Bringing Up Havanese Puppy

I think it was Dr. Ian Dunbar that covered the subject of your dog is what you expose it to positively and I am an advocate of that. After you have had a couple of sets of shots, you can start taking your little one to classes. It not only helps your bond with them but exposes them to a different environment, new people, various types of dogs in a safe environment - that is if the school is a good one. There are some that aren't despite what they tote and we have experienced those ourselves.

We already started the process with visiting dogs, our retrievers but what is in the home is deemed safe to a litter vs. outside. It is their safe zone and what is outside is something they do not have comfort in yet. It's important to help your dog gain the skill of achieving comfort.

The degree of a dog's socialization - whether he becomes a 'well socialized' or 'poorly socialized' member of the community depends on the type of social interactions and environments he experiences while young. Those who are exposed to a wide variety of positive, rewarding experiences will form a different view of the world than an isolated or mistreated dog. Your goal should be to help your dog grow to be people, animal and dog friendly.

If your pup is exposed in a positive way to a wide variety of dogs, humans and other animals under a variety of different but non-traumatic circumstances, your puppy will grow up to be well balanced. This way, when faced with an unruly or under socialized dog, your dog will understand that the world as a whole is a good place and there is no need for defensiveness nor fear.

An adult dog who is startled or fearful is an entirely different matter than a scared puppy. The puppy has yet to learn the skills to achieve confidence, balance and understand the communication of other dogs. This is a learned process that they develop from other dogs. Each dog learns at various rates. Beyond the fact that your dog needs to learn a dog's language (you should too - I have an excellent book), it also has to learn how to behave appropriately given a set of circumstances and this only happens with practice. It's sort of like the human learning how to become a good friend, a leader, how to fit in, what the rules are at this place or that place etc. We all make our mistakes but hopefully we move on and perfect our skills and become better as we go along. This is the same with our canines. You need to give them the opportunity to perfect their skills - to go through the learning process.

Pups that are taken too early from their mother miss a critical development that helps them achieve this learning window in a quicker fashion but even those with a high degree of socialization can learn.

As they develop they will test their social boundaries with other strange dogs to find out what they are able to get away with. It's similar to a human child that puts half their foot across the line you have drawn - can I get away with it - what are the consequences - all a learning process.

But if you wait till your dog is older, an adult dog will be less patient with another adult dog than a puppy. The dogs do know that your little one is a pup and they may play with them rough and physical but it's play with a learning process. They won't react that way to an adult who should know better, in their opinion. When an adult dog does correct your pup in a positive way, he may protest but he will have learned he crossed the line in his behavior. That's why pups that stay with their canine mom longer 'get' the - 'ooops - I crossed the line - let's try this again process' easier than those that don't.

But leave the nest they must in a positive way. Sassy will be (after her next shots) exposed to other dogs she is unfamiliar with. If she stays with us long enough, will be in classes and we have already started confidence building. By teaching her commands you are actually teaching her confidence skills. When she finally gets it and you get excited, she gets a treat and you display joy that she has completed a request, your dog feels good about his accomplishment and you get a better, more behaved dog at the end with an amazing bond - if you take the journey of training completely in a positive fashion.

Sassy has learned 'sit' that all I need to do now is hold the treat so we have now moved on today with 'down'. She has to get past thinking treat is 'sit' and that's all I am expected to learn. She's struggling with 'down' but after the 5th persistent try - she did it - perhaps by accident but its begun. We will continue and we hope you will too and yes I have to get the video camera out to capture it but with grand kids here, a kid home from university etc - well it's a crazy house so soon.

When teaching down, realize it is a submissive position and some dogs may learn more slowly but not due to their learning capability but rather not wanting to be in a position they deem vulnerable. Down is an excellent way to bridge confidence and get past feeling vulnerable.

Once you have achieved this skill 100% and completely, your dog has taken yet another step in bonding and trusting you.

Give them love and patience too...and they will give it back 10 fold.

More later...

Deep In Thought or Wait

The dogs really had a great time outside today as it's a tad warmer but wetter. Here's Sassy looking a tad wet but sitting and waiting for the others to come on in too.

When the boys came in, Sassy led them in the game of tunnel jumping where they all jump in the holes and chase her. She's our highly creative one thinking up new games to make you smile. Now where is the video camera when that happens....

Now the pups are napping. They do a fair amount of that too but they are also getting to know that we get up, go outside, do our business and eat and go outside and do our business - well there's no slouches here!

Havanese Say 'Let it Snow'

We are all settling in for a huge storm. The pups have been really active, playing their little hearts out - inside/outside. We hear tell the humans around here shovel paths so we can have a grand time. So, bring on that snow!

We have had a busy day today. We had a ton of play time and we are enjoying having more places to investigate.

Yikes - daddy is calling the gal Pistol Pete - one wonders why...

Havanese Planning

Well, another day down and we were snoozing but mommy and daddy took us upstairs so they can clean out the pen. This is something they do daily completely and partially throughout the day. It gives them a chance to mix it up and give us new toys - fun. Best toy they love so far is that play center, the cat toy with the ball and the tunnels - grand fun indeed!

We listened to dog sounds today - all sorts. the only one that reacted was the retrievers. We go for our baer test next week and our shots, microchip and wellness. it will be a busy 2 days then.

Tomorrow we have our Havanese daddy's human mom coming Beth Obrecht from Rockhurst Kennels to visit and Sonrisa's Havanese Rita Thomas so we are resting up so we can really show them what we are made of.

Human daddy had mommy hold us today while he did nails. The gal was the absolutely squirmiest and most vocal about such an act. Still, it was done and we moved on to playing and snuggling.

The crew went out again today and only the double mask is shivering but no one lasts as long as the guy we call Tux. He just adores the outside and gad he just snuggled and snuggled tonight.

Well, human mommy had a very busy day with work so she's calling it a night too. Have-a-neese night! Yeah the rest of them except for the pups sleep with us. Great fun!

Havanese Crate Time

Some people think that a crate is not a fun place for us but if done and used correctly - as a time to relax, veg, play, enjoy - then it is a *good* thang! You see, sometimes we may need to be transported in one and a slow conditioning to one is a positive thing. Plus my gang rather likes sleeping in one with a cushy, soft pad. But...they are not spoiled.

Ha -human mommy says!

Positive experiences are a must! We use a crate inside the x-pen so they can climb in and out.

Never use a crate as a punishment and it will remain a comfort to them. Everything we get exposed to and find enjoyment in, makes us better dawgs. Daddy says our goals are always to make our pups balanced and happy and as you can see in our videos and photos, we are that for sure.

Well, today we are expecting snow but we are still too young to go outside so human mommy says if it really snows like they say it will, then she's going to bring some into the house so we can get familiar with it. Now that ought to be interesting!

Looking at this photo, mommy is noticing our looks are changing. The mostly white one is thinning out - still teddy bearish but way handsome and he's such a character - well they all are Wasabi says but each are clearly different these days and as the week goes on and we hit week 6 and 7, well personalities will continue to unfold but not a skittish one in the bunch. Some are quieter than others but none are off the wall spaz cases or human mommy may be working to change that. They all seem to have mommy's calming demeanor but some more playful than others. The job - well it's easy this time around as they are all so equal - but as we say unique and that's quite nice!

Well, it's playtime so off the keyboard I go and we get to tucker the little ones out. They play and drop dead asleep and are now eating at least a full meal instead of me - Wasabi so I get a break! As time goes on we will make that 2 meals then three etc...

I couldn't be in yesterday's video as they wouldn't leave me alone. Sometimes they just think I am the milk factory - sigh!

Well....more tomorrow!

Havanese Thoughts to Ponder

How many pups can you count enjoying their play?

A wise person said - "He never bit anyone, which is more than you can say for most of us." The dogs are getting teeth and I - Wasabi are starting to correct them and so are the humans by saying yeoch in a louder voice and they are catching on FAST.

Another wise person said... "People love their dogs." "People have the relationship with their dog that they expected to have with their spouses or their kids. Dogs never stab you in the back, probably because they don't have opposable thumbs. And they lick your face when you cry. You can't say that of anyone else. Nor would you want to."

Wasabi says: My pups are now at the age where they are licking your face, running to you when you near the x-pen, playing joyfully even with the other Havanese but when they try to feed off the other Havanese, well they are correcting them . We must do a video as soon as time allows.

We had a rather full weekend and are trying to wind down from that. Life is amazing with the little ones, human daddy says but they now need an x-pen upstairs vs. a whelping box. Although some of us a a tad under 2lb and some a tad over 2 lbs - we feel the need to spread out unlike Risa's crew. No one stays out of the play these days and all are highly curious. We change the environment to slowly condition them to feel comfort in change. This makes it easier when they go to their new homes. We are also walking them around the house, getting them used to water running on them if they need a bit of cleanup and praising them when they hit the pee pad.

More later...and look for a video soon!

Havanese Puppy X-Pen Play Time

There goes that mommy again, crawling in and laying down in the x-pen to play with my pups. She can't help herself.

'Would you be able to?'

From one, to another till she is at the last one - they all get their snuggles and me time around here and if that's not enough, then daddy, and Jonathan and Dennis have to climb in.

One great thing is mommy really takes care of me when I feed the little ones. She often puts a soft blanket under my head so I am comfortable and strokes my head and back. She really takes care of me but everyone loves the doggies around this place and hey - how could they not. We make them laugh, feel good and we tend to complete the house they say!

Then this weekend we have more visitors and a bonus, grandpa is also coming to visit and he LOVES doggies. Good thing around this place.

Also, the grand kids are coming and they just ADORE us. It's going to be a fun socialization weekend for us. Socialization in small doses is important as it helps us to be all we can be.

Okay, mommy - it's my time. They do have to eat, you know - and sleep too. Oh, you haven't finished?

Now if that wasn't enough, mommy decided to put on a mini jacket that she had for Shoshi when she first got here and place it on our mostly white pup.

You can't see it in this photo but it's way too big. He's going to have to grow into it but we think this will be his coat as it's an easy on/easy off and Shoshi never wore it cause after all, she's a girl doggie. This will fit him for a bit till he has to get the next size.

When we have our back yard play sessions - maybe in the snow - am hoping - this will help us stay warm till we get our full coat (our undercoat) in. This is a perfect coat as it's fast to put on, gives freedom of movement and it's toasty warm. We be stylin it and mommy is doing a file that tells about what type of clothes you should look for and why. Look for it soon on our Havanese Stylin' & Toys section. Be sure to send your Havanese in stylish clothing and tell us why you like it. If the photo is a good quality (meaning not hard to visualize), we will add it to our Stylin' section.

Wasabi - yeah me - well I just adore sharing - I honestly do!