Girls, Girls & More Girls Havanese

One day I woke up and all these girls were hanging out at my house. Most men - ahem - am I a man yet? Well, most would love so many gals kissing on them but this one particular gal named Downsey - well she just doesn't stop. So, I grr and she does it again as if to say - let's see what I can get away with.

Well, I am the step over the line dawg here and I have put up with Fiona being one too but two? Oh my!

Then this cute little gal comes along that they tell is their mom - and her name is Maggie. She plays just like a puppy like me and we rather get some spectacular play sessions in and then she pays attention to her kids. Is it me or them?

I am the king around these here parts and I am having to reflect on life with so many gals. Oh...they are so nice to have around but put them all together and this lone guy - well let's say - I am gathering my wits to see how to play this.

Life is interesting in a houseful of gals and only a few men.

I am off to sleep, ponder and enjoy those afternoon naps those humans took this afternoon with all of us. It's getting crowded on the bed but they - the humans seem to like it. Guess they realize what is important in life - all that love. Hope the rest of you are having a Havanese luv session too.

Got any tips guys - especially those of you with so many gals? I may need some help. Right now, it's tough being all that for each gal. hehehehehe

Wet and Soggy Feet

How do you keep their feet dry? You COULD buy boots but most boots won't stay on and it inhibits their play. But if its just for a 'duty' break, it could work. We use them for show dogs.

Here we simply just use some spray on waterless bath on their feet, baby wipes and wipe off the mud. I then brush - and let dry and brush again if necessary. It sounds like a lot more than it is.

I like snow as it doesn't mean mud comes in. But the snow is coming again they say.

Then we have Yvonne text messaging us about South Beach and hot weather and I say - who is this - what dogs? hahaha

We have Yvonne's crew here while she is on holiday.

Ice Worries with Havanese

Our deck is an ice deck this afternoon.

Watch out with your little ones that they do not slip and slide. They can damage ligaments just like us playing recovery.

It doesn't mean you can't walk them but be aware. If they start to slip - it's not the right medium for them.

Some are more sure footed than others just like us humans.

We start out our day early in the morning and end it in the dark. The winter seems pretty dreary to me due to it.

As you can see from the photos here, this was 6am. It looks pretty dark to me. The crew rather liked seeing snow on the ground. It sort of invigorates them.

They roll around like banshees having a grand old time.

They acted like kids that were brought to a candy store and told it's all theirs.

Well, I am off to put leaves in bags after raking - yep in snow, ROFL.

The dogs would love to be a part of that but I think I will do it alone and let them be a part of it in the backyard if I do not run out of steam.

I guess they will do what our visitor Mags is doing now - snoozing the afternoon away til it's play time. I think they are smarter than us and more capable as they choose and can nap whenever it strikes their fancy.

Wet Havanese Dawgs

It's a wet and rainy day out today and here Kat is waiting his turn for grooming.

When it is wet, you need to brush them out or they will mat. But until it is their turn, they are playing and having a grand time.

We bought furniture covers for the couch from Sam's Club and the hubby says - what do you want to do that for? Well, now he sees the reason why.

Wet dogs and a couch staying clean doesn't mix so we keep it covered.

If I found them there again, I would get 2 more. It takes 2 to cover the entire couch but we have an extra long one.

As you can see, we also put blankets and fun cuddly stuff on top of the couch as Havanese tend to like to sleep on high plus they like to nest.

We have a real dawg house around here and 4 visitors at the moment. The crew is having a roaring grand time.

Now back to brushing and watching TV and relaxin. Hoping this wet stuff turns into white stuff. Still do not have our leaves raked or furniture in or..but white stuff is better than rain - at least sometimes.

Hairy Leaves Magnet

This is the time of year that I wonder if I should just attach a broom to my hand and never let it go.

Oh, it's not just the Havanese but us humans that bring in the leaves. Then it rains and it sticks to shoes, to hair.

Well, today we tried raincoats on that had 4 legs and well the dogs walked a tad like they had a broom up - well we won't say.

Yes, you are supposed to laugh but they didn't. For some reason one size was a tad too snug on Fiona and took 10 minutes to put on and we also tried mutt lucks and those wouldn't do either though easier to get on. I need a solution to save the show coats - the others will go with a coat or sweater or ala natural. But this wasn't it as much as I wanted it to be. If a coat takes you more than a few minutes to go on, you will never put it on.

We already have front legs only raincoats but the water wicks up and the entire coat gets wet so why try.

Now, I don't have to have the dogs stylin' as you can see with Fiona - she looks a tad ridiculous, IMHO but it does need to keep them dry so looking for ideas - send them our way.

As you can see, Maggie is a tad wet as she didn't have a coat on and it's been raining. That means brusha - brusha - brusha. Okay - we did forgo walks today. I just couldn't do the twice grooming thing on 12 dogs. hahahaha but we will be back at it tomorrow. We haven't missed a day of brr cold brisk walks and having grand fun with extras - and I am serious other than today but every now and then less work sounds better.

We played retrieve and snuggles and we look forward to massive snuggles at bedtime. Can't wait.

Hope you had a great day too!

City or Country Havanese?

What happens when a country Havanese moves into a city Havanese house - even if it is only for a bit of time?

Noises - bark - strange people - bark. What is the visiting Havanese saying? What are ours saying?

The visitors are simply unfamiliar with the sounds in the city. Ours are just joining the fun.

One would think the country and city are similar but it really is not. You have the water guy who delivers, the mail person who rings the bell. The 'sell you everything under the sun' people - well until they hear the barking. You have the garbage truck and then a recycle truck and this delivery and that.

Then you hear the dogs barking in another yard and I have to answer that. Sounds horrid - doesn't it? But it really isn't.

It's all about slow conditioning. When they figure out those strange noises are nothing to worry about - they stop with correction and your attitude. It's a good thing. When a city dog goes to the country, the same thing occurs though the noises are usually less. It's why people move out to the country and convenience is why people stay in the city.

As comfort settles in, the barking dissipates as long as you shut it down immediately.

Your dogs are what you put into them. If you put the effort in, they do too and you end up having a really amazing dog that everyone wishes THEY had.

Have you ever heard of the term - you are what you experience? Well it holds true for your dog too.

Miss Abs here in the photo says - just let me sleep. Yes - she was actually sleeping with her head up. It was the funniest thing I ever did watch and she did it for over 30 minutes. I wish I could sleep like that.

Havanese Sleeping: My Bed or Yours?

Okay, the human has a checklist on what dog was groomed per day and she checks them off as she does them.

When one has this many dogs - well 4 are Yvonne's visiting, you have to make sure you snuggle all, groom all and well daddy feeds them all - lucky him. How many bowls, daddy? Better make room for Gidget. Lola should be done her heat so fun relaxing times will be had by all.

But looking at this crew - where's my space? I also noticed that although all were groomed - they don't look like it 12 hours later. ROFL Poor Abs needs a bath bad - Kat again.

I want my bed space? Do you think they gave it to me? Who's the boss here?

Creating Knots Havanese Style

This is Fiona creating knots Havanese style. But you say she is just running on the pool cover. Well, when it is wet, they rub and create knots.

So, we are ordering coats from Val for winter wetness to protect show coats. You can keep them warm and reduce the work and allow yours to play in the winter wet stuff slush. It won't save the feet but you can use a slicker on them. Just spray and slicker. I wouldn't suggest doing it everywhere unless you spray conditioner on crazy as it tends to break the hair and broken hair creates knots.

Then you will spend much time conditioning it to get it back in shape. I know - I have been doing it with Katsuro.

Have you bought your Havanese Grooming book? If not, we have one for sale from the HFC. It's not ours - its theirs but we have some of our dogs and tips in it and its worth its weight in gold.

Fun Times at Talemaker Havanese

Even thought it rained, the crew had a grand time today. There's something about the bounce of the safety cover that brings the excitement out. It also increases the yard. If you have a pool, you should seriously consider one for safety and for fun!

We also had a family visit and the dogs got to play with them. Now how cool is that to have socialization time. But that human mommy had to watch Lola as she is still in heat. That's okay as she likes hugging and sleeping next to Auntie Darlah.

As you can tell, now that Abs heat is over - she's back to her usual self. The brace is behind her and great things are coming her way - a puppy to play with in December and perhaps more puppies.

Tomorrow some of the crew gets to go visit Sebastian at his house. That human daddy better bring the camera as human mommy can't wait to see how much fun they will have.

The point of all of this is - socialize - socialize - socialize. It's really important as it will help your dawg become confident and all he can be!

Testing Your Havanese IQ

Here's Yvonne's Flora and Abigail. I do think that Abigail can fly. This pool cover is something they literally adore as it bounces like a trampoline but its safe. If you have a pool, consider getting one.

Now to have some fun...

How do you find out your Havanese's strengths and weaknesses? How can you assess what they need to work on? And where does your Havanese stand on the overall intelligence spectrum?
Here are some simple tests, suggested by various experts, that you can give your furry friend to find out if its brain is sharper than its bark:

1. Problem Solving
Donaldson suggests that you hide something your Havanese loves -- a toy or ball or treat -- underneath a sofa, and see if it can figure out how to retrieve the object. She says Havanese may go through several strategies, including digging with paws or using snouts.

Score Five points for getting the item with its paws in less than 30 seconds; four points if it uses paws and takes more than 30 seconds; three if it uses paws but fails; two if it uses its head but doesn’t try paws, and one point for dogs that try to use their head but then give up. It gets no points if it does nothing.

2. Learning Rate
How many times do you have to repeat a task with your Havanese before your Havanese masters it? Donaldson recommends a test involving detour taking. You need a fence that your Havanese can see through with a gate open at one end. With you on the other side of the fence, call your Havanese and see whether it can figure out how to get around to the other side.

Score Five points if it goes around the fence in a minute or less; four points if it succeeds right away after you take a few steps in that direction and gesture; three if it succeeds in 30 seconds after the prompts; two if it succeeds between 30-60 seconds after prompts, and one if it succeeds but requires even more prompting and time than that.

3. Social Cues
Coren developed the "smile" test for an Australian TV program to see how smart your dog is at picking up social cues from humans. Start with your Havanese sitting a few yards away from you. Stare at your Havanese's face. Once you make eye contact, count to three and then smile very broadly.

Score Five points for coming to you with its tail wagging; four points for coming part way; three points for standing or rising; two points for moving, and one if your Havanese pays no attention at all.

4. Inference Challenge
A canine version of the shell game. With your Havanese on a leash or in the stay position, use treats and two different bowls set a few feet apart, Donaldson says. Smear the treat on both bowls. Then very dramatically put the treat underneath one bowl. Release your Havanese and see what happens. Repeat this 10 times changing which bowl you put the treat under. Repeat another 10 times without letting your dog see where you're stashing the treat, but DO let the pup see you enthusiastically lift the other bowl up each time.

Score Five points if the dog goes to the correct bowl and gets the treat each time; four points if it masters the first 10 and improves over the course of the second 10; three if the first set is perfect but not the second set; two if the dog improves during the first and second rounds, and one if the dog is initially not very good but improves over the first round and completes the second round by going to the bowl you lifted.

5. Language Comprehension
Coren developed this test to determine how well your dog understands what you are saying. Start with your dog sitting in front of you. Using the tone of voice you use to call your dog's name, call "refrigerator." Try this again, calling "movies."Score Five points if the dog doesn't respond to those words but comes after you call its name; four points if the dog comes the second time you call its name; three if the dog starts to come; two if the dog comes to "movies" but not "refrigerator,” and one if the dog simply doesn't come to any of the calls.

Your Dog's Score
Gifted and Talented (25-31) Consider your Havanese brilliant and then...watch out! Smarter Havanese are often harder to live with because as soon as you teach them new skills, they try to get around following your orders. You may also inadvertently teach them bad behaviors.

Clever Canine (18-25) On the higher end of the intellectual spectrum, these are good listeners who will likely perform tricks well at parties or in obedience class.

Sharp, But Slow (10-18) You will find them trainable -- even if it takes numerous repetitions to master a skill.

Doggie Dropout (Less than 10) Let's hope that you selected your Havanese for its beauty as opposed to its brains, but since anyone can have an off day, give your furry pal a good pat on the head, and maybe try the tests again at a later date.

This test is for fun and your Havanese could be simply bored with it all!

Heat & Not That Outside Kind

Oh here I am before THAT human Mommy brushed and combed me out. We have Yvonne's four while she enjoys that hot Florida sun so she has this list on her desk and she checks each of our names off after we are done as if she can't remember. Maybe she can't and it's her OLD age setting in.

Mommy put these funny pants on me as I am supposed to be over my heat and tested me with that crazy boy Kat. Usually when I am done, I growl at him but I didn't so back we are behind closed doors even though all signs point to no heat for me or Abigail. Mommy thinks best to be safe.

We have these doors all over the house. Mommy yells out and daddy puts that boy away and we shuffle back and forth. It's crazy times. But when we get outside in this balmy weather, we run all over that pool cover and have a roaring grand time.

Hope you are enjoying the weather. We are slowly getting better - and it's about time.

PS: See why you want to get your dawg spayed or neutered? Who wants to go through this twice a year unless you have to.

Another Day at a Show

Only Fiona is going to the show today and then we have a very late night. We will fill you in on everything with great pics and much more when we return.

Also, we are awaiting to see if Wasabi is pregnant. Now how cool is that? If she is she will be delivering around Christmas. Cross your fingers as we will once again have a ton of videos of the fun times we have with pups.

PS: we also have a true treasure joining us on December 12th. More about that later!

Brace Babies

Abigail and Fiona and Nathan on lead won brace but we are too busy to post photos and way too sick still but we promise we will. No rest for the weary.

But I tell you - it was fun - sick or not. What a nice experience to be surrounded by all that Hav Love.

More later>>

At the Show

We will be at the show - still under the weather but we will be posting photos later on. Hope to see you there!

Oh Woe is Me Says Kat

Well off I go on an adventure to stay with Yvonne's hubby Alex and their old gal Britney who looks like an oversized Havanese but they say she's a Beardie. She rather likes me but she seems to be more gal than I can handle.

I haven't been on an overnight stay without the human parents since I was a little one. They say it will be fun. Alex tells me we are going to have a boys weekend - whatever that is!

All the girls are coming back home and I have to go due to this thing called heat where I lose my brains. Really - I know where they are.

Oh well, I will survive but will Alex? Time will tell.

The specialty is being held in Toronto so many Havanese will be strutting their stuff. Did you buy raffle tickets?

Fiona and Abs is in a brace but due to that 'heat' thing they were unable to practice so we do not have high expectations other than lots of laughs. But that will make it great too. I hear we will have 2 other serious bracers against us. May the best brace win!

Snow Ball Faced Havanese

Fiona is destined to be a ball of snowballs. She adores the snow as you can see.

She plows through the whites stuff with wild abandonment. It's as if she is at a new amusement park and the outside are her rides.

Miss Abs & Wasabi woo comes home tomorrow and I can't wait to see them.

Much to do before then but in between that snow fun gives me giggles. It's nice. Hope you are enjoying the snow too!

Order of the Havanese Pack

Here Fiona is giving kisses to Risa. In a pack, the crew usually all give kisses to the alpha of the pack. So far, Risa seems to retain this position.

It's a position that takes a lot of work.

Each pack member has its own job and that can change. Add another and things get shifted all around at times.

I find it a fascinating thing to watch. The way the Havanese come together and become a tight knit pack as they seem to do here is fascinating.

When one is gone, it upsets the pack and it changes once again.

You can learn a great deal from your Havanese by watching them closely. By getting to know them on this intimate level, you can help them be all they can be.

Havanese Brushout

Shoshi is loving having the Fiona give her so much attention. When Abs is around, it gets piece mealed out.

With everyone being sick here, it means the human is grooming less and just lovin' more but she will pay with more work. It's easier to do a brush out a day and skip here and there than to do one once a week but that's my philosophy. You tend to get rid it it easier as you can get it at the start, not when it's a solid mat. But Shoshi - who used to be the nightmare of nightmares when she was blowing her coat - now in a shorter coat growing out is not. Beyond her feet and sometimes her neck when the pups play with her, she remains mat free. Is it the cut, the daily brushing or what! I will tell you no brushing for 2 days and I brushed her out today and nothing but when I say brush out, I can put a comb in their hair in all directions. That type of a brush/comb out should last for days. Without using a comb on all layers, you are most apt to miss a knor or two. Not the end of the world but something to be aware of.

Three dogs down - a few more to go and then the couch and Havanese drape thing is going to occur.

Low Key Havanese Day

I bet you that you are getting bloody sick of hearing that the humans are sick but boy 3 weeks and counting for the female human. She can't even muster a walk. Things were getting better and then back to being way sick. We think the dogs are growing weary of this.

What's interesting is the dogs smell my breath often. Not sure what they are smelling but they are.

Here's the Shoshi with Fiona playing. They are a mess - the human is a mess and we will survive. Hoping to get well NOW!

More tomorrow!

There's a Havanese Under There

Fiona looks like Wild Child - yeah that is what we should have called her. There's another Havanese under here too - Shoshi and they are playing crazy. It's nice to see.

We are still missing the Wasabi and the Abs. There's still way sick humans but life moves forward - dogs play and we enjoy them.

Couldn't get better than that - could it?

Are your dawgs dressing up for Halloween?

More tomorrow.>>