Monday, July 18, 2011 at 8:03PM 
Spice has shows at the end of the month. Poor Daddy wil be doing it alone with the Spice while I get her ready before they go. Work is work, I suppose.
But Spice is such a play monkey that I look at her and wonder how much longer she will keep her hair.
Gad, she's just like her mom. If there is dirt, she will find it. If there is fun she will be there.
It's what makes her who she is.
Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 4:52PM 
Well Saturday July 23rd is coming up fast and I do hope you can join us in Brighton. All you need to do is bring chairs, a dish and your havs.
In the photo here, this was our first picnic held at our home. You may also want to see the photos from last year's picnic. We used to have them here but sadly we have outgrown the event in the city and Yvonne's place is perfect as it is fenced, a huge yard and truly fun.
I hope you can join us.
Directions to the Havanese Picnic – July 23, 2011
If you are coming from the west (Toronto, London etc..) travel east along the 401 to exit #509, County Road #30. Turn right at the stop sign and head south to Brighton. At the second stop lights (they are very close together) turn left (this is hwy#2) and head east out of town for approx. 6kms (3 miles) to Stoney Point Road. Turn right onto Stoney Point, go over the two sets of railroad tracks and head south to the first street on your left, Powerline Road. Turn left onto Powerline and then a quick right into the first drive on the right, #13. Here’s a site from Mapquest with a detailed map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=CA&popflag=1&latlongtype=internal&latitude=wZ8XGjnkqxvkhiA4fmtEUA%3D%3D&longitude=GoeOdwnZ2eUcwTgEOv7U6A%3D%3D&name=&phone=&level=ADDRESS&addtohistory=&cat=&address=13+Powerline+Road&city=Quinte+West&state=ON&zipcode=K0K
Time: 12 noon to 4pm Be there!
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 8:33PM 
It looks quite serious but it isn't. These two were having an amazing amount of fun.
Frannie was over for a visit but Frannie's Mom, Dad and Frannie are now at home and Spice is sulking as she doesn't have the fun one to play with.
Spice is into fun from morning till night.
She also thinks if you hug THAT one you have to hug me twice for their one.
Yeah - right!
No visitors tomorrow so it's quiet time and maybe pool time and maybe learning time for videos etc. That little window never makes it into the day.
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 5:40PM 
We had a lot of visitors drop by today and no one swam except Breeze who jumped in like her Dad and now Truff does. Oh my.
When we invite people over we say come for a swim but no one seems to take us up on it. It's just a Dawg visit, you know.
It was wonderful to see Mia's parents but I didn't get to say goodbye as Breeze felt the pool was simply inviting and off I went to dry her.
But we also had our daughter and son-in-law come up to take the kids out to the mall to give this old granny a break and they get to see them.
Fiona had a bath today and I let her air dry without brushing till the end. I folded laundry while I stood and watched and put more laundry in etc. She just stood there with the breeze drying her coat while I looked on. I can do this with her as I am standing at the grooming table (my grooming area is in the laundry area) and she stands there waiting for her treat.
How do I know? That tongue darts in and out saying - hey lady TREAT TIME!
Well, off to wash a dawg and relax or maybe not.
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 6:22PM 
Shelly, Al, Chinook and Summer Breeze came for a visit and although I was extra busy during that time, Nathan socialized, I got things done and every now and then I got to say hello and enjoy them.
We hope I have more time on Saturday when we see them again.
Shelley is so photogenic and so is Chinook.
They left their suits up at the cottage so no swimming today but tomorrow, I vow to get myself and maybe a few dawgs. We shall see!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 7:50PM 
I have a photo of Wasabi (Spice's mom) somewhere on this site with a mohawk and she didn't actually have one, the wind just gave that perception. I thought of it when I took this photo of Spice.
Like mom, she is a dawg that likes to beat to her own drum. She's fun, fun, fun but creative too.
When we have visitors she thinks they all came to see her.
I should have called her Kissy Face. She loves to give kisses, play and muck it up as all dawgs should.
Inbetween shows she has an amazing amount of fun and we don't keep her crated so her hair is perfect cause she is a dawg and that's more important than championship points. But still, the gal is halfway there. Then she can just enjoy without getting bathed so much. heh
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 7:25PM 
Just like her mother Wasabi, she tends to muck it up every chance she gets so that just so 'do, well isn't so in place any longer but that's okay!
---
I left home at 5:40am yesterday and drove 2 hours to get to the dog show in Woodstock, Ontario. It is an outdoor show under a large tent reminiscent of a circus tent. The judging tables and such were under the tent, the actual rings in which we competed were outside exposed to the elements. Rain was forecast. The temperature was easily 33 Celsius (in the 90's Fahrenheit) by 9am.
Upon arrival I laid down the outdoor carpet and then erected the pop up tent just like everyone else not in a motor home. The tent provided protection from the sun and the rain, as required. I also brought along an 8-sided plastic x-pen for my Spicy in which she could relax while I dealt with the rest. Once the tent was up out came the grooming table and ring side table followed by the grooming kit. With minutes to spare Spicy and I made it to the Ring to compete against five other Havanese. Wait, I forgot to mention that the last thing Darlah did last night before bed was bath and groom Spicy for her show the next day. I mention all this just to illustrate the nature of those of us that compete, that spend hours bathing and grooming, loading the van, driving hours to the site, setting up at the site, preparing the dog yet again and then entering the ring. And if, like I did yesterday, you lose right out of the gate, your day is done just like that. It can be discouraging especially when you and I know that Spicy is a wonderful example of the breed that is going to grow into an awesome classic Havanese. It's worse when I think of all the effort Darlah put into getting her ready, all the handling classes we've attended, all the training and practice that got her ready to walk into the ring. I didn't start doing this yesterday. Spicy and I know what we are doing in the ring together. But yesterday, we lost, just like that.
Today, we got up and did it all over again. As the Havanese weren't in the ring until later Darlah bathed Spicy and made her ready for the show ring first thing this morning. I left for the show at 7am. Upon arrival we repeated everything from the day before. Today's Judge was Mr. Ed Bivin. It was the second time I'd had the pleasure of showing a dog to him. The first time was two years ago at the US National Specialty in Chicago. Treasure was a puppy at the time and this was our first US dog show. There were over 200 Havanese at this show. It was incredible. Treasure was entered in a class of 14 senior puppies, ages 9-12 months. She made the cut and placed 5th. I was very proud of her. I was also very impressed with Mr. Bivin's control of the ring. It is one thing to judge a half a dozen Havanese as he did today. It was another thing entirely to be good enough to handle a couple of hundred. And, believe me, he was good enough. He knows how to judge and he knows his dogs. I entered the Woodstock show just to get the chance to show him Spicy. It reminds me of the more historical justification for dog shows; showing your lines and your breeding stock to other potential breeders while they did the same to you. In today's modern high technology society we've lost a bit of that but today I wanted Mr. Bivin to evaluate Spicy based on his knowledge and experience of the breed, which is, as I mentioned, significant.
To get a point towards her championship I had to beat the other entry into the Bred By category. I entered the Bred By category on purpose, instead of entering her as a Junior Puppy which she is. I wanted to make it clear that Spicy was our own breeding, a Talemaker Havanese, so that I would be judged accordingly. Mr. Bivin did not disappoint. Spicy and I went around the ring with the other Bred By entry, a nice bitch expertly showed by Corinne Kolzow up from Chicago for this show. Spicy has always walked the walk. She moves quite nicely, as does Corinne's little girl. The Judge watches their movement from the side view. Then Spicy went up onto the table to be examined. She stood exactly as she had been trained, her tail wagging gently. The Judge runs his hands all over her body checking the structure, measuring the distances, all part of the breed standard. Then we were asked to walk her down and back so that he could evaluate her movement from dead on. Then we waited to the side while the other pup was examined. Then, unexpectedly, he asked me to place Spicy on the table again and checked her again paying particular attention to her length of body and rear. Unlike yesterday, when Corinne and her pup beat us, today Mr. Bivin judged that Spicy was the better bitch and awarded us best in Bred By. That meant we weren't done yet.
Spicy and I went back into the ring to compete for Breed. This time the campaigning "specials" were in the ring as well as the Winners Dog and Spicy who was Winner's Bitch. They all repeated what we had already done and I remind you that it was well into the 90's, sun shining brightly. For those of you really paying attention remember that I am still putting drops in my eye every two hours and the light doesn't help. Mr. Bivin was thoughtful and considerate enough to have us do our down and back under the tent rather than out into the sun. He was thinking of the dogs and we all appreciated it. When all the dogs had been examined we were all lined up in a row in the stack position. Spicy does a nice natural stack and I keep her attention focused on me until the Judge comes close at which time she will quite often glance at the judge and start wagging her tail. One of the campaigning specials won breed, as expected. And Spicy won Best of winners, Best of Opposites and Best Puppy for her second point of the day. It was very gratifying and made all of it worthwhile just like that.
Then, we waited to compete in Puppy Group. First the rest of the breeds in the Group had to be judged and finally the Group is judged. Probably 90 minutes or more after we'd been in the ring the Toy Group was judged. The challenge for 90 minutes is preventing Spicy from overheating and getting bored out of her mind. It can get interesting and it was very hot. After the Toy Group is judged, the best puppy from each breed in the group also compete against each other for best puppy, unless one of the breed winners competing for Group is in fact a puppy and places or wins the Group. As a puppy winning group they would automatically win best puppy. That is exactly what happened today so Spicy didn't get a chance to compete against the other puppies. There will be a next time.
It took maybe ten minutes to take down the tent and pack away all the rest of leave. We arrived back in Toronto just in time to deal with rush hour. Finally, we arrived home just after 6pm exhausted but satisfied. It was a pleasure being judged by Mr. Bivin and a thrill to achieve Best of Winners.
Until next time ...
Nathan
Monday, July 11, 2011 at 6:00PM 
It was hot, muggy, and a very long day for Spice and Nathan for no points but it was more practice and that's okay too.
Tomorrow is usually a pro handler judge so not expecting a thing but hey more practice. hahahaha
I was told Spice looked stunning.
Will be glad to have Spice and Nathan back at home!
Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 6:14PM 
Tonight mom has to wash the Spice and you don't want to know how she looks. She has a yellow beard from a plant she decided to run her face in and it stained so let's see if I can manage to lift that...gad.
You don't want to see what she looks like but she is a total mess.
Wish me luck. Nathan has to leave at 6am to get there and hang out all day as he is going with others.
I hope it doesn't rain but worse if it has heat like today on an outside show.
It is what it is.
Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 6:55PM 
Spice has a show Monday and Tuesday and boy does she need a bath. Her beard is yellow - yes yellow from trying to eat a plant. At least she isn't eating the berries out back as that stains their hair red and Ms. Wasabi LOVES to do that.
I can see nathan chopping them all down if that happens. But so far, she doesn't love them like her mom.
She always manages to give me a challenge when it comes to getting her back to being presentable for the ring.
But Daddy, I am having so much fun and I can't help myself.
Well, that's what dawgs should be like and if her coat isn't perfect, oh well. It will just take her longer to get her championship and that's okay too.
Friday, July 8, 2011 at 8:14PM 
Chewie came over and joined us in the pool.
Since we opened the pool, we have had so many people and dogs come for a swim. It's rather nice.
On Sunday we have the grandkids coming for 2 weeks and they will be hanging out, swimming, helping us with the dogs and probably fighting over my ipad. hahahaha
They may even go on a berry picking venture as we have a ton in our yard and no Wasabi trying to stain her beard and eat them as she is too busy with pups.
Next month we have two more of the grandkids come for a week with the daughter and it's surely going to be a very busy summer.
Exciting but busy times....
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 6:37PM 
Today we had swimming with the boys. No gals allowed and that included me - boys of the canine and human kind only. How sexist is that?
As usual, Kat jumped in as soon as Nathan got on the diving board. Our visitors had to be coaxed into it but did rather well.
In and out of the pool Kat and Nathan went over and over. If Nathan doesn't dive in, Kat doesn't and then....
He did a huge belly flop - ouch! It's as if he knew it as he had this primal scream as if he knew what this meant.
But did it stop him from doing it again? nah!
Can't wait till the gals have a hand at it when the grandkids come Sunday night.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 4:56PM What did I do today? Tried to do a video. I edited photos, I walked and played with dawgs. I washed a dog, I cleaned, I showered. I played. I groomed everyone except Truffie as he gest groomed before class.
I didn't get pool time. I didn't watch tv. I went to the dawgs. So no photpos today - ok?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 8:31PM 
With Treasure being in heat and being bred to Phantom, let's just say it's more than this boy can handle.
He needs long walks, lots of swims and being kept separate. It's not fun for him.
But Daddy, she's supposed to be mine but okay I will go swimming and swimming and swimming so I forget.
Are we doing it all tomorrow too?
Mommy says if I whine for the gal anymore she will throw me in the pool - just kidding!
Monday, July 4, 2011 at 8:07PM 
Oh she doesn't go into the pool most days but she loves to stand where the splashes occur so she does get wet from safe ground.
One would think she's not doing it on purpose but if you watch her day in and day out she really is.
It's a real gamed to find the splashes.
Sunday the grandkids will be here for 2 weeks so she will find lots of splashes to stand under. Let's see how soaked she gets.
Sunday, July 3, 2011 at 6:01PM 
It was a fabulous day today weather wise.
The pool was warm. The weather was HOT and Fiona and Kat couldn't wait to get into the pool but then at the last minute Fiona said, nah not me!
So instead the Treasured one went for a swim and who will it be tomorrow?
Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 8:01PM 
It's rather nice to have 2 swimming dawgs in the house - well they all swim but these two relish the swim. It's as if they hit the jackpot.
I also noticed that Truffie watches Kat and learns fast.
I am actually amazed at how fast he watched then takes it into consideration then puts the Truffie spin on it.
Kat rather likes Truffie but Kat likes Truffie's Daddy too when he comes to visit.
So, as they stood on the mat, Truffie took the initiative to dive in ahead of Kat and then instead of Kat jumping in, he decided to let Daddy push the raft to the stairs.
Such a life.
By the way, Truffie already 'gets' where the stairs are.
I am glad.
Hoping we have another pool day tomorrow. Off to do some major grooming!
Friday, July 1, 2011 at 5:11PM 
Sophie......Momma said don't squeeze the Charmin, but she never said not to chew it!!
Morning mischief. While I am in the shower, she is decorating the hallway with toilet paper!! It's a good thing she's so darn cute. : )
Friday, July 1, 2011 at 3:18PM 
Well Spice is just in for today and got Best of Winners and Best Puppy in Breed. Bravo, Spice and Nathan. Grass was long. It was hot but they did okay!
Now they are coming back on that long drive and should be back at 7pmish tonight. Though the gps doesn't work so who knows if he will make it home.
Now the Spice has a break for a few more weeks and then another show. Here and there cause we have pups and we can't do a marathon but this way is okay too. She'll get her championship.
Looking forward to them coming home soon!
Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 5:01PM 
Well, Nathan and Spice are off to a show and won't be back till late tomorrow night. He's all the way in Sarnia. Well, actually he is all the way sitting in the parking lot of the 401, I am told.
Fat chance he will make it to Sarnia at 730pm as he once thought.
That leaves Dennis and I to hold down the fort.
I hope the sun stays as I want to swim when he comes back home.
I would have loved to today but I had dogs to groom, play with, puppies to handle and I had to pack supplies for Nathan and wash the Spice.
Now let's hope that she stays clean enough for him to show tomorrow as I forgot to give him the dryer - oh my!
Do you think she looks like her dad Katsura or her mom, Wasabi?
Darlah
Nathan arrived and he says the restaurant was closed so he ended up with a Timmy's sandwich.
He also told me Spice jumped up on the bed and got way comfie. She rather likes this road trip.
I think Nathan will get more sleep than I tonight. Want to make a bet?