Busy Times at Talemaker

Today Joe and Lyndall came over with Saki. Saki is from Wasabi's last litter - the littlest gal.

I just love this couple and what they do with Saki san. They make us realize why we do this crazy dawg stuff.

They also have quite the knack at storytelling with their dawg adventures as you could see from Saki's sky adventure and menu reading in hotels.

They are starting obedience next week with her.

Saki played up a storm and remembered Abigail well. She also played nose to nose with her canine Mommy. She was an absolute wriggler when it came to saying hello and Nathan had to remind me that they had to have their dawg back so they could go. Selfish me...heh

Just as they were ready to go we got more company.

Do you remember Lil' Man - now known as Milo? Well, his parents and pack mate came to visit as well. His pack mate's names is Hugo and talk about funny stories from them.

I swear this couple is the Erma Bombeck of the dawg parents.

The muddy stories - and oops we will leave it at that and let you use your imagination would make you laugh and laugh.

Plus there's more...

We also have 3 visitors that add an element of fun to the mix beyond the reality of me trying to keep white feet clean - are you KIDDING and it's going to rain so oh no - Jebi and his coat. But we love the play but more play means more grooming but how can you not let them play. Show coats are different as you have to keep them long and maintained very well. So, I am way busy!

Here's Jeb (Tibetan Terrier) and his long coat playing with Saki. He thought she was great but he didn't have an off switch. :-)

Want to come over and help me with grooming him or the two bichons? ROFL

Then Yvonne is coming down today and will she be bringing the dawgs or not - in about 10 minutes we will know for sure.

Just a reminder...if you are going away this holiday and need us to watch your pups, we need to know earlier than later. We are already getting folks booking.

After this weekend is over, I am going to do a slide show of all the movement shots from our crew and our visitors. They all ADORE the pool cover. Doggie trampoline..that is!

Every dawg house deserves one!

Hang Out Time

What the hey is THAT? She said - let's go to Aberfoyle and pick up something.

Yep that was Nathan's response. It sort of looked like - are you KIDDING.

No - I am not.

Well, the dawgs are enjoying the cooler weather and the sun. Everyone seems to be WAY relaxed - playing up a storm - visitors and our dawgs.

The dogs - when they play hard - crash and hang out like this.

Visitors Playing Like Crazy

The crew is having an amazing time with the visitors.

If you click on the photo, you can see the funny expression Treasure has on her face.

We have a few visitors till Monday morning and they are really enjoying themselves.

When we have visitors. we always introduce one at a time. This way the visitors are not overwhelmed and the crew connects.

It was a very fast transition with this crew.

I got to see a Bathing Beauty in action today. I was impressed. Anything that can save me time and product bathing is alright with me.

Trampoline Havanese Style

There's something about the bounce of the pool cover that excites the Havanese. It's hard to explain but I figure kids enjoy trampolines and so do Havanese, it seems.

Abigail and Treasure get downright exhausted doing that run-like hell game over the cover.

The crew have heard us talking about an over sized Havanese coming to visit and 2 Bichons. You think they will survive?

Fiona may go into protect mode but we shall see. She has beautiful pups to keep safe and she does adore them.

Tomorrow I get to see the Bathing Beauty in action. I bathe so many Havanese and use so much high end shampoo and conditioners that I am looking at a way to do the same job but also not cost so much. I use the same high quality, costly products on my own as well as the boarders. I just like the results. Is this the solution - we shall see.

We have the boarders from tomorrow till Monday morning. We'll let you know how it goes. My biggest concern is grooming them. A Tibetan has more hair by far. hehe

Gad - a Bath!

Fiona is SOOO impressed that I took her away from her babies for a bath.

I waited till she fed them and then whisked her away and did it as fast as I could. She needed it!

But as you can see with the expression on her face - she was saying - ARE YOU KIDDING!

But human Mommy says - Fiona - you smell so beautiful and you feel so soft.

The rest of the crew was brushed - not washed cause we are getting rain this week. They all had a bath just before we went to the show so all are still good to go after a thorough brush and comb.

We are all still playing recovery from being away.
Have you snuggled your Havanese yet today?

This weekend we have a Tibetan Terrier and 2 Bichons staying the weekend. Oh boy! We are helping out a friend. A Tibetan Terrier looks like an overgrown Havanese to me. :-) Lots of grooming on the large size.

Agility Doors

Okay...we came back to a precious Havanese agility screen door built for us.

It's unique.

It's treasured but the dawgs keep running into the screen wondering where the doggie door is.

We are back.

Yeah - things are literally upside down but give it a day and we will be back to normal. Then we have 2 Bichons visiting us and a Tibetan Terrier for the weekend. Are we in for a roaring grand time.

The crew is wonderful.

Alex and Yvonne are amazing. I have a newly painted laundryroom - how cool. I am now only missing the dryer.

The pool was closed today and the crew had a wonderful time running like crazy over the cover. Even Flora was joining in on the fun.

Now to finish work - start in with grooming the crew and take a breath. Somehow - someway - Fiona gets a bath tomorrow. She totally needs it.

More tomorrow.>>

Last Day in Sudbury

Well, it's the last day in Sudbury and we hear it is rain all week at home.

Mommy will have lots of grooming when she comes home but little by little - she will get it done. At least the Kat man and the Treasured one won't need it.

We thank Yvonne and Alex for helping us BIGTIME.

Even if we don't get anything today - it was nice to be the top dawgs at the specialty in Havanese. With all this grooming stuff - I am sure Treasure and Kat feel that way too!

Pool will get covered come Monday or Tuesday and we will double the size of their playing area with the security cover. They love it too as it's like a trampoline to them.

We are missing our dawgs madly and we will be updating you on all their antics tomorrow.

We are bringing a boxer puppy to Toronto - Val to downtown so it will be a LONG day. Are we home yet?

Show Time

Kat got breed each show and won a group 4 today. Treasure won best puppy in breed.

Tomorrow is the last day of the show and we will be back probably late.

It's going to be a LONG day but we are looking forward to getting home and seeing the pups and our dawgs.

There's nothing like home...

Then we will go back to posting more exciting things. :-)

Treasure Loves the Show

Treasure received a best puppy each day in breed and opposites she has been here and yesterday got a best puppy in group. The judge said she really liked her - that she has a presence in the ring. She almost gave her breed and said so.

Well, give Treasure a treat and she will do amazing things for you - ROFL Okay - she does like this show business.

Last night I bathed both Kat and Treasure for the show and I have to admit bathing them in a tub with low pressure makes that bathing beauty that Sylvie is talking about more desirable. Plus Val says it saves in product in a big way. My back is aching after bathing and this &*^%$ bed. But they are clean and looking semi good this morning to go back to the show. I try to get better but hard to in a make shift situation.

It's way cold here - 0 degrees. I guess summer is gone. Hope Toronto is warmer. Gad - I miss my dawgs and pups. Tomorrow I get to see them again and update the pages again too if I can muster the energy.

Sudbury Show

It's a hard dawgs life hanging out on a table. One wouldn't think so but yesterday there were a few dogs that had mighty squabbles at the show so noisy was the operative word.

Paula's Phantom took the group. All specials are here but 1. Who would think in Sudbury but pro after pro is here.

The bed in the hotel is giving the humans really bad back aches. This human groomed a Tibetan Terrier yesterday - much the same as the Havanese - just more hair.

Treasure got best puppy in breed twice yesterday but that's it. It was a dawg show day and this human misses the pups and although we went out to eat at the Keg last night, there's nothing else we have done but show and washing and show. This human had it in mind to go to the mall - maybe tonight but not counting on it.

More later...

Sleeping Duo

Well, we are in a hotel and I finished washing this duo in a bath tub at 10pmish. Think I finished about 1030ish. Kat was so exhausted that he wouldn't move and he is back sleeping yet again but NOT Treasure.

Treasure - last night just went beside him and snuggled up and dreamt about how we are starving her.

Let's see she got dog biscuits and ice cream from Val - a tad bit of burger from Daddy and some chicken at night. Although we told Val not to feed her - she mumbled something about bonding.

It's going to be a long day today with 2 shows in the day.

I am missing the pups madly.

The hotel bed SUCKS and the breakfast is about the same but we have our cutie patooties with us and we are together. Soon we will be back home so refreshed from this trip - RIGHT...

Will be taking pictures today. All specials here today - 7 - that we are competing against - unusual for the obscure shows but the pros tend to go where they think they can get an easy win. Not so whe all the pros show up.

More later...>>

Off to the Show

Well, we are off to a show till late Sunday or Monday with the awesome duo. hahahaha Well - they think they are.

I can't imagine what this pair will produce when the time comes. Now - they are showing and enjoying OTHER things.

We will still be updating the pages - even the puppy pages.

Yvonne will be taking care of the puppies and dogs with our son's help. She'll be crashing at our house and capturing the last pool days.

Our crew minus this duo will be able to play with theirs. They are in for some great fun.

In about a half hour, Jay Jay goes home. He's been with us for sometime and really enjoying life. He truly has no off switch when it comes to play. Can't blame him. He's still a puppy and oh I do love the pups.

More tomorrow...

Treasure's Lack of Patience

Well, Treasure's heat is done but we are still keeping her at bay till she goes to Sudbury. We had a x-pen panel that wasn't attached and when Nathan started the feeding - she went into a frenzy pushing it out in front of her in a frantic state. She wants the food. Oh, and she is hardly starving but this gal would eat and eat and eat.

Treasure is so juvenile when it comes to food. We have to teach her patience.

We need to teach her not to throw herself up against the doors or pen as Nathan has the audacity to feed her last and she must be last or she will never 'get' this patience thing she needs to learn.

I compare it to a 2 year old's temper tantrum.

It's the funniest thing you ever did see and I need to get it on video but we do not laugh.

We do not give in and she gets fed last. If given a treat and she wants to take your hand off as she is too excited, we close our hand with the treat inside and wait till she calms down. No treat until she manages to contain herself and how long that takes depends on a given day. This gal is FOOD MOTIVATED.

The Treasured one is an alpha, albeit an immature one at this point. She has a lot to learn before she takes that status. To be an alpha in a pack, you must be a caring, loving and trusted one. You don't rule with might but trust has to be there not fear to work. Treasure tends to take what she wants when she wants and that doesn't go over big with some so she is an alpha in training.

There is no doubt what her destiny is - not because we want it to be - lord knows it would be easier if she was NOT an alpha but we are helping this process along.

Some say you must feed the alpha first but with her personality, if we did, she would never learn patience and patience is important.

Risa adores this child as she is strong willed. Risa has no patience for those that are not. She would have nothing to do with Shoshi for years but the pack has been good for Shoshi and she has risen in status. She has gained much respect in the pack.

We have a pack that works and with the number that we have, it is important that it does or we would be forced to rehome one that didn't and that would be a tough order.

The pack has a genuine love for each other and enjoyment. Each member has their role and is valued and you can tell. They even know that the Treasured one is a tad spoiled and a juvenile brat but that we are working on it. It's amazing how much trust they have in you when you know what you are doing to handle such issues like this.

Having an understanding of your pack is important when you bring visiting dogs into the mix. A working pack is good for even the most unbalanced dog. But you said dogs like Risa have no patience for those that are unstable but she sits back - does nothing and the critical pack members that bring a dog around works their magic. One of those that does that is Abigail. She is a calming dog and reels a new member in. As soon as she connects - the rest of the pack does.

Anyone who doesn't realize what a pack member's role is tends to miss critical things that help the pack stay on a positive path. We, as humans need to know who the Abigail's are and who the Treasures are and on and on so we can keep the pack happy and vibrant and working.

Treasure is a very smart dog but she rules with her emotions. We know humans like that and when your emotional part takes hold - we bring much stress - much conflict and that rarely works long term unless that emotion is tempered with keeping the family happy.

'Might is right' is NOT the way to go. Bully tactics do not gain you the deep relationships that make a family unit or a pack work. Plus - life is too short to have such stress - don't you think? It's certainly something we control - human and canine alike.

Saki's a Travelling Gal

Talemaker's Saki just went home last week and now she is travelling to Cal-i-Forn-IA.

Her human parents wrote to us about her travels and this was a small part of what they wrote. They are truly enjoying her.

Well the last leg was fine, though after a long day it was hard to get on another flight!

We were upgraded to first due to the ordeal and Joe working with them! So at least they didn't blink when I wanted a little water cup and headed to the bathroom with her carry all.

Again she was amazing! I changed her pad out to keep her fresh.

At SFO we were in late 9:30 so we all felt it was the middle of the night! As for us it was!!!

She went on the train to the rent car station on her leash and disguised a poo she did in the parking garage as one from a labrador retriever..... And felt like a new girl! (I picked it up of course)!

Then we decided to get a hotel about half way to my folks just getting too late and we were exhausted! Well she loved the hotel room! She saw that big bed and a room to put her toys out in and went wild!!!! Then asked to be put on the bed, marched to the middle of the pillows and settled down and asked us to put the lights out!

We are just having breakfast after a short walk and she says we can spend the whole time here if we want.... She didn't know people would actually deliver food to the room, and I got a picture of her reading the breakfast menu! Will send all photos later.

She is now settled for a short nap while her breakfast settles and we clean up and pack up.

Messy Times

Well, Missy is going home tonight - sniff - another gal that is leaving me. I can't play with Kat so I have enjoyed playing with Missy. Then on Wednesday Jay Jay goes home but I can't play with him too much - something about chewing my hair. ROFL

So, Abigail gets chewed on instead as she doesn't show anymore.

She'll be the next to have puppies so she is stylin' in a short hairdo and you can hardly notice the chomps.

Jay Jay is a pup so it's all expected. Puppies LOVE to chew and chew and chew.

Besides, Jay Jay is a cutie patootie fun guy.

On Wednesday, Yvonne will be coming down to watch the crew and we head to a show. I will be talking to her on the phone daily so I will be updating the sites.

I may not have any new pics of the puppies during that time but I will have them of the show and the pups - well you will be surprised at their growth as we will be gone for 4 nights. I am going to miss them madly but Nathan got to go to Chicago - and I get to go to Sudbury - well he gets to go too. ROFL

We have such exotic trips. I may even talk him into taking me to the mall so it's not all grooming and showing. We shall see.

I will be updating Wednesday morning puppy pics before we head out and Sunday night I will update with new puppy pics. So - you will only miss 3 days of new pictures unless I can convince Yvonne to take photos.

Well, Missy had a bath and her human parents came too soon as she was still in the bath tub. So, they went off to eat and Missy - well she acted like a crazy dawg till I started treating her with treats. A gal after my own heart.

I get her done and Nathan said - think I will take her outside. He came back in and said - think she's a tad bit of a wreck - you may need to clean her up and blow dry her again. So - I did it again - not a full job but a 15 minute one. Now she's not going outside without a lead till her humans come. ROFL

She's a gal just like our Wasabi - loves to muck it up big time!

More tomorrow...

Ooops Wrong Way

We had a guest that thought the way everyone else was going through didn't make sense so it went through the screen vs. the doggie door. There's a first time for everything.

That's Abigail utilizing the hole vs. the door trying to duplicate their effort - so time to replace.

Today most everyone had a groom just before their walk. Abigail got a bath and so did Kat. Kat needed one as he decided to jump in the pool. All it takes is Nathan getting his bathing suit on.

Does it make more sense to you to groom after or before the walk? Before means they are stylin' when they go out. After means they are getting it when they most need it. :-)

Here Risa is waiting her turn. She says - forget about the grooming - let's just go and have fun.

Risa was one of those that got her freshen up after she got back from the walk.

When do you groom?

Taking Care of Hair

I call this the Joker look - for any of you Batman fans - you know what I mean.

Many Havanese eat with their whole entire face. Kat is one and to be gross about it - when gals are in heat - he sniffs and puts his face in their rump. Intact males do this when females are in heat. Those of you that don't have this wonderful situation do not need to worry 'cept for the eating with one's food thing.

There are things you can do. Wash the face with a face rag with waterless shampoo after each meal and comb through or put the face up like this every meal. Or you could get a snood or cut the hair shorter and not worry. If the face is dark and/or you like the shorter look -you probably won't think about it.

I just like to give tips as I learn and with Kat - he's still being shown for fun so a bit extra care has to go into his hair. He has a show on Thursday. He got washed this morning. He will also get washed late Tuesday night and so will Treasure but they will get oiled this time not next.

Missy is here till late Friday night. She arrived this morning and brought us a scrumptious breakfast cake. Yum!

Missy was already all over the backyard investigating and now she is playing up a storm.

Missy is such a delight to have around. She's our - jump up on the most amazing high things gal.

She should be doing agility. heh

Missy is finding the fun in Jay Jay at the moment.

Jay Jay our other visitor always has this look on his face. He is playing so much that we have to give him some rest at times. I believe he is Teddy's equal in the Everready play department. His fave playmate has been Abigail and at times Kat and now Missy. It's a delight to watch.

More later.>>

No Escaping

Just because Fiona had pups doesn't mean Mommy forgets to groom me. There is no justice in life. ROFL!!!

She's working her way through all if us.

Well, back to playing retrieve with Mommy and that boy dawg Jay. I try to beat him every time. It must be the competition streak in me.

PS: Heard Missy is getting roast chicken - yum!

Checking Out

We haven't left town...we are still playing with the dogs - spending quality time - they are getting their walks and the lone visitor is having a grand time.

I think he thinks Kat is the best thing. It's funny how that evolved.

We are still knee deep in puppies - having to watch them closely - now that they made the 24 hour mark - it all unfolds - changes daily.

Wasabi's pups are gone to their forever homes and Fiona's has made their debut.

We will fill you in daily and each day gets easier but all the dogs deserve our attention so we will still be posting daily - but as you can see you got shoes today. Why? The camera is in the whelping room. ROFL

More later.>>

We are So Excited

Well, Mommy had to do my hair as I have a show in less than a week. Can you believe and I am a tad of a mess. That's okay - I look better now but Mommy has to do this daily and wash me a couple of times.

It's going to be a busy week.

Our dear friend Yvonne is going to come down with her crew and stay with the pups while I am at the show.

Me - I will miss the Downsey fun.

I tried to go see the pups - with Daddy holding me and Fiona wasn't pleased. She let's Wasabi - geez.

Check out Talemaker Puppy Life for all Fiona pups and Wasabi pup updates.