Wow Such Fun Indeed!

Who do we have here today...well Saki and Missy.

We also have Bailey who came yesterday and Max who came today and Cesar who has been here for awhile.

The crew is really meshing and playing well.

Bailey was hesitant her first night but she slept next to me in her bed with her head nudging mine. It was so sweet. She also hung out on my lap and got the lay of the land but today - well she is playing up a storm. With whom? Max, Cesar, Fiona (she really likes Fiona), Abigail and Kat.

Cesar has become way comfie and eats in his shiny bowl daily. He is a regular play monster and has decided if you are not playing - well I will get you to.

Max is playing with Cesar and Bailey tonight or maybe refereeing. Missy is also getting into the fun. The night has just begun!

The crew has been on walks - outside and inside a million and a half times and yes we go out with them. How do you think we get these pictures and besides who would want to miss the moments - not I.

If you want to see a glimpse of today, check out these photos.

New Visitor & 2 Delayed until Tomorrow

Bailey came to visit and although it was a repeat visit, she was a tad hesitant - tail down for about 15 minutes then her tail went up.

She started cozying up to the others and finding her comfort.

The pack reacted warmly to Bailey. She's going to have a blast this holiday!

Daisy just got cleaned up to go home. Her Mom comes at 3:30.

We will miss the little round snuggle monster. She may be back soon while her floors are getting done and we look forward to it!

Cesar was one of the first to say hello to Bailey. It was nice to see a visitor welcoming a visitor. Cesar really has his comfort going on.

Last night we had another crate - a wired one and Cesar decided that and his own was just his and he went back and forth figuring out which was more comfie. He decided he liked the wire one - at least last night he did. We will see what tonight brings.

Today the dogs are enjoying outside a tad more. Yesterday it was too cold. Where's the snow? We still have a fair amount but we need a blanket of new.

I want 12 inches so we can all lay out there - dawgs alike and do dog/snow angels. ROFL

Plus Treasure and Cesar can play - find that duck in the snow that they so fondly do.

I have the video camera charging - just waiting for that snow.

For all those vacationing in warmer climates - I am jealous but hey - we got the snow!

Slow Conditioning

Cesar's human parents told us that Cesar had an issue with shiny bowls. He simply didn't like them and wouldn't eat from them. Each dog tends to have quirks about different things but you can get them by it by slow conditioning.

Our golden saw a raccoon in our pool house up in the rafters one year and for eons had a moment of - looking up and worrying if it was going to come back. She's past it now but that was due to persistence.

I tend to believe we - all humans and dawgs have our own fears and we tend to be proactive about getting our dawgs past them. No one should be a prisoner of their own fears.

Cesar has no issues with anything else - a rather brave and happy soul but all dogs have something. That you haven't seen it only means you haven't been exposed to it yet. It can be as simple as that silly moving Christmas figurine that you see on your walks or the paper flying through the air or the garage door etc. But instead of avoiding, you should do slow conditioning. You do not saturate but you play a slow game of exposure till it's just part of their lives and that fear goes away.

We only fear what we do not know.

As you can see, Cesar is eating from a shiny bowl on day 5. He absolutely reacted that first day so out came a ceramic bowl and no issue. We didn't force the issue but just exposed. Each day Nathan surrounded him with the bowls and fed each dog closer and closer to him till today when he put his own shiny bowl down, Cesar ate without a single concern.

It is NORMAL for canines and humans to have fears. It's the use of slow conditioning that gets us by them.

Cesar and Daisy are wonderful dawgs. Although Daisy thinks she must play at the witching hour and pounces on my chest to play and lick my face, she's learning - it's not 6am yet.

Cesar uses a crate at night per a request from his owners and willingly goes into it to sleep. Daisy sleeps on the bed as that is what she does at home. All of our dawgs except the Golden's sleep on the bed including the visitors except when requested otherwise.

It was great to have a sea of dawgs keeping us warm. Even though we have the house much warmer than some of our friends with their open window - tsk tsk, it was way cold last night despite the furnace kicking in so the body hugs was nice!

Last night we had Missy and Holly's parents come to visit. Missy has boarded with us before and she is one of the most agile dawgs next to Gidget, Louis and Wasabi that we ever did see.

She hasn't been here for quite sometime so we did the one on one with her and her pack mate sister Holly. We do not believe in starting a visit with the dawgs being overwhelmed but feel a slow conditioning - 1 at a time introduction is a must even with dawgs that have come here before and aren't the partying types.

There are few that are the life of the party and relishes the crowd from the onset like Teddy.

Oh, they all get to be as the visit goes on but each has their own comfort zone and timetable. I don't like being immersed in a sea of strangers at a party though Nathan would have no issue with it. Each of us are different and that's a good thing.

We also gain our comfort levels being exposed to other people's (dawgs) strengths.

It doesn't make us better or worse - just unique. Think if we were all the same how B-O-R-I-N-G that would be.

Here's a photo of Holly who seems to be quite okay with the activity at Talemaker. She's in for a treat when she comes visit us. She's a tiny thing so we will be using our sweaters on her - watching her carefully to make sure it's not too cold for her and doing the same with the older set.

This morning it was too cold for the older crew to be out beyond 5 minutes at a time so we go out with them many times throughout the day and hopefully it will be warm enough today around noon to get a walk in. There are those rare moments where it is simply too cold to do just that and safety is more of a concern so we instead play games in the house - all sorts of silly games and the dawgs get tuckered out despite the lack of a chunk of outside play at a time.

People tell us all the time that their dawgs go home and almost sleep for 2 days. Why? They have such a jam packed vacation with us filled with fun that they need to regroup from the holiday. I am sure you humans know what that means. Unless your holiday takes you to a beach where you do nothing but lay around - if you are sight seeing etc. and doing biking, trekking etc - you come home - and then say - ah - it's good to be home - even though that holiday was AMAZING, I need to relax and enjoy home. Your canines do the same thing.

So, just because your dawgs are having the time of their life, they are so thrilled to see you and need that down time till the next time.

Stay warm folks - it's very cold out today. Pay attention to your dawgs feet - their bodies and bring them in when they are cold even if it's after 5 minutes.

Cesar's First Morning

Cesar arrived last night at 7:30Pm and with our dawgs we do a one on one to get the new visitor to feel comfortable. Sometimes they feel comfortable from the onset and other times it takes a bit of time - a connection in the pack to make it all work. We do our part to make it happen.

Last night was a get acquainted and check the house, humans out and gain one's comfort level. We watched TV and he laid on Nathan's lap and he slept in a crate in our room (requested by owners) surrounded by Golden's that sleep on the floor and us humans and Havanese on the bed.

Well, today, he is playing retrieve and dragging Treasure all over the floor holding on to the toy and playing up a storm. Check out some of the photos from this morning.

We are working on his shiny bowl - I don't like quirk so you will see a ceramic and shiny bowl. Slow conditioning and he's eating up a storm. No worries.

Mia is coming this afternoon - a Fiona pup so we should have even more fun.

Check out the photos below. I will add to them as the day goes on and time allows, posting a "New Photos" in the title when I do.

Time With Friends/Family

Good friends - dawgs, family - what more do you want...well okay there is more but today we got lost in this and it was a great adventure.

We tend to get lost in the dawgs all the time.

PS: We have a puppy coming tomorrow for boarding. Are we excited or what! Of course KitKat will go home and she wil be missed but puppy fun is still in our lives. How lucky we are!

Treasure just had an amazing amount of time today and one would swear she was posing in all sorts of model stances.

She makes it fun to capture the moments.

KitKat also was exposed to Yvonne's crew for the first time and we got to enjoy her 6 week puppy who is still available to that truly special home. This pup is delicious. She's bold and fun. She reminds me of our litters of late and she has such hair - thick and curly.

Check out the slide show below if you want to see her play with KitKat.

Now we are wondering how we ever gave up any of them. :-)

It's a Brrrrrrrrr Day Out

We have Kit Kat visiting us for the weekend. If interested, follow her visit on Havanese Life. Plus we have some winter tips to think about.

Do you have a bell on your door?

If you do, there are days like this that they ring it 40 million times?

Why?

They want to be out but its simply too cold to be out for any long period of time. So, they come in and then want to go back out. It's their solution to being too cold. hehehe

Although we had several inches of snow, it rained and then got cold again creating a significant amount of ice. It's downright treacherous out there.

Watch yourself - walking and driving. Your Havanese need you!

We have been having a blast in the house today playing retrieve. Maybe you should stay warm and try a game too!

Wet Days at Talemaker

Well, isn't this quite the site?

It was bath day for some of us and I think that human was on a marathon. She also washed Daisy, our visitor before she went home. Check it out.

Have you ever seen Shoshi look so good? hahahaha Yeah..we are laughing. She wasn't all that pleased except she knows she gets a treat after such ventures.

You couldn't tell by this photo but Shoshi came out looking so full and soft and smelling grand.

The two Golden's had a reprieve from a bath today and so did Kat, Wasabi and Treasure but they had a full brush/comb out but that's a usual around this place. Yep - we get brushed completely each and every day.

We also go on walks each day and play like crazy all in an effort to undo the work but that's okay. We are all knot free.

Fiona was the next to get bathed. She's our delicate beauty who weighs 9 lbs soaking wet.

She dries so fast as the puppies tore out most of her hair. That's okay - it will grow back.

Soon she will be back to stylin'.

Fiona is adjusting to the no puppy - fly the nest thing.

She loves when they come back but she is also loving the extra attention.

She is also playing up a storm with her pack mates. We hope her next puppies are as wonderful as this crew is thus far.

After Fiona was finished, it was Abigail's turn.

Abigail is the type of dog that just stands there but you can tell she is not thrilled with this washing and drying business.

She just wants you to get to the treat part as fast as you can.

Abigail's hair is changing again as she starts to go darker. It's funny how the Havanese can go light then dark again and back yet again.

It's kind of like having an ever changing present of sorts.

Abigail tolerates the blower in her face and she looks rather comical while you are doing it.

She brings new meaning to the Shag look. But if you allow the hair in the eyes, you will have leakage and that will create stains. Some dogs always have it but you can control it and others hardly ever get any.

What do you mean about controlling it?

You make sure the hair is out of the eyes and you dab a bit of corn starch where the eyes would leak and voila, it solidifies it and stops any future staining.

This is especially good at times of stress or teething which is a huge culprit. Some never have any and that's quite okay too.

Risa was the last to do today. Counting our visitor, that was 5 dogs.

As you can see with Risa, she has a lot of hair on her feet.

Before the snow hits, I need to cut her hair back on her feet. I need to trim them up to look nice and clean under the pads. Hair stuck in the pads will help ice balls to form there and that hurts the dogs to walk on.

Make sure you or your groomer cleans up the pads of their feet. I will start doing mine one dog here and there all this week.

Why didn't I do it today? Well, I was out of time. I had 3 more dogs that wasn't washed to be brushed and combed through.

You do what you can, when you can. Tomorrow trim, trim, trim while brushing out and maybe Wasabi and Treasure and Kat will get a bath. We shall see.

Beyond this, we still had Audrey show up to get her Havanese calendar. Yes - we still have a few left. We had many play sessions and we practice 'no bark' when Daisy's mom came.

What did you do today?

Today's Craziness with TTs and Visiting Havs

Have to tell you, today has been such glorious fun to capture a visiting Havanese with Treasure and Treasure's face at times - priceless and Val's TTs and her Havanese and our crew. It has been such fun to capture such great moments.

Though Jebbie seems smitten with Fiona and she's not interested. It's been interesting as Jebbie has been persistent and she has been...well let's say vocal - I am not interested. Maybe it's his size. hehehehe

Charlie a visiting Havanese that Val is watching is 5 months and he has hit it off with Treasure. He plays with the rest but my camera couldn't get off those two.

Check out our fun today.

Snow is coming this week so pick up that camera and go click, click and click.

I am hoping to make snow paths and invite puppies over. I know - I can't help myself.

Enjoy today's photos. For a larger view, check the pics out here.

Winter Clothes, Tips and Today's Fun

I think the kids get too much air time around this place. Just because we oldsters - well I am not really that old, Mommy don't play like banshees as much - well we are interesting TOO!!!

Heck, check out this new hairdo. I tend to always have an interesting look despite that Mommy grooming me. Today she took a break though and I am so thankful. She just forgot to give me a treat and yeah I know I get it when I get groomed but it was her choice to have a break.

Mommy usually grooms us thoroughly every day but every now and then she takes a break and that's okay too. The dawgs like the break. On those days she makes sure the hair is out of the eyes but you couldn't tell with this photo.

Check out today's photos of the crew to see a larger and fuller view. We still have KitKat till tomorrow or Monday. Daisy goes home Tuesday and we will be puppy-less again.

We got asked by many people about winter jackets. I have a slew. It's insane how many I bought. I have some faves. But you have to understand that by buying so many, I learn what works and what doesn't.

Many times we do not use jackets but when you have a really cold brr weather and a short coat on your Havanese, you may want to think of the extra step to go to make sure your Havanese can walk comfortably.

There is also a time when the snow is wet and it sticks to their hair and it creates snow balls all over their underside.

It's not pretty and can be downright cold. Depending on the Havanese, it will be a mild irritation to - I do NOT like this!

This is a photo of a Fiona, Kat puppy stylin in one of our fave sweaters. Why do we like it? It's stretchy, comfortable - easy to put on and fast! It also is one of the warmer ones. I have a ton of sweaters and jackets. Over the next few, I will put one or the other on a different dawg and show you and tell you why I like it and why I don't.

Here is what I learned about winter coats.

1. If you can't put it on easily, do not buy it. You won't use it.

2. You need to cover the tummy and a zipper or Velcro on top is easier though Velcro and zippers catch the hair unless you have a flap to cover the opening. A thin sweater underneath works too and layers is warmer.

3. It must be washable and waterproof or water resistant is best.

4. You can get away with an easy over the head sweater at times as we do and no coat.

5. If this is your Havanese's first snow winter, it will be cold but will adapt.

6. If you get a waterproof snowsuit, get the legs shortened. They always are way too long. Any seamstress can actually do it or you can tack it yourself. Then as they grow you can let it out. That is what I did with the snowsuits I got last year.

I find it a pain to dress so many dawgs and we do take them for walks in the winter time as they do still need it. But 4 at a time - 2 on Nathan 2 on me - I can do it but if it's not heavy snow that will create those lovely snowballs that you have to brush out and/or rinse off and dry - well I will put a sweater on and that's plain easier but wet snow, well you do the work ahead of time by dressing and you save the work on the return.

If you want to show you clothes that work for us, let me know. I will dig them all out of everywhere I have them.

With the dawgs, I am always learning and looking for easier ways of doing things so I can spend quality fun time with the dawgs.

When they say we have gone to the dawgs - well it's really describing us...ROFL!

Daisy's Visit

Daisy (our visitor) and Mia played up a storm till Mia left for her forever home.

Daisy loves to play with Abigail and Treasure too so all is right in her world.

Last night we think she was so over the top excited that she hardly slept. We are working on the 'no bark' and tuckering her out. ROFL

I have to wash Kat tonight as he is off to a show and I am staying home with the crew. So, it will be me and the son playing and having fun and walking the crew. We have an early (5am) wake up call tomorrow as Nathan has to get out and drive. Me - I get to snooze on the couch with the crew after he is gone.

Don't worry human mom - if you are reading this, your little one is having the time of her life and then some. She didn't whimper a bit but went - oh - holiday - let's P-A-R-T-Y!

Daisy and the crew are taking their first nap today and it's really needed. Soon they will be eating and all the fun begins again.

Sopping Wet

Don't ya wish it would snow then rain, rain and more rain? We do. We would love it if we had the experience of a first snow with the last puppy but I doubt we will.

Treasure tends to get wet even if there is one puddle in the yard. She can't help herself but that is her personality. Some Havanese love the water and others do not.

Shoshi pokes her head out the door and decides she doesn't do rain. We don't let her get away with it and we take her out anyways. We drop her in the middle of the grass - she does her business and runs as fast as she can to the door.

Do you think Treasure does that? Nah - she embraces it like its her best friend and rolls and jumps and mucks it up.

One breed - all different personalities and we rather like it that way!

Missy: A Wasabi Pup

Just got a photo of one of Wasabi's pup - Missy.

I love that hair thing she has going on. She even has Wasabi's half mustache. What a cutie!

Her mom tells me she has silver and brown coming in and it sounds like she has been playing up a storm with her Havanese housemate, Max.

This one went to a friend who lives way too far away. But luckily she pings me on instant message every once in awhile.

It's so great to see photos and hear how the crew is. We really miss the crew when they leave and always want to hear how they are doing.

Today, I gave Whitney, Kat and Abigail a bath. The big job was Whitney as she is 14 years old and collapsed a number of times and she has moments where she's not doing well and today was it.

So, every time you think a Havanese is a job to wash, think of me with 2 goldens - 1 with bad legs - another with dementia and you may laugh when you get a tad wet from that bath with your Havanese. It's not that bad - honest!

Well, Abigail - after I got her done decided to rub her body all over the place making sure she looks a mess but she smells and feels wonderful. If only I had the energy to do the rest all in one day.

Now to get some work done and groom the rest of the crew. Yep, sometimes I don't get it done til I am sitting and watching TV. What about you?

Tip of the Day:

If your puppy pees on your carpet, try this. After soaking up most of the mess with paper towel, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the area and leave it to absorb both the traces of urine and the odor.

Another Wasaabi Puppy Visit

Saki came to visit and I was able to get a better photo of her than Chewie as she posed for me. She's a gal with atti-tude.

Chewie was high driven play cutie - always on the go type. Oh Saki can be too but she paced herself making it easier to capture a photo.

Saki is a high jetting traveller and is back to Texas for the holidays. She likes the city but something about her owner putting on flip flops with all that cruel weather there - NOT - well she thinks that is some great lifestyle. I do too...hehehehe

Everytime she wants cool, crisp air - well she just flies on back there. Wait till she sees snow when she comes back after the holidays.

Saki had her first hairdo at Valerie Weston's salon.

Chewie and Saki have that love of life and that's so nice to see. It was a delight to see them both.

We hope Saki's human mom feels better. She's under the weather so we are sending out paws-i-tive vibes her way.

Nathan ran around with the dawgs - what a guy - in his usual fashion despite he had tripped earlier today on something and really hurt his back and I mean really hurt it. Anything for the dawgs.

They adore it and I love seeing them run with him.

Now even though we play in the back and we do play with the crew - retrieve - running - fun games, we still get in a walk a day with each and every one of them.

It's important for their minds and bodies. Mine too. hehehehe

Good news, Risa has dropped her weight. She was becoming too heavy. She is now 1lb away from her goal and feeling great and active as all get out. It's wonderful to see. It's amazing what a little weight off can do to the energy level.

How did we do it? Walks - less food and only 1 treat at grooming time. She wasn't happy that first month - whining and looking for food but now she's adjusted and health wise and activity wise - she's a much happier gal and we probably added time to her life. We indeed added quality of life to her regiment

Now it's my turn as soon as the pups are gone.

This losing weight business - well it ain't easy.

Get out, rake some leaves and play with your Havanese and have someone take photos. I would love to see! We may even be able to get it into next year's calendar.

Wasabi Pup Comes to Visit

Chewie came over for a visit with his humans. It was an unexpected visit and it was fun.

He is such a happy boy going a mile a minute with his tail. It was great to see.

Tomorrow Saki comes for a visit and we are hoping it doesn't rain.

Chewie is going all silver like his dad. It's going to be interesting seeing him next summer and seeing the changes.

Here's a neat trick to teach your little one.

Flip a Treat
This trick is fun for both your Havanese and his audience. And it's easy, too.
•Hold your left hand under your dog's muzzle and place a treat on the end of his nose with your right hand. Slowly move your hands away as you give the command "Take it!"

•During the first few attempts, the treat will probably go flying over your dog's head. Grab it before he does and repeat. Eventually he'll figure out how to snatch the treat in midair.

•Teaching your dog to wait for your verbal cue before grabbing the treat requires a hold command and a release command. Place your left hand under your Havanese's muzzle and the treat on his nose with your right, then look into his eyes and say, "Hold it" in a low, assertive tone.

•Slowly remove your hand from his muzzle and say, "Take it!" If he begins to go for the treat before your command, repeat the hold cue.

Vinegar and Oil

Oh this duo is always trying to do a one upmanship.

It reminds us of two of our daughters. They either adore each other or they think the other one has to be beneath them as they are top dawg!
I just love both from the bottom of my heart but they - mostly that Treasie keeps you on your toes thinking.

The younger set actually play quite well with the older set and scramble up and down the stairs with ease. It's amazing!

Each day we take them out at least 4 times a day and then run around like banshees and sleep a deep dawgie sleep. Activity equals sleep.

Funny Havanese Games

If you click on this photo, you can see a larger view. In it you will see Treasure sticking her tongue out at Abigail. These two gals have a face down all the time.

It's not Abigail. It's Treasure who wants to be top dog and Abigail says - who you - not you - couldn't be. hehehehehe

Treasure is a strong personality. She's fun. she's lovely and she will make you laugh but she needs boundaries. She's the kid that you say don't cross that line and she is edging her paw out seeing if you are looking.

This type of dawg is a huge ball of fun but you have to be boss and they have to understand that when they cross the line - no matter how cute you think it is, you have to set boundaries. Dawgs thrive with rules and boundaries - just some have to try to see what they can get away with and if allowed...well they will end up testing you to the point where you are not happy.

So, instead of playing recovery - set your rules and give positive reinforcement. Try not to laugh when they do something bad that is equally funny.

Your dawg is what you put in to them. They are worth it!!

Our Visitors Have a Great Time

Frazzled Play

We had visitors over while Shanty was getting picked up to go to her new home and as you can see, the Tibetan Terrier - who won big yesterday was playing up a storm with the Bichon. She was also in the show but didn't fare as well.

That's the show world for you. You never know...

We are back at it again today - and home earlier.

Gidget goes home tomorrow and I will miss her sleeping in and cuddling up in our comforters after everyone else has decided it was time to be up. She is a comfort gal and I don't blame her and she wil be missed.

Then we are down to just our own dogs. Can you imagine that?

More later...>>

Shanty's Visit

We just picked up Shanty and she will be staying with us overnight.

She's fitting in really well and no worries, Paula. She's a great puppy.

The dogs are wearing her out so she can get some sleep tonight and so can we. :-)

Messy But FUN

No matter what you do at times, the dawgs look messy and that's okay. Today is one of those days.

It's busy day. They all got brushed but today we had Terra going to the vets, getting ready for the show, walks and play, play play with the pups out back. They are exhausted. I think I am too.

I am not sure if you still have leaves on the ground but we have a ton and Nathan has raked a ton. The dawgs ADORE rolling and running in them just like kids. It's a joy to watch.

The older crew really enjoy the younger set. They really help to exhaust the puppies who are fast asleep.

Here is Gidget walking step in step with KitKat... yep that's the pups name. I can see that Gidget must have been a wonderful mom. She's been really enjoying them here.

Her mom comes home on Sunday and she will leave us. We have really got used to her adding fun to the mix but she will be so excited to see her human mom. They all do and then when they come back, they have fun too. It's quite nice.

Looking around the house, the crew is completely laid out after an exhausting day getting rest till we do our night play session. They play hard and sleep deep.