Costs

Unfortunately starting in the New Year, our costs will go up. Please contact nathan for updated costs.

Picnic Photos & Details

The picnic date took place on August 17, 2019 from 12pm to 5pm at Yvonne's place in Brighton. Check out the details here. Photos from the 2019 picnic can be found here. Yvonne's place is NEXT DOOR to her old place. I will try to put a havanese flag out front. Hope you can join us. Directions are here. The house # is 25. There is no picnic in 2020 due to COVID but hopefully in 2021. Stay Tuned!

Grooming 101

Want to see how I get a smooth coat and what equipment I use? I am continually learning and perfecting but I created this video Windows version) and for you Mac apple folks - here's a conversion. - not a professional one, to help you get a head start and perfect your own skill. Got questions? Ask away.

Want to know how to create a bathing machine that will save you time, product and wash your dog better than ever before? Check out Dick and Irma's instructions on how to create your own machine for a fraction of the cost.

Woofstock Is Back

Meet us at Woofstock. Dogs are welcomed. We meet at the restaurant across the street from Woodbine Park. Here is the location. Meet up happens on June 22, 2024 at 9:30 to 945am. Rain date is the next day. Look forward to seeing your havanese there and the humans too! Don't have your havanese yet? Well join us anyway! 

Award Photos
Friends & Associates
Blog Archive
Certified Pet First Aid

Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid is a recognized National Pet First Aid Certificate course for dog and cat professionals and pet owners. Talemaker Havanese now has that certificate having taken and passed the course.

Entries by Darlah (5583)

Wednesday
Nov302016

Yes, It's Wet and Warm

Yes, the wet weather has remained. I washed a few of my dogs but I questioned my sanity. One of them was Cinnamon so let's see what she looks like tomorrow when Cooper arrives. Winston departs soon after Cooper arrives. Tiny is also coming to play for the day and get a grooming.

Here's the gallery.

Is this really winter? 

Thyme is really keeping us on our toes. She is practicing I can't hear you unless you have a treat. Oh, you smarty pants! The rain, the wet, the mud - she doesn't care. Why is that a surprise?

Tuesday
Nov292016

Black Feet

This is what I mean when it rains. I would rather have snow - even snowballs then black feet and black under carriage. You either can let it dry and brush it out (clean your floors too) and that works or you wash their feet and under carriage. It's one of THOSE days here. I hope during the holiday time whn we have visitors we have snow or dry. Is it too much to ask for? 

Pictured above is Winston. He is having fun.

Here is the gallery. 

As we have had quite the time with pups etc come Thursday Nathan is taking Dennis to Dr. Strange. Tracy and I will be holding down the fort. Nathan lucks out with 2 movies in a week. Now how did that happen? 

Good to get some time off before it gets extra busy. 

Monday
Nov282016

Puppy Love

Everyone loves a puppy. Here is today's gallery taken about 8am before brushings. It's amazing how light it is so early in the day and how dark it is so early in the day. hmmmm

Well it's quiet today and Friday is our anniversary (don't ask how many - lots) so we are taking advantage of the no extra dog night and heading to a movie in VIP seats. This way we can sit next to each other, eat and enjoy. Then Friday (the actual day) maybe we will do takeout from Akasaka or something. 

This means short blogs and an early departure. 

Oh, my fan (oscillating tower fan) died and I must have a fan even in winter or open my window. Nathan frowns on heat going out the window. Go figure so if you know of somewhere that actually still has them in stock, please let me know. I think they delist them so they can fit Christmas stuff. Mine died yesterday and shhh I did open the window till bedtime. I can't keep getting away with it. hahahaha

Sunday
Nov272016

Can't Keep Them Groom

I give up. They roll. They scrunch their heads on the pool cover minutes after I groom. Inula was leader of the pack today. They were all after her to play. Then Brewski cut them off at the pass. 

I have to apologize to Lori and Roger and Mike. We had some great moments captured of Scruffy playing with Stone and Pepper playing with Ella and Brewer cutting Inula off at the pass but I think Nathan had the camera  on manual without setting the settings. Every single photo of them (other than a few taken earlier) were so blurry. You get wrapped up in the moment and sometimes you don't pay attention and I blame me as I click in manual and Nathan requires the auto settings. Oh well. I need to put it back on auto or just use my camera. It doesn't always have the right lens on it though. 

Here is the gallery.

He also took some precious ones of Panda and Thyme. Those too were blurry. Oh well, it happens.

Dogs are coming in with cedars everywhere. So, off to brush them out again then it will be supper time. Nathan is taking a nap with a few dogs. When is it my nap time?

Saturday
Nov262016

Leaves Are Falling

It sounds strange. We already had snow but the leaves are still dropping. I need to go out and rake them but I work in a 3 hour window less than 10 minutes.  That's the puppy feeding schedule. 

It was mighty damp out today and then it dried out. I groomed everyone and then they played and looked like a raggy mess. That's okay. They had fun.

Here is today's gallery.

I didn't get many action photos - sorry but they did play. I just have to get a smaller camera that I can carry around always. It's not so easy to carry around a DSLR all day long. 

Murphy has departed. Saffron and Murphy are still so very tight. 

Friday
Nov252016

Messy Day

Dogs would go outdoors and come in like wet mangy looking - well you fill in the blank. We also found out that the waterproof ankle boots Nathan had wasn't waterproof after all. heh

But play they did. Sorry no gallery today. We will play catchup tomorrow.

Thursday
Nov242016

Relationships

Lately Logan is totally smittened with Adele. I guess he likes the smell of her. Here he is with his paw on her tryin to get her attention. 

Relationships seem to change in the dog world. They love this one then that one... what's that about?

Here's a small gallery.

It's a wet, melting day out. I can't keep the dogs dry nor brushed if my life depended on it unless I kept them from going outside. I am not sure they liked it all that much as it was melting and their legs were mighty soaked and probably cold so we did many short sessions outdoors. Poor Risa it just wicks up her coat. 

Dogs are looking forward to TV time as they do daily. They like the blankets we put everywhere so they can snuggle. It's warm and cosy and its their snuggle time. Sure they get snuggles here and there as I believe in hugs but nothing like laying on your neck, your arm, your lap, your feet to gret them extra close. It's actually my fave time too.

I took them upstairs today as I got sick of drying and we had running sessions. I think I had a heart attack but the dogs had fun. 

Are you enjoying this wet? Beats standing in line for Black Friday? I don't know.

Those of you getting pups - baby consignment shops are great for toys. I also like to find baby comforters there. You never know what you can find. Oh and Toys R Us has gates half price during Black Friday. 

Stay dry tonight!

Wednesday
Nov232016

Quiet Times

Tenshi and Murphy are visiting. It's quiet times. Here is a gallery that also includes Tenshi but if you want to see more be sure to check out the Saffron blog. 

Not sure why but I feel extra tired today. Hope the gallery suffices. Plus who has time for clicking when you are playing!

Hope you all are staying warm. It's feeling brr here!

Tuesday
Nov222016

Snow Sticking

This is quite strange. The snow is still here. heh

Well, without her littermates Thyme has had to forge relationships. She has her mom. This one goes off the bed at night to use the pad if she has to go and then comes back to bed. Such a smartie pants. 

Tomorrow she goes for her next set of shots. 

It's a quiet day even with Milo and Hugo. I think its too slippery outside so they have spent some time outdoors and had a ton of indoor play as well. Everyone is now home except Murphy. 

Here is the gallery. 

Short blogs tonight...

Monday
Nov212016

Snow Day

Dexter (Leti's baby)Dexter was here for a bath and trim. Tomorrow Hugo and Milo come for baths and a play day. I had a lot of grooming today so that's my excuse for being late. I even managed to get Risa done and she went out and rubbed her face and body in snow. You will see when you check out today's gallery. 

I didn't have the heart to cut off all of Saffron's hair so I will just play the game of doing the ends till it grows out sufficiently. 

Murphy and Jesse have departed. We are actually guest free for the next few days. It's the usual lull before the holidays. 

Snow remains though it wasn't that much. Inula was in heaven and so was Thyme! Thyme thinks her name is puppy, puppy, puppy - hahahaha.

Sunday
Nov202016

Grand Central Station

Frannie (Abigail and Katsura Pup)A 17 year old (grand daughter)coming in the door, our youngest son eating and preparing food. I am not sure how Dennis sleeps. Then Adele pups wanted to feed 2.5 hours. That means approx 20 minutes of being awake during feeding them letting girls out or giving them new food to hopefully get and hour and a half sleep if you fell asleep immediately. 

All of that is a joke!

Off to show half dead. Just finished grooming everyone going home.

Well we are back. Here's a gallery that Dennis took. Show was decent. We bought a lot of treats. What's new. I got a couple of grooming jackets on sale and avoided the $70 ones in one booth - geez. 

We also went to an appliance show and what we saw was overpriced or cheap. Never kne a Haier fridge wobbled and felt like plastic. For a 1800. fee that's something. We eventually have to get a fridge and a freezer so we are at the looking stahe before they die. 

Ignore the messy dogs. I didn't groom my dogs. I have tomorrow for that but Saffron looks like a total mess and well she was brushed out twice yesterday. I think its time to cut her down and start anew.

I also had a number of dogs to wash, trim etc before I could go to the show so, that took precedent. Still they had fun!

Thanks goes to Dennis and Sarah for watching the dogs.

I am back to sleeping in my bed tonight so Dennis is sleeping till bedtime tonight. Me, I am trashed literally. I found myself nodding off as I typed. Now that is a new one. Just got to make it till 10 tonight. 

Oh yeah and we got a light dusting. 

Hope you had a great weekend. 

Saturday
Nov192016

Wet Times

Nathan took some photos today. Here's the gallery. We had a very busy day and we are off to the pet show tomorrow for a couple of hours. I need a mind escape.

So blogs tomorrow may be late. I am doing night duty tonight while Dennis sleeps. I will attempt to sleep a few hours so Dennis is not experiencing the walking dead. I may be experiencing it but we shall see. It's the price I pay for getting out. At least Nathan will be driving, 

It was wet out today with rain off and on.

I have dogs to get ready tonight before bed and first thing in the morning before they depart. I need to do that too. This better be a great pet show. heh

They say snow tomorrow. 

Dogs departed. Jesse is really connecting with our grand daughter and Dani asked if she could sleep with him. She has a twin bed so hahahaha

Moxie is playing with everyone. 

Amy is departing. Look at the Saffron blog.

So many changes...

Tonight Thyme gets to sleep with Nathan while I sleep on a couch and do pups. 

Will let you know tomorrow night if I am awake. :-) Coffee - where are you?

Friday
Nov182016

Wet and Departures

This is Trouble's last day here and we will be taking photos and videos to add here in this blog. She's a Panda baby but as she is older I am going to put it in this blog. Look for the family photos and videos later tonight.

It was a very warm day but it was wet all over. Keeping dogs clean was magic. Here is the gallery.

Jesse the collie showed up and new dogs went crazy - the pups, Moxie, Cody and Frannie. They are having some conditioning and it is working. Everyone reacts to Jesse when they see him then they get used to him. Poor Amy hid between the barrels and went oh boy and then she came out, sniffed and tried to decide what that was. Moxie barked at him in a what the hey are you noise. Jesse is a gentle giant and that was the first 5 minutes and now they are in close quarters with him without a reaction. It works if the big dog is a gentle giant. Jesse is amazing with the pups. When the Jeannie and Adele pups are older, I am sure they will have a Jesse experience. It is interesting that they do not react to Inula like this cause she looks like a big havanese, I suppose.

Tomorrow is supposed to get cold. I am trying to get the blogs done and we are waiting for Kristi and her daughter plus Murphy to arrive for Trouble. So look for more blogs before or after that depending on timing.

Thursday
Nov172016

Treat Time

Giving treats are interesting around here. We do it after baths and after grooming. It's how I get them to line up for grooming. Aha an ulterior motive!

Dogs hada blast but I got bogged down with laundry, grooming, paperwork, getting bags ready for dogs departing - fun stuff. So, I am REALLY behind. 

Thanks to Lynda who brought chinese food. Not sure if I would have found time to eat but I can always eat at my computer abd do milti-tasking. Huge thanks!!

Mickey departed. Moxie arrived. I am sure you will see some of Moxie in the photos. Not sure what I got. I just did a fast gallery. I actualy formatted a disk by accident so ooops lost THOSE photos. That happens when you multi-task and are old. hahahaha

Here is today's gallery.

I will not be doing a Saffron blog today. Tomorrow we have to do Amy's bath so you will see the bath photos. I may as well wash Thyme - yes her name is Thyme. Then I will continue it the next day and talk about Amy departing and then just add updates as they get sent. 

Just looked at my calendar and I had Cooper in next week and realized I forgot to cancel that date. Wishful thinking. Next week is quiet. It's the lull before the holiday rush. 

Will snow come Sunday? Anyone want to take bets?

May be nice tomorrow. Best enjoy it!!

Wednesday
Nov162016

Who is Whom?

Can you tell who is playing with whom? Inside, outside the dogs had a blast. Here is a gallery.

Everyone is so tight and getting along. It's nice!

Everyone was groomed. Logan and Panda had baths and a trim and Moxie comes tomorrow - wow fun!

1 Leg FunHere is our week going forward. 

Trouble goes to her forever home to live with one of our other dogs Friday. Saturday Amy the brown sable goes (See Saffron's blog). Sunday Nathan and I head to a pet show expo for a needed break at the international center. That means Saturday night and Sunday morning I will go crazy making sure everyone is clean, bathed and ready for departure. Our son and grand daughter will be here. I am hoping I find some interesting things. We shall see. I really need to get out after this week. :-)

Tuesday
Nov152016

Cool But Nice Day

Cody says I have so many new friends. Mickey and Brewer love me and I love Mickey. Here is today's gallery. 

Today we had Winston and Dolly for the day. Tonight Scruffy and Pepper departs. They no longer look scruffy - well they don't at this moment as I just finished combing them out. 

Going to go short blogs as I got behind with grooming of my own and other people's dogs. It happens.

Monday
Nov142016

Motley Crew

I vowed today not to groom so I could play recovery but I couldn't help myself. I did brush out most of the dogs. I didn't get to do Risa yet. I just looked at these photos and couldn't help myself. They do look like a motley crew but that also means they are having fun.

Baths for some tomorrow. See the gallery.

Well this is the week of news. The brown brindle Saffron girl will be going to her new home soon and the black and white will be kept. We went over both today and we like things about both for the show ring and allowed the potential people decide. We have mixed feelings as we love them both but it is time. 

Trouble will also be heading to her home most likely on Friday. 

Wow changes...

I am trying to go to the Pet show on Sunday. I think I need it. Nathan can't go as Dennis is still on sleep during day time.

Sunday
Nov132016

Short Blog

Murphy is playing with her neice - how nice. Murphy is going home tonight. We always miss her. Truffie's brother Cody arrived. We haven't seen him for a bit so its nice. No photos of him yet as we took photos this morning. Brewer dropped in for the day too.

Here is a small gallery. 

Off to finish grooming. 

Saturday
Nov122016

Not Many Today

Got someone's dog to demat and clean up so I am doing small blogs. Didn't get many photos in today but everyone has been playing. Here is the very small gallery.

I don't know how many hours this will take so I am updating the blogs now and not waiting till I have more photos.

It's really cool outdoors. The raking of the leaves hasn't happen. Our kitchen floor no matter how many times we sweep has leaves strewn all over. I sort of give up. Did manage to get everyone combed out. 

Now off to do a feeding wih Adele.

Still working on names so idea keep them coming!

Friday
Nov112016

Wild Times

Here is a flying Leti. Tobias, Havoc and Daisy departed today. But before they did, they had a blast. So did Leti.

Teddy, who is a quieter guy is content to snuggle with Ella and as I type he is doing just that. He thinks their running around is crazy and it is but they do have fun. The video and gallery is in Saffron's blog as it contains the little ones as well. They have truly adjusted to the bigger guys. 

It's getting cool outdoors. I am feeling better. I am still congested and working on medication but I am better. Hoping tomorrow is a no meducation day for Nathan and I.