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! 

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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.

Wednesday
Jan172024

It is Very Cold

Here is the gallery.

Play play and more play but sometimes outdoors but mostly indoors. You see it is bloody cold out. That's okay. They still expel their energy without their feet being too cold.

They had fun today and the day isn't over. We have much more plat in store.

I tried them with the treat bottles and gave them plaque busters. They devoured.

Tuesday
Jan162024

brrr Brrrr brrr

Here is the gallery.

It feels so cold out, Nathan has been out buying chicken to cook up for the dogs. The things we do for the dogs. LOL

Although it was and is or it feels bitter cold, it was trying to get some of the dogs to believe indoors was better. 

We have opted for shorter times out. Dennis is also getting the dogs running like a herd of crazy dogs upstairs in the hall and they LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It is good to have such fun and such a stampeding herd sound in the house!

Monday
Jan152024

Cold But Still Wet

Here is the gallery.

I think Brewer was in crazy play mode today. It was fun to watch. 

Tuppy was neutered and he has had 2 comb outs today as he is wearing a onesie. If you do not take it off daily to comb at least once, they will get matted. 

Stone was out hunting a rabbit with Harlow. He is a wet mess. He is an after dinner combout. 

Last night it was so cold that the dogs were lifting their paws. A sign they need to come in but we had a rabbit in the back and the dogs were fascinated but they were cold. I was like a crazy woman with just a sweatshirt trying to get them refocused on coming inside but no they wanted to play with the rabbit. That was my fun before bed. 

Today Mr. Winston went home. He will be missed. He played a ton on this visit. Bailey has decided outside is too cold. LOL Chiclets and Cori play and play and play much like Opus. Fenton is also fascinated with the rabbit but Cali just looks at it. 

It seems the rabbit has created some fascination and games for the dogs but the rabbit is fast and used to the cold.

Sunday
Jan142024

Cold Day Brrrr

Here is the mini gallery.

It is truly a cold day out today. It was melting and now we have ice.

It's too cold for much running around. They just want to go out and come back in. Bailey actually stayed out till the last but as crazy as she is with play, she just wanted to sniff and come back in.

Think its a run inside play theme today but Dennis needs sleep too. With pups departing, he never got to sleep this morning. Now Nathan is sleeping with some and then Dennis will crawl into bed.

Saturday
Jan132024

Our Day

Here is the gallery.

I had several groomings to do today and 2 tonight that will be departing early tomorrow. I am beyond overloaded. So short blogging it again. 

It is windy out. The dogs seem to love it. It blows our backdoor open unless we lock it and someone stands inside to unlock and someone goes out with the dogs. It is a process.

Snow is melting and freezing. 

I have been under an extreme amount of stress and workload. 

Still, the dogs bring me smiles. Winston gives me kisses in my neck. Thank gad for dogs like this. He's not the only one but when I picked him up to snuggle he reminded me of how dogs make you feel. 

Friday
Jan122024

Yes Storm Coming?

Here is a mini gallery. When you get busy - you get busy.

This is Ollie sporting an even shorter hairdo. I think each time he comes we go shorter. LOL

He is so cute that he carries it well, imho

Dennis is extra busy too so the amount of photos are almost nil. Apologies.

Life is slow down eventually and well TV night and greenies

Thursday
Jan112024

Wet and Soppy

Here is a mini gallery.

The dogs are sopping wet. It's wet snow out there but NO mud. We celebrate. After I finish this blog and they eat, they will go back outside and I will start to comb everyone out again. It's an ongoing experience. LOL

I have not sat down till I started blogging. It has been one of those days. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be insane. For all those that asked for last minute groomings this weekend - well, I wish I had more hours in a day. 

People are waiting patiently for snow, vets and departures. LOL We will all get through it. 

Dogs are enjoying themselves. They do not like the wet on their legs. Last night I had freshly cleaned sheets and blankets that suddenly got wet despite a waterproof blanket being on top. All you can do is laugh. I love freshly cleaned sheets but not wet ones. I think the dogs do too.

TV time is coming up shortly as they are eating now and I will then go dog by dog to comb them out only to get wet again before bed. Life has to be challenging to put us in our spot.

Just know despite our challenges the dogs ALWAYS manage to have fun.

Bonus - the had some steak sprinkled in their food tonight. Yum!

Wednesday
Jan102024

What a Day

Here is the gallery.

This is Tenshi. Obviously she needs a brush out but she is having fun. I said Tenshi needs a combout to Nathan and well he is not brushing her out so I will be. I have been going since 7am. I had bags to do and I had issues with items I purchased not sublimating and a crazy source for this stuff insisting it wasn't the material so on top of everything I had to do a video not once, not twice, but 3 times to prove its the material so I just finished NOW. So, I have blogs and brushouts and no dinner, I suppose. Can this day go away, please?

Dogs had fun despite the craziness. We are melting so we have deep water in some of the front and back. Dogs aren't crazy about it. 

Dennis took a last ditch effort to get some photos so there are not many. Apologies.

Thank you to Dorothy for the soup. It is so appreciated. Now to do 3 other blogs and a combout.

Tuesday
Jan092024

Update Later

Here is the gallery.

Ollie is almost saying - really this white stuff is all over me. You call this fun? He did have fun as did the rest but so far no rain and we hope it doesn't rain. That would mean mud.

It has been not the huge storm they suggested. I feel like the weather people often to the the sky is falling and it riles us all up.

For now - we have snow and dogs appreciated snow vs. rain.

Monday
Jan082024

Oh the Play

Here is the gallery.

Winston and Alfie had so much fun. All the dogs play in some capacity depending on the time of the day. 

It is back to being wet outside. I have been busy grooming. We got the vet visit tomorrow and lots to do for departures.

Today, I fell over an xpen. I scraped my knee through thick pants. I wrenched my neck and back and hurt my grooming hand from I assume was breaking my fall. Nathan ran upstairs and said are the puppies okay? He did say he asked me how I was but I never heard it. I guess I was in too much pain and I am still in pain. He had to pull me up to a standing position as I was not capable of moving just yet.

I had 5 dogs to groom so that was interesting but seriously the hand hurts less than the neck and back. The knee is just a broken skin scrape. That was my fun.

Dennis is on night shift now so he sleeps till noon then he is now sleeping till 8pm. That means I am doing pups to play, Cinnamon, blogs and grooming and everything to get ready for the vet and departures. Oh boy...

Despite the wet, the dogs still went out. We have a light dusting so wet but not muddy - hooray.

We still have dogs in heat. Hopefully soon done.

It is almost TV time for Nathan and the dogs.

Dogs are playing as I type. 

Sunday
Jan072024

To Gallery or Not: Pups Coming

I have to wait till Dennis clicks some photos. If he doesn't, this is it. Hopefully he will.

We woke up to Cinnamon nesting but nothing is progressing.

I had to do 6 dogs before she had pups and I was really stressed but the dogs are done and she is hanging with Nathan. Nathan kept saying people will understand if you can't groom. 

We try....

Yes, pups are coming. See Cinnamon's blog.

Here is a mini gallery.

Saturday
Jan062024

Kitchen Play

Here is a mini gallery.

Dennis didn't get around to taking photos. We only got a few and I am extra extra busy so not much of an update today. Got stuff for pups going home to do, had to set up Cinnamon's pen and had 10 pups to bathe and 6 adult dogs. 

Everyone is having a great time.

Our stove works wonderful. It is nice to have an oven again that functions. 

So forgive me for such a short blog. Just know the dogs ARE having fun this fine Saturday!

Friday
Jan052024

Looking

Here is the gallery.

Harlow was under the deck and Charlie was trying to see what she was doing. It's been a warm winter so they still see animals here and there and they are curious. They never get close. They just try to play and are curious.

Dogs had fun. It's such a great play day everyday. They sure do expel energy!

Thursday
Jan042024

We Can Have Fun

Here is the gallery.

We have a ton on our plate so the blog will be short. Tonight I have to sort all the loot bag supplies and do much more so bear with me.

The dogs are having fun. Charlie and Cassie get along just fine. They are talk to the paw type of dogs at times. LOL

Dear old Coco the maltese just had a full groom. She is departing tonight. She was great for the bath. But the last few days she felt pulling everyone's tail was fun. She's comical and we corrected her. Today she is no longer doing it. We woulds say COCO STOP and she would then look at you and as soon as you looked away she was back at it. What a character she is and yes she is like Charlie and Cassie too.

The dogs were playing up a storm today. I was grooming or doing pups. Sometimes they gathered around the grooming table watching me groom thinking I may treat them not for being groomed but for staring at me. 

The dogs - well they are a riot!

Wednesday
Jan032024

Mud is Back

Here is the gallery.

Dennis is on his day 3 with a migraine and is in bed. It means I am extra busy. He did go get something for it so hopefully it will go. 

It means I have a lot more on my plate than usual and I get more time with the pups. Imagine that.

Well earlier the mud was back but only Yoshi found it and it found her feet. Dirty floors from her. That's okay.

Sherry dropped off Murphy for a groom and brought Dairy Queen for Nathan and I. Poof - gone. Dairy Queen is my fave ice cream.

Nathan didn't take many photos so apologies. He was at the vet. We had out shrink wrapped stove arrive. That was a chore to get all that tightly wrapped material off. All I can say it is cooking faster. We now have a stove again. Hooray! 

Dogs played - ran and had a grand time. 

I have to admit, I am tired. 

Tuesday
Jan022024

Just Busy

Here is a mini gallery.

Sorry we do not have a lot of photos. I was grooming a ton and Dennis has a migraine for the 2nd day in a row so he is back in bed. He struggled and got up to help but bed was calling. We hope he is better tomorrow. We have a stove getting delivered. We also have an xray and a slew of dogs to groom.

When Dennis is down for the count not many photos are taken. It also means that I need to do all the things he normally does in a day like pups, cleaning the pen, changing the pads, adding water changes and on and on. So, the last two days has been exceedingly busy for me. 

Dogs are having fun. I moved out the stove to see what was under it. Who moves their appliances to clean under them frequently? Not I - sigh. So, I swept, sprayed and letting it sit so I can clean it before bed. 

We have dogs going - dogs coming and I need a recliner and dogs on me  so I am cutting this short. 

Still have videos to upload but the beauty of that it can be done with dogs on my lap.

Monday
Jan012024

Happy 2024

Here is the gallery.

We get up at 7am and it is still dark. Then by 5 it is dark again. Cassie doesn't care if it is light, dark, raining or snowing. She just loves outdoors. Of course if it starts getting cold for us, then she must come in. She still says talk to the paw at times but she is getting better the older she gets. 

We got a light dusting of snow. The dogs love it. Still, one dog - only one dog managed to get into mud still soft and bring it inside. Someone said I need a floor washing robot but too pricey. Plus Dennis thinks his job is better though time consuming. He's a mop and water and benefect kind of guy. 

On the 3rd we get our new stove. Still have a broken range hood. Cinnamon also goes in the afternoon that day for her xray. I also get to see Murphy that day and Sherry. She has promised me Dairy Queen. Yum!

The dogs like this sort of cold enough but not too cold weather. The year started out right for them. Me, I have a sweatshirt on. It's all in the perception.

Jersey thinks Coco shoots the moon. I so laugh. Cody has been playing. He came in as if he was showing signs of aging and will be leaving a spry guy playing his heart out. It is amazing what other dogs do for the fun we all require.

Harlow decided nothing was out there today. They are hibernating, Harlow. 

Happy 2024 everyone. The gang is having fun.

Monday
Jan012024

May the New Year

May the new year bring you lots of havanese kisses and a feeling of well being! More later....

Sunday
Dec312023

New Year's Eve

Here is the gallery.

It's New Year's eve. We are not planning anything. I wanted Nathan to go get popcorn but he just wants to chill. I get that. Dog's are various degrees of combed out. No rain. No mud this afternoon. Floors are still clean - hooray. 

Boarders (most) will have departed by the 10th. Puppy vet visit the 9th, xray Cinnamon the 3rd. I have a ton of loot bags to get ready. The last gals that are in heat (no not breeding) are done by 14th latest. Cinnamon can be due 9th on. January will be a CRAZY month. 

We have a couple  of our puppy people that are sick. I pray for 2024 to be a better year. You know who you are. Here's to health for everyone!!!

We still have Katie looking for a home. She had her vet visit and is in excellent health and she is middle range. If interested send Nathan mail.

We have to institute a new boarding policy. If at last minute you change the drop off/pickup date and we can't fill that date as we cap then we must charge. Sorry. There are some that do this all of the time. If you change these dates and I now have to juggle to get your dog done earlier especially if that day is full, please say thank you - give me a tip - something. I use my tips for dog things or something special for myself. No extra money - well say thank you genuinely for me juggling to help you with a new time. Just saying... Shouldn't have to but...

We have some exceptional players. Jersey and Cassie arrived today and have been going non stop. Fudge has decided he wants to do naps daily. I think he expels so much energy that as a pup he needs it. Harlow is back hunting something or other. She's looking but I am not seeing anything. Olive has departed. 

The dogs will snuggle with us tonight at tv time. I still have videos to upload but we are making time to celebrate with the dogs. Nathan made steak fo

Everyone and I mean everyone is having a great time.

Happy New Year's everyone. May 2024 bring you great moments to treasure. 

Saturday
Dec302023

No Rain Today

Here is the gallery.

Although it was no rain, they still managed to kick up some mud but NOTHING like it has been for over a week. I celebrate. They also didn't mind going outside and you will see in the gallery, they were running, playing and celebrating too. 

There is no rain in sight so it should get better each day. 

We tried Ellie with pups and Ollie with pups. Tomorrow we will try them upstairs as today they thought someone was picking them up. That is the issue with doing a session like this in the front hall. Neither was bad. They were simply distracted. We also have to carve time out tomorrow - maybe after Nathan's nap.

Dogs had fun and they sniffed at the door and said okay - we can go out.