Havanese Lovefest

Last night we had a Havanese get together with 2 siblings and 1 half sibling. The siblings and the rest of the crew including momma Wasabi got along fabulously. It's good to see those that didn't have total grounding, 'getting' it. Comfort, and grounding takes time with changes but with some investment with us human types, it all comes together.

Socializing is the key in a balanced dog. Click on the link and learn how we took a dog like Shoshi who hid under a chair her first class to the dog she is today, playing and enjoying all friendly dogs and people. She has learned to read other dogs and become balanced. As your dog learns what the other dogs are saying, their grounding and knowledge of what to do is perfected. Each positive social interaction is a building stone to a confident dog. Classes help this process tremendously and positive exposures on a regular basis do as well.

We are off to class with Sassy, Abigail and Sebastian today and see who remembers what. Sassy missed a class last week so she is behind but we will see if she can play catchup. If not this week, next. When you miss a class, it does set them behind a tad but they do recover. It's really important to make them all, if possible but its not always doable.

Then we are back home for some dawg fun and then on Sunday we have Remy and Chico perhaps and on Tuesday Gidget (Paris) comes to stay for 2 weeks. Wasabi will be thrilled as she adores (Gidget) Paris. They were the best of pals. With a bigger bed, larger crew - fun times are in our near future.

More later - after class.

Alert: Talemaker Crew Loses Mind

Well, we have totally lost it or have we? Until we get a larger bed, we moved in a twin bed to go next to the king sized bed to give us more room. We are lucky as we have a really large bedroom that also has a sectional couch and TV/stereo in it on the opposite wall of the bed so it doesn't look so hot but it surely will give us room as we expand. Next Tuesday we have Gidget (alias Paris) visiting for two weeks. We are still thinking about how we can create an oversized bed. As you can see we also have a bench and 2 sets of stairs. Yep - we are a dawg house!

Who do you think will sleep where tonight? Any takers on a bet?

Fiona is out on the pool cover looking at the guys wondering if she can get Miss Abs to play with her. The crew hears a dog in the distance, they bark - they run and Fiona goes - what was THAT! Miss Abs has already adjusted to such craziness. Fiona is still in the stage that they think we are all crazy and we are.

Miss Abs says to Fiona - so - you want to play? Fiona has learned a lot of tricks. She slides under a bench faster than you can say her name and she does the same when the pups are after her in the house - well slide under the couch - belly sliding all the way. It's all in fun and rather a riot. I have to catch it on the video camera.

We had a practice session. Sitting perfectly straight was an issue and walking behind without getting up - well let's see how we do tomorrow. One more session before class.

Coach is coming over to visit with his human dad for a bit so the pups are looking forward to that and so is Wasabi. We may have Chico on Sunday and Remy is coming on Sunday before his class. How great is that? We also got a photo of Benny from Risa's crew so we will be posting that tomorrow.

More later...ooooh class tomorrow - fun - fun fun! Are we ready...hmmmmm.... I blame human mommy and daddy if we aren't as we had a way busy week. Excuses, excuses...hahahaha

Talemaker Coach Visit & Snowy Days

Miss Abs & Coach got along fabulously. Coach was more gentle with her than with his canine mom Wasabi. Miss Wasabi Woo was delighted and it's a joy to watch her excitement when seeing the pups. A great time was had by all. Now it's snowing and we are also including the photos of that - snow covered dawgs - such fun! Another grooming day...hehehehe

Snow tends to invigorate the Havanese. Enjoy the slideshow below!

Talemaker's Coach Visits

Miss Abs got a visit from her half brother Coach - one of Wasabi's pups. Wasabi was delighted to see Coach but this photo was taken just before he was going home. The kids were still mucking it up and Wasabi looks as if to say - kids - do they ever stop playing?

You can click on all the photos to see a larger version.

The crew had a wonderful time. Look tomorrow for some priceless photos of the gang in a slideshow.

We hope Coach sleeps tonight. We know Miss Abs and Wasabi will. Thanks, John for bringing him by. It was a real pleasure. Surely made our day!

More tomorrow>>

The Havanese Miss Abs Vs. The Leash

Well tomorrow is class time and are we ready? Do you hear mommy laughing hysterical? The strong willed Miss Abs has decided even with daddy treating her, well - you want me to do THAT!

Me thinks daddy is going to have a challenge tomorrow but by next week, she'll be more than fine - just watch. Try to get lead time in, getting acquainted with the house and bonding time in and expect amazing things - well good things come with those that practice patience.

Let's see what she has accomplished so we do not concentrate on what she hasn't. She's only been here now for the 5th day. She runs up and down the stairs now and when she first got here it was as if to say - howl - you want me to go down all those stairs? No problem now.

She wriggles her entire body when Nathan or our youngest son Jonathan comes in the house. She swan dives off the deck out back and I mean swan dives right into the snow. Strangers come to the house and she is WAY friendly to them.

She plays retrieve nicely and does it 100% correct. She also comes to her name.

She will settle for a bed on the floor in our family room but she prefers the couch and gets it. She loves the beds under Nathan's desk.

Nathan closes his office door with him in it so she can eat in peace and quiet and she howls to get out. That howl is way funny too.

She prances and I mean prances when she walks - way nice! She's also a MASSIVE snuggler and we noticed a significant difference on day 5 on how relaxed she has become as if she now knows this is her house to rule. HA! Let's see if Miss Risa allows THAT!

We have a busy day of getting things ready for class and a sleepover at Yvonne's. We promise another update tomorrow and not another till Sunday night filled with photos and fun things we did including revealing tidbits about how the 3 Havanese did in class.

Yvonne still has 3 pups available and they are now already 8 weeks old.

Oh - and Coach's parents made us a banana bread and it's 3/4 gone - YUM and I mean YUM!

We are really getting excited about seeing Sebastian and Sassy Lassy. Can't wait!

Hoping Chico and Remy are having a grand time. Ah puppies - miss that Wasabi crew and she does too.

Coach Came to Visit, Sebastian Goes Home

Well, here is the trio out in the snow. We have (from right to left) Talemaker's Coach, Talemaker's Sebastian and Rockhurst's Abigail at Talemaker. Coach's dad brought Coach over to expel some energy and Sebastian's mom came by to bring him home - his new home. Let us know how he did with the new surroundings.

They had a roaring great time. Coach was seen jumping up and off the couch with ease without issue playing with his canine mom Wasabi and Katsuro. Some of the photos were blurs and others came out.

Sebastian was excited to see his mom and then his best friend, Denver - his pack mate. He's in for a new journey - new home etc we are sooooo excited for him.

We heard all about Coach's travels and expect by next year he will be skiing. Don't let us down. heh

Huge thanks goes to both for allowing us time with your canines. It really means a lot to us and hope to see you soon. We mean that!!

Talemaker Havanese 13.5 Week Reunion

This is Talemaker Sassy and Talemaker Sebastian is visiting till early next week. Talemaker Coach came to visit and the fun began. Just wish we got more video. Next time. The pups are now 13.5 weeks old - wow. We miss them already!

Havanese Sibling Socialization

The siblings had a meet and greet session yesterday that was an amazing amount of fun and we wonder if Coach slept afterwards. Sassy crawled into bed upstairs after he left and said enough is enough - I need my sleep. She was completely exhausted. Sebastian decided to stay downstairs and nibble on Terra's ear trying to get her to play. He was wide awake until after 11pm.

They all slept well last night and had no jockeying for position but Sebastian still had Risa's pillow at the top of the bed for a portion of the night- imagine that. He laid across the pillow with his body stretched out and up against Nathan's head. All was fine in his world getting top dawg position for the 2nd night in a row. Katsuro snuggled then decided the floor was cooler. Sassy doesn't seem to get preoccupied with proving any of that stuff - rather like Risa, so one wonders if they remained in the same house who would be true alpha. Only time would tell. Personally, I think a submissive position is easier than controlling the universe.

Interesting enough, Coach is also an alpha want to be - so 3 alpha want to be's getting together to play - it was actually fun. They wrestled and play growled and rolled around and ran and had a roaring grand time. Here's Sassy yanking on her brother to get him out of the tunnel. Hey - you can't escape me - you just think you can.

This get together was great. It was great distraction for us. Thanks, John!

Here's a photo of Coach and Sassy and I am putting this up as Sassy was shaking her head midstream while I was taking this photo trying to dust herself off from the antics of her siblings. It looks a tad funny but that's what she was indeed doing.

Sassy was the target at times but she held her own and then some - but it was all in fun. If it wasn't, we would have ceased the behaviour but she kept going back for more and playing with all comers.

You can click on any of the photos in this site to see a larger version.

I remember when the dogs couldn't reach this water dish and had to put their paws up to drink. My, times have changed. They have really grown. Rockhurst's Buster and Wasabi really made nice pups and Wasabi and her body structure, balanced nature and Buster and his - wow. I can't say enough and they remain ahead of schedule, smart as ever and pretty dawgs. Ok, we aren't supposed to say pretty about the males but they are...rather nice features and everyone says that. They have this cuteness factor thang going on.

The siblings had a blast. I have yet to find time to look at the video but it was a futile attempt to capture. They were running and running with excitement. But - maybe - something. We will find out later and if so, we will upload. Our still photos were just as bad. Amazing how fast with excitement they were moving. We must do this again.