Long Day

Treasure was hanging out with the pups today playing. She really enjoys them and I can see why.

They are now 8 weeks so they are more able to keep up with the older crew.

We had a very full day. We had the crew outside playing.

We had to take Terra home from her cruciate operation.

Here is a photo of her stitches. We also had to get her a collar to stop her.  It's interesting getting her out to do her business and manuever her around but we are dealing - ice packs and all.

Tomorrow I wash Fiona - maybe tonight and start doing my regiment of washing dawgs one by one each day to get them all done.

Rocky comes this Friday till Monday and the crew will have fun playing with a new visitor. We can't wait.

Busy week - busy times but we seem to thrive in such. What about you?

Bad News

I know Terra is not a Havanese but she's our regular mascot for socializing the little ones with big dawgs. She's gentle, sweet and adores her rides and play and even barking at that squirrel and getting the pack moving in excitement.

We took Terra in for a cruciate operation and heard both legs were ruptured and she has stage 4 hip dysplasia.

Many would put their dawg down instead of spending the dollars and the daily rehabilitation that we will have to go through in hopes she enjoys many more years. I kept asking, will she be functional? Chances are she will be. Some may say why do this? Well, we firmly believe she will be up, playing and having a great time with her fave pals by March. We will have about 4.5 months of rehabilitation. We will do everything in our power to get her muscle mass and keep her thin so she enjoys life. She'll be our water dog in the summer months right along with Kat.

She will be our resident big dawg socializer.

So forgive us but we will let you know how she is doing from time to time and may even start a blog on how the rehabilitation is going so others facing similar know what it entails.

In all of this, I didn't get to tie Kat's hair up. I have work to do. I need to put my grooming stuff away and set up my room again. I need to groom. I need to work and where did the day go?

We already had a outdoor session with the crew. They played up a storm especially this trip and got so messy that I have to wonder how I am ever going to get them to look good again but I will. They jumped through leaves, rubbed in mud and got old fashioned dirty. Plus, letting them just have fun and be a mess is good too. There - I said it. ROFL

Beds..

Kat won a bed for the puppies this weekend by winning breed in the toy specialty. They are his kids so that's the least he could. ROFL!!!

Treasure won one for Best Puppy at an earlier show. They must be destined to make sure the pups are always in comfort. Today's version is extra, extra soft.

If you don't want to enter a show to win a bed (not all of them give away beds to winners) some you get pretty ribbons, well you can get one from Woodruff that you can personalize. I don't get anything from suggesting a bed from them but one of the beds that we personalized with 'Precious Havanese' is found on this page with the name of Lola and the puppies LOVE it!

Now Kat goes back to having his faced and underbelly wrapped and gets oiled till the next show which thankfully is not for a bit.

We have Terra going in for a cruciate operation (ruptured ligament below the knee). She's our golden but just as loved as the Havanese. Our goldens allow us to socialize the puppies to big dogs in house and there is no better way at that age to slow condition them. She's such a gentle soul. She will have 6 to 8 weeks of healing and will be like new come the new year.

Just between you and me, I am hoping no snow till then but we don't always get what we want.

Happy Halloween!

One of our Wasabi pups, Chico dropped into a pumpkin patch this fine Halloween.

He bumped into a very friendly lab doing the same thing...checking out all those pumpkins in the mud.

What a cleanup job that must have been!

Hope all of the Havanese out there had as much fun as Chico and his pack mate Fidel did.

Transition Time

Some of the crew was slipping out today despite the rain and wind.

I was a tad worried as Saki had a bath and I figured just like Chewie, she would muck it up and have me wanting to clean her up again. ROFL

But she managed to stay clean thus far and soon her parents will be picking her up. It was great to have some of the Wasabi pups here. It was a great visit.

Saki was not thrilled with the bath but I used the Bathing Beauty on her and she feels wonderful. Less shampoo and conditioner, a massage from it and faster experience. I know - I already said I love it!

Saki's been playing with Fiona and Treasure and sometimes Abigail.

Here's a photo of Saki right after her bath.

Although there was rain, we still managed to play outside and Saki played in the xpen with the pups so wonderfully. Check out Havanese Life later on to see some pictures of this.

Well, Saki's parents came. She was so excited and we are so - oh my gad she's already gone.

We just have Gidget with us and Rocky come Friday for the weekend. So, the fun continues.

Tomorrow

They say I am going to get a bath tomorrow with a thing called a Bathing Beauty that the human here adores.

It's too pricey for pet people but if you do the shows - well you will wonder how you ever did without it. I saved long and hard for mine.

Kat was my first to try it and he loved it as it gave him a massage as he was getting washed.

The ways we indulge our dogs. Tomorrow we will fill you in on how Saki Fry does.

Quiet Around Here

Saki says, I hear my human Mommy is on a plane from far away - Hong Kong and she will be coming in very late tonight and my human Daddy will be in Saturday night.

Mommy will be on a different time zone and we 'get' that after our Bali trip. So, we said leave the cutie with us till human Daddy gets in. Have something to eat together then come get the cutie then she can be your total focus.

One good thing is she will be sleeping a lot too as they usually do though we are waiting to hear about Chewy as he may be the exception. He's a go, go type and his human siblings keep him going. Was looking at his little gal sibling and she's simply gorgeous and loves her Chew Chew as she so affectionately calls him.

Well, we have a show today. Nathan is a traitor and is showing Bichons for a friend. I hope he does really well. I will be at the show early afternoon. I was there last night for setup. I also picked up my Bathing Beauty and will be using it today on Kat and tomorrow on Saki and who else knows which dog.

One of our dearest friends had a puppy last night - a gorgeous tri-colour. We hear its a strong feeder and is doing rather well. It will be going to a new home in 10 weeks once it has one. We will be posting links when she updates her blog.

I got my camera back. So far it is clean - heh and seems to be working well but will be giving it a workout at the show. We will let you know. Wasn't happy with how long it took and I may be exploring places like Vistek vs. Henry's Camera for that 7D that I am coveting but we shall see.

Till later ...

Hanging Out at Talemaker

All of you know that my camera was in the shop - yep WAS. I got it back tonight but not in time for these shots where Chewie went home and his mom and sister - human style came to get him and Jasper also came to visit. We missed having Chico and Missy here. Saki is visiting till Saturday.

Here is a few of the photos from today. Crummy camera but click on them to see a larger view.

The gang was hanging out on the cover. Even the wee ones were out too. Jasper really enjoyed the younger set and his siblings. Saki and Chewie have been enjoying them all week long. It's an excellent way of socializing them with the bigger set.

If you look closely, you can see three of the siblings. Can you tell us who is who?

The crowd did get off the cover eventually and I did get a lot of lousy shots - some good ones that I haven't posted but hey, I tried with this camera.

I caught a lot of Jasper with various wee ones always hanging out under him. I think they rather enjoyed him.

Treasure was whispering sweet nothings in Jasper's ears. I wonder what she was saying.

Fiona, at first was worried about her babies but she calmed down and enjoyed the time too scatting and having a grand time.

Just when you thought we had all over cover photos, yeah the pups played elsewhere. Can you name them all?

We are going to miss Chewy. He kept trying to tell Saki he was boss but she knew she was. No Chewy to try to steal someone else's food. Hope he is sleeping well tonight.

Now we get to treasure Saki till Saturday and then we will be back to our own except for Gidget - who always adds fun around this place. Yep, when the gang was here, she was getting them to run-like-hell. She's such fun.

Hope you enjoyed the photos...more tomorrow...

Wet, Wild and Clean or....Dirty

Treasure had a bath last night. Yeah... I wasn't going to do it but she cleans up nicely. I also cleaned Wasabi today and Chewy gets a bath tomorrow.

Do I have my camera?

NO but we are thinking tomorrow.

Watch for steam rising if it doesn't come my way.

We have the siblings coming tomorrow and no camera. We will miss Missy - big time.

The crew was playing in the kitchen and then we gave in and took them out to play hard and get soaked in the rain - even the pups. Okay, I am a glutton for punishment but we adore the pups so what's a little more work?

Wasabi has been playing with Chewie and Saki every chance she gets. It's quite nice. You have to love her desire to be with them even after they go home.

Monday, our golden goes in for a cruciate operation and it will be a long process of healing and recovery. It's lots of $$ and lots of work to get her back to 100% they say. She will be staying overnight.

We will be seeing the vet a great deal next week - Terra on Monday and Tuesday and weeks end the pups for their shots. They also go for a hearing test. Busy next week.

Treasure has been playing with Saki quite a bit and good thing as Chewie is going home tomorrow. She will need someone more her size to play with when her brother goes home.

The rain and wet didn't seem to bother these two today. We will miss this interaction.

There is nothing like 2 puppies playing up a storm.

Pool Covers, Visitors and Outside Play

Ever wonder if you can walk on the pool cover? Well, you can if you have a safety cover.

Click on the photo to see an upclose view.

We got the cover on purpose to make sure our dawgs were safe. It's been money well spent.

Well, each day this week and sometimes twice in a day, we have had visitors. It's good socialization but it's hard on the human here as I am grooming till the witching hour playing catchup.

Next week we have puppies going in for shots and their hearing test. Then we have a visitor Rocky who is coming for the weekend. It's a crazy week but we are going to turn it down a notch and allow this human to catch up with a few moments of downtime.

Thursday we have the siblings visiting (still no camera for me), Thursday Chewie also goes home. Saki goes home Saturday. Gidget remains till mid November.

Today we had a visitor - a Lola, Kat puppy called Mac. They do their own grooming and I think they did a pretty nice job - don't you think?

He got to see his half siblings - he shares a Dad with Saki and Chewy. He's silvering out like Kat.

Now Nathan is out at handling classes as he is helping someone showing Bichons this weekend in the airport area. You should go watch the Havanese and all the rest of the dawgs.

Me, I am washing Kat and wrapping him up in a few minutes. I just finished grooming the rest of the crew (washed Fiona today too) and I have Treasure to wash tomorrow or tonight if I really lost my mind and Chewy on Thursday morning before he goes home.

Looking forward to getting the Bathing Beauty and hope it cuts down on bathing times. We shall see.

PS: If you want grooming supplies - or anything from k9groomingsupplies, email me and Doug. You can put your order in and I can pick it up for you, if you like. It wil save you in shipping charges. Just let me know.

Quito and Kooba...

Quito and Kooba were with us for 11 days and I rather miss the duo. They made us laugh. I never saw a dawg love his walk as much as Quito does.

It's quieter around this place without them.

But we have the duo (pups) that well haven't stopped playing since they arrived.

We also had Sebastian visit us and that was a treat. We haven't seen him for quite some time. He's looking good these days.

But he wasn't sure what to make of Chewy who thought the best game in the world was the - let's see if I can corral Sebastian and drive him crazy. We were able to educate Chewie while Sebastian learned the game of patience with little ones.

Without Kooba and Quito to warm me up at night and Gidget to wear as my hat - what am I going to do? Wait, Gidget isn't going anywhere yet.

Going to miss those walks with Quito marking over Kat and being delighted that he did.

I just love the dawgs. They are like watching kids that don't talk but if you watch close enough, they play similar games with each other. It's fun and it's quiet around here. Can you believe?

What a Day

We had the pure pleasure of a fun filled day with all the dawgs. Here you can see Fiona just loving two of her babies. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

Kooba and Quito will be heading home tomorrow. Baths for them in the morning.

They will be missed.

Kat had a bath today and had to have his beard covered and his belly hair covered.

Twice a day I have to take it off, and then redo it. He gets to sleep without. Too much but we have gals around and he gets his face dirty. It's an unneutered boy thing you know and he is doing conformation - otherwise - I wouldn't care enough to do such things.

The walks have been fun. Tonight Nathan had the siblings and I had Wasabi and Shoshi on one of the walks. He takes two - I take two and I am always behind him so the dawgs are forever wanting to get up in front so I have a lot of training on these walks. hahahahaha

Anyone who simply walks one or two dawgs can't fully appreciate what it takes to be the man behind.

Another breeder - who will go nameless asked me why I even bother to walk the dawgs daily seeing we have a backyard they can run in. But for us, we feel that a walk stimulates their mind. It gives you an opportunity to train. It allows your dawgs to deal with noises, people - other dawgs. If done right, it is an excellent way to slow condition your dawgs and bond. So - for us - it is important!

Yesterday we had 3 of the siblings over from Wasabi's last crew. It was delightful. One of the owners of Chico (Kaarina) took this stunning photo. She has a knack for wonderful portraits. Me, I do movement mostly but I truly admire someone who can capture a moment and she did.

We really wish we could have had 2 of the siblings here but it didn't work out this time getting the entire crew together. We will keep trying. On Thursday we will have Jasper, Saki and Chico here but unless we can talk Chewy into coming back after his parents pick him up - well there will have to be a next time.

It was great to see them and I am hoping the video works and the camera is working. I think I will buy a buy a new mini DVD for the occasion.

When dawgs come to visit, there is a bit of jockeying that goes on - trying to find their place in the pack. Kooba and Quito live together but she tried to get him to sleep on the bench instead of the bed. The first night it worked but then I told Kooba the rules and she straddled up on one side and Quito on the other. Gidget got my head and the siblings got Nathan. It's amazing how it all falls into place. Glad we have huge bed accommodations. It's a must around here!

Upset Time

So upsetting....we took video of Chico and none of it came out. :-(

I have had it with this video camera...it's (this video camera) got to go as soon as I can get another. :-(

Plus to add insult to injury, my camera is in the shop so do you think I got a good photo of Chico - NOT. :-( This one is the best we have.

Wasabi played with the pups amazingly. She really enjoyed Chico but do I have a video of it - no. We also had video of the Fiona pups with everyone.

This is so FRUSTRATING!

Well, I do have a video of Wasabi last night with Chewy and Saki and I am hoping Chico's owner sends us some stills of Chico while he was here...but till then, enjoy the Wasabi, Chewy and Saki video.

Boarding at Talemaker Havanese

As you know, Darlah writes the vast majority of the information on this site. Every now and then I slip in a comment. Today I feel like contributing.

We are currently doing our version of boarding with five additional Havanese. I say our version because to call us a kennel brings up images of crates, pens and chain link fences. That's not us. What we do is bring those dogs into our home and treat them just as we treat all of our dogs. Since some of them were born here in the first place that comes as no surprise.

Anyway, this means we play with them, love them, walk them, brush them, let them play with each other, love them more, greatly help any dog with socialization, let them sleep on the bed with the rest of the dogs unless the owners have specifically requested that we do not, and give them free run of most of the house and all of the backyard.

All of this evolved from the days when we had a single dog, an incredible German Shepherd named Lacie. Lacie was a King Shepherd, a large version at 105 lbs. She didn't growl at a stranger, per se. She simply looked at you and you froze in place until given permission to move. And yet she was a complete pussycat as you'd expect of a dog raised with seven children. But when we had to go out of town we had to board her and we hated it. The last time we did it we picked her up shaking and quaking we swore "never again". And from that day to this one of us stayed home at all times.

So when we decided to cross that invisible line and get into breeding and raising Havanese, offering boarding was a no brainer. We already knew this is something we ourselves would have wanted. And it just made too much sense. It truly was one of those win/win situations. We provide a dog with the best possible experience we can, almost as good as being at home with their family, and most important, we provide the knowledge to the people that have trusted us with their dog that they will be well looked after and loved. They are not here marking time waiting until their families return. They are interacting with our family and our dogs and loving it. But make no mistake, they are thrilled to death when the families return and they can once again go back to being the center of the universe instead of having to compete with all those other dogs here!

If you have a Havanese you wish to board with us, please email us, in advance. Believe it or not there is a limit to how many dogs can sit on me on the recliner at the same time.

Thank you,
Nathan

PS: If you haven't seen or purchased your 2010 Havanese calendar brought to you by the Havanese Canadian national breed club, please do so now. This link takes you right there. http://www.havanesefanciers.com/?q=Calendar2010. I really like it but then I'm bias as I created it with the help of a lot of photos sent in to me from HFC members from coast to coast.

Getting Downright Comfie

Kooba likes to watch TV with Nathan. Doesn't she look comfie?

The pups are fast asleep. Nathan just came inside - bare feet and all after taking the dawgs out.

It's wet and the dawgs get mighty messy but not Kooba with that short hair. Just a brush out and it all falls out of hair this short.

Lately Abigail is playing with Kooba and Quito.

The two pups, Chewy and Saki are non stop playing till she says enough - just like her canine mom. Got to laugh.

Chewy likes the x-pen - seems to feel comfie laying up against it. Although they are now playing with the older set, well nothing like a sibling.

Let the Play Begin

We had a little fun with this video. Anyone who has been following our blog and our lives knows Shoshi was always a dog that didn't socialize all that much with other dawgs or humans unless she really knew you but these days you can see her climbing up on anyone's lap that will have her and playing with visitors and the pack.

Kat as he has grown older tend to not play with anyone unless the gals are getting close to being in heat but these days he is playing up a storm with the gals - you'll see Gidget and Shoshi playing too - and Fiona is just loving motherhood. Watch how agile she is in this video.

We do not believe in all show - keep the hair pristine as it doesn't help the mind and body so we say, let the play begin. What wil be, wil be.

Hope you enjoy!

Be sure to check out Talemaker Puppy Life to see the pups. We had them out in the rain today to get them conditioned. Six weeks old - wow so fast!

Nathan has left a new comment on your post "Let the Play Begin":

What is most extraordinary about this video is the fact that Kat is playing with them like this in the first place. He is THE MALE in the house and totally dominant. Normally they wouldn't dare play with him at all without his invitation. Today he wanted to play with his girls and he did. Keep in mind he's known Shoshi his entire life. I love this dog. I love all the dogs.
Nathan

Big Dawg, Little Dawg Play

We finally recovered SOME of the video. Below you will see a video of what we do with the dawgs daily. Even though we are pretty hands on with them in the backyard, it's not enough, in our opinion. There is nothing like the walk.

We do daily walks to help then get a change of head space and see new things. We don't follow the same route as dawgs get bored too and so do you.

We skip walks on Halloween night as it contains way too much activity and all sorts of new decorations that we don't tend to want them to have sensory overload. We do walk them up to that date so they do see the decorations but not all the costumes and running kids.

In this video below you will see the big dawgs and the two Wasabi pups. We also did another video on Talemaker Puppy Life with Fiona's pups and the Wasabi pups. Do check them both out to see how life is going for the crew.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy having the fun.

Snoozing After Play and Walks

I have to tell you that the crew really had a grand time from the little almost 6 week pups to the Wasabi pups to the adults. They played hard in the backyard and I even got video of it but DVD issues so hoping to get something I can recover but won't be till tomorrow to see if anything can be.

The crew also loves their walks and I have to tell you that I think Quito thinks walks are what life is truly about.

Some people say - can't they play in the backyard. Well, they do but truly would you be happy if all you saw was your house and backyard? I wouldn't be. So, we walk our dogs including all the visitors each day so they get a different perspective of life. Then they come back and snooze. Can you blame them?

Gidget and Kooba are two peas in a pod. They adore the pups and I can understand why. I have to say that everyday of me grooming Gidget, I get to put that top knot a different way and smile when she can't get it out.

Yes, each day I groom all the dogs. We do walks. We get snuggles in and every single one gets one on one attention.

When we go to bed, we get the dog drape thing going on and that's nice.

PS: the Wasabi pups actually slept solidly last night but they were playing up a storm today with Saki getting her point across to Chewy when she wanted to relax.

She now tells him in no uncertain terms - it's time to relax brother of mine!

Couch time is required around this place.

Even the humans after a full day need to chill on the couch wrapped in dawgs and watch some TV.

Of course not animal shows as some actually watch and try to bark at animals.

We use it as a moment to correct. You can too!

Can you believe they can see the TV!

It's good to give some downtime to the dawgs.

We also had a tad bit of competition around this place with games of retrieve. Chewy thought he was going to get it and Treasure had other ideas.

Saki decided she liked the yellow duck better than anything those two had. Who can blame her?

It was a VERY full day. We are tired. My camera is in for repairs. We are trying to recover videos and where is that bed? I think even the dawgs would appreciate nice cool sheets and a snore or two.

More tomorrow!

Pups, Visitors & Much More

The crew -from visitors to ours are really enjoying the outside weather.

It's something about the cooler weather that invigorates them. I wish it did the same for me.

This was Quito coming in from outside play. He's really enjoying the crew and so is his pack mate, Kooba.

Ah...fresh air...

Lots of dogs...equals a great deal of fun.

The pups that are here - Saki and Chewie - litter mates from Wasabi's last litter are going and going and going. I think they slept oh 30 minutes the whole night as Chewie was so excited to see Saki that he couldn't help himself. I think tonight will give them more sleep.

Saki is now telling Chewie off when she wants rest. Bonus, he is listening and guess what - this is a learning experience as they learn to 'get' when one is saying and when wants to rest.

Gidget keeps getting in the mix with the pups and her hair keeps going 5 ways to Sunday. I just have to laugh. That's okay, I just finished fixing all their hair and they look fabulous.

Unfortunately my camera may have to go in for repair. It's not working up to par and that will mean lousy quality pix with Nathan's click and take camera but we will survive. I will have to do a video or two.

Sleeping arrangements - Wasabi headed for the couch last night. The couch is in our bedroom. Nathan took Kat to another room so he could get rest before a show and I got the rest of the crew. Risa kept making grumbling noises - oh my the pups think they are sleeping on MY pillow but that worked itself out and Saki won the day sleeping on top of my head. Chewy slept up beside me when he slept and wasn't pouncing on Saki's head. Really - it was funny but I think I am tired. ha ha

I Think Saki is too.

Gidget is truly adoring the little ones. She will climb into my lap and watch TV with me. Quito asked to be picked up and will enjoy the cooler ottoman though he lays his head on your leg. It's so cute. Kooba - well she just got finished throwing out every toy we had in a crate and then laying down smiling as if to say - look what I did.

The visitors are having a roaring good time but so is our gang.

Sleep tonight so I can do line combing the gang, cleaning around the eyes and massages. Yes..we do - well I do - give them massages. I want one. Do you think I can talk any of them to do one on me?

More tomorrow. Hoping to do a video.

Caught By the Tail

It's exciting times at the Talemaker Havanese house. Two litter mates from Wasabi's last litter are here and they are playing up a storm non-stop.

They certainly add a lot of fun to the mix and Kooba is beside herself trying to join them but the two are playing so fast and non-stop that I bet you they sleep tonight.

We also have Gidget here and you can find her watching Fiona's pups. She seems to adore the little ones and Kooba - well she adores Kat - hahahaha and she gets him to play non-stop.

Quito has found his place with Abigail.

But you know what is funny - it can all be different tomorrow and it's bound to be.

Stay tuned tomorrow to see how sleeping with 14 dawgs works out. We will fill you in who sleeps where and if Chewy - one of the pups licks our faces, pounces on our heads and tries to play at 3am...ROFL.

But we love it...honest!!