Is it in the Genes?

Check out Shady driving. These dogs are so smart. heh Does he have his driver's license yet? (wink)

Be sure to check out more of today's update below. Back to grooming.

Brr Cold But Wild Fun

Last night we went to bed wet. I still have to groom this crew. At 10pm it was POURING and everyone was drenched. So towels soaked up excess water and dryers went into the bedroom but I had no energy to dry them so I may be paying today when I start brushing out but we had dogs under the blankets. They usually sleep on top. The sheets were soaked. My I was shivering. Let's just say it was an experience that I hope I don't have to duplicate tonight.

Then this morning I took a shower and Nathan said come outside and take some photos as I am going to run with the dogs. I said well okay but my hair is wet. Then I said why not cause you have to catch the moment. Will I get sick from this experience? Who knows but it was mighty cold and damp. That's okay. I smiled broadly watching them and even forgot I was cold, well momentarily. Time to get the rain/winter coats out?

Here are some photos from this mornings play.

This is Zoe from Treasure's LitterOscar's not one of ours but he comes to visit and each time he does he gets more and more relaxed. It's rather nice.He's full out running and playing with everyone including the puppy. He goes home tonight after his bath.

Doozie departs tomorrow and you can always catch her in the thick of it.

Grace and Zoe enjoying the play!

Run cold playMax started out slow with the play but is now a play monkey.

Kat was playing wonderful with DoozieMax and Kat PlayingLogan in the thick of itMissy getting Nathan time!

Who says the older gals can't run? Yeah ShoshiThe fun continues but now I have to do some serious grooming.

Driving Runs in Family

I bet you are wondering what that title is about.

Do Havanese actually drive?

This was Risa driving home after winning her championship.

Well not really but that's the pose she struck and I snapped it.

So many years have passed since this moment.

Risa still jumps, plays and adores all aspects of life.

This is Chewie, a Risa grandson from Wasabi and Kat. I wonder if driving does run in the family.

Check out the photos below of an earlier blog post too.

No Photos Today

I didn't take photos today. I was sort of lost in walks and grooming before the rain came. So, I started looking at older photos and here are some fun ones.

This was Coco when she went home. Yes, she was that little!

This is Bentley. Adele's brother.

This is Biggie's New Hairdo.

The Scruffster and Pepper. PS: We had Nora here but I forgot to click photos. <sigh>

Brewer on his clean day - just teasing.

These are just some random photos that I was able to grab. Some you haven't see before so I thought it would be fun.

I groomed a great deal today. It's raining and I find that today after walks they were grungy so more time was spent on cleaning them up so photos were not a priority. It should have been as they were mighty dirty.

Now they are chilling and resting.

Nathan added lamb fried up to their food tonight and they were licking their lips wanting more.

It's been a great day just a busy one!

Dry for a Bit: 2 Updates Today

Just got back from a walk with all the dogs. The last ones to go was Cali, Spice and Adele. Well Cali walked all the way around the block without having to be picked up. Adele was up front and excited that she was first. Everyone enjoyed the walk and we wanted to get everyone walking before the rain came. Everyone enjoyed it and so did the humans.

I am tired, I may crawl on the couch, watch tv surrounded by dogs. Lots of walking... Nathan went too. :-)

But before I do here is a video of the Cooper. He's doing weaves, playing in leaves. It's so much fun!

Wet and Mucky

Can't get the video to upload without errors. I have wasted too much time. Dogs keep coming in with mud and wet feet and wet bums and grooming so much my hand is falling off and they say rain all the rest of the week. So, no photos except a couple of DJ.

DJ is gone. We had a ton of fun. Brewer is here with black feet, black undersides and I keep rinsing him off. Doozie also got quite messy but Coco stays clean. I have blankets all over the couches so they can snuggle in and they are. This week is only just beginning and as I say rain, rain, rain in the forecast.

We will survive but I have to be creative. I also can't spend more time on a video that isn't making it online. Will try in another day or two. Sorry about that.

How are you dealing with the rain? What dryers do you use?

Just Some Play

Well, we are busy taking the rest of the plants in, and the furniture as cold is coming and rain is coming. I think Coco will miss the furniture but Nathan is going to leave the two chairs there with cushions when it is dry and Coco can still sit on his lap when he reads the paper when he is not sitting at the picnic table.

Check out DJ and Adele playing just a few ago. Time for me to brush the rest and then add photos etc. But as you can see in this video, Roxie needs a huge brushing. Can't help herself with her wild play all morning.

I am busy washing legs, feet and drying. Then they go into the tv room, cuddle up to pillows, blankets and catch some serious zzzs with Nathan.

Doozie after leg cleanup and dryer.

Bailey visited for an hour or so after he got a haircut at the groomers.

DJ says hey my sister Adele took my spot. What a cheeky thing you are Adele as I think you planned it that way.

Motivation and Mood

Last week something was off with Adele. Was it the creaky floors or the big dogs all around her or? We don't know but she had a very non productive class. It would have been easy to say forget about this but you must persist, expose and be creative. It eventually comes together.

So last night she was waggy tail outside. We brought her into class and she was slinking and reacting. We went oh another non productive class this will be. Perhaps she is just in a fear stage as she didn't react like this before.

Loose lead, high valuable treats and making it fun and upbeat worked. She played recovery quickly and that's your goal not to never react but to play recovery. That moment what is this is normal.

She wanted to say hello to everyone with the waggy, waggy tail. She relaxed about the warped floor and the creaks. She had fun. The old Adele was back. What caused this? We still do not know but we didn't let it get to us. We approached it positively. We still exposed but in an upbeat way. We also upped the treats giving her pieces of hot dog.

We also last week took her on a walk through Kensington Market on purpose to condition her to unfamilar smells, noises etc. She did well there except for manhole covers. She didn't even mind the police on huge horses. Well, you can't assume. All you can do is to socialize, expose and do it in a way that is VERY fun and upbeat. If you are frustrated you need to stop, back off and do it when you are in a better frame of mind. They feed off your emotion.

She also has been walking when its not pouring in a variety of locations around the streets near our home with different dogs each time. We have been busy with her as she was always a dog that was not worried about anything.

So what do I suspect this reaction was? I haven't a clue but you approach it the same way. Remember that Scavenger list we are creating? Well you expose and expose throughout their lives. It's not just a puppy thing.

Havanese are All Individuals

They each have different ideas of what life should be just like humans. Some is what they are exposed to and what their humans do but some is who they are. Take for instance Coco is laying in Nathan's arms and is quite content. Her sister Doozie would stay there for a second and then jump down wanting to be investigating. They are different but they mesh. They compliment each other. Sure Coco plays too but she loves watching tv, hanging out in your arms or on a recliner and living the life.

Adele's brother, DJ is here and Cali has a stronghold on him. He came early for an overnighter and Cali wouldn't leave him alone till her sister Mabel came to visit.

DJ looks like Finn in a big way and sort of like Tre too. I will have to get a closeup of him. He is so exhausted he is snoozing as he has been playing and playing and playing.

Can't do more of an update as we have class tonight but wil be back in a bit to update. Dennis will be here holding down the fort and everyone is having a glorious time.

PS: I think Cali also thinks Brewer is a littermate. hahahaha They are truly fond of each other like over the top.

Interesting Havanese Day: New Photos Added

Coco and Doozie arrived today and Nathan is out with the guys playing hearts. I got everyone groomed before he departed but he said oh I won't be here to feed the dogs so Coco and Doozie won't eat without me.

They not only ate for me but were looking for more. He's never going to believe me that they ate it all. You see he thinks they only eat for him. Glad I have Dennis here. :-)

Carol, I want you to know they are fitting in so well and are having a great time.

We had some excitement. We had a rabbit prance by and the dogs went CRAZY chasing. The rabbit got away and I am not sure they wanted to catch him/her just wanted the game of chase.

Here's a bit of gal power - a meeting of the minds. I swear the gals think up ways to win.

I never brush Logan and Panda till just before they go home. Don't tell me that dogs don't appreciate and enjoy daily rituals. The crew gets fed, Logan and Panda get brushed up or bathed if it is bathing day and then Mommy comes. If I mess with that schedule it throws them totally off. What you brushed me and she's not coming?

Doozie is her usual play monkey but we keep getting rain off and on. She's found a passion for kicking through the wet grass and getting muddy muddy so she has had a few rinse offs and cleaning of her legs but she doesn't mind at all. Ms. Coco just found the puppy delightful. I will have to get photos of them playing. At first Coco said are you kidding but Cali persisted and it was as if Coco said alright I will play with you and now can I catch some sun? That's what Ms. Abigail wanted to do - lounge out in the sun when it wasn't raining. I guess they know winter is coming too.

Well, until Val said is that Wasabi I hadn't realized I put up all the photos I resized. So here goes.

Roxie brushed, Wasabi not brushed yet.

Last but not least Truffies yoga pose.

Best Collars and Leads

Want a really nice lead and collar that lasts and lasts? We are ordering one for Caliente and Adele with their names on it and asking her to put the satin inside or whatever she uses so they don't knot. We have one for every dog and they last and we love them.

This week she had a dog that bit a bone and cracked a molar and now he has to have surgery. Like most dog people money is tight and now she is faced with a huge vet bill. I am not telling you to buy cause of this but it will certainly help. I also wouldn't tell you if the product wasn't good. We LOVE them.

Check the leads out. We have Kat's collars and leads (he has 2 collars and leads and one martingale)  for over 6 years. If you look at them they look almost new.

Okay sorry if you consider this spam...

Playing Retrieve

Inside, outside you can still manage to have fun. All you need is a good mood and a bit of time and you will have a smile on your dog like Scruffy does here.

Missed Captures

Nathan came running in saying oh my gad Max and Truffie was playing and then Jeannie joined in and then this one and that one and I said so did you get photos? He didn't. He seems to get lost in the moment and forgets to capture the moment. I want the experience of both. So greedy of me.

So, we didn't get photos but we played hard and we did watch The Voice. Above is Ms. Roxie exhausted from play. The rest was still up and crawling and jockeying for the tv watching position.

Scruffy and Pepper are here and I watched Pepper jump on the pool cover in that rabbit like fashion chasing the toy and Scruffy watched with interest and then joined in.

Panda and Logan are back giving me kisses from ear to ear and now Logan is waiting for his grooming. Can you believe that from a guy taht wasn't sure he liked to be groomed. Now that makes me feel good.

Till tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to Lori and Roger we got some really cute seasonal photos that gave us the opportunity to say we hope you are having a great holiday weekend.

We are taking walks (great day for it), running in the back and I still have 1 more dog to wash to go home for after the Thanksgiving festivities. This way she will be perfectly clean to go to sleep with Mommy and Daddy after they fed 41 people - oh boy.

Lots of baths this weekend for the holidays and I groomed Max and Missy but I decided the rest can wait till tomorrow.

I have to add this photo as I thought it was ever so cute.

Togetherness!

Stealing a Drink

When a dog wants a drink a dog wants a drink. Now to get myself a new one. hahahaha

Rain all day. Missy and Max who is visiting from Montreal is enjoying the rain and well as you can see my water too.

Bailey's Visit

Bailey was here for a visit (so was Brewer just for today) and here are a few photos from that visit.

Getting used to the bounce in the cover.

Gee Truff I should have brushed you first. ROFL (Bailey you are puppy cutest)

Oh TRuffie played with the pup and with Adele but those photos came with feet in the way and all sorts of things. Don't ask me why.... At least Sylvia got to see it!

Lovely Weather: Havanese Play

Best weather don't you think? The dogs certainly think so. Me, I was busy washing dogs - today was Logan, Panda, Truffie and a couple more. I love clean dogs and Mr. Coops departed off to Huntsville and we hope the traffic to cottage land was not bad.

Here are a few photos from today. At the moment we are watching Glee and chillin with the dogs.

Funny how I woke up, fed the dogs, ran with them outside and then started brushing and after that brushing I took photos. You can't tell they had a comb in them at all except by feel. By looking at them you can't tell. Oh well, at least they are knot free. Photos of Truffie was BEFORE his bath.

Got to Love a Havanese

The weather is great. The havanese are running like crazy and boy are they tuckering themselves out. Everyone got groomed but I will tell you they didn't look that way 10 minutes later. Here's a few photos of them playing.

Coop right after groomingMom and DaughterThey were all chasing Truffie and he was loving it.

Truffie playing recoveryShoshi thinned outTo say they have had fun is an understatement. Brewer, Coach, Sassy depart and Missy and Max arrived. Its been so long seeing Missy and Max and their humans. They live in Montreal so its been way too long. I am so excited about this visit and they seem to be too!

Play Day

Very busy day today. We had a ton if fun but is Coop having fun? I think he is having so much fun he is getting grungy and can't wait till I finish grooming so he can play. Nathan and the crew are now sleeping watching tv. They ate, they played and now they are all taking a nap.

The gals were conspiring ... oh oh

Sibling Fun

Nathan time...

It was truly a fun day. But boy do they need a brushing and I already brushed them this morning. Oh well... You get that way from playing so hard, I suppose.

Not Much of an Update

I had 4 dogs to wash and a turkey to cook. You see we have dogs to watch while other people enjoy their dinner so I figured the only way I am going to get turkey is to cook it today. So inbetween I had dogs hovering around the stove licking their lips.

I had hubby and Dennis saying did you baste the turkey? Yes, I did inbetween this wash or that but thanks for asking. Dennis and Nathan played with the dogs when I was washing but do they take photos? NO! argh though Nathan said he took a video. Well I didn't get to yesterdays video. So, we shall see how today goes but hey its better to groom and play with the dogs don't you know?

As I type, I am eating turkey. Yum. See multi-tasking it still came out.

Plus the dogs were thrilled as Nathan took some turkey, cut it all up and the dogs got their feast too.

You didn't think we would forget about them, did you? Mr. Coop was smaking his lips and so were the rest especially Ms. No Name.

Happy early Thanksgiving!

PS: Just a small video Nathan did while I was washing dogs and making turkey.