puppies will find that running to stay outside is more fun than anything else you have in mind so you may have to get them to chase you and then you stop the game by picking them up - giving them all sorts of snuggles, perhaps a treat and making the game fun to come to you.

Obedience classes are very important as you learn to get a strong recall. That's important for many reasons.

Today we had swimming, chasing, and rolling around and mucking it up fun. The pups were finding solutions on how to get from one point to the next. Find out more about their adventures at Talemaker Puppy Life.

Long Day

Ever feel it's a dawg day some days? Ever wonder what that means? I think dawgs would wonder if it was a human's day - don't ya think?

The weather was downright cool this morning and the dogs LOVED it and then it heated up. When we get Fall like weather- it somehow invigorates them but when it gets hot - well they lay right down like this and try to cool off.

When the puppies go to their forever homes, I will start weeding and get the dogs working helping me - yeah - right!

It's good to dream..dawg dreams!

Specialty and Home

Here's Daddy at the Specialty and Treasure. They rather look good together.

They were in great company when they made the cut of a large class and came in 4th but that wasn't what this was about. Honest!

Why did I tell the Treasured one and Daddy to go to the show when we had puppies and I could have used the help?

Well, it was to meet new Havanese people, find potential stud dogs for our gals and get the Treasured one bonded to Daddy and not me.

It worked.

She came in - gave me a kiss and then was all over Daddy.

It's tough being the mom around here in a sea of show dogs as the handler takes priority - them and their relationship with the dogs but I love them both so that's okay.

PS: I have my Fiona back since Daddy was gone but she's in a state of false pregnancy - tummy and all. They get sucky and cuddly then.

Yes, you got it right - they change allegiance at times. They love you both but rely on one more at times - usually the food server. :-) So - share that duty.

We are really glad the Treasured one and Daddy are home. That means we can get the pups swimming and do lead training this week. How cool is that?

Our visitor Fred is having a rip roaring time with the pups and with Kat, Abigail and now Treasure.

Bad Hair Day & Camera

Okay, this day started with Mommy taking a photo of me with Daddy's junkie camera. Daddy has her camera.

Well, it's one of THOSE mornings. Mommy didn't get to my hair yet. Without Daddy around she does one here - one there till she finishes us all.

I like it better as I can leisurely read the newspaper and have my coffee - NOT! Okay, use Mommy's Blackberry to play a Doggie game? You don't buy that?

Okay, okay - Mommy had the pups running around and they thought they could feed from me so Mommy put me up on the chair. This way I can look down at them and I look MUCH bigger than them. heh

Our visitor Fred really knows how to chill out in style.

The human Mommy got the pups back in their x-pen and we all went out to watch her clean up and pull a few weeds.

It's hopeless but maybe after the pups are in their forever home she can finally pull those weeds.

Now she has to clean sheets and all that junk she didn't get to as Daddy may be coming home very late tonight vs. tomorrow.

Will he undo all that night time sleeping coming in during the witching hour? We hope not!

Specialty & Hanging Out in Rain

Well, both days Treasure made the cut but didn't get anywhere, heh But I heard she showed beautiful and considering it's the first time at a US specialty for her - they did well to do that. We are pleased that they went and had a good time.

We thank everyone who said they like our site. It means the world.

We try to have fun with it and give you a glimpse of what goes on for us.

We miss Nathan and the Treasured one immensely and hope to see them home Sunday.

I know the pups miss the Treasure too.

But we hear she may be in heat so that part won't be fun as Daddy will be sleeping with his Treasured one or I will till she is done 3 weeks later.

Yikes and Kat will be back to going CRAZY - sigh.

It's life in the Talemaker house - what can I say.

We had a big storm come through last night and another hit this morning. W had chairs in the pool - our pop up umbrellas. It was interesting and we also had dirt and leaves and lots of cleanup. See what Daddy missed doing - cleanup. hehehehe

With all this bad weather we have been playing retrieve in the house. Even the adult Havanese have been using the pads when it was raining really bad. It's times like these with a storm like that when you realize it is good to have them familiar with the pads and the outside.

Is it Friday already?

Nationals & New Food

Daddy is off to the Nationals. Treasure had a bath last time and was raring to go, Kat's in a miff that he isn't going. Human mom too would have liked to but she has the pups and is finding out how much Daddy does. ROFL

We are going to try to get in pool time with Yvonne's crew.

Pups are sleeping now so where are they?

Check out Talemaker Puppy Life to see the pups adventures maneuvering down the stairs. You tell me who did it smoothest!

Oh well, we are missing Daddy - juggling work, cleanups and all that stuff. Had to get my play session in with the pups and adults - big and little and I did. I have my priorities.

Lucy goes home tomorrow at 10am so she will be getting a bath late tonight before bedtime.

Wish Nathan luck and 200+ dogs and a sea of dogs...just do your best and forget the rest!!

Older Dawg Time

Just because there are puppies in the house doesn't mean that the rest of the crew does without.

They go on walks daily - play games - play with the puppies - get pool time if they desire and play that run like hell game with each other.

The crew - all gets groomed daily. We spread baths out so it's not a marathon but depending on who is going home and who needs it - its who gets the bath but all get ears checked, nails checked, brush and a comb out and a clean up around the eyes. I even manage to give them a mini massage. Those that can't relax - well they get a tad more than a mini. I want them to enjoy the grooming.

Then at bedtime we do silly games in the bed and then go to sleep. Sounds rather counter productive playing the silly games in bed but really - it tuckers them out - they have a rip roaring time and then they sleep.

Human Daddy is off to Chicago tomorrow. He won't be back till late Sunday.

Lucy goes home on Thursday - gad will we miss her playfulness. Fred - well he is fitting in really well once he figured out this crazy crew was totally friendly.

Well - off to get things ready for Nathan to go travelling and get some work done. Pups are snookered after our play session in the kitchen. Looks like rain is coming.

If the weather cooperates, Yvonen and crew are coming for a visit and that ought to be a blast.

Puppies and the Pack

The puppies are really getting scrumptious to watch and love.

They are at the stage where you go - oh my gad - you did THAT?

This was one of those moments I captured - where he was on two back legs trying to get the attention of the rest of the crew.

It's amazing what you can capture from a good camera. My camera is heading to Chicago come Wednesday though so you'll have to put up with what I can get from Nathan's. :-) It's not THAT bad.

The puppies get along with everyone here including the visitors. I rather enjoy that.

This week we have Lucy - who goes home on Thursday morning and Fred who is here till the 26th and then Max comes to visit us on the 3rd and Jay Jay on the 4th. It's a crazy dawg house and we love it.

The human mom will be without the human dad till late Sunday night so we are having a party - not. :-)

Daddy Time & Socialization

Mommy always takes the photos - Mommy always updates the sites with an occasional collection of words from Daddy. It works. He looks good with the dawgs, mommy takes decent photos. hehehe

Well, today the heat is here. The dawgs even want to stay inside.

It can be a challenge keeping the puppies corralled as they tend to follow the larger dawgs and they don't always go where you want them to. When daddy is gone, human mommy will have an x-pen outside and she will take a couple out at the same time or throw everyone including herself in the pen allowing me to take photos.

Kat went to visit a pet store (Global) today. Even though your dog has had lots of socialization, you want to still get them out there seeing new places - old places and interacting with others.

It's soooooooooo important that they see something new at least once a month and if you continue with that intent, you will be amazed how comfie they are with most anything.

Too see more puppy news, visit us at Talemaker Puppy Life.

Looking Down at Pups

Treasure is going to Chicago to compete with hundreds of dawgs. So I greased her up - okay oiled her up and will have her ready by giving her another bath on Tuesday before she goes. This allows her hair to be in good shape before she goes to a show.

Right now she insists on playing like a banshee with visiting Lucy and Coco and Zack that we wonder if she will have any hair left but she can't help herself.

Tomorrow Zack and Coco go home and Fred comes to stay. We are really looking forward to the fun with another dawg in the mix.

Here Treasure is sitting looking down at the pups. She has such fun playing this game - you can't get me.

Gad they are sooooooooooooo sooooooooooooo silly!

Sense of Smell

The smelling receiver is made up of a mucous, a labyrinth of innumerable folds that could cover a surface of 130 m2 compared to the 3 m2 that humans have. The dog has 120 to 220 million cells next to man's 5 million cells. Its smell is so developed that it can detect the lightest environmental change.

As a matter of fact, the dog can detect the change of character of other dogs or humans that surround them, just by detecting the slight increase or decrease of their hormonal levels and their sweat. This has nothing to do with a sixth sense: the dog can just detect certain signals that go unnoticed by humans.

There have been anecdotal reports that 'man's best friend' can spot cancer in their owners, and this has been backed by scientific trials.

One study of 54 patients showed that dogs could pick up the scent of bladder cancer in a patient's urine.

Another showed that dogs could not only detect cancer, but they could tell the difference between people with breast and lung cancer, just from smelling their breath.

The latest findings were reported at a meeting of the American Physical Society in San Antonio, Texas.

Can you imagine the possibilities of your Havanese if you can tap into that sense of smell - learn how to use what they smell? I think about it all the time and would love to use it in some fashion.

I wonder if they could tell today was going to be a hot one.