Baths: Gidget

Gidget got her bath today as she is going home tomorrow. We are at a show for part of the day while our son plays with the crew so instead of having her owner wait till after I bathe her tomorrow, I did it today and if I need to freshen her up, I will tomorrow.

Gidget is not white as some of us thought but rather a wonderful creamy beige overtone. I washed her with a whitener shampoo from Pure Paws and then conditioned her with their ultra conditioner and threw a couple of capfuls of silk in and then did a silky rinse and her hair came out wonderful. I hope it lasts till tomorrow.

Looking at this picture, one wonders what she is smiling about. Is it due to getting away with rolling all over and messing up my handiwork?

Of course it is and what a delightful ball of fun. We will miss this gal. Gidget goes home tomorrow afternoon and now I will try to keep her clean till then...right.

Off to take the puppies outside...

Long Day

It was a long day today and the Talemaker crew is so tired.

Kat took breed today at a show. He had to be washed yet again tonight as he goes to the show early tomorrow. I wanted to just wash his feet and call it a day but I didn't.

All dawgs got much play, groomed - loved and got to platy with a tibetan terrier and a bichon.

The humans want to sleep and it seems like the dawgs do too. I can't wait till it's time to snuggle and let the zzz's overtake us.

Sometimes there are days like this...

Fun Filled Day

We had great weather and an amazing amount of fun. Rocky, one of our visitors was mixing it up big time and Bailey one of our other visitors is running out with the pack, playing with Abigail and has her tail and head up. It means she is gaining her comfort level. She is also a mass cuddler and so is Rocky. Gidget... she stirred things up, as she often does.

Here's just a few pix of today. No time to upload anymore 'cept here and on the puppy pages as we are still playing.

Paula's pup is still available and ready for a new home. Look below for a photo and contact info.

Enjoy a portion of our pix and check out the puppies on Talemaker Puppy Life.

New Visitors & Changes

Rocky is visiting us for the first time in a long bit and we did the one on one introduction again.

He remembered the crew and was rather smitten with Abigail jumping and running and having a grand time.

It was quite nice.

When that wasn't enough, he moved on to playing with the rest of the crew.

Take a look at him play bowing with Treasure.

If you click on the photo you can see a larger view.

Gidget is still here mixing it up. She'll be here till next week.

Then we got a new visitor Bailey and she's a sweetheart. She got the rest of the crew playing in our underground patio section.

She spent the first half hour getting acquainted and then relaxed. As you can see, her tail is up already and its been just 30 minutes since she got here.

She also seems to have a real passion at watching the TV tonight.

We have the grand kids sleeping over and the dawgs are getting so much attention with so many of us and Bailey decided to cuddle up on my fave chair and watch the TV with me.

Here she is saying - well are you going to stop taking pictures and come sit with me or WHAT?

Well, Bailey, it will be my pleasure and we can watch from our chair while Rocky wears himself out with the grand kids and we can cuddle. Rocky will get his cuddle time at bedtime when he stops playing.

Gidget, well she plays, she rests - she plays and she tells them who is boss. hahahaha

Never a Dull Moment

It's hard not to have a roaring grand time around here if you are one of the dawgs.

If someone doesn't feel like playing, there's always another ready to step up to the plate.

Today the dawgs seemed to be invigorated as you can see with Treasure running along the pool cover.

She wasn't the only one.

The entire crew was running like they got a new lease in life.

It was great to watch but I admit flurries in the sky was not my idea of fun.

The pups at 8 weeks also join in the fun.

They seem to get out of the way when the large dawgs collide with others and they do this on purpose - a game of fun.

You can always click on the photos to see a larger view.

Abigail did this with Gidget and Gidget looked at her as if to say. "what do you think YOU are doing?"

If you go out with your little ones even if you are not a fan of the cold like me, you can truly laugh and enjoy and forget the cold - well almost. Just dress warm. heh

Are you having trouble dealing with the time change? I am. The puppies are too. They want to get up an hour earlier - yikes but we are being persistent making sure they make that change.

Our resident Golden is collar bound and Nathan is carrying her outside.

She is toeing down - meaning resting her foot on the ground and we are hoping by next Thursday when the stitches come out, she will start using it slowly building it up. It's going to be a very long winter for her and us especially with Nathan carrying her through ice and snow when the next leg gets done. What a guy...

Happy Halloween!

One of our Wasabi pups, Chico dropped into a pumpkin patch this fine Halloween.

He bumped into a very friendly lab doing the same thing...checking out all those pumpkins in the mud.

What a cleanup job that must have been!

Hope all of the Havanese out there had as much fun as Chico and his pack mate Fidel did.

Tomorrow

They say I am going to get a bath tomorrow with a thing called a Bathing Beauty that the human here adores.

It's too pricey for pet people but if you do the shows - well you will wonder how you ever did without it. I saved long and hard for mine.

Kat was my first to try it and he loved it as it gave him a massage as he was getting washed.

The ways we indulge our dogs. Tomorrow we will fill you in on how Saki Fry does.

Pool Covers, Visitors and Outside Play

Ever wonder if you can walk on the pool cover? Well, you can if you have a safety cover.

Click on the photo to see an upclose view.

We got the cover on purpose to make sure our dawgs were safe. It's been money well spent.

Well, each day this week and sometimes twice in a day, we have had visitors. It's good socialization but it's hard on the human here as I am grooming till the witching hour playing catchup.

Next week we have puppies going in for shots and their hearing test. Then we have a visitor Rocky who is coming for the weekend. It's a crazy week but we are going to turn it down a notch and allow this human to catch up with a few moments of downtime.

Thursday we have the siblings visiting (still no camera for me), Thursday Chewie also goes home. Saki goes home Saturday. Gidget remains till mid November.

Today we had a visitor - a Lola, Kat puppy called Mac. They do their own grooming and I think they did a pretty nice job - don't you think?

He got to see his half siblings - he shares a Dad with Saki and Chewy. He's silvering out like Kat.

Now Nathan is out at handling classes as he is helping someone showing Bichons this weekend in the airport area. You should go watch the Havanese and all the rest of the dawgs.

Me, I am washing Kat and wrapping him up in a few minutes. I just finished grooming the rest of the crew (washed Fiona today too) and I have Treasure to wash tomorrow or tonight if I really lost my mind and Chewy on Thursday morning before he goes home.

Looking forward to getting the Bathing Beauty and hope it cuts down on bathing times. We shall see.

PS: If you want grooming supplies - or anything from k9groomingsupplies, email me and Doug. You can put your order in and I can pick it up for you, if you like. It wil save you in shipping charges. Just let me know.

Quito and Kooba...

Quito and Kooba were with us for 11 days and I rather miss the duo. They made us laugh. I never saw a dawg love his walk as much as Quito does.

It's quieter around this place without them.

But we have the duo (pups) that well haven't stopped playing since they arrived.

We also had Sebastian visit us and that was a treat. We haven't seen him for quite some time. He's looking good these days.

But he wasn't sure what to make of Chewy who thought the best game in the world was the - let's see if I can corral Sebastian and drive him crazy. We were able to educate Chewie while Sebastian learned the game of patience with little ones.

Without Kooba and Quito to warm me up at night and Gidget to wear as my hat - what am I going to do? Wait, Gidget isn't going anywhere yet.

Going to miss those walks with Quito marking over Kat and being delighted that he did.

I just love the dawgs. They are like watching kids that don't talk but if you watch close enough, they play similar games with each other. It's fun and it's quiet around here. Can you believe?

Upset Time

So upsetting....we took video of Chico and none of it came out. :-(

I have had it with this video camera...it's (this video camera) got to go as soon as I can get another. :-(

Plus to add insult to injury, my camera is in the shop so do you think I got a good photo of Chico - NOT. :-( This one is the best we have.

Wasabi played with the pups amazingly. She really enjoyed Chico but do I have a video of it - no. We also had video of the Fiona pups with everyone.

This is so FRUSTRATING!

Well, I do have a video of Wasabi last night with Chewy and Saki and I am hoping Chico's owner sends us some stills of Chico while he was here...but till then, enjoy the Wasabi, Chewy and Saki video.

Getting Downright Comfie

Kooba likes to watch TV with Nathan. Doesn't she look comfie?

The pups are fast asleep. Nathan just came inside - bare feet and all after taking the dawgs out.

It's wet and the dawgs get mighty messy but not Kooba with that short hair. Just a brush out and it all falls out of hair this short.

Lately Abigail is playing with Kooba and Quito.

The two pups, Chewy and Saki are non stop playing till she says enough - just like her canine mom. Got to laugh.

Chewy likes the x-pen - seems to feel comfie laying up against it. Although they are now playing with the older set, well nothing like a sibling.

Let the Play Begin

We had a little fun with this video. Anyone who has been following our blog and our lives knows Shoshi was always a dog that didn't socialize all that much with other dawgs or humans unless she really knew you but these days you can see her climbing up on anyone's lap that will have her and playing with visitors and the pack.

Kat as he has grown older tend to not play with anyone unless the gals are getting close to being in heat but these days he is playing up a storm with the gals - you'll see Gidget and Shoshi playing too - and Fiona is just loving motherhood. Watch how agile she is in this video.

We do not believe in all show - keep the hair pristine as it doesn't help the mind and body so we say, let the play begin. What wil be, wil be.

Hope you enjoy!

Be sure to check out Talemaker Puppy Life to see the pups. We had them out in the rain today to get them conditioned. Six weeks old - wow so fast!

Nathan has left a new comment on your post "Let the Play Begin":

What is most extraordinary about this video is the fact that Kat is playing with them like this in the first place. He is THE MALE in the house and totally dominant. Normally they wouldn't dare play with him at all without his invitation. Today he wanted to play with his girls and he did. Keep in mind he's known Shoshi his entire life. I love this dog. I love all the dogs.
Nathan

Big Dawg, Little Dawg Play

We finally recovered SOME of the video. Below you will see a video of what we do with the dawgs daily. Even though we are pretty hands on with them in the backyard, it's not enough, in our opinion. There is nothing like the walk.

We do daily walks to help then get a change of head space and see new things. We don't follow the same route as dawgs get bored too and so do you.

We skip walks on Halloween night as it contains way too much activity and all sorts of new decorations that we don't tend to want them to have sensory overload. We do walk them up to that date so they do see the decorations but not all the costumes and running kids.

In this video below you will see the big dawgs and the two Wasabi pups. We also did another video on Talemaker Puppy Life with Fiona's pups and the Wasabi pups. Do check them both out to see how life is going for the crew.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy having the fun.

Snoozing After Play and Walks

I have to tell you that the crew really had a grand time from the little almost 6 week pups to the Wasabi pups to the adults. They played hard in the backyard and I even got video of it but DVD issues so hoping to get something I can recover but won't be till tomorrow to see if anything can be.

The crew also loves their walks and I have to tell you that I think Quito thinks walks are what life is truly about.

Some people say - can't they play in the backyard. Well, they do but truly would you be happy if all you saw was your house and backyard? I wouldn't be. So, we walk our dogs including all the visitors each day so they get a different perspective of life. Then they come back and snooze. Can you blame them?

Gidget and Kooba are two peas in a pod. They adore the pups and I can understand why. I have to say that everyday of me grooming Gidget, I get to put that top knot a different way and smile when she can't get it out.

Yes, each day I groom all the dogs. We do walks. We get snuggles in and every single one gets one on one attention.

When we go to bed, we get the dog drape thing going on and that's nice.

PS: the Wasabi pups actually slept solidly last night but they were playing up a storm today with Saki getting her point across to Chewy when she wanted to relax.

She now tells him in no uncertain terms - it's time to relax brother of mine!

Couch time is required around this place.

Even the humans after a full day need to chill on the couch wrapped in dawgs and watch some TV.

Of course not animal shows as some actually watch and try to bark at animals.

We use it as a moment to correct. You can too!

Can you believe they can see the TV!

It's good to give some downtime to the dawgs.

We also had a tad bit of competition around this place with games of retrieve. Chewy thought he was going to get it and Treasure had other ideas.

Saki decided she liked the yellow duck better than anything those two had. Who can blame her?

It was a VERY full day. We are tired. My camera is in for repairs. We are trying to recover videos and where is that bed? I think even the dawgs would appreciate nice cool sheets and a snore or two.

More tomorrow!

Pups, Visitors & Much More

The crew -from visitors to ours are really enjoying the outside weather.

It's something about the cooler weather that invigorates them. I wish it did the same for me.

This was Quito coming in from outside play. He's really enjoying the crew and so is his pack mate, Kooba.

Ah...fresh air...

Lots of dogs...equals a great deal of fun.

The pups that are here - Saki and Chewie - litter mates from Wasabi's last litter are going and going and going. I think they slept oh 30 minutes the whole night as Chewie was so excited to see Saki that he couldn't help himself. I think tonight will give them more sleep.

Saki is now telling Chewie off when she wants rest. Bonus, he is listening and guess what - this is a learning experience as they learn to 'get' when one is saying and when wants to rest.

Gidget keeps getting in the mix with the pups and her hair keeps going 5 ways to Sunday. I just have to laugh. That's okay, I just finished fixing all their hair and they look fabulous.

Unfortunately my camera may have to go in for repair. It's not working up to par and that will mean lousy quality pix with Nathan's click and take camera but we will survive. I will have to do a video or two.

Sleeping arrangements - Wasabi headed for the couch last night. The couch is in our bedroom. Nathan took Kat to another room so he could get rest before a show and I got the rest of the crew. Risa kept making grumbling noises - oh my the pups think they are sleeping on MY pillow but that worked itself out and Saki won the day sleeping on top of my head. Chewy slept up beside me when he slept and wasn't pouncing on Saki's head. Really - it was funny but I think I am tired. ha ha

I Think Saki is too.

Gidget is truly adoring the little ones. She will climb into my lap and watch TV with me. Quito asked to be picked up and will enjoy the cooler ottoman though he lays his head on your leg. It's so cute. Kooba - well she just got finished throwing out every toy we had in a crate and then laying down smiling as if to say - look what I did.

The visitors are having a roaring good time but so is our gang.

Sleep tonight so I can do line combing the gang, cleaning around the eyes and massages. Yes..we do - well I do - give them massages. I want one. Do you think I can talk any of them to do one on me?

More tomorrow. Hoping to do a video.

Caught By the Tail

It's exciting times at the Talemaker Havanese house. Two litter mates from Wasabi's last litter are here and they are playing up a storm non-stop.

They certainly add a lot of fun to the mix and Kooba is beside herself trying to join them but the two are playing so fast and non-stop that I bet you they sleep tonight.

We also have Gidget here and you can find her watching Fiona's pups. She seems to adore the little ones and Kooba - well she adores Kat - hahahaha and she gets him to play non-stop.

Quito has found his place with Abigail.

But you know what is funny - it can all be different tomorrow and it's bound to be.

Stay tuned tomorrow to see how sleeping with 14 dawgs works out. We will fill you in who sleeps where and if Chewy - one of the pups licks our faces, pounces on our heads and tries to play at 3am...ROFL.

But we love it...honest!!

Dawg Happiness

What's the best game for a Havanese to play with another Havanese? The chase game, of course.

Kat is rarely caught but looks like he best watch out as Abigail is either cutting him off or catching him in sheer speed. She does practice this game a great deal and Kat only has moments of pure fun where he does.

He's rather happy at the moment as he has Quito, Kooba and Gidget here and he really likes what they bring to the mix. Kooba tends to be relentless forcing him to run and play hard and he loves it.

Male dawgs that are intact in a pack usually invest too much time in other things to just let loose but when someone engages him in play, it's like chicken soup for the Havanese soul. I put it up there with his diving in the pool - well almost. Nothing seems to compare to that for him.

Plus today we had a visitor over and their daughter was running around and getting them going. It was sooooooooo nice to see. So the dawgs are in fun mode and to be honest - it's contagious. I hope you catch the bug.

It All Comes Together

Shoshi is a pet dog. She came to our home strictly as a pet. When we first got her the breeder pushed us to get her extra early saying she would fly in with her sister and you don't want her flying alone.

We wanted to come to the breeder's house to get her but always a reason why we couldn't.

These are all warning signs as you should be able to visit your breeder if you live close by or even if you want to fly in.

Breeder's have lives too and have doctor's appointments, dinners out and all the things that us humans do so we are not here waiting for people to visit and when we have litters, we have to be extra careful as those visiting breeder after breeder can bring things on their feet, hands, clothes etc.and you can lose puppies that way so we balance our puppies needs with those interested.

If you are just wanting to get a puppy fix and not serious about acquiring one, you should think about the health of the pups and be extra careful. Leave your shoes at the door, wash your hands and if the breeder won't let you hold that puppy as its too young, then listen. It's not about you but the health of the puppy. As they get older, then everything gets easier.

So far Shoshi has been really healthy. We have been lucky. But she came to us very shy, afraid of the world and not socializing with people. If she had been homed without other dogs, she may have remained so. But she was lucky that she came to the crazy Talemker Havanese home.

She gets exposed to many people and dawgs. This has been positive and as she gets older, the more secure she gets. You can find her now sitting on stranger's laps and enjoying people.

She is one of the reasons we know that anything is possible given time, exposure and conditioning with love thrown in. Due to coming home too early, she was under developed in reading other dawgs, how to introduce play and how to simply meet and greet. But not everyone has a home like us with many people and dawgs coming in and out.

Here we have Quito and Kooba who is visiting us. When we first started boarding, we worried about conflicts and we learned how to introduce and how to read dogs and how to handle situations Every dawg that has come in no matter how nervous feels relaxed when matched with another that welcomes them in. Abigail is the very best for this job. She's like the person at the party and everyone is standing separate around the room and she gets them all interacting in a positive way. It's marvelous to watch.

Who are the best pals these days? Abigail and Shoshi. It does my heart good!

Look for Gidget and Saki and Chewy coming soon. My camera will be busy for sure.

Today's Mucking It Up

When female dawgs get together and there are puppies involved, there is always some good natured one upmanship like we experience at times with this crew. In play and in all things, they are still trying to vy for top female.

It's sometime off before they rise to that occasion but they do play and they do have a true fondness for each other.

This was just some of the pictures that Nathan took today.

Almost Two

Abigail, the dawg inside the bed will be 2 on Wednesday. Abigail is an apricot sable who is the heart dog of this crew. She takes a nervous dog and gets them to feel accepted. She has a heart as big as ever and is quite special, in my book.

Abigail is going in for her final tests before she has another heat this week. She's due to come into heat at month's end and will be bred to Kat. We are very excited about the possibilities of these pups.

It's a busy week. We have visiting dawgs coming this week and we are SOOOOO excited. It's nice to have the lull of just our crew and then we start missing what visitors bring to the mix and suddenly we are enjoying the craziness of dawgs. More walks - more play - more bedtime snuggles.

Hope that all of you survived the holiday. Go easy on the turkey with your dawgs. They may get upset tummies. Each dawg is different. Practice moderation.

Now back to grooming and outside play before mother nature and rain spoils all the fun.