Costs

Unfortunately starting in the New Year, our costs will go up. Please contact nathan for updated costs.

Picnic Photos & Details

The picnic date took place on August 17, 2019 from 12pm to 5pm at Yvonne's place in Brighton. Check out the details here. Photos from the 2019 picnic can be found here. Yvonne's place is NEXT DOOR to her old place. I will try to put a havanese flag out front. Hope you can join us. Directions are here. The house # is 25. There is no picnic in 2020 due to COVID but hopefully in 2021. Stay Tuned!

Grooming 101

Want to see how I get a smooth coat and what equipment I use? I am continually learning and perfecting but I created this video Windows version) and for you Mac apple folks - here's a conversion. - not a professional one, to help you get a head start and perfect your own skill. Got questions? Ask away.

Want to know how to create a bathing machine that will save you time, product and wash your dog better than ever before? Check out Dick and Irma's instructions on how to create your own machine for a fraction of the cost.

Woofstock Is Back

Meet us at Woofstock. Dogs are welcomed. We meet at the restaurant across the street from Woodbine Park. Here is the location. Meet up happens on June 22, 2024 at 9:30 to 945am. Rain date is the next day. Look forward to seeing your havanese there and the humans too! Don't have your havanese yet? Well join us anyway! 

Award Photos
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Certified Pet First Aid

Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid is a recognized National Pet First Aid Certificate course for dog and cat professionals and pet owners. Talemaker Havanese now has that certificate having taken and passed the course.

Saturday
Feb252017

What a Day and a Bit

Levon and Trigger had a bath. Don't worry Shannon, we will do it again when they go home but they ran into a mud slick or was that the slick ran into them? Barney did the same! Barney was departing so only 1 bath for him. As you can see Trigger was having fun with it!

Rocky was over for a bath and cleanup. He got to play with his sister, Stormy and boy they had fun.

Here is today's gallery.

Poor Kona, 3 grooming sessions today. He is so impressed, don't you think? But that is what happens when you go out in the rain and into the garden. But when he was done, he licked his lips and went hahahaha I got 3 treats!!

Kona's brother is here, Ty. I didn't see a photo but he was NOT pleased with the wet. Will try to catch the brothers together tomorrow. 

Stone was really getting into playing with Raven. He truly likes her!

Dear Leti got to dance with Stone but it's too early and when he tried, she said NOT YET and he got the message. He made oh my gad you scare me noises. Poor boy. We will try again tomorrow but when she is ready she will let him know. 

It was mighty muddy outside as we had rain. Lila and Zoe departed. Logan and Panda departed. We get to see them on Monday. Hope you have a great Sunday!

Murphy is still truly connecting with her sister. She tends to sleep on my legs at night or in my neck. 

River and Adele are here as the daughter and crew was mighty busy. That's okay. They get to sleep with me. Okay, Nathan too but it's me they snuggle with. 

It's TV time and it's been  long day with so much grooming. I pray for snow. I know - silly me but it means less grooming.

Tomorrow is tomorrow and we will see what fun it brings. If I missed photos of your dog just realize tomorrow I will make sure I click them. That is, unless I am cleaning mud. 

Friday
Feb242017

2 Updates

What colour pups will Leti have with Stone? Hmm... 

Kat is in whining mode. If all goes as planned the last week of April we will see new little ones. 

Friday
Feb242017

Hardly Any Clicks

I wanted to give baths to my guys but I did Leti yesterday and today she is black. I combed everyone out but the do not look that way and they are not running outside. It's too mucky and still wet. You see we had rain most of the day. Here is a video of Ella and Frannie playing on the couch. 

They are playing but seriously they look like the mud baths of .... well you fill in the blank. My floors as you will see in some of the photos are muddy too. We washed them completely 5 times today and Dennis said, I give up! So, he will do them again tonight after we go to bed so they stay clean at least while we sleep.

Here is today's gallery. 

Sorry I don't have more photos. They are playing but its indoors and to be honest if Dennis is doing the running with the dogs, he hates his photo taken so he will stop playing. It's silly I know but to be honest I would prefer him to act silly with the dogs and get their energy out when we have weather like this. Clicking isn't as important. 

Just know they are all having fun. 

Scruffy and Pepper will depart tonight so I may waterless bath them so they look decent on departure. :-) 

Tomorrow lots of baths and trims. Hoping for better weather tomorrow. 

Be sure to check out Amy's bath photos done at her home on the Saffron blog.

Looks like Leti is in heat. Hoping Ella comes in shortly now too. 

Thursday
Feb232017

Really Warm Day

We are experiemcing a melt down. It's warm. It's drab - well the gardens are and I have a bad headache so this will be short.

They lazed indoors, outdoors and got dirty. They all got combed out but I am now crawling into a recliner. 

Here is today's gallery.

Everyone enjoyed the warm weather. Stone seems to be playing with Levon a lot. Lila and Zoe really like the pups and so does Kona. Kona has divided attentions. He loves Leti too. :-)

More tomorrow. Sorry. The couch is calling.

Wednesday
Feb222017

Messy But Warm

Take a close look. You will see a latex band in Thyne's head but she was carefully brushed and combed and now has black feet. I told Nathan it's his turn. Everyone was carefully combed out but they don't look like it. The only way Winston and Ozzie stayed nice was after their baths he wasn't allowed to go out till he departed. 

Kona is here. He was excited to see Stormy and Raven then Ella. But hey he's flirting with Panda now. Oh my,  playboy are we today?

Only some photos today cause really its a river or a lake out there.

We got extra lucky to see Ollie today (Saffron's pup). It was a delight as you wil see in the photos. 

Levon is still claiming the recliner as his own. Frannie always wants the top of the couch. 

Everyone is playing and enjoying themselves but they will wait till tomorrow now for yet another grooming. I am going to give my hand a break!

Tuesday
Feb212017

Tenshi and Cooper: No Gallery Today

Tenshi went home last night after her bath.

This was Cooper after his bath, after a drink and after he went outside. So I redid his hair. Nathan was messing up his hair and he was making it a challenge for me to get him looking groomed before his parents came to get him. 

This was the amount of hair I took out just from Cooper's bum area. I did a section each night. 

We will be posting the daily gallery later today to this blog. Although we have been up early this is still too early for a gallery. heh Off to groom. Hoping to get tv time tonight with the dogs. I have been missing it. 

Ella is in the crate pouting. Her man Coops is gone. Time to flirt with someone else...

We are so excited to see Kona tomorrow. It's been way too long. Now he won't have any competition with Ella. heh

Monday
Feb202017

Yes, It's Family Day

We have ice and mushy mud and wet out there. I am doing a very short blog as I have to finish Cooper's thinning. Just his bum area to finish and then early tomorrow he will be bathed to go home.

Tenshi is also getting a bath shortly and oh my gad is she a wet mess. We are trying to keep Amy dry as she is not getting a bath. 

Here is today's gallery. 

The missing dogs are the ones that say - NO WET FEET for me. Sorry but it's one of those days. I could go out there and try not to fall and click dogs standing around. I could get Nathan to do the same as he is actually outside with them but he says - its time to play, clean up and not click. 

So just know they are having fun. They truly are despite this yucky wet and icy ground.

Sunday
Feb192017

Family Day Weekend

Cooper - Grooming really?Mickey Doing his Best to Mess his hair upLeo - Time to go homePixie says food before departure pleaseTeddy to go home tonight tooHere is today's gallery. The dogs are messy, clean and in-between. Doesn't Teddy have a cute smile? 

Dogs played in and out but the Cooper does NOT like the ice melt. Maybe that water is too cold? Some seem to care less and others would rather have dry feet. Dolly is one who could care less. 

Jeannie and Zoe was snuggling and Nathan went to take a photo and he screamed there is NO STICK IN THE CAMERA. Okay dear... I think I need to buy more sticks so I can have a pile in the kitchen and tv room. 

Nathan is no longer feeding lunch to Thyme. She is totally miffed. 

Saturday
Feb182017

Happy 3rd Bday Panda and Kat Crew: 2 Updates Today

We are celebrating with a chicken strip for Ozzie. Boy is everyone jealous! They only get freeze dried chicken.

A huge shout out to his siblings, Chief, Benji amd Bonham. 

Saturday
Feb182017

Groom and Play

This was Scruffy 2 seconds after I put him on the floor after grooming. He is such a fun dog.

Here is today's gallery.

The dogs had a lot of fun today but we still have slush outside. It was a warm day but a major melt off. People coming through the door had rain melt off from the roof. It is messy out there. It means grooming and grooming. Have to laugh. 

Levon has decided the recliner is his. The cheeky thing tried to tell me - it's all mine. I picked him up, put him on my lap and he was fine. Then Trigger came up and he had this grunt under his breath. I said shhh.. Then Cooper came up and he grunted again. I repeated the process. Then Jeannie and Ella came up and he said FORGET ABOUT THIS and headed for Nathan's lap. The funny things was Lila and Zoe and Spice was on Nathan's lap and Levon thought that was okay. Guess it's the couch vs a smaller recliner. heh

Teddy has become quite the snuggler. He also thinks Raven shoots the moon. 

We had two Zoe's here today. One is Lila's partner in crime so to speak and the other is a puppy who calls handful, ooops what is her name... oh Stormy as a sister. They had a blast together. 

Be sure to look at Saffron's blog to see Tenshi in a barrette.

Friday
Feb172017

Ok I Lied

Well not really lied but it's a bit mushy outside so photo taking took a back seat. Hope this is enough photos in today's gallery. 

Scruffy and Pepper are here visiting and its a delight. They fell right into playing. No one likes the wet feet syndrome out back. I thought of taking a wet and vac and sucking up the melt but the thought of hauling it to the street every few minutes, that thought soon became a fantasy. 

I groomed Logan and Panda before departure and the phone rang so Logan's treat was not forthcoming. He jumped on me, barked at me and then I realized he didn't get his treat. Gave it to him and he calmed down. I guess he told me and rightly so!

Adele and River are now at the daughter and boyfriend's house. They are still renovating. We are adjusting and perhaps these weekends away gets us to adjust as well. They are still adjusting to the shepherd but they have a gate closing off the familyroom where the girls (adele and River) can fit through a mini door and the shepherd can't get past. So, they have their safe zone. I got to watch the interaction. It's getting better. Just like I described with Jeannie, I too am trying to make that break. It's a process.

We at Talemaker are hoping that Murphy's mom has an easy move with all this muck. Exciting times coming.

Thursday
Feb162017

Two Updates Today

Dallas is already home. We miss her already. Dennis took most of the photos today. I took some. 

We also have Leo and Pixie visiting. Leo was from the Emmy litter.

This is a Rowan puppy called Emmy. Are you following this? Emmy is here just to play, a bath and haircut. She departs tonight. It was a pleasure to have her here. 

Here is today's gallery.

Chester also departs tonight. 

Sorry Shannon. When I looked at the photos I do not think Dennis clicked Trigger and Levon. I asked and he said everytime they were playing he didn't have the camera. You sure I didn't click them? It is sometimes a struggle to get him to click. I will do better tomorrow. I promise. They are having fun. 

Lila and Zoe have found their spots in the tv room and in the bedroom. Zoe wanted above Nathan's head and so did Cooper. This time Zoe won.

I am going to make this short as I have the Cooper to thin out. Each night I spent an extra 2 hours or so thinning his coat out. I sometimes get on a roll and time slips by and Nathan yells time for tv isn't it? Last night I said no - too tired and he was mighty grumpy but understood. hahahaha

I am also getting Cooper used to an electric toothbrush. I am using mine with a new brush on it. No, I do not brush everyone's teeth. They bring his brush and toothpaste and always tip me so we have fun with the experience. I tend to clean my own once a week and use a spray at bed on everyone. So, yes even the visitors get a spray. 

Off to sing to Cooper so he can look at me like I lost my mind.

Be sure to check out the birthday entry below. 

Thursday
Feb162017

Happy 3rd Birthday: Birth Photo Added

Katie wants to wish her brother Odin a happy birthday and we want to wish them both a huge happy birthday. Katie and Odin are Roxie and Kat pups. She is such a beauty!

How did 3 years go by so fast?

See their birth photo below.

Wednesday
Feb152017

Up in the Air Day

Dennis took most of the photos today. I took some. Nathan cleaned snow, clipped nails and got a nap in with the dogs. Lucky dogs or is that lucky Nathan?

Katie was also over for a visit and mucked it up before she departed. Tiny was also here just for the day and he always makes the most of it! 

Then Levon and Trigger came in and Trigger went flying outdoors and Trigger went oh ice. That was what Nathan was doing, breaking up the ice so the dogs do not slip. Levon made it to the deck and then as soon as the door was opened he ran to his fave place in the tv room - my chair. He got mighty comfie falling asleep on his back. Got to love him. He's up now but he had his priorities. He had to get his nap in first.

Logan and Panda come daily and I do not groom them till just before they depart. In the gallery you will see that Logan's colouring is so similar to Coopers.

Sorry, Anne. There are not many photos of the Coops as Dennis was concentrating on Chester (puppy). He tends to do that. Oh, a puppy must click. 

Everyone is having a blast. Murphy arrived. Her mom is moving. Saffron and Murphy are still VERY tight.

Dallas and Chester departs tomorrow. Will miss them! We do not have class tomorrow. Pixie and Leo arrive. 

Nathan took Raven to Global. 

Daughter is in high gear trying to get a basement done so they can move in with the kids. That's all they do - eat and do drywall, flooring etc. Two dogs, 3 humans moving - wow. Nathan won't be driving anyone in the morning. How will he survive? Shh I think he enjoys that time with them. 

Tuesday
Feb142017

Valentine's Day 2017

Jeannie and her baby Raven.

I figure in the name of love we will show one kind of love. When pups were departing, Jeannie started separating herself from the pups. Was it for her, was it for them or both? Perhaps both. I know after everyone departed she remained distant to Raven. Raven was a bit lost as she didn't understand, I suppose but if you think from Jeannie's perspective, she loves them up, teaches them and then they leave as if they are off to university and then their forever life.

Then after about 7 to 10 days she started truly playing and teaching her. She started cleaning her again. Cleaning is a true sign of affection. I wish you could say to the dogs, this one is staying but in time she realized. She doesn't play with her 24/7. She cleans her and she does play off and on throughout the day. She also protects her.  If Inula gets crazy jumping all over and is too close to HER pups, she tells Inula off. Best of all she gets excited to see her when she is away. (for instance taking a nap with Nathan means oh my gad you are back - hooray) What I found interesting is Jeannie is loving up her visiting pups. She's a happy gal. 

Dogs love deeply too.

I got everyone groomed before 10am but they don't look like it or maybe they semi look like it. This weather and their snow angels make them appear as if I don't do a thing. Got to love their love for life!

Well Nathan kissed and hugged me in the morning and said Happy Valentine's day then he had a big lunch and when I said to him I thought we were having a meal together for Valentine's Day he said ooops so he is out getting dinner for me. Yes, I meant to do a run on sentence. hahahaha

But while Nathan was having his lunch, Cooper invested a lot of time trying to convince Nathan that he should share. It was a riot. You will see in the gallery.

Things are melting outside. That will bring us joy.... We will see how tomorrow's weather is when it happens.

The dogs have been having a lot of fun. Thyme was so tired she fell asleep standing up. They do play hard but they also take naps throughout the day. They are all looking forward to laying all over us and watching tv with a treat. We are looking forward to having them on us. 

Enjoy your Valentine's Day. Do something special for your dogs and for yourself. 

Monday
Feb132017

Snow Paths and Changes

Here is today's gallery. They had fun today but I think they like it when the snow is falling down or so it seems. Still, they ran and enjoyed but I was doing grooming for others so the camera clicking mostly was done by Nathan. He doesn't click as much as me. 

Oliver has departed, Tia will go tonight. We miss them!

Most of the photos are ungroomed as it was clicked while I was doing other people's dogs. I did manage to get to them but it wasn't till early this evening. 

I am thinning out Cooper's coat so I do it each night sepaarate than the usual comb out and brush. He seems to enjoy that one on one extra time and of course he gets treated more and I do believe he knows he is getting more treats. He's smart.

Tomorrow Frannie comes. Hooray! Haven't seen her in a bit.

In a few weeks Adele and River will move out with the daughter. I believe they will come here when she is working during the day. They were gone for the weekend so I am starting to get conditioned. 

When Adele goes into heat she will come here. River will get spayed. They will live close by and come swimming in the summer. It will be a change. Adele came back in the house after being gone for 2 days thinking she was going to boss everyone around. It was interesting.

Life is always evolving. 

Be sure to check out Adele's blog for a puppy (2) update!

Sunday
Feb122017

Up in Air

The dogs had a total blast in the snow today. See the gallery. Cooper found fun with Stone today but was also in hot pursuit of Ella. Oliver (who is an Adele pup) also fancies the Ella gal. 

Nathan had remove snow from the top of the gazebo and Dennis did it twice. Dennis also created paths but as he was doing them Dallas was at his heels saying hurry up. We have paths to run you know. 

The floors got soaked and I mean soaked as they came in. Towels were used to dry the floors. No one got snowballs except the 2 littlest pups. Raven got hit the worse. Still she kept going outside and then when I washed her with warm water she enjoyed the experience. 

You will see in the gallery everyone had a tremendous amount of fun. We will hate to see Oliver and Tia depart tomorrow. 

Saturday
Feb112017

To Compete or Not

I am told Clarity and Farley had a great time here while we were at the Orchid show and as soon as we returned, Nathan went for his nap.

Here is today's gallery.

It looks like Cooper and Oliver are still competing for Ella's attention. Oliver departs Monday so Cooper may do a happy dance. No one is upset. They just invest a lot of time trying to attract her attention. It will be interesting to see when Oliver departs if he is still interested in Ella or the real attraction was the competition. Time will tell. 

Zoe and Lila seem to be playing with a variety of dogs and not exclusively with each other. Dallas seems to like Saffron, Spice, Jeannie and Truffie. Tia and Charlie LOVE everyone.

Adele and River are sleeping out with Tracy, the girls and Kevin. They say it is going really well. I said take video! I would love to see.

Not much to report seeing I was at the Orchid Show but I will play catchup tomorrow. The dogs are enjoying tv with us!!

Friday
Feb102017

Got Snow But Not Much

Why does everyone love Ella? Whenever Oliver engages with Ella Cooper tries to get her to focus on him. It's a riot. Here is today's gallery. Be sure to check it out to see who Brewer wa playing with. 

I brushed everyone out - HONEST but I think most photos were taken before I got to brush out as I had dogs to bath and cut etc this morning. Tomorrow I will be brushing out NO ONE. Them I will start in again on Sunday. 

We had Rocky, Stormy's sister over for a full groom. We had Chester, Saffron's pup over who departed today along with Tenshi. I have a gallery and video up on Saffron's blog of the visit and I will be posting the same on the Adele blog for Rocky. They all had a blast.

Lila, Zoe, Cooper and Tia are having the time of their life. We have such an amazing dogs that are truly enjoying each other.

I am looking forward to getting out tomorrow. We are still dealing with medical issues that are serious. But it is great to get distracted. Now to see if I can find an orchid or 2 or 3 that I can buy.

Be sure to check out Saffron anad Adele's blog as well.

Thursday
Feb092017

Still an Ice Mess

Come play with me, Cooper Winston says. Copper likes the younger set and the ones that are persistent. :-)

Here is a small gallery taken today.

As this is class night I vow to do better tomorrow.

The dogs are having a blast. Winston, Murphy and Daisy departed. It is still a crazy mess outside. We put stuff down in front and well its still treacherous. Sorry. We are trying. If you are coming and need Nathan to come out to get you (he is very sure footed) he will. 

We are off to put more down. This icy rain is a bugger.

Due to getting a lot of mail messages, I figured I would address it here. 

I do not use cheap shampoo on dogs that are 'pets'. All my products are quality lines. I use Nature's Specialties, Pure Paws, Isle of Dogs, Vellus, Chris Christensen and now some Black Passion. None of it is cheap. I believe in quality products. Black Passion is downright expensive. I do not use products out of local dog stores with the exception of a detangling spray from Tropiclean that is lovely and works well. My grooming spray is OMG (1st choice), Tropiclean (depending on need 2nd choice and sometimes 1st), Panegenics (3rd choice). I will tell you Panegenics is more expensive by far than Tropiclean.