Lots Happening at Talemaker

Yeah it snowed today and can you believe most of it stayed in our yard 3/4 of the day but now it's mostly ice.

It's way crazy and they are predicting more snow on Halloween weekend - just in time for the Havanese specialty.

My pack mate sister and I are going to dress up for Halloween and try to win a prize. The secret is in on what we will be - can you guess?

Well, that daddy human is still out of town with our pack mate Wasabi and she was having a tryst with that Coolio guy from Rockhurst (see his picture right here) and they had a tie that lasted 30 minutes. I guess he was making sure we or is that Wasabi and Coolio had pups. They will try it again a couple of times over the next couple of days to make sure we have puppies again in the Talemaker house. If it happens it means they will come during Christmas week. Is that exciting or what?

The human mom is still sick but getting better. We are hoping by weeks end she feels - well - human again.

We are all missing the human dad, the Wasabi woo and Miss Abs. We can't wait till they all return.

More tomorrow...

Hey, There's Bleepin White Stuff Flying

Can you believe it - white stuff coming down and sticking enough that Fiona did the shimmy through it and was in love with the stuff. Risa just hung out and let the stuff stick to her hair.

Oh, it should be gone by tomorrow but still, isn't it way too early for it to be here? No summer - early winter - yeouch! The year that wasn't - I tell ya!

Well, the human female around here still has that thing called pneumonia but she's getting better. Not there yet but they say these things take time.

We were lucky to have a visit from Audrey and Gidget. We will be cuddling with Gidget while Audery goes away and we can't wait. Unfortunately we didn't get a photo of Gidget that we could use as she was trying to play with Kat and bouncing around so fast that everything Nathan took was a blur.

We also had a visit from Jean, her friend Nancy, Quito and Kooba and that was ever so nice. We hear they went up to 'Eye on Fashion' to visit and hope they had a grand time. Nancy is just as nice as Jean is. Just wish I wasn't so much in a fog when they came.

Nathan is still out of town till end of week as he is breeding the Wasabi to the handsome Coolio. Our Abigail is in heat at Yvonne's house and yep there goes that training for brace but Nathan will muck through it - and what will be will be.

Me, I am crawling on to the couch tonight and watching Dexter. What are you watching this fine cold day?

Fiona Misses Her Abs

Well, it's been a pretty much - mom work, groom and do nothing else day so we can get well. It's hell having pneumonia - I tell ya. The dogs just don't get the fact that you can't do everything you usually do.

The crew is missing the Wasabi and the Abs and the human Dad. To top it off, the computer is not cooperating so not such a fun day but if you are dealing with anything similar - know tomorrow is another Havanese day. Hug them - love them and enjoy. They are the greatest infusion of joy.

No photo today - not up to taking any today - but we hope you understand.

Boy that human daddy is going to love cleaning up teh backyard - NOT.

Quiet Times Havanese Style

Fiona is acting way sucky - unlike her and she is playing with Terra in a strange way - wriggling her body all over the floor and pouncing on her. She doesn't usually play with Terra but Abigail is gone so she tries.

It's okay as I still am sick and Nathan is away so we will hang out and watch TV and chill.

Fiona just finished eating and she had a saturated beard on one side. Now you tell me - how does that happen that only one side gets like that? Does she eat sideways? ROFL

Have you bought your Havanese grooming book? It's a must to get, IMHO. We have it to bring to the specialty so come out to it and buy it and if you can't, drop in here after Nathan is back and buy it from here. It is chock full of tips.

Fiona Misses Abigail

What a suck Fiona is turning out to be. She truly misses her Abigail. I never saw her hang out and do nothing so much in her life. Oh, she has played with Terra and Shoshi but not the same.

It's interesting how everything changes when one or two leaves.

Am hoping she pulls out of this. Plus - I think she is missing her Daddy - Abigail too as she follows Alex around everywhere and howls her howl if she perceives herself left alone.

More later>>

Kooba & Quito

Here's a recent photo of Kooba and Quito. They seem to be hanging out quite well these days and it makes my heart swell.

As you know, Kooba was the Havanese rescue that we took in and fostered for the HFC and Quito's owner expressed interest in her and a connection was made.

They look great together, don't you think?

They just came back from Rice Lake and are hanging out together. We heard they had great fun!

Havanese Almost One Night Stand

Having a male that is intact with a house full of females makes you acutely aware of the stress they go through when the females are taken away.

As you can see here, Kat looks downright sad and stayed up half the night looking for the girls that left. Although he saw them leave, I gather he had wish-filled thinking that they made their way back. It's rather pathetic as he whines for them but after 24 hours - it usually goes away. This whole scenario is known as 'doing an Elvis' - meaning leaving the building - checking out. There are still some people that believe they see Elvis. One wonders if Kat would be seeing his gals - his in his mind - in his dreams - if he lets himself sleep. I think if I had my druthers - I would have all females and no males. Oh males are sensitive souls - I adore them but if they are intact and you have intact females - well you go through all this stuff wondering how fair it all is to the boys emotional state.

That first 24 hours - you may as not clean them as they spend their time sniffing and sticking their face everywhere trying to get their scent. They don't sleep - they don't eat. I brush and use a waterless shampoo but it is all fruitless till this emotional state goes away.

I did manage to get a new bar for my grooming table and its heavy duty. I will try it out when I feel better and along with that shipment came a Madan brush and Vellus brush and I will let you know how that goes. I get this stuff from Doug at K9Grooming Supplies. He will be at Trillium so if you need anything from him, send him mail. He will bring it to the show. He has great grooming tips and I mean everything he has told me has panned out and he doesn't sell me something I don't need and gets things he doesn't sell for me. He's a great guy to support - seriously.

So, today I will try both brushes and let you know how it goes. Brushes are important to me as I need to keep the coats in good shape for shows especially when you have a playful dog like Abs who mucks it up with everyone and therefore gets her coat chewed.

More later and after a bit of work - may take a lunch break of snuggling with Havanese on the couch.

Havanese on Holidays

Well, this was Wasabi and Abigail just before Alex came to pick them up. Anyone who has had females in heat with an intact male - well it's not a pretty site unless you are mating him so Kat went from clean to looking like - well we won't explain but that means he went from looking good to looking scary - teeth chattering and a howling mess. Boys - what can we do with them...

So, Yvonne and Alex was nice enough to take in Wasabi till she can be mated and they also took in the Abs who also went into heat. I looked at Fiona and went - oh oh she 'may' be going in too but Kat's not bothering her so all is good.

So, did you come here to learn about the birds and the bees and how a little boy in a hairy body called Kat loses his mind? I think not.

The human Nathan is out of town. The human Darlah is WAY sick and crawling into bed and for the first time in a long time could only muster up a page (her real job other than dogs). She always works through every illness but not today.

Let's hope the dogs let me sleep. This way I can dream about what the %$^& we are going to do with Kat with all these girls in heat and a Havanese specialty coming at the end of the month. Can you shoot me and get it over with now? ROFL

More tomorrow when I feel better - hoping!

The Almost Didn't Post Havanese Blog

Oh gad - it's that time again. Wasabi is in heat and if everything times out, she will be mated with Rockhurst's Coolio. He's a way handsome boy so if a connection occurs. we expect beautiful winter puppies.

Wasabi says - didn't we do this a tad over a year ago?

What's worse is Miss Abs may be coming into heat too but she's too young so we will be locking up the boy - somehow - someway. :-)

More as we know.

Havanese: Sharing During Eating Times

One often asks, how do you get so many dogs eating all together and not have a zoo. Well, it didn't start out that way. They all tried to eat each others but we would stand and control the environment even if it meant putting our feet around a bowl while one ate - especially a straggler and they eventually got the idea to respect each others space. We do not allow any food aggression or they lose access to their food pronto! It's not just something that happens but instead something you have to create.

We do have the low growl saying 'it's mine - leave' but it's a correction - a communication that I am not ready to walk away. When they are - they saunter off and I swear smile saying - now all of you that have been standing here can figure out who gets my crumbs. It's a game that Fiona plays heartily as she is always the last and Abigail is always the first in waiting for anything Fiona decides to leave. We feed accordingly so Abigail gets what she needs and Fiona gets what she needs. They can have the exact same food but they want what the other one has.

So tell me - is it the game or do they really believe the other has better food or? You can learn a great deal watching a pack of dogs eat. It's almost like a social ritual like we have when the family sits down at the table. One can be uncle x that eats so loudly that you cringe and another one dainty and eating a little at a time - another that is a taster that slowly decides if there is anything good but is really too busy watching the rest etc.

If you have more than one dog, and you have a family gathering - see who your dogs compare with. It could be fun but not sure you want to tell the human non dog lover that your precious Havanese snorts like them. heh

I know - I am bad but it must be this flu junk that hasn't left me yet. I tend to have a quirky way of looking at life and the dawgs when that occurs...or hmm maybe that's just an excuse.

Is It My Turn?

Is it my turn yet? When you get two puppies together, they can often be closer to each other than to you. Luckily, we got these 2 at separate times but still if they are very close.

But with a separation of time we managed to make us the focus and the play secondary with each other secondary or am I fooling myself?

Yes, you can hear me laughing hard.

Nothing like puppies especially more than one.

Canadians - Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. We get to have our turkey today. Much work for a few minutes of tasty satisfaction. hahahaha

Havanese Dreamzzzzing

Well, the human mom is rather sick today so the dawgs are hanging out dreamin' and we are watching TV shows that we saved for days like this.

Abigail is hanging out with her duck - which usually belongs to the Wasabi woo but we practice sharing around this place.

One wonders what a Havanese dreams of. Is it the games, the snuggles - the joy of life? They certainly seem to have that passion that we could use some of.

We promised you a video of a brace or an attempt of one but not sure if we will get one in. It's not from the desire though the daddy can do it without the human mom and her camera but rather that couch is calling.

Do you have a snuggler, a 'pay attention to me' - a charmer? The Havanese can be and much more.

Our pups had baths yesterday. We are going to 7 to 10 day baths with mild shampoo to help us go through that once in a lifetime 'blowing coat' stage that they are in. A clean coat mats less but never wash a dog matted or it will make the knots felt like.

By the way, the big Havanese specialty is coming to Toronto over Halloween weekend. let us know if you want to buy some raffle tickets. The bags and jackets are way cool. Check them out. Then if interested, send us a mail.

Puppy Heaven Havanese Stylin'

We had Yvonne and Alex's pups visiting and this cutie is known as Mac & Cheese (do I have that right?) who is a Kat and Lola pup.

He's black and white and tan. It will be interesting to see him when he is older. He was simply scrumptious and his owner's quite nice too. Thanks for visiting us. Wish I had felt better to be more myself. heh

Well, today I bathed the duo - Abigail and Fiona and just when I think I have the struggle done - well putting them on their back to dry their tummy with the blower doing it's thing, they remind me that they do not like this position. But it is important that they 'get' that you are in charge simply by holding them in place and in a matter of fact way, continuing and saying no firmly if you must. I have to say 'no' firmly with the Fiona. She likes to test what she can get away with ALWAYS.

In photographing the dogs, I find Abigail the most creative to snap as she always has a face on her filled with emotion. She seems to be the happiest go lucky dog when she is playing.

This doesn't carry this into the show ring yet but put her together with other dogs and she is - well deliriously happy. She also makes everyone feel as if they count. What more can you ask for?

Well, she isn't the only one that is artistically creative looking captured with a camera but here we have the old gal, beardie owned by Yvonne and Alex. The pup that was visiting - well they own the proud mom Lola that coddled and loved this little one till it could go to its forever home.

Well, we just heard Kooba is on her way to Rice Lake - lucky gal and we - well we are trying to not laugh watching Nathan practice a brace with Fiona and Abigail. I promise a video tomorrow after they give it another shot.

More later.>>

Pool Closing - How Havanese Sad is THAT!

It's the last day of the year the pool is getting CLOSED now!

The crew was outside watching human Daddy take out the pool cleaner and clean up. No one was brushed just yet so just enjoy them in their natural stance especially the Shoshi who now that her haircut is growing out - well she has that electric, messy hair thang going on.

Even Abigail was trying to figure out what was going on but the pups are in for a HUGE treat.

When the safety cover goes on, they do that 'run-like-hell' game and the cover bounces like a trampoline and makes noise.

They ADORE it after the initial - what is this about?

All it takes is watching another do the game - and they are off and running as if it was always there.

Shoshi is looking at me as if to say - you are not taking a photo of me looking this THIS are you? Well, of course. That's the fun part - seeing them ungroomed and the way they are after a crazy play session. I find them artistically grand with hair swaying in all directions.

Tomorrow, if it's not rainy, we are supposed to have all of Yvonne's crew visiting and one of Lola's and Kat's boy. It will be wonderful to see how he is turning out.

More later as the day progresses. Yep - it's time to start cleaning that garage and bringing your stuff in. Do you think we can coerce the dogs into doing that for us?

Play and Bath Times

How often should you wash your dogs? It really depends on when they look dirty to you. I tend to do mine about every 2 weeks or so. Today I did Kat, Risa and Wasabi. Tomorrow I will do Shoshi and Terra. Abs and Fiona was done for the shows so no need to do them.

What happens when you do wash the crew is a certain amount of excitement where they do run like hell and even those not washed get into the play.

Oh, and the Havanese do play well with retrievers. Heck, Fiona is enjoying a bull mastiff in her class.

It all depends on the dog and the more positive exposure, the better it is.

Sometimes when you give a bath, your dog can end up a complete mess as Risa does here 5 minutes after her blow dry. She just rolls, and shakes toys and has a grand time but although she looks a mess, well - she feels great and smells good too and that is what it is about.

Besides, I think dogs are meant to muck it up.

Our pool is getting closed this week. If you have a pool, consider a safety cover. You will relax more and it will expand the play area. Ours jump on the cover as if it is a trampoline and love it. We will be getting a video after it goes on this week, I can't wait to see the pups on it as it will be their first time.

Well, more tomorrow.

Stress Leads Down the Line: Havanese

Fiona was in the show today and didn't do well. She won her class the other day and Abs won it on the day she showed but today was a stress-filled day.

It started before the show and could have ended up to be a tragedy. I want to explain as this was an accident that I didn't foresee.

I have an old laundry tub that I bath the dogs in and have been doing so for years. Today, Fiona was struggling and ended up getting a foot stuck in the drain. It's one of the scariest things to occur as you do not know what to do at first. You must calm down first and you couldn't handle it alone. It tells me that I not only need a phone with me especially when I am alone but I also need a tool kit.

I screamed for Nathan and he came running. Our son came running as well.

Fiona was frightened and was screaming which added to the stress level. Her foot was solidly stuck. We tried putting conditioner down the drain and massaging her foot but it was stuck tight. She kept struggling and we kept trying to calm her down and hold her in place to eliminate serious damage to the foot.

Nathan used his head and sent our son to get tools to break the drain. We thought one side would open it up to allow her foot to come out but no, it took 4 sides broken to release the foot. During this time she had shampoo on that had started to dry in and was full of mats but initially that was not even a concern. We were worried about her being able to stand on her foot. I massaged the area and she didn't flinch so a good sign and then placed her on the floor to see if she could walk. Yep, all was looking good.

My next thoughts that randomly went through my head was, she's full of mats - now what? The sink is broken - now how to finish this. What if she needs an operation etc. Maybe we shouldn't show her but if we don't, it's like getting thrown off a horse and when that happens, you have to just do it.

Gad, I didn't realize the depth of my love for my dogs. Sure, I love them but it takes a fear like this to tap the true depth of those feelings. I think I would have fallen apart if she had been in pain and I thought she was but what I was hearing was fear cries. It's not something I foreseen. I used that basin for years without an issue. But still - to get past something like that...well it would be hard.

I got her ready for the show in 45 minutes when it usually takes me 90 minutes each dog. Adrenaline, mats and all is a crazy thing.

But - Fiona felt the stress. She refused treats from Daddy at the show. She slept all the way to the show and all the way back from the show. She was relying on me as I believe she saw me as the one that helped her when she was in trouble.

So now I will spend my time stepping back and letting Nathan become that person again. He's already working his magic. It's important for the handler and dog to connect as if no one else exists.

The point is, how you are feeling - how they are feeling affects everything for your dog. She wouldn't eat. She didn't scat and get cheeky as she usually does. She couldn't stay focused and she had STEAK and LIVER - her faves. But stress does crazy things to you AND your dog.

Compare it to a fight you just had with someone you love and and they remain angry at you but you don't understand it. They remain angry and suddenly you own their emotion by allowing it to get you down to that place they are. Well, your dog does this naturally. What you feel, they feel. They are the most intuitive beings.

The moral of this vent...

I think I would have demolished the sink entirely to save her. But, I will never be in the laundry room again without a phone. Nor will I ever have an old laundry sink with an opening wide enough to catch their feet. I will recognize that I am still upset after it is over as I have allowed my fear to sit and stay with me. This will affect my dog and I would have been better off doing anything to get past it but I did do the right thing making her get on that horse again per se.

I will have yet another horse for Fiona to get back on - 'the sink' but I will do that after a new one is in sooner than later to make sure it doesn't become an imprint that remains.

Fears are to be dealt with via slow conditioning. But what WE feel affects our dogs. We can't always control it but if we can remember that, it may minimize the depth of our emotional state.

Now on to the next day - please. :-(

Ruff Havanese Dawg Life

It's a ruff Havanese Dawg life - I tell you with that human and a couch.

Well, our poor golden last night had an issue that we think is dementia. She's starting to show signs - well has been for a bit but when they get old - you often do that denial thing.

Nathan woke up with her to take her out and she ran through the plants etc. only to stare at the fence line.

He brought her out and got her to the deck only to have her run back to do the stare so he went back in and then she came to the door. Now she is sleeping.

So, after all that, Nathan gave up and went to sleep on the couch covered with half the Havanese and Whitney laying next to him on the floor. I had the rest of the crew. The dogs can play recovery but the humans - not as easy - and he gets to show today in a fog.

It didn't stop the pups from playing today. It wasn't them suffering from sleep.

Don't ya just wish you were one of these Havanese that can just play recovery with naps? I surely wish I could. I take them and I often feel worse.

As you can see, nothing like more than 1 Havanese. Just look at these two obviously they're best of pals. I swear Fiona just adores the Abs and her free sense of play with anyone and everyone. It's a quality to love.

But when you just have one, you will often see them saying - can you play? When you do, I can guarantee you that if you have the right mindset - you will have a session of laughter. Try it!

More later - after the show...

Hanging Out at Shows

Abs and Fiona both won their class on their own respective days. Remember that ad where they say brusha, brusha, brusha? Well maybe you don't but this human feels as if that is all she is doing. Brush before show, brush the dogs on return and now entertain the son who is leaving to go back to his naval base.

Trillium - the big Havanese specialty is coming up soon and I will be posting raffle prizes - well pics of them. If you are interested in buying raffle tix - please let us know. There will be lots of Havanese from all over and a ton of vendors. It's a must to attend and its local here in Toronto.

We are thinking of Kooba - hoping she is having a really grand time.

Tip: If you brush 5 minutes a day, you will reduce the time you need to demat if your pup is going through that blowing coat stage. There are neat tips to help you and the Havanese Fanciers is selling a grooming book at Trillium. I haven't seen it yet but they say - it's a must.

Gad - I sound like an advertisement. Sorry - not my thang. Just sharing things I think you should know.

More later.>>

From Mangled Mess to Stylin' Havanese Style

Fiona was bathed early this morning much to her irritation but she cleaned up well. But mommy - these crazy rules of no hair ties. I can't see.

The gal was a tad miffed that she wasn't allowed to play and hang out with the crew.

She actually created a delay tactic that didn't totally work. But that's the mind of a dawg like Fiona - always thinking about putting that foot over the line.

She came inside from her morning duty looking like...well take a look. This isn't as bad as her usual as she was brushed before she went out and then decided - mommy I got to go but where she had to go was not to do her duty but instead she needed to play and avoid the bath. hahahaha

Still, although Fiona didn't win big, she had a fun time at the show doing her scat.

We will let daddy tell you about it. He was after all the guy that couldn't stop laughing. Yep - caught in film - digital that is!

Tomorrow Abs is in the show. Here's hoping she has just as much fun.

Crazy Dawg House at Talemaker Havanese

Fiona Says:
Well, Mommy is up early having her coffee and then she has the audacity to think she is going to wash me. Got to head to Port Hope for the weekend. No time for anything including computer issues but we will post daily about our missives. More later>>