Unfortunately starting in the New Year, our costs will go up. Please contact nathan for updated costs.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Friday, June 12, 2015 at 5:21PM Here is a video of Fitz in class.
We had a rainy day so blogs will be short. We have an exciting week coming up next week. Fitz is coming Monday to Thursday. Murphy will also be here Monday and....
Then on Thursday we also have Dallas visiting. Oh what fun next week will bring and bonus on Wednesday Patches and Abby are visiting. Let's hope for good weather.
Reader Comments (19)
What was that all about?
Oh Fitz, you are a funny puppy!
He was actually just playing. They play growl - its part of play. You have to pay attention to body language.
Darlah - you are always so busy! It must be so exciting seeing all your Havanese pups? Looking forward to Wednesday as well as the annual picnic to meet everyone.
Thought he didn't like the paw on the jaw. Fits is so lovely, love the way he follows the other pup.
Sorry, Fitz,
No, it was play and moms play with them more physical than that.
It looks like Fitz may have objected to being slapped in the face with the other pups paw even though it was in play.
This is how you create a nervous dog. If 2 pups are playing and you picked up Fitz as if to say poor thing, if he thought the dog was out of bounds, you would have validated his feelings of anxiety. Instead the correct approach was done. It was simply play. If he felt it was too much he has the ability to retreat, stop the play or snap. Snap is not desirable but those are the 3 ways they deal with intrusions. He came right back out in front of his owner. He didn't snap. He STARTED out in back and I do not know why he was in back nor can you tell from the video but it wasn't because he was unhappy as his tail was up. This is how they play just like siblings do and how they learn from mom. But he took it as play or he wouldn't have come out in front nor would he have had his tail up. His body stance said this was fun. The issue is as humans if we can't read body language on other dogs and react we can create a highly nervous dog. I see it time and time again. its well intended but the wrong reaction especially when they are learning. Watch siblings (see videos I have placed up with pups and moms). Watch play with mom. It IS physical. It is PLAY. No one is getting hurt but as humans we go oh my is this play? The dog will tell you if it isn't play.
Thank you Darlah, your experience watching pups and Moms is so valuable in helping keep a well adjusted dog. We really do put our feelings onto what we see don't we.
Su: We do and often we do not realize. I remember about 20 plus years ago I was walking and a person said its okay my dog is friendly. It wasn't. It attacked my dog. I decided then that people often do not realize what their dog is saying and went on a mission to understand what a dog was saying so I could be proactive. So, at times we walked across a street or turned around not to create a sense of flight but a calm redirection. We also stopped going to dog parks. You have a deeper relationship if you understand what their body language is and you don't coddle but instead cultivate some coping skills. But I am fascinated by the dogs so I have invested a lot into dog communication. It helps me understand the pups too. It is human nature to coddle but it can be crippling for a dog to do so at the wrong times.
I have read and read and read about dog behaviour . As well, I have gone to many seminars on dog behaviour (mostly when I was doing rescue volunteer work) but also in addition to those. Many of these seminars were given by PhD's in animal behaviour and I still have so much to learn. They are such amazing beings and they tell us so much - we just have to learn to listen and interpret correctly which is the trick.
Dogs tell us when they are unhappy with a situation and it is always in their best interest for us to listen, not in a human way, but really do our best to interpret in a dog sense. This is very hard and takes lots of practice. I have had 9 of my own dogs and have fostered. It continues to be challenging to interpret correctly.
The term killing with kindness comes to mind. We can cripple our dogs emotionally without even realizing. What we want to do is cultivate coping skills. Brenda Aloff has an interesting book. Her seminars are extensive but pricey. Hard to justify for a pet owner though but her book is worthwhile.
I have been watching my dogs different tail wags, a friend tells me my dog is happy because he's wagging but I know that a tight fast wag indicates he doesn't like the approaching dog, so I move away on a different route and talk to my dog all the time so he focuses on me.
Is that the best way to be? My friend says we should let them sought themselves out!!!
I attended a Brenda Aloff seminar and have 2 of her books: Canine Body Language, and, Dog Aggression. You are right, Darlah, her books are very good.
Which of her seminars did you attend and was in in Ontario? I keep wishing she would come back. She charges way too much though. Not many can afford. Canine Body Language is a very good visual book. Some of it is lacking such as rolling. Dogs also roll to take on another smell for protection. Have you also taken Joan Weston's seminars? I find Joan more reasonable and a wonderful sense of humour.
I use redirect all the time. If you are relaxed and not reacting then it works. I would have to know the stance of the body not just the tail wag to know if the dog was asking for space or?? The tail is telling but a fast tail wag can also mean they are simply unsure. Try taking a photo or video next time you see it on your phone. Dogs should never just sort it out. That's an old 'might is right' attitude.
Brenda Aloff's seminar was some years ago (around 2010?) in Toronto sponsored by Speaking of Dogs at the Toronto Don Valley Hotel. It was a 2 day event. Speaking of Dogs holds 2 seminars a year and invites speakers from all over North America. I saw Patricia McConnell through that channel too and have most of her books. I have not attended any of Joan Weston's seminars but I did hire her for a home consultation with my rescue Schnauzer who was kennelled until she was 4 when we rescued her. She was very reactive and afraid of everything when we first got her and Joan gave me some great advice re helping her. This Schnauzer was one of the two dogs we lost this past September. I have taken a couple of seminars by Gillian Ridgeway who also has a great sense of humour.
Yes, I love Gillian! We have been friends for quite some time. You should try Joan's seminars. they are really fun and informative. Interesting - I may have been at that same seminar. :-)