The Start:Housebreaking Your Havanese Puppy

We do everything possible to get your little one to start the journey of housebreaking by starting them in a secure small area and increasing their awareness by introducing them to a larger area - our kitchen and the outside. This way they become aware of the smell and where you want them to eliminate.

In our x-pen, they are getting really accurate but in our kitchen area, they still have some accidents as the area is large and we are now finding that if we bring a pad already used into the kitchen area, they find the pad easier. It's one of the tricks that you learn by trying and seeing what works. They seem to be rather good at going outside as cold often gets their bladders to empty (bonus the wintertime) but you must go out with them at first.

Check out our housebreaking tips file. You'll be able to find it by a menu on the left hand part of the screen under food for thought or linked here.

More About Today
Our pups had a rather busy weekend and was very tuckered out. They slept in till 7amish after going to bed a tad after 10pm. That tells me that with a lot of activity, they are already able to sleep for a chunk of time. That's great news but we will continue to strive to get them sleeping through the night every night. A change in environment may throw them off at first but they will be on their way to getting to be all they can be.

Today they had a visitor (Audrey) our groomer who loves the pups. She was here to do our goldens. We usually bath all of ours but every now and then we have her visit us to trim nails, clean up the pads, and just give human mom a break from cleaning so many. The adult Havanese have been having such a roaring good time with frozen bones human mommy put out back that they gave managed to look a tad wet and droopy from all the wet snow. Still, a good brush will take care of that. We are working on a grooming file so look for it soon.

Then we had a grand play session in the kitchen where they munched on Terra's (goldens) legs - all 6 at once - oh my but that was fine. When Terra had enough she went outside after saying enough with a correction growl. Shoshi played great with them, Kat played some and now they are all fast asleep.

They are now starting to eat more solid food. Ah - to be Havanese...nothing better. Catch you tomorrow!

Solitary Havanese Play

Havanese are highly sociable and love people but they can also amuse themselves. Watch this little guy play with this toy while his siblings are snoozing this fine early morning.

Havanese Food Challenges & Play

Ah Mommy Wasabi - you are eating OUR food...no fair..well it doesn't look so hot anyway. No wonder why we are not eating it.

Kitty Braund, publisher of 'Our Havanese' a must have subscription to a magazine of our breed gave us a recipe to get the pups to enjoy the mush more but they won't even touch it. Oh my....It's old fashion - cook slow oatmeal, some egg and goats milk all soft and mushy and they sniffed and went no way. At least the soft kibble they ate somewhat. Now back to the drawing board - so to speak. Hmmm why does mommy like it?

Had an exciting day today. We all went outside and tux and the one with the moustache like me (Wasabi) just couldn't get enough. Wow is that a change since the 1st try.

Human mom and dad was taking 2 of us out at a time to play with the guys. The little one behind was running as fast as possible as if to say - what about me then played its heart out.

All are sleeping now after a full day. We have many visitors tomorrow so we have to snooze in between or we won't do anything but catch some zzzzzs.. So, long day but fun one in store. We all can't wait!

The Havanese: Do You Really Have To?

Here's one of my dawgs saying - what does a Havanese have to do to get some sleep around this place. Human mommy and daddy want to cuddle, Havanese mommy wants to check us out, clean us up and coddle us and 5 siblings - well it's rough to get some sleep around here. Oh, but I try.

This was one of my pups after playing its heart out with Katsuro yet again. We all did and what you don't see is we are spread out and crashed but I was the only one with that eye open - just watching.

Well, my pups had their 2nd outing into that great vast yard with snow - hmm think that's what they call that white brr cold stuff. Three of them sniffed around and did their duty, 1 said - are you kidding - its FREEZING and the other 2 well it wasn't our time - you know but human mommy and daddy will be timing these outside adventures after we eat. This way we will 'get' what this outside break is about other than chillin' and getting conditioned to this cold.

Human daddy stuffed us in his jacket when we were done and took us out 1 at a time with the rest of the adult pack.

Well more later.

Havanese Pups 1st Snow & Much More

We have been busy. Now that the pups are older, we do a lot of things with them throughout the day and evening before bed to get them to be all they can be. Today was their first exposure to the snow.

Here you can see human daddy, the pups, Wasabi, Katsuro and Risa helping them get the lay of the land. They were only out 5 minutes. We will do slow conditioning to the cold.

Last night we also did some socialization with the adult Havanese and our Katsuro had a blast with them. The video that I am uploading is under 5 minutes but he played with them like that for over 30 minutes - wow! Check it out below.

We also did some big dog socialization. What was funny was our youngest retriever wasn't sure what to think but our oldest just hung out, watched and let one gnaw on her leg and watched in awe. It was rather nice. We will continue to do this throughout to get them used to larger dogs.

All I can say is the dogs are tuckered out, eating mush these days for at least a couple of meals and are doing rather well. I just love their sense of play.

More later....

Havanese Crate Time

Some people think that a crate is not a fun place for us but if done and used correctly - as a time to relax, veg, play, enjoy - then it is a *good* thang! You see, sometimes we may need to be transported in one and a slow conditioning to one is a positive thing. Plus my gang rather likes sleeping in one with a cushy, soft pad. But...they are not spoiled.

Ha -human mommy says!

Positive experiences are a must! We use a crate inside the x-pen so they can climb in and out.

Never use a crate as a punishment and it will remain a comfort to them. Everything we get exposed to and find enjoyment in, makes us better dawgs. Daddy says our goals are always to make our pups balanced and happy and as you can see in our videos and photos, we are that for sure.

Well, today we are expecting snow but we are still too young to go outside so human mommy says if it really snows like they say it will, then she's going to bring some into the house so we can get familiar with it. Now that ought to be interesting!

Looking at this photo, mommy is noticing our looks are changing. The mostly white one is thinning out - still teddy bearish but way handsome and he's such a character - well they all are Wasabi says but each are clearly different these days and as the week goes on and we hit week 6 and 7, well personalities will continue to unfold but not a skittish one in the bunch. Some are quieter than others but none are off the wall spaz cases or human mommy may be working to change that. They all seem to have mommy's calming demeanor but some more playful than others. The job - well it's easy this time around as they are all so equal - but as we say unique and that's quite nice!

Well, it's playtime so off the keyboard I go and we get to tucker the little ones out. They play and drop dead asleep and are now eating at least a full meal instead of me - Wasabi so I get a break! As time goes on we will make that 2 meals then three etc...

I couldn't be in yesterday's video as they wouldn't leave me alone. Sometimes they just think I am the milk factory - sigh!

Well....more tomorrow!

Wasabi's Havanese in Toronto Pups Video

We hope you enjoy it! Now the furry crew is off to bed and human mom too!

Havanese Non Stop Fun

My pups had nonstop fun and thanks to a Havanese friend of human mom's - Maureen who gave her the idea they got a new cat toy in the mail today and here it is. Here they are trying to catch that ball and boy did they have fun. Even the adult Havanese had a roaring good time with it.

We had a really full day today. We are increasing our eating from our dish, drinking or is that playing in water. Well, hey human mom you were the one that introduced them to that bath and water - tsk tsk!

We also had a play session out in the kitchen that was a roaring good time. We are going to try to get a new video up tonight or tomorrow.

All my pups are now 2lbs even or over but all under 3lbs. They are 5 weeks and 4 days tonight. We have our vet visit for shots, microchip and wellness set up for December 4th. Human daddy has to make a baer appointment to make sure we can all hear well but there's no doubt with that the way they react now. They hear everything and seem very curious about all sorts of noises including the vacuum cleaner, the door bell that rings and they even reacted to the crew barking when someone rang the door bell today. It wasn't a bad reaction but a cock of the head and a run to the edge of the xpen to see what was going on. My crew wants to see everything that is going on.

Well, they are all sleeping after the kitchen play. We will try to get a video up soon. Look for it.

Snuggles and nail clipping and tomorrow we are going to try combing hair with a baby comb to get them used to being brushed and combed. We will see how we do about that. Human mommy is looking forward to that as it gives her one on one time. She rather likes that!

Havanese Thoughts to Ponder

How many pups can you count enjoying their play?

A wise person said - "He never bit anyone, which is more than you can say for most of us." The dogs are getting teeth and I - Wasabi are starting to correct them and so are the humans by saying yeoch in a louder voice and they are catching on FAST.

Another wise person said... "People love their dogs." "People have the relationship with their dog that they expected to have with their spouses or their kids. Dogs never stab you in the back, probably because they don't have opposable thumbs. And they lick your face when you cry. You can't say that of anyone else. Nor would you want to."

Wasabi says: My pups are now at the age where they are licking your face, running to you when you near the x-pen, playing joyfully even with the other Havanese but when they try to feed off the other Havanese, well they are correcting them . We must do a video as soon as time allows.

We had a rather full weekend and are trying to wind down from that. Life is amazing with the little ones, human daddy says but they now need an x-pen upstairs vs. a whelping box. Although some of us a a tad under 2lb and some a tad over 2 lbs - we feel the need to spread out unlike Risa's crew. No one stays out of the play these days and all are highly curious. We change the environment to slowly condition them to feel comfort in change. This makes it easier when they go to their new homes. We are also walking them around the house, getting them used to water running on them if they need a bit of cleanup and praising them when they hit the pee pad.

More later...and look for a video soon!

Havanese Weekend Almost Over

Well, we had a full weekend so far. We had many visitors, grandpa and his wife, Tracy and the girls, Tal, Jonathan and Dennis - a number of folks to look at the pups and now we are waiting for Yvonne and mommy may lay on the couch with all of us and take a nap as the pups are now snoozing too. Here's one of my cuties just hanging out in dreamland.

We were all out back playing retrieve - without the pups, of course. They are still too young but soon for them too. I have a ton to teach them and wow that will be fun! They had a wonderful play session in the kitchen and many snuggles today and now they are having Havanese dreams. Nice..it's my turn too - so human mommy get off the computer will you?

Havanese Snuggle & Play Time

It's visiting day for our puppies at our house and mommy tried to tell me this is socialization time but I know what she's doing - she's doing it for HER SAKE - oh my pups love it as you can see. They climb right over her and kiss and snuggle with her. She just loves it.

The one with the half mustache is one of the best climbers and the funniest one when it comes to play. He also seems to be the best runner - yes - they are running. He's way interesting. He just adores checking out the house, people, tunnels and so does the lone gal. Shhh but daddy adores that gal.

I tell you, my pups are becoming so interesting - each with things that make you laugh and wish they were never leaving. Even one seems to sit and snuggle and watch TV with mom - the one with one black ear and 2 black spots - a class act of calmness but fun.

Oh puppy heaven...my mom and dad have that addiction but these pups...mom says - well they are something else - early climbers, not afraid of anything thus far...ah...puppy breath - nothing like it daddy say.

Now if that wasn't enough, daddy also got into playing with my little ones. They climb up and kiss him, run through his legs and can't seem to get enough of that silly guy.

When do *I* get time with them? Well, I am playing with them more now that they seem to be getting older - 5 weeks - wow, snuggling and kissing them and even correcting them. Mommy says I am turning into a really great mom and I just adore the kisses and snuggles. I just lay there and snuggle and enjoy even after I am done eating.

Today mommy and daddy's grandkids are coming over, their daughter, hubby and of course grandpa and his wife and Tal is making the trek in from London to see my babies so expect more photos. My babies are going to have a full day of playing, socialization and lots of fun. Throw in a few people that are coming to look at pups we don't know and wow - visiting city but we love it and I am calming down now about people oohing and ahhing over my pups. I can't figure out why they don't about me - silly people - ha but I know - puppies - how can you resist.

Well - look for my photos and an update later. Exciting times...

Havanese Feeding Frenzy Time

Sorry we are so late in filling you in today. We have had lots of visitors and they are still here. So, today will be a tad short. My puppies are crawling all over me and get so excited to see me but they are now really entertaining themselves.

My littlest masked dog can often be seen on top of one dog or another playing his heart out wrestling and the white one - who happens to be a major snuggler crawls into my neck and settles in. He's been doing that since he was born. Nice....

More on the crew tomorrow...

Havanese Wasabi Says It's Daddy's Turn

Here's human daddy hanging out with the one that has a half mustache like me. He's getting way cute as his hair comes in and he is one of the litter that hits that pee pad consistently. His play is creative where you can often find him under a blanket with the blanket going up and down and he loves tunnels, carrying cases and independent play but he also likes to play with the rest of the crew. He just seems to enjoy his own play thoroughly as well. What that means is he can find ways to entertain himself. We are really pleased with this ones personality. Each are different and unique in their own ways. Each have their own unique personalities.

My daddy was having fun trying to get my crew to eat from our round dish. Boy I (Wasabi) likes to clean up after that mess. Lick, lick - yum, yum. Goats milk - oh boy!

Another character (we only have a couple that are quiet but still playful so far) is the one we call Tux. He just has no fear about anything so far and just runs through the tunnels. When he isn't doing that, he is hanging out on his back swatting a fish - yeah a fish. We will put a video of it up as soon as human mommy gets her act together. We would love to count on her but she tells me work and sleep somehow count too - hahahaha!

Hey, we played in the tub today with mommy and had our first bath. We loved playing in the water, wasn't crazy over the shampoo but loved the blow drying and massages she gave us. So, we got to follow human mommy's rule of thumb - always end on a good note to make the memories a good one.

Here's a video of Tuxedo playing...

Havanese Puppy X-Pen Play Time

There goes that mommy again, crawling in and laying down in the x-pen to play with my pups. She can't help herself.

'Would you be able to?'

From one, to another till she is at the last one - they all get their snuggles and me time around here and if that's not enough, then daddy, and Jonathan and Dennis have to climb in.

One great thing is mommy really takes care of me when I feed the little ones. She often puts a soft blanket under my head so I am comfortable and strokes my head and back. She really takes care of me but everyone loves the doggies around this place and hey - how could they not. We make them laugh, feel good and we tend to complete the house they say!

Then this weekend we have more visitors and a bonus, grandpa is also coming to visit and he LOVES doggies. Good thing around this place.

Also, the grand kids are coming and they just ADORE us. It's going to be a fun socialization weekend for us. Socialization in small doses is important as it helps us to be all we can be.

Okay, mommy - it's my time. They do have to eat, you know - and sleep too. Oh, you haven't finished?

Now if that wasn't enough, mommy decided to put on a mini jacket that she had for Shoshi when she first got here and place it on our mostly white pup.

You can't see it in this photo but it's way too big. He's going to have to grow into it but we think this will be his coat as it's an easy on/easy off and Shoshi never wore it cause after all, she's a girl doggie. This will fit him for a bit till he has to get the next size.

When we have our back yard play sessions - maybe in the snow - am hoping - this will help us stay warm till we get our full coat (our undercoat) in. This is a perfect coat as it's fast to put on, gives freedom of movement and it's toasty warm. We be stylin it and mommy is doing a file that tells about what type of clothes you should look for and why. Look for it soon on our Havanese Stylin' & Toys section. Be sure to send your Havanese in stylish clothing and tell us why you like it. If the photo is a good quality (meaning not hard to visualize), we will add it to our Stylin' section.

Wasabi - yeah me - well I just adore sharing - I honestly do!

Havanese Moms Can Have Fun Too

It's 4 and a half weeks now and I finally went out back and had some roaring good fun with Katsuro. He's been bugging me for weeks to play so, I finally gave in.

Thing is, now mommy is getting that comb and I had to tell her - NOT NOW! It's time to let me in to see my precious babies. I mean - haven't they totally missed the scent of me from leaving their presence? What - they didn't notice, you say? Please...no white fibs around here, mommy. I am the sun and the moon to them now till they leave the nest and by that time, I will have done a stupendous job.

Oh - you think you are a part of that equation too? Just because they wag their tails and come running....oh okay they run faster for daddy cause he's a totally silly guy but I suppose they get excited to see you too. Heck, some of them just hang out, snooze, dream of fun things to come and not worry about Havanese mommy cavorting all over the yard with that big boy dog.

So, let me in and put that comb away. Oh, and don't forget my massage when you pick it back up. Sometimes you have to deal as I am an adventurous gal and I like the just rolled and shook hair look.

Havanese Characters

Well my puppies decided to test the waters - well the esbilac. It was a messy affair but fun was had by all. We have so many photos but later today we will upload it to snapfish.

The mostly white guy tends to be the first one diving in, first one to hit the mark on the pad every time and the one with the mustache is a star with the same as well. Double mask, mustache, mostly white and half mask were stars after they ate and made it to the pad. The gal fell asleep doing nothing so maybe she has a bladder of steel and tux went to play. What does that tell you - who knows but the white one and mustache had a rollover, grr match of play fun after they ate and then fell fast asleep. They are showing personality - more and more each day.

As a matter of fact, they all fell asleep in various spots quite pleased with themselves but coated with esbilac. We will be sponge bathing them today but it is all worth it to watch it.

What's even better is as you can see they love the tunnels, the carrying bag. We will be doing a crate next week and tux was laying on his back batting a fish in the tunnel. It was priceless. We are hoping we caught it on today's video. We shall see.

Looking at this one in the tunnel, he looks rather like good ole Katsuro. I had to take a double look.

Havanese Sleep Positions

Well, my pups have some strange sleeping positions and we are all now starting to hang out either together or by ourselves when we sleep. I guess they have adjusted to the air temperature but human mommy still has a heat lamp set up just in case we want some more warmth.

We have a carrier and a tunnel in the x-pen so my pups can get used to different places. This way a carrying case won't be an unfamiliar place. We will put a crate in there after a week or so to start them getting used to that as well.

The pups are really starting to show their personalities and it happens in hours the changes vs days. It's amazing. We are finding our one with our half mustache much like his mom is the most adventurous of the crew lately. He will run and wag his tail and come running to you, give kisses, climb under blankets - all sorts of things. It's a riot. They each have unique personalities and none are whiners of any sort but human mom was laying in the x-pen yesterday as we were trying to take a video and the DVD medium was corrupt - sorry no video - will try today and three of them thought they could suckle on her tummy. ROFL They just love human interaction though - way nice!

Today we have a lot of visitors coming to see my pups. I tend to get a little stressed so we are going to keep visits short. I can't seem to feed my pups when too much activity is going on. I am a dog that tends to enjoy activity but am also on guard as my babies are special - amazingly so and mommy and daddy are hoping that they have personalities like me as I am so evenly balanced when I am not worried about the babies and I have a full spirited sense of play that will keep you laughing. Oh well....got to get ready for visitors. Mom is not feeling well so tonight she may crawl back into bed at 8pm when all the visitors are gone.

And as the last photo shows...we are all dead tired and getting our rest till visitors come after a full morning of play with human mom and dad and me - Wasabi Woo, of course!

You can always click on photos to see a larger photo of us. Try it! We did a video but a very short one - better one tomorrow. We promise!

Havanese Jammin' Calm Style

Well, folks, this is 4 weeks and 1 half of a day later since birth.

We are all growing and enjoying life. We are playing more and more each day and are really excited to see humans. Our tails wag and we literally try to engage our pack mates and the humans in play.

We have tunnels, a crate and lots of fun things to do in our day time world to help us be all we can be. From time to time, human mom and dad will change the environment and they will be taking us in various rooms on a variety of surfaces so we can be slowly conditioned and not afraid of anything.

Most people don't get to know me as I tend to be in protective mode over my kids. Sure, I am friendly but just want to know why everyone is coming to see my kids.

Human mommy says we have a full house this weekend and we may even see Jazzy's parents - another Havanese that we adore!

Let me tell you a bit about me. My nature is a tad different than Risa. I tend to be a calm dog. I am adventurous, I love tunnels, and playing in a silly manner. Daddy says I flow like poetry in motion. When they have captured me running, I flow amazingly graceful and don't try. It just comes natural. I am very agile and can balance on most anything.

I tell you all so you can get an idea of my pups and what genetic abilities I am apt to pass along. I don't have an aggressive bone in my body but I will protect my pack and my pups but tend to look for solutions. This is called evenly balanced.

Today, I went into this tunnel in our play yard and one of the pups crawled in after me, over me and right out over my head. some moms wouldn't have toleration for such antics but I tend to love deeply and take things in stride. I let things roll off my back or over my back quite literally.

Each pup is showing its strengths on a given day and that changes but personalities are coming out. This one coming out of the tunnel has a mustache on half his face like his mom. as it grows out, it will become stunning. This particular pup is mighty adventurous. He has no issues going through tunnels, under blankets and having a roaring good time. He also has started telling you when he wants to play. But each are different but similar and more on each as photos allow. Be sure to look at snapfish though as we add new photos all the time. Today we are going to try to get a video up but if not today - tomorrow. More later as we have company soon and human mom has to try to eat this garbage she made in the microwave - yuck!

Playtime is Off to a Great Start

They call this fun? The pups interacting this way is a pure delight to behold. You laugh and laugh says human daddy.

"The pups learn many social rules through play" Wasabi mom says. We learn a great deal about how to interact properly, social status and how to respond to appeasement behavior.

Enough about that, mom - we are plain having fun. Tails are wagging when humans come around. Play sessions are enjoyed and rubbing tummies is a past time we can't get enough of.

Personalities are starting to come out fully. Our rrrrrr purr growling can be heard by all and human mom loves that the best working right next to our x-pen. We find her in the x-pen more than out.

One Havanese X-Pen Day Almost Down

Well, it's almost 1 day down in this big x-pen of ours. After our visitors come, well human mommy and daddy are taking us upstairs and then the cleanup begins. They clean it all up only to do it again tomorrow.

Tomorrow night we hit the big 4 weeks old. Wow.

Mommy placed this photo up as the first thing that came to her mind when she saw it was the song - 'stop in the name of love before you break my heart.' But it didn't stop there - but maybe it should have. Silly, silly mommy...

Then the song goes on 'think it over' heh and why these photos came right after each other - well just another Hava-nice day in the Potechin household at Talemaker Havanese. What can I say.

Pups are all snoozing. We are waiting for our visitors and then human mommy is doing a cleanup and as soon as the laundry hits the dryer, she's crawling into bed.

No visitors tomorrow but a very, very busy weekend I am told. Oh - and you know what the best is? We get to see the entire pack now. They all sit outside the pen and watch us as if we are from another planet - heh - well Havanese mommy Wasabi doesn't but....the pack is in - take care of the precious cargo mode and it's nice.