Backyard Yuck

The pool was opened, the dawgs not brushed. What is this place going to? Okay, they were brushed later but that pool is still green. hahahaha The pool people promised they will be by to clean by the weekend.

Spice had a bath and a couple of more are getting a bath tomorrow.

Little by little the garden furniture is going out. WE are going to enjoy lounging outside.

Before pups come, we are getting our summer in - right! Then after they are 4 weeks old, they can have moments outside in the shade when the weather permits with us. We will be playing it as it comes.

New puppy owners will have to come in their bathing suits to condition their puppies to the pool. Just teasing...hahahahaha

Pregnancy & Demeanor

For some reason pregnant gals get way sucky and they sort of go partially off their food, at this time.

Both gals are doing this saddling up to me every chance they can get. They also are not eating fully till dinner time.

Yes, the gals do have morning sickness. It's not just us humans.

I am still not totally up to par but Nathan is off tonight to handling class with the Spice. Maybe she will get the hang of this stuff when she has her first show and if not, well she will do it again. hahahaha

Way sick

I am very, very sick. I think I got food poisoning so no update today. My son is doing a fab job while I stay in bed and crawl to the bathroom. It's really really bad.

Nathan here: It is a beautiful sunny day in our neighborhood. The pool is scheduled to be open in a couple of days and we are now feeling more confident that it won’t snow to commemorate the occasion. I know that Kat will be ecstatic to see the pool open again. To Spicy, she’s never seen it but if she takes after her sire and dam, Kat and Wasabi, I expect she will love it in short order. Truffie hasn’t seen a pool either. I can’t wait to slowly lower him into the water which we keep at a cool 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The very first thing we teach our dogs are how, and where to get out of the pool.  And of course when the pool is open they are never out alone, same as with a child.

Darlah is upstairs in bed fighting off what she thinks is food poisoning. Her only worry was to tell me to make sure to update the blogs. I’m not going to run outside and take pictures. Darlah can catch up with new shots tomorrow when she is feeling better. But I will include this classic photo of Kat from two years ago as he leapt into our salt water pool in full length show coat.

Messy Daze

This photo was taken of Spice before she was brushed to go to Bark & Fitz. I swore for Mother's Day I would do NO grooming but when Nathan said we need to take her out too today, I broke down and did a quick brush on Spice.

Silly me cause does it matter that every once in awhile a brush doesn't come out? NO. As long as they are knot free, that messy look can be becoming.

But Spice, she's her mother's daughter. Give her a bath and she loves that natural mess and I do too except if we have to go some place.

That's MY issue and I recognize it. So conditioning daily is best but as they get older, knots starting then brush, no tangles, take a  break and find your balance. Who cares if they look scruffy if it means spending quality times vs. work. Sure keep them knot free but we all deserve a break.

It's Mother's Day after all.

Best Friends

Relationships in Havanese are interesting. After Fiona and Treasure had pups together, they bonded in a big way. Till then, they didn't really play with each other. Now thy do silly crazy things together and I love it! Both were a tad too serious about life till they truly got together.

It takes time but partners in crime, so to speak often bring out the best in each other if you allow it to sort itself out. Havanese do find their relationships.

But when Treasure had her pups go home and she decided she was going to take over Fiona's? Fiona decided best pals and all, that's not right and Treasure listened.

I do believe they have a mutual respect for each other that grew and developed vs. just an instant thing. I suspect when it happens that way, it is a truly lasting bond.

Windy Messy Times

Wasabi is a funny duck or is that dawg? She has excellent structure, very agile, mischievous and very independent. She's the dawg that comes to snuggle at night then finds her own place on the bed but when she is pregnant she snuggles much longer and becomes suckier.

She is also the dawg that teaches the pups how to investigate the backyard and gain confidence in doing so. She has the silkiest hair but after bathing she often rolls and gets herself messy again as you can see here.

She is a gal with strong maternal instincts and this is her very last litter. Our Spice is from her. With a bounce in her step and a level of confidence and excitement, she is her mother's daughter. Sure we cultivate it but that base is there. We are who we are due to genetics, environment and what we are exposed to via socialization and conditioning.

There's nothing like the Havanese.

Windy but Fun Times

Early today we had a lot of wind and it made for some interesting photos or at least I think so. I love it when their hair is flying.

Our son Dennis was busy putting nails in the fencing in the back so we can have litters outside for short periods of time when they turn 4 weeks old. We are starting to get ready for a warm weather litter(s).

Kat will be swimming again, diving in the pool. We will also be conditioning the pups to the pool. Each time we try new things and try to perfect what we learned.

For now the rain has stopped and I feel like I can get dawgs washed.

I am going to start shaving tummies and under the arms. This way they will have coolness and still look like they have long hair. I will have an easier time grooming long hair but retain the look.

Each month I check paws and cut the hair between the pads. I also check ears each time I groom and especially when I wash as water left in the canal can create ear aches. So make sure that area stays dry or gets dry. I also clean around the eyes, put a dab of corn starch in that area to keep it dry and I don't cut hair around the eyes so the hair grows and pokes them creating leakage. My adults don't have any leakage so to speak but if stressed or not feeling well among a number of other things, leakage and staining can occur. So I keep on top of it then I never have to deal with it. I used to use Eye Envy and that works to lift the stain slowly but if you are proactive, your dawg is balanced as you have done the work that we begin so they easily don't get stressed, and they are no longer teething - well you are on the right track.

Love them by taking care of them mind, body and dawgie soul. You wil be glad you did cause what you get back is 20 fold believe me!

Spice & Class

Did I take my camera last night to Spice's first handling class? Nah. Go figure. How did she do? She has a lot of strengths and things that need to be worked on but better than anyone else that was in handling class for the first time.

She wasn't crazy about dogs following her so closely and she was looking for treats non stop but she will get there. Nathan has a couple of weeks to whip her into shape.

All Nathan had to say is Spice let's go to class and she ran for the door. That was nice to see.

I will tell you that Truffie did quite well. I was impressed. Nathan even had him recalling last night consistently.

Recall Class at Whos Walking Who in Ajax

We were in class last night, a total recall class at Whos Walking Who in Ajax.

This is a photo of Baxter who is a Wasabi and Kat pup. He was one of the Havanese in the class. We had a number and that made it ever so much fun but we also had big dawgs so they got exposed to them too. As you can see Spice thinks all dawgs are there to say hello to. That came with expose, expose, expose. It actually works.

I took photos but they aren't the best. Lighting was bad, I was too busy enjoying vs. paying attention to what I was clicking but still you can see that fun was had by all. Check out the photos.

Total Recall is a class that lasts for an hour and a half. It goes by rather fast but over and over again via fun ways you solidify a come with distractions. It's a must do class, imho.

Tonight Spice heads to handling class and we are taking truffie in a carrier so he gets exposed. He needs it. He won't be on the floor as he hasn't had his second shots but he will be in a sherpa bag looking around, getting exposed to sounds and dogs and people. It's never too late to expose. It should be something we do always without thinking. Our dawgs are better off due to it.

I constantly learn and think up new ways to help the pups along. It's important that we do as much as we can to give them a headstart. With Spice we took her in the car daily to Petsmart, Global, parks, stores, homes, walks etc. Her first car trips she would drool and vomit. Some dawgs do, some don't but keeping them away from the car is not the answer. After a solid daily ride in the car to fun places, Spice has no worries. We will do the same with Truffie. With more litters coming, I may just be doing it with them before they go home. It's a time intensive thing but they are so worth it.

Now Raylan never for a second worried about the car. He wants to go and he never had any concerns. He just wanted to go. They are all different. Our pups go into the car twice. Once to the vets and once for their hearing. We have the odd one shake or have a spit up but conditioning works. Each litter we learn and try to perfect just as you would with your kids. We never stop learning.

So, do take the Total Recall class if you can. Invite a Havanese or two and have FUN!!

Wish Spice good vibes at handling class tonight. Wish Truffie a great start to car conditioning. Spice is great in obedience but that doesn't mean she will be in handling. She has to be exposed in a fun way and that's what we will be doing. We will be doing the same with Truffie. You should too.

You will like the results.

Spice Heads to Class

Spice is heading to a 'Total Recall' class at Whos Walking Who in Ajax and we hear tell there wil be a number of other Havanese that we know. The human will be taking photos but at times you need two people in this class. It's a fun paced class that we adore. It's always fun and the dawg does end up learning and so do you.

So, Spice had a bath and then went out and got into everything. So, she is a total mess. Giving a bath when it is wet outside is a joke.

I have to laugh as she is just like her mom. Check out her other photos here.

Tomorrow we will post pix from the Total recall class.

How Often to Groom

As you can see, it's been raining, it's been busy and how often do I groom? I groom daily but with the odd day of a break here and there. But I am a tad obsessive about it. When it rains like this, they never look brushed as you can see in this photo of Miss Abs. Ponytails go the wrong way, they get wet and you wonder why try. But I don't like mats in the dawgs as mats hurt. I know, I have had them when we used to go camping in the woods and I forgot a brush.

If you keep your puppy in a short coat, you could probably get away with once or twice a week. If you keep it in a long coat, you should brush every other day but when they are puppies, do it daily. Get them used to it. It's not that your puppy needs to be combed but they need the conditioning. Always use spray conditioner.

Hold them in place on their back, brush and treat. It may take 2 of you or maybe just you. You are not hurting them. You are simply holding them in place till they relax. When they relax, treat. The goal is to have a dog that will lay there when you groom. Eventually they will get it. The more you do this, the faster they get it. What you do now in puppy hood will last their lifetime and you wil be glad you did.

Game Playing

It's amazing the games that Terra plays with one generation after another.

There is something special about her. She is a gentle soul who never asks for much and the canine crew just love her and so do we.

Spice is no exception to the rule. You can find her playing or snuggled up to her when they are catching some zzzzs.

It's moments like these that make me say WOW. You can't buy anything remotely special as this.

Watching Eyes

 Abigail is delightful as she watches the pups and the crew. She is our genuine calming dawg. Sure she participates but she is now in that motherly role it seems.

Wasabi was also out mothering the puppies and teaching them new tricks. Wasabi is a fun one getting the pups to explore the ENTIRE yard. She doesn't think she has done a good job in helping out unless she has taught them the 'under the deck' game or 'under the trees and bushes' game or 'behind the pool house' game. That's okay. The games are safe but she is our most agile and adventurous one.

Wasabi likes to kiss you at night and find her spot where Abigail likes to body hug you all night. I just love the differences with each dawg. Each dawg has their very own unique personality but all are easy to fall hopelessly in love - believe me, I know!

What is THAT?

Check out this photo by clicking on it. It's a riot. See if you can see where Spice's head is. You would be amazed to watch these two in action. I have a ton of photos today of them whipping thropugh the back yard at high speed much faster than I could ever run even if I was in perfect shape, which I am NOT! Yeah back to exercise yet again.

I can't wait till it is warm, the pool is open and we are swimming with the dawgs in the salt water pool. Katsura dives and relishes his moments beating human daddy into the pool.

He won't go in unless Nathan has his trunks on but once given permission, the game is ON!

Learning Patience

It's rather tough when your kids hang on you, yank your hair and tear it to bits but moms like Fiona just take it in stride.

They are only puppies for so long, after all.

PS: But some humans stay kids like forever and it appears some dawgs do too if allowed. hahahahaha

What a Daze

Well Abigail is just starting to go out of her heat and Wasabi is out. They may have pups the same time or a couple of days apart. It surely beats the 18 days that Fiona and Treasure was.

Why?

This means they would all play together. Fiona's pups didn't play with Treasure's pups till their very last week. That's disappointing. It's plain more fun when you can mix it up between moms and litters and looks like this time you will see why.

You can't plan heats but it looks like Wasabi and Abigail had theirs together. That means pups born same day or close.

Moms Day Off

 My pups are gone and what's a mom to do?

I know, roll around and be as silly as one can be. Humans can learn something about this, you know.

We should all let our hair down, so to speak and have a grand time just like the Havanese seem to.

They are amazing dawgs...I tell you!

Tug of War

 Spice loves to play tug of war with the puppies.

It's delightful watching them play up a storm. I can't believe its their last week here with the Truffled one hanging around to watch and see for a bit.

We have been going through the insanity of heats and boys and yeah we are expecting pups will debut sometime in late June, going home 1st week of September.

I am determined to teach this crew how to swim. Now will that be fun or what?

It's hard negotiating dogs when heats occur.

I sure wish I was outside today but instead Nathan was outside with puppy people though he shouldn't have been as I had to get his a new perscription for that eye and now he has crawled back into bed. Me, I was inside negotiating who can go out when due to heats.

Poor Nathan is in bed again and dowbn for the count. Silly of him to think he was up to it. But he is who he is. Hope everyone enjoyed. I feel like I missed out and finally I got what someone said about my hair. hahahaha Yeah, I need a groomer too.

Nathan and His Parrot Side Kick

Nathan is looking a little rough around the edges. That's okay, I find him handsome either way. heh

We had friends that when they learned he had a patch told us to take a photo of him and a parrot. Well, we substituted one of the pups as a parrot but it still works, don't you think?

Nathan had had a relapse and is in serious pain. You can also read about my horrid day on Fiona's puppies blog.

Now that you have had your laugh, I can go feed the dawgs, go wash the dawgs and shoot myself.

Catch you tomorrow...

PS: Be sure to check out Treasure's pup Sophie having grand fun in her new home caught on video by her owner.

Wasabi and Abigail

 Two gals in heat and well they call the shots. Is it my turn to have puppies? Move over Treasure and Fiona. :-)

It's been a long day so I will make this short. I truly want to climb into bed. I have not groomed today. WE had to get up at 5ish to get Phantom to the show, feed dogs and all that. I line comb and spend a couple of hours to make sure there are no knots. Tomorrow I need to wash a few dogs and find time to put my feet up. I don't spend that time on non show dogs. Who would have the time?

If you go to the All About Pet Show go early. It's a bloody zoo there. I doubt I saw everything.

Off to snuggle with the dawgs and prop my eyes open.

I promise to be more witty and have a brain that is awake tomorrow.

PS: Just came in from playing with the pups outside. I can't believe they start going home next weekend. Oh my...