Friday, February 11, 2011 at 5:53PM 
Someone istaking photos. This is Abigail and Kat's son, Sparky who resides in Montreal.
His family is creative with their shots and he has his own facebook page. Check it out.
We have Oreo, Majik & Jazzy coming for a visit. Will click them tomorrow as long as we don't have pups coming
Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 5:41PM 
We have all heard about snow angels and Havanese do them but Risa spends a great deal of the time just cooling off her head by sticking her entire head into a snow pile.
Then she pulls it out and shakes and here is what she is left with.
I often wonder why she finds it fun to not only stick the head into the snow pile but at times she leaves it there. I wonder how the hey she is breathing and just when I go to pull her out, she does it herself, shakes and almost smiles as if to say this is so much fun.
I do believe it is a game and now she has Shoshi doing it!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 7:12PM 
We have been busy today but this is a reminder, if you live in cold climates, we do get cold. Pay attention to us lifting our paws. It means it's cold and I need snow out of my pads or to come inside.
If you are getting a cold weather alert, a quick out and in is best for your dawg and for you too.
Be sure to check all pads and cut out any knots in-between them. They can be mighty uncomfie and it's not often that we tend to think about that spot.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 7:40PM 
Today was a wind down day though we had a visit from Coach and Sassy we couldn't go out too long as it is colder than bleep outside.
So we tried to visit inside.
I managed to ice pick the ice under the gate to get it to close properly before the dawgs could go out and its a no walk day as its simply not safe out there.
Where is Nathan whem I need him - Darlah with a pick ax is dangerous.
Our visitors had their paws up immediately and I felt like lifting mine.
Off to snuggle them and head to bed early as we have a vet visit tomorrow.
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 8:01PM 
We are down to the last week of Fiona's pups making their debut so I did a marathon of washing the adults. I have yet to wash the Spice but will tomorrow. I ran out of steam.
When I wash, I cut the hair between the pads as winter time brings snowballs and when the havanese tend to bite them out, they also can create mats between their pads that are painful. Some people use a clipper and I use a pair of curved scissors but also my dawgs lay on their back and let me do it. I have yet to achieve this with Spice yet so with her it wil be a two person job, I imagine. We shall see as I will try.
My goal is to get her to lay on her back so I can find any mats in her armpit area and it also allows me to groom her underneath. It's a true bonus to get them to lay on their back and I always work at having that as a goal. It's just conditioning and trust that is a factor.
I also use grooming time to check their ears, clean around their eyes and just simply make sure they are knot free with a comb. I don't pull out the mat with a comb. I just either hold the mat in place and pull it apart with my fingers after spraying it with grooming spray or I use a brush to break it apart. Then I go on the hunt again with the comb. If you are this thorough at bath time, your job in-between is much easier even at the once in a lifetime 'blowing coat' stage.
PS: they don't blow their coat but actually they get their undercoat and due to the different lengths, it creates mats more easily. That is why so many choose to cut the hair during this time to even it out and let it all grow in one length reducing the struggle.
Besides, hair does grow back says I with my long hair. ROFL!
Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 4:55PM 
Nathan has conversations with the dogs but when they are pregnant, he has these long conversations asking how they feel and playing with them to get them to relax. Their state of mind is important to us.
I do the massages and grooming and snuggles - he does the playing, conversations and snuggling. It all counts.
I can't believe she is due in a little over a week. How did the time fly?
I always yearn for spring but spring is when pups go home so this time let me yearn for living in the moment and treasuring it!
Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 6:13PM 
Nathan and Treasure was playing with Fiona tonight when I captured this photo. I *had* Fiona nicely groomed and thenNathan plays with her pushing her hair 5 ways to Sunday cause guess what, he doesn't groom. hahahaha
Next week - midweek, Fiona goes to the vet for her x-ray. Then we will know if we are on track for Feb 14th - the day of love.
Treasure has not had her bath as we felt it was more important for her to be with the babies. I am hoping for Sunday for hers.
Now you know my dawgs are not always looking their best. We do have a life - or so we attempt to.
If we have a 14th delivery, I will be giving them temporary names until their owners give them their real names cause it will just be fun to have a love theme and I need some fun.
Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 9:36AM Not sure what time we will get back and then I have to wash Raylan yet again so we may or may not be able to post tonight. Time will tell. Check back after 7pm tonight to see.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 3:38PM 
When we went outside first thing it was wet, muggy and so uncomfie. What weather we have had this summer but we are in supposedly for rain and cooler weather this weekend.
On Saturday Raylan has to get his Titres, Red his next shots and Sunday we are supposed to go visit Hugo and Milo and that fab pair that live with the duo. We may visit Rens first but we don't know what time or what we should bring except my camera so I can update Suzie's photo for the Havanese Breed Magazine. She'll probably give me hey and say well why did you point to my old photo, Darlah but we wil get some dawgs in their on the update if Milo and Hugo cooperate.
Summer is winding down. I am still grooming all the dawgs. paula's pup got a bath - katsura got a bath and everyone else is getting a brush. I am adjusting to the quieter times. Less dawgs and finding house things to fill it with can be scary but I find I just play with the dawgs more. Sorry - can't help myself.
It's still very hot today.
Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 8:31AM 
This fabulous quilt is a must to have. You should buy tickets. All donations go to the Havanese Rescue in Canada, which I am on the commitee. It is a worthwhile cause.
Not too long ago we had Kooba here. We took some time, got her housetrained, loved and she found a forever home with Jean. Jean remains a dear friend and Kooba adores her and so does her Quito.
If you want to be a part of helping Havanese Rescue, there's a draw in Halifax at the National Specialty for this great quilt.
Monday, August 16, 2010 at 1:35PM 
If you have a pup or an older dog that eats too fast, inhaling vs. enjoying, why not try the many kong type devices - the puzzle treat dispensing toys where he/she works their mind for their food. For most dogs it will be fun and not frustating if you don't make it too hard.
Slowly the summer is waning and we are getting back to just our crew. The dogs have had walks already. The weather was cooler this morning so it felt right vs. at night. We played fetch and find the treat today. I am about to groom the crew and do some loving snuggles.
What have you done with your dogs today?
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 9:00PM Penny & Shanty are playing up a storm. Check it out on the Boarders and Visitor's Videos page.
Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 6:33PM 
I started to write about all the dogs in the house but I think today I’m going to focus on Treasure. Those of you that have been following my wife’s blogs over these past few years must know each and every dog of ours by now. Treasure is special. I can’t say it any clearer than that. She has an attitude and a majesty about her that is unique. She earned her Canadian championship without missing a step by seven months of age. Now going on two nothing has changed. She’s all attitude and she looks wonderful. Darlah keeps her in “show coat” which means long and flowing. Sometimes it’s as if her hair is floating around her and she races around the back yard chasing whatever is thrown. It isn’t that she is the fastest but that she is "The Treasured One". So when we play retrieve, she wins. If another dog is getting ahead of her she simply projects her aura and intimidates whomever right off the ball. She retrieves perfectly. That is to say she will always bring the ball back and drop it just out of reach. When I don’t move to get it until she brings it closer she will pick it up without being told and drop it closer, a foot at a time, on purpose. It’s part of the game she plays. Mark my words, one day she will be alpha in this house, when Risa decides it’s time for her to stop worrying about such things. Until then, we all get to enjoy every minute of her.
Before I sign off, for those of you that have been waiting, the first issue of Talemaker’s Havanese Breed Magazine is going to be available tomorrow. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to subscribe at www.havanesebreed.com/subscribe/. (Blatant plug, no shame whatsoever) I hope you will enjoy reading the magazine as much as I enjoyed doing it.
Nathan
Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 4:07PM 
What happened today? Well Marlee and Jazmyn had their baths before going home. We had many play sessions. I almost counted today how many times I go in and out with the dogs and then I forgot to count - how silly. I should remember to count one day. Let's just say it's too many to count. Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 4:56PM 
We have just one more visitor coming tonight and that's Jazzy. We just adore the guy. Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:00AM 
As you know, Darlah writes the vast majority of the information on this site. Every now and then I slip in a comment. Today I feel like contributing.
We are currently doing our version of boarding with five additional Havanese. I say our version because to call us a kennel brings up images of crates, pens and chain link fences. That's not us. What we do is bring those dogs into our home and treat them just as we treat all of our dogs. Since some of them were born here in the first place that comes as no surprise.
Anyway, this means we play with them, love them, walk them, brush them, let them play with each other, love them more, greatly help any dog with socialization, let them sleep on the bed with the rest of the dogs unless the owners have specifically requested that we do not, and give them free run of most of the house and all of the backyard.
All of this evolved from the days when we had a single dog, an incredible German Shepherd named Lacie. Lacie was a King Shepherd, a large version at 105 lbs. She didn't growl at a stranger, per se. She simply looked at you and you froze in place until given permission to move. And yet she was a complete pussycat as you'd expect of a dog raised with seven children. But when we had to go out of town we had to board her and we hated it. The last time we did it we picked her up shaking and quaking we swore "never again". And from that day to this one of us stayed home at all times.
So when we decided to cross that invisible line and get into breeding and raising Havanese, offering boarding was a no brainer. We already knew this is something we ourselves would have wanted. And it just made too much sense. It truly was one of those win/win situations. We provide a dog with the best possible experience we can, almost as good as being at home with their family, and most important, we provide the knowledge to the people that have trusted us with their dog that they will be well looked after and loved. They are not here marking time waiting until their families return. They are interacting with our family and our dogs and loving it. But make no mistake, they are thrilled to death when the families return and they can once again go back to being the center of the universe instead of having to compete with all those other dogs here!
If you have a Havanese you wish to board with us, please email us, in advance. Believe it or not there is a limit to how many dogs can sit on me on the recliner at the same time.
Thank you,
Nathan
PS: If you haven't seen or purchased your 2010 Havanese calendar brought to you by the Havanese Canadian national breed club, please do so now. This link takes you right there. http://www.havanesefanciers.com/?q=Calendar2010. I really like it but then I'm bias as I created it with the help of a lot of photos sent in to me from HFC members from coast to coast.
Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 6:38PM 
I thought this day would never come. Treasure collapsed in exhaustion.
All it took was attending a dog show three days in a row, which meant getting up and being bathed and groomed each day. Then driving to the show, showing in Breed and then again in Group. Then driving back home.
As an added bonus both yesterday and today after we got home we walked the dogs to the local school. That meant we took four dogs at a time, two for Darlah and two for me. At the back of the school is a soccer field and as luck would have it, looking carefully in all directions, there wasn't another person in sight. So off came the leashes and the classic Havanese run-like-hell game ensued over a good portion of the field. All of us that own Havanese realize our Havanese invented this game.
Other breeds might have a facsimile but it just isn't the same.
We actually got some video today which Darlah will place up when she gets a chance. We just got back with Terra, Shoshi, Fiona and Treasure. Terra, our six year old Golden Retriever, knows this game well, having fallen head over heals over the years more than once trying to catch Shoshi who makes impossible turns that Terra cannot duplicate. So Terra loped along with them but didn't really get into the chase. That was left to the three Havanese and did they go. I even tried to run with them for comic relief. I mean they slowed down and laughed at me as they blew by. Treasure was exhausted in just a few minutes.
Then we still had to walk back home, almost a mile. About halfway back we pass a church with a nicely groomed lawned. Treasure walks onto their grass, sniffs for a second with me waiting patiently for her to do her business. She finally finds the right spot but instead of peeing, she collapses into the grass, flat out. She literally wanted to take a nap, right there.
I got her back up and we continued home. She is now out cold on the floor outside my office. It is the first time she has been this exahusted since she was a pup way back a few months ago.Maybe we'll do it again tomorrow depending on how much my own legs are burning when I wake up.
Nathan
Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 5:23PM 
Last Monday, our friend Holly flew from Florida to pick up her pup, Blazin.
It was 8 Celsius (46 Fahrenheit for our American friends) that day. All the snow had melted and it wasn’t half bad.
The very next morning it was -8C (17F).
Holly thankfully handed me off Blazin to take outside for his morning pee and ran away from the open door.
She thought she was going to freeze to death momentarily.
Meanwhile I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt under my ski jacket, bare feet slipped into clogs. There was no snow.
On Friday we drove to our Vet located an hour and change east of Toronto. We got caught in a major snow storm and ended up spending a few hours visiting with Yvonne and Alex before heading back so that the snow plows had a chance to clear the road, a sometime reality of our Canadian lifestyle.
As always my largest issue driving back was all those drivers on the road that don’t have a clue that snow covered roads and lousy visibility calls for a different mode of driving. Not everyone was clueless but there were a few complete nutcases that made up for it.
One 18 wheeler comes to mind. I fully expected to see him overturned before we got back to town. He certainly wasn’t allowing for any margin of error in a vehicle that could not stop on a dime in any conditions let alone those.
Between Friday’s snow storm and today’s snow fall our yard is no longer snow free. Snow banks are probably two feet high and I’ve taken turns with one of my sons shoveling out paths for the dogs in the backyard. The dogs love it. They go racing round and round the paths and every now and then sheer exuberance with life sends them flying over the top of the banks right into the piles of powdered snow.
Watching their wonderful antics compensates for the pain in my arms, shoulders and back from all that shoveling. I get absolutely no sympathy though. The kids think I’m still 30 and if I didn’t go out and shovel Darlah would and then I’d never hear the end of it.
When outside in winter always watch your dogs for signs of stress, cold affecting their pads and such. They do not have the body weight and metabolism of the larger dogs and cannot stay outside in extreme temperatures for any extended period of time.
The other night it was -20C (-4F) when I took the dogs for a walk. Actually with the wind chill factored in supposedly it felt like -30C (-22F). I can tell you without a doubt that it was very cold. That’s not the words I would normally use to describe the weather but I’m trying to keep this to a family rating. I only went once around our own block and in two cases I had to pick up a dog because their pads got to cold.
Even though we have a large selection of sweaters, jackets, even snow suits, in such cold weather never spend too much time outside with your Havanese.
I have a few pictures to share with you. As you can see, they love running in the snow. Their joy of life is a constant inspiration. I hope you enjoy them and remember, comments are always welcome. Darlah and I love interacting with any of you interested in interacting with us.
I’m off to walk a few dogs.
Nathan
Monday, December 8, 2008 at 10:29AM 
I was having a conversation in email with a few friends. One of the women suggested that the dogs love them best. I begged to disagree and wrote a little story about our Shoshi. After reading it one of the ladies replied that they’d love to see a photo of Shoshi cannonballing onto the bed and into her spot. I thought about it for a minute but I don’t know how we could set that up. First, Darlah is in bed sleeping most nights before me. Second, Shoshi won’t go to bed unless I am in it. I’ll think about this and see what we can do. Here’s the story and I warn you now, this is not for the faint of heart or those that don't allow their dogs on the bed …
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 9:38AM Reading my wife's daily posts it occurs to me that we'd love to hear from you all. We get comments in email, even on the phone but rarely does anyone post a comment in direct response to something Darlah has written. I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage you to post comments please, when you feel you have something you'd like to share with us. I know from the statistics that a lot of people are reading every post each and every day and that's great but really, we'd love to hear your thoughts on our thoughts. Don't be shy. Join in please. Thank you for listening.
Nathan