Coach Came to Visit

Coach came to visit and as you can see if you click on this photo, Fiona was checking him out from the safety of the bed with Whitney. Heh and then they were playing soon after.

Coach was antsy to get home as he has a forever surprise that we will announce as soon as we have a photo.

It was great to see the guy but he certainly has bonded to John and perked up when a certain name was mentioned.

Thanks...nice!! More later!

Havanese are Smart

Well, I just started training with Fiona. Nathan is off doing Miss Abs. Miss Abs is doing everything perfectly but always needs these training sessions to reinforce. All puppies do no matter how good they 'get' it.

I got Fiona to finish perfectly and I mean perfectly and it only took me 1 time to get it across. I then asked her to sit - she sat. I then asked her to go down and tried to trick her into that position. No way...another alpha want to be - oh no! Then I did come and she only got that for a short distance but she got it and then did heeling and she did it till Miss Abs tried to get her treat.

Now I was so impressed at how fast Fiona was picking things up that I tried a number of commands just to test her but really you should be only introducing one command at a time, getting that down pat and moving on.

Now if only Miss Fiona had all her shots - well she would shake things up in class. hehehehehe

It's going to be fun training these two. They are too smart for their own good.

Well Coach comes tonight so can't wait till we see him and get some new photos. can't wait!

Dangerous Places for Havanese

Fiona makes it a habit to try to get as close as possible to me and seeing that I work at my desk, she plops herself up on a wheel but dangerous if you don't realize so I found a solution.

I placed a rubber maid box that we store dog toys in and placed it under my desk with a bed on top and placed Fiona in it. You will also notice that I have a gate running next to my desk to protect the cords to my computer. Although most of them are up in a wired weaved holder that keeps them off the floor, some still remain so with teething pups - guess this is the smartest way to go although it looks like - hehe...

We had company over yesterday - our grand kids, our son Joe from Japan, his new wife, daughter and her hubby and all those dawgs.

Here is our youngest grand daughter Danielle with Abigail. She just adores the dawgs and she can be so enthusiastic that sometimes the dawgs don't know what to think but this didn't even bother Miss Abigail or Fiona. They loved the attention.

This Friday we have Yvonne and her dawgs coming for a visit so we are going down to a smaller bed (moving the bed back for the weekend). They are coming in to visit, go out to eat with us and go to the Markham show. We are going to even have Fiona's sister as Yvonne still has one small and simply gorgeous gal left. The colours that are coming in on her are simply GORGEOUS. It will be fun to see the two together.

We are also getting a sleepover with Chico and in the midst of this, Nathan will be doing Abs class without me so he will be seeing Sebastian and I won't.

Tonight we get to see Coach and his dad. What exciting times and in among this - we have to train Abs and Fiona. Got to find the time...that elusive thing that we all think we don't have enough of.

More later....

Training Creates an Amazing Bond

So What's Your Motivation?
Well, each of us can think up a million excuses why we shouldn't but by training your dog, you will create a bond like none other. Your dog will listen to you, be well behaved and your friends will be in awe at how smart your dog is. Everyone loves a well behaved dog. It's really worth it to invest the time as what you get back will make you truly proud and give you a relationship with your dog that is strong and if allowed - amazing!

Dogs are failthful. They give their hearts to you and Havanese are natural people pleasers. Use that natural ability to have fun with it and you will like the results as long as you are relatively consistent with it.

We started training the pups and started trianing the older ones and even though it had been a long time since they had a daily regiment of five or ten minutes here and there of a refresher, it was amazing how good they still are in responding to hand and voice commands.

You should find ways to introduce all learned commands into daily living and that way you reinforce the commands throughout their lives.

This is a worthwhile journey to take and all it takes is 5 to 10 minutes a day and one on one bonding time with your Havanese.

Take a class and learn all sorts of tricks to get your Havanese to do what you need them to and follow along here and watch our journey with our pups.

Here's what we are doing with our Havanese pups. What are you doing?

Inside Havanese Puppy Play

All we hear these days is the pitter patter of tiny feet scurrying around the floor - 2 havanese puppies - 1 adult in full play saying catch me, hiding and pouncing. Such fun. Everyone needs more than one havanese. Follow their adventure at http://talemakerhavanese.com

Havanese Quote of the Day

"Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he/she's owned a Havanese.

A havanese can show you more honest affection with a flick of his/her tail than a man/woman can gather through a lifetime of handshakes."

Treasure the moments. They will come back to you ten fold.

Havanese Wet Affect

They want me to go outside in all of this wet, cold stuff they call rain - do my business and then they expect me to see with this hairdo? It's an ice skating wet land of water pools out there and its D-I-R-T-Y.

The only saving grace is mommy won't wash us till it snows as she doesn't want to be spinning her wheels, so to speak cleaning over and over again.

It's a dawg day here for sure. Wet blankies, wet floors, wet hair and we all got together and decided to make sure mommy knew it by snuggling with her. It must be L-O-V-E or she would have been .... well we don't want to think about it.

Me, I just adore to muck it up. The wetter, the dirtier - the better and I am teaching the youngsters to do the same - tsk tsk. Well, we are dawgs and we do deserve to have SOME fun - you know! At least I am not heading under the deck for now doing the muddy shimmy. Those humans just adore me when I do THAT!

Well, I am not sure if I ever saw rain quite like this. I tried to hibernate in the pool house as the walkways that they shovelled was filled with rain that - well I almost had to swim in some of the pockets. They forget, I am a little gal. It's okay, it got me to practice my doggie paddle.

Now to get some zzzzz's in after all that work. It's a dawg day for sure or so they tell me. Do you know that I make all sorts of sounds when I sleep. Then I have the humans trained to carry me down off the top of the sofa whenever I want - ahhhh life is good!

I tell you what - the house is filled with wimps. I want to stay out all day and all they want to do is come in, get under the blankies and get dried.

Mommy even took me out on a lead and I heeled PURR-FECT-LEE! Of course when I saw a puddle, I couldn't help myself. I mean puddles are for jumping in - are they not?

Happy Family Day tomorrow. We have this thing called grandchildren coming by. I wonder what that is.

Talemaker Havanese Secrets

Hey - okay I am no longer the youngest one. I was for a week but now that FI-OH-NO is. I have been teaching her all sorts of fun things like eating wood from in front of the fireplace (human mom and dad spoil the fun though) to eating all sorts of frozen plants in the back. I simply need more frozen things to chew on. Mommy and Daddy clean up the poo and cover the pee spots every single time so we don't even get to sniff. I tell you - they are joining the OCD group of dog care. ROFL! I better hide now or that mommy will brush and comb me. Seeing we are dealing with icy rain, why bother, mom. I just adore getting sopping wet so you can spin your wheels drying dawgs and cleaning us up.

What To Get the Dog That Has Everything?
Okay, I am NOT a Havanese but hey I can be brushed less and so what if I shed. I am big, friendly and a huge sap. I try to play with the little ones and they don't get it but lately that FIONA and ABIGAIL climb up my body and they try to lick my face. What is THAT about? I like these long-haired type but shhh don't tell those humans. I know - they got them ALL for me. But what is this thang about them getting to sleep on the back of the couch or on top of a chair. Huh...what type of equality is that? It doesn't matter that I am slightly larger and I may hang over. Heck, you should see me travelin' in the car where I sit my rump in the seats and hang my paws on the window rest. Can a Havanese do THAT?

More later as we deal with freezing rain, crazy playing outside (which we did), Just imagine us looking as if we are starved when mommy and daddy have Chinese food.

We are missing the Sass and hoping she's having a grand adventure with Coach. Train, train, train today daddy...Miss Abs..and now let's start with Miss Fiona - the Ever-ready battery. Good luck!

More later...

The Havanese Tell Secrets

That daddy, letting who know who get on the bed...tsk tsk but we had an early afternoon nap and I had every single dawg on the bed with the exception of Whitney who no longer can do the stairs. That's alright cause anyone who has 19+ old sons in the house knows they don't sleep the same hours we do.

Seeing it's simply a dawg place around here, we are going to let the dawgs talk today. We will let them tell you about THEIR day.

If I didn't think it was a crazy dawg house around here, I do now. They are going to let ME (Gidget) talk first. Shh, they don't know but do I have secrets to tell!

That Katsuro - he thinks he's all that but I have his number! He pees (outside) and I pee right on top of him. Who's the queen biach around this place?

The puppies are confused. They think size somehow tells them the age of a dawg but do they have something to learn. The way they play with me, I swear they think I am a puppy. They even try to duplicate my flirting with Katsuro. Oh, but having had my own pawprint little ones, I have lots of patience and even indugle and engage them in much play. I even have them making a mad dash under the couch - all in fun, you know.

Last night I snuggled up to the female human here and she just snuggled and caressed me with her hand and face all night long off and on. How can a dawg get a decent sleep around this place?

I'm the Shosh and if I have to hear that paw in the light socket story again - I will whine my fool head off.

I used to not have my voice until daddy created a game with the ducks and he taught me that my job now is to alert the pack and I 'get' that but they certainly don't. Why is it okay to bark and tell the pack that ducks are in the pool but not let the pups know my best treat is not up for sharing.

I had a sulking session when mommy made me share with those little ones. Oh, just because Risa's on a diet doesn't mean we all have to get that svelte look.

Risa, you can do it but give me your portion you are missing - will ya? Crazy humans wanting us to be healthy. They need to start with themselves. Shhh...really mommy..I didn't say that but when's the last time I saw you exercising? Tsk, tsk

Okay, it's my turn. Really, I don't mind a house-full of females but you keep inviting boys over so all the girls see what else is out there.

What kind of human parents are you? I mean haven't you taken the class of 'harem 101'?

What - you say you do it so I learn to control myself and gain some manners around all those boys that want my gals? Is this a test?

First you bring Benny my brother over and that was fun and it was too long since the last time he came but then the Oats also came to visit and you know how he feels. He just loves to tease me. But once I 'got' that, I decided the best way to proceed is to play 'top dawg' games back. My heart was racing, my mind was racing and I do adore the Oats but when he went home, I smiled and laid down and went - now Otis - who has the gals now? It's tough competing with such a Don Juan.

I'm the littlest one around here and they expect me to go public with all the secrets around this place? As Jack, Nicholson once said, "You can't handle the truth."

Let's see - they think size matters - and who else climbs up a couch and plops down on the back of the couch? Now who is really top dawg around this place?

They think I shut my eyes to get some needed sleep but I am just resting, thinking and figuring up a new way to create trouble and with my best friend, Abigail - well that's surely is easy. So what if we like eating the wood from the woodpile in front of the fireplace or making a mad dash to jump on the retrievers? Why do those silly humans care what I have in my mouth? It's just a hair ribbon silly. You did put it in Wasabi's hair so I could pull it out, didn't you? come on, find your fun humans!

My big secret is I love to eat and they aren't feeding me enough so I try most anything for food. Here's what I have learned.

1. If you stare at someone long enough, eventually you'll get what you want.

2. Be aware of when to hold your tongue, and when to use it.

3. Leave room in your schedule for a good nap.

Now if you don't know who I am - well I am the Queen Biach around this place. I control EVERYTHING except the food....sigh.

On that note..the rest will have to spill the secrets another day...till later...

Havanese Day Has Just Begun

It's almost 7am - let's stretch it and they are doing WHAT!? They are playing their hearts out as if they just found each other AGAIN! Can I ever sleep in? Guess not as Fiona and Miss Abs will go down stairs to go out in the morning with Nathan but the rest wait till I move it or they won't. What's that about?

Then Risa and Gidget sleep in. Nathan crawls back to bed and pretends to and I wake up and can't go back to sleep.

A dawgs start of a day. More later >> It's only JUST begun!

We Are Rich in Havanese

Benny, Katsuro's brother and his Olga came over to visit and so did Gidget's (alias Paris') son Otis with Jackie. As you can see in this photo, Terra, Miss Abs and Katsuro are trying to engage Benny in play. Terra was even doing her famous, put the snout in the snow and throw it with my nose and maybe they will play with me game. It's sort of like a Havanese play bow but done with her nose.

Below and at this link, you can also see Sassy, Gidget and the crew playing up a storm. Gidget is downright fast. Gidget is falling into her usual play, cuddling with me in bed and being a true joy to have around but boy has she really found her play teh last couple of days.

Here's part of the crew hanging out in the kitchen. Otis and Katsuro once were the best of friends. Katsuro was highly excited when he came and there was much one-up-manship but they worked it out and all was right in the world. Katsuro has even managed to crash after having Benny and Otis here. It's nice.

Now that Sassy is off on a holiday with Coach, we are finding the two little ones playing in a way they haven't till now. Fiona is running full speed and jumping on Miss Abs back and she is rolling all over with her. It's a true pleasure to watch. Fiona is not up to keeping up with Miss Abs and Sassy for too long but she does try. Then when they have had enough - you can find her....

Yes, that Fiona crawling up Whitney's back. Both Fiona and the Miss Abs do that often but as you can see on Whitney's face, she more or less is saying - hey - help - what are they doing to me!

Life is never boring in our home with all these Havanese and the fun they bring to your life. They always manage to bring that smile!

Nothing Like More Than One Havanese

We have a returning visitor Gidget having a holiday with us and it gave us an opportunity to capture how Havanese play with each other. One Havanese is great - two are amazing and watch out - they are addicting. They make you laugh and realize that there is much laughter in the world if you just flick off the tube and watch the Havanese. My PVR runneth over. Follow the Talemaker Adventures at http://talemakerhavanese.com

Funny Tales of the Havanese Flavour YIKES! Watch For Updates All Day

Something about the snow and your face in it - oh such a joy for a dawg! But watch out - as the days pass by without a snowstorm, they can be rolling in that yellow stuff - YIKES.

We had a shovel that we would pick this stuff up with but get this, the shovel is missing somewhere in the snow piles. Got to love it. So, I am just doing the crazy - taking white snow and covering the yellow and eventually - well we don't want to think about THAT.

Still, from this photo - it LOOKS white but .... Got to do a video of the dawgs and I am afraid you may see yellow in that but cleanup is a regular thing each time we go out with our crew. It should be for you.

Katsuro's brother is coming for a visit today, Benny and then a bit later Jackie and Otis is coming to play. Katsuro is bound to be either - oh no not another boy ROFL or tuckered out or both. Photos as we get them.

More later from the crew...

Stylin' Dawgs - More Added!

Well, this looks like a photo of the 3 stooges of sorts. They were hanging out in the donut together. Yes, it's a mighty large donut.

Daddy got good film of Gidget (our visitor) playing with the crew. Oh my, she can run fast and it's nice to see that play in her. I remember her well as she has visited us many times.

When mom is feeling up to it, she will do a video so you can see what we are up to.

Brain Training
Your dog's mind needs exercise as much as his or her body does. Like humans, animals crave mental stimulation. Easy ways to prevent boredom and keep your pet's mind challenged include taking different walking routes, having a positive playmate, visiting a new park, providing your dog with puzzle balls or toys, playing hide and seek games with bits of kibble, and training your dog to learn new skills or tricks.

Dear old - or is that young thang Fiona is fitting in nicely. She even poses for us now. Take a look at this stance.

More later as the day goes on. Got to get the Sassy Lassy ready for travelin'

Hope it's a dawg filled lovin' day for you!

Talemaker Havanese: Happy Valentine's Day

If you click on this photo (you will see a larger version - my quickie photoshop job - really I am capable of better but it's early), the theme of this is - snow isn't the only thing you need to protect your little ones from but on this Valentine's Day, when chocolate abound, be sure to heed this warning.

If you want to know how to reduce the snowpiles on extra wet snowy days, put on a jacket that covers the under carriage. If you don't, place them in a sink. Have someone else hold them. You pour warm - not hot water on them and brush. The brushing part is important as it will reduce any knots. You will be glad you went the extra mile here.

We, at Talemaker's are going to have a low key day. Sassy is off for an adventure tonight on the long weekend. After she is gone, the dawgs, human mommy and daddy are going candlelight (yes those candles will be out of harm's way) and watching some sappy movie, eating, lovin' and spending time with the furry pack. They make any adversity we face easier -I tell you!

Have a very Happy Valentine's Day and give your fur pals extra hugs. They deserve it even when they drive you C-R-A-Z-Y!

Havanese Grooming Day Tips - 1 More Done

As many of you know, Opal chewed off Katsuro's hair so we have had this inbetween hair growing in. It's sort of like dealing with puppies as their hair grows in but not long enough to do a beardie knot back.

There are ways I make grooming easier.
1. I use a grooming table.
2. I put a treat bag on my waist for easy access.
3. I use a hose/sprayer in my sink.
4. I arm myself with spray conditioner, a great brush that helps take knots out, a cat comb with flexible teeth, a face comb and a blower that I do not have to hold - just direct.
5. I use Cindra hair gel .

I use the treats as an incentive for the dogs to stay put and they do as I, layer by layer, spray with the leave-in conditioner, brush and then use the comb to make sure no knots exist. I don't dry bone dry but as you can see here - pretty much dry - just slightly damp. This way the hair stays in good condition. I also use this Cindra hair gel to flatten down the hair around Katsuro's forhead near his eyes so he can see and you can see his eyes. I simply put a dab on my fingers, distribute and comb/brush in the direction I want it to go with a face comb. Face combs are great for that daily cleanup around the eye area. Eventually, when the pups get older, the cleanup around the eyes is much less much like a retriever - just clean the corner of their eyes. I will fill you in on cleanup around the eyes after I do the pups.

As you can see in this photo, Katsuro is ALMOST dry and I will do a comb/brush through later but its enough. In the summer, I may skip the drying all together and just brush/comb a few times to eliminate any knots and let the air dry him.

When I want the feet cleaned up (may have to learn this) I just have a groomer come in to trim the feet so they look neat and cut the hair between the pads to eliminate slipping on walks, and shave the tummy area and around the butt to eliminate any stuck poo.

Sorry for being so graphic but couldn't think of any other way to put it. Hair artist, I am not.

Now I just tried 'gold on gold' shampoo on Fiona and Abigail to see what I get. As you can see from this photo, Abigail is a tad relaxed, more so than Fiona, but that comes with age and a conditioning process to this bathing stuff. They do relax especially if you reward them as they go along.

I have a grooming table noose that I didn't have to use on Abigail even though I line brushed her - and that takes a bit more time but comes out nice. She has a lot of patience. I even used a face comb on her feet and she had no issues with it. Usually the feet and the bum area are the most sensitive to puppies. She doesn't seem to mind at all.

With Fiona, I had to use a bathing tether in the sink (a suction cup with a noose) and a grooming noose (see the blue thing hanging) to get her done.

These tethers do NOT hurt them in any way, shape or form but rather allow you to free your hands. This also allows me to focus on getting her done and focusing on making it a positive experience.

As you can see, Ms. Fiona looks really calm but as the blower was going, the brush and comb and the spray - well she wasn't so complacent but she also wasn't crazy - I can't handle this experience either.

Fiona actually enjoyed the blower more than Abigail. It was sort of like the dog that hangs it's head out the window to feel the breeze. That is what she did.

As you can see, she's snuggling with her daddy, glad its all over.

This is also a way to reward them for a job well done by lovin' them up.

Doesn't she look like a tiny bear, all soft and smelling wonderful. Now she is sleeping after a good lunch.

She's having marvelous dreams, I imagine and is calculating ways to undo the 'looking good' that human mom did. Ah - well that's okay as a dawg has to live too. It's not all about those looks.

They do tend to sleep after you spend this time with them cleaning them up but that's a good thing. They stay clean for longer, allows you to do other things like typing on this blog and then they wake up and you can enjoy them again.

Here's daddy trying to stack Abs midair after her bath and she's doing her best to do a pointer stance. You want my tail up? Nah...I am a pointer - don't ya know?

Well, how do I take care of the eyes?
I clean the eyes with a makeup pad saturated lightly with 'Eye Envy' liquid solution. I use a face comb, and I take the 'Eye Envy' powder with my finger on the staining around the puppies eyes. I then use the face comb to make sure it covers the entire cuticle. This keeps the area dry and stops it from staining any further. Cleaning twice a day on a regular basis gets you through the stage where they have leakage to the stage where it solidifies making the cleaning MUCH easier.

I have also used plain old vaseline to coat the staining and end up cutting the ends off over time till no staining exists. But I have had good results with 'Eye Envy'. It's just a pain to remember it. It's easier to remember once a day vaseline vs. twice a day 'Eye Envy' but the labourous route gets them cleaner and gets rid of the stain over a matter of a month. They say days but I haven't had that experience.

Another thing you can do instead of the vaseline on a white dog is use Chris Christensen White Creme Cover-Up. This stays on and covers up the stain but also protects it from getting further stain and gives you the perception that there is no staining. You brush it in and comb it through. It does not run off - has to be washed off with shampoo. This will also work where you can cut the ends till the stage where the leakage starts solidifying and you will no longer get stains.

I still keep my dogs eyes clean and none have leakage as adults but I like to get rid of the crust or what some call fondly - eye boogers. It also allows me to remove any stray hairs from their eye that they can't remove that may be irritating them. You stay aware of any issues by investing time in grooming. It's not just about them looking good but also this timeframe allows you to see if anything is not the usual.

Well, I THOUGHT I run out of steam. I did manage to get Super Sassy Lassy to have a bath and she has wonderful silky hair - not a SINGLE knot in her. Must be that magic brush, her hair or just luck but wow - nice! Doesn't she look great? I was going to do her Friday but she is off on an adventure starting tomorrow on Valentine's Day so I wanted to get her smelling just gorgeous as she is.

Sassy is off to hang out with Coach for the long weekend. We can't wait to see the photos of those two.

I decided my Valentine gift to myself was to have a 'no grooming' day. Can you imagine that?

I still need to brush and comb the rest but no more baths. I did 4 today and then start in again on a few more on Friday. It all depends on my energy level but the dirtiest was cleaned already. Boys...heh - yeah you guessed who was the dirtiest.

Gad, I just adore snuggling with the really clean ones.

Valetine's Day & Relationships

Last night Sassy was at Coach's playing and watching the Westminister Dog Show and a Havanese placed. Way to go!

I only hear snippets but I hear Coach and Sassy are having a grand time and as we know, Sassy likes to muck it up sometimes even more than the boys. She's a tomboy at heart. She used to have to deal with 5 brothers - you know.

Tomorrow is Valentine's day and I bring this up as some of you may not be aware of the potential hazards.

I have to give a couple of the dogs baths today and may get to the little ones as well. I want to see how 'gold on gold' works on Abigail and Fiona and we already know how 'white on white' works on Sassy, wasabi and Shoshi.

Gidget crawled up in a ball and went to sleep on the bed last night. Wasabi and Risa still claimed the extra bed.

There's more snow on the ground and the dawgs love that! Me - I may take a nap before the day starts - heh - oh what it already started? More later...

Havanese Friendships Abound

Ah, the play of the Havanese - nothing quite like it. This duo - as the days go by - are becoming the best of pals. I think Miss Abs will enjoy Fiona when she gets a tad bigger even more but still - they manage to mix it up and Hav Joy!

Fiona still loves high places and there is still much jockeying in the bed. I think Fiona moved around the most last night and curls right into the crrok of your neck and fits there - and one wonders how it will be tonight with Gidget.

Miss Wasabi Woo and Risa had the brains in the house. They took over the extra twin bed attached to our king and claimed the entire thing as their own. Now who's the smartest?

We will tell you how it all works out tomorrow. Till then, we are watching Westminister, freezing our ahems off to get the dawgs to do their business then off to bed. More tomorrow...

Havanese Visiting: Old Pal

Well, Gidget has dropped in for the next 2 weeks and she is rather smitten with Katsuro. She used to love Wasabi but who needs a gal when you can have a guy - ROFL. Oh - she will come to her senses and realize that girls rule. Besides, Gidget is fixed and eventually Katsuro will figure it out but for now she is flirting up a storm.

It's funny to watch Katsuro think he is all THAT for the moment.

Men can be so ______you fill in the blank.

More later as this blooming relationship evolves - or doesn't - hehehe

Early Morning Havanese Shenanigans

The puppies were at it this morning with the inside of a paper towel. We allow this as it is not something they can readily get into so it can't become a habit but it also allows them to have some cheap fun. They bite it into a million pieces and I get to clean it up. Now who is really having the fun?

Anything for the dawgs...

Gidget (alias Paris) is coming to visit today for 2 weeks. Watch for photos of her on our site. Wasabi and Gidget were always the best of pals. Hope they get back into their game playing that I so fondly remember. It's going to be fun!
More later.>>