Getting in Shape

 Now that Treasure is single without kids she is playing up a storm investing on winning.

Thing is Spice is faster (Wasabi really does have fast running kids) and this frustrates her. It's not that Treasure is slow, Spice is just that fast and Treasure has weight that Spice doesn't.

But as she does this day in and day out trying to win she loses her weight. Maybe I should try this plan. hahahaha

Phantom is a Delight

Okay Phantom is not one of our dogs but he comes to visit and breeds. He thinks Nathan is a rather special guy to coordinate all this fun for him.

It's a riot how he knows.

Phantom is an amazing dog. He adjusts no matter where he is. He's a sweet boy who loves and I mean LOVES his toys and now his gals too! (wink)

Time Passes

 As another anniversary presents itself on December 2nd (don't ask how many as we avoid that as that age becomes a reality) we are spending yet another with the dawgs.

We have an ultrasound for Teaser at 1:20 then and perhaps on our way back we will stop and get some takeout, curl up on the sofa with the dawgs and chill.

Both Wasabi and Abigail are in heat and life will get real crazy by then so maybe we will be chilling with ear plugs in. Heats last 3 weeks.  With boys in the house its mighty interesting.

Good thing they will be over by holiday time.:-)

Life is always a ride but maybe one year the dawgs will cooperate and they will take us out for dinner.  Yeah....right...

But when I look at this photo of Nathan I know why we have been a team for so long. Wow...still!!

Big Beds

Did you know a big bed adds to all the fun.

We have several beds that are Terra's size and all the Havanese will pack in and snuggle up in one.

Sometimes life is more fun with a couple of Havvies.

This bed is so huge I can fit in it too.

Kona Winking

As you may have guessed I am going through older photos and enjoying them.

This is Kona winking when he was how old? I am not sure. I think it was taken on Dennis B-day on April 17th.

Folks, send me some updates, please!

Dog Toys

We got this toy from LLBean and it is a keeper.

The dogs can drag it around by the string or chomp down on the ball and they LOVE it.

The best game by far is still retrieve.

Spice just sails through the air and always gets there first. It's almost not fair.

Laying Down on the Job

Found this photo and laughed. So how much longer do you think Nathan will be laying on the ground?

Any bets he will still be doing it when we have a white blanket?

Fun Dressups

 I bought this knitted collar with a bow on it to help Westie Rescue. The cost was $2.00 and you can put a lead through the knitted holes and it can cover an ugly collar.

Every now and then I love to dress up my Havanese not in outfits but with a fancy bow or collar. This was perfect and I didn't have to make it myself.

Now to brushup Fiona or maybe today is break day and tomorrow I get back to it.

Seminars

Why do we go to so many seminars? Well I think it is our responsibility to educate ourselves in anything dog related. Dog training has come a long way and our dogs will be better off with positive training.

I remember when we had german shepherds years and years ago and the school of thought back then was roll them over, give them the stare down and wait till they give in.

Well I never bought that but can you imagine getting your dog to behave due to fearing you? With positive training you build that bond. Coupled with the skills, training and consistency, it equals a better way!

No trainer is the bug guru of training but you go and you glean and you try and you train your dogs in school settings, at home, during walks and you will end up with a dog that you can brag about. It's worth it!

Stairs & Height

The crew here runs up the stairs, down the stairs and well these stairs are extra huge. Really they are.

In fact they really are. When we put them in we were not thinking about pups and so we went for less stairs and more height.

It makes for learning stairs a tad more difficult for the pups but today he is running up and down them.

Success!

First Snow

Today we had that white stuff flying around. It was a tease as it never stuck and its supposed to get up to double digits over the weekend but....

it was so much fun to see Nathan and the dawgs.

Check out a few photos taken when it first started.

Then Marlee Sue came over with her humans and I came out but couldn't hang out for too long as Fiona was really fretting perhaps cause there was activity that she wasn't a part of as she was feeding.

So I came in and calmed her down and was sad that I didn't get more time outside.

Pups remain the priority.

I am not sure if Nathan got photos. I am hoping so but he was busy as usual enjoying vs. clicking and who could blamed him.

Walking Over the Man

 In this house Nathan loves his naps. I rarely get them unless I am so fried I can't make sense. But he loves to take one dog or 2 upstairs and catch some serious zzzs.

Thing is with Dennis doing nights and me doing pups during the day for the most part, he's it after I finish grooming for the adults. That changes when the pups reach 4 weeks. They sleep upstairs and Dennis sleeps nights again. He has 2 more weeks to get there.

So Nathan crawls into the tv room and so do the dawgs and then they proceed to walk all over him. Today Andy was part of this craziness and seemed to fit in nicely. I think he is missing Maxine.

I am not sure if Nathan is actually sleeping or just trying. I 'get' his voicing "I get no sleep."

Katsura is the worst as he walks up and down your body. It's how he wakes you up. His momma Risa does similar but I don't allow so they saunter up to me and lick my face. That I can handle. They snuggle with me, lay between the legs, draped over the head but don't walk up my body. I think its a claustrophobic thing.

It's not that I don't love the dogs. I absolutely do. I just have boundaries and they respect them.

It's sort of like our kids. For years they went into Nathan's closet and took his socks and he would have to buy more and more and he always complained that he never had any. As adults they still do it. Me, I said you ask you don't take anything of mine. Of course they tried over the years but they finally learned that I wouldn't tolerate it. The dogs are similar.

Neither is wrong. You just have less to complain about and better behavior my way. hahahahahaha

Fun Play

 Here's a photo of Phantom (he has sired a few of the last litters) and Logan who was bred by our friend Yvonne.

Logan lives with Panda from Phantom and Abigail (Roxie's sister) and he truly loves to muck it up when he visits here.

They seem to fly through the air when they play like a fast ballet.

Run & Play

The crew just LOVES to muck it up with each other. This is truly the perfect time of the year for amazing fast run play.

It's not too hot. It's not too cold.

I am still washing dawgs but none of them look that way. Mud comes into the house caked on their feet and I meet CAKED.

This is the time of the year that the floors just never stay clean. Hint, keepa wet mop handy and voila it's clean again.

Tucker's Visit

Tucker came for a visit and had a ton of fun and got a bath too!

He was a crazy boy in the bath. I think I have to give him more baths so I can condition him. Well that's the excuse to get him back.

I think I got me wet more than him. Oh boy... but he had a really good time and now it is quiet around here.

Me, I am playing recovery.

Cooper Settles In

Some of you have asked how Cooper is settling in.

It sounds like he made the transition and we can't wait to see him on Wednesday.

Cooper should enjoy the few remaining days of peace and quiet. Maxine is going to rock his world in less than a week. She has been eating everything in sight and doing her best to bulk up to take on her older brother. I’m told she has a good memory too and will continue to grow long after he’s stopped. That might be something for Cooper to consider. In the meantime, she can’t wait. She told me so.

Nathan

Acrobats

I am amazed always at what positions the havanese can get their bodies in.

They jump, they sail through the air and they wrap their bodies this way or that.

We have snow in the air. Not enough to stick but what the hey is that about?

It best not snow tonight if I am going to Ottawa. I do not want to miss the first snowfall with the Treasured ones pups.

Tomorrow while I am away Meeko and the family are coming to meet their new member of the family.

Nathan best take photos. They are going to love his personality but this dup is fun, fun fun!

So either Nathan will fill you in or I will tomorrow bight. Till then...

Class Photos

Here are the photos I took at Wednesday's class.

Class and Socializing

It was fun to finally get out and see the class. We missed Susan and Illan but I am hoping to see them next week.

The crew has some practicing to do. They are all doing quite well but homework is important to accomplish and so is that scavenger list. Are you filling it out?

You may think, okay its just work but what you are doing is building a base of bonding, confidence and much more. Plus the scavenger list exposes them to all sorts of things. We fear what we do not know and that's true of the dawgs too.

Even if yours is sitting solidly or staying solidly, expand the space and length of time to see how they do. Practice on walks but keep the sessions short - 10 minutes at a time.

To this day we can give a hand signal and Shoshi will go immediately into a down position.

It's nice to know all that hard work pays off. They are only wee ones once in their lives and you are working on getting them to be marvelous adults. It's a fun ride!

Photos are coming later.

Cooper Goes Home

Cooper & His Forever Family We had a busy day. Sparky was visiting this morning with his humans and now they are off to Montreal. They should have arrived at home by now.

He was delightful to have around. You should have seen him playing with Cooper, Spicey and Truffie the mad race game.

Then Cooper was off this morning with his humans. It was bittersweet. I know I will see him tonight so its not a real goodbye but still the house is in a funk with Cooper and Sparky gone.

It's a strange funk that goes over the group as if to say where's the fun? Not that they can't create their own fun but always nice to have different fun with visitors and all.

Sparky After His BathSparky, Cooper, Logan, Rox and Panda got a bath today - oh boy. Am I ready for class or what! Now to change out of these dog grooming clothes.

I hope Cooper had a fabulous day. With all this rain its not the best timing to go home but it is what it is. I look forward to seeing him again tonight.

Did you practice?