Saturday, April 26, 2008

Another Show Day Down

Abs was too distracted today by all those treats in teh ring and on an empty stomach - oh my - what's a gal going to do? Well, another blue ribbon but no points but we will see what tomorrow brings.

Abs even fell asleep on the table while grooming her. Me thinks - and she showed us - she wouldn't mind playing with big dogs and little dogs alike. This walking around the ring is not as fun as playing.

Videos to come on Monday and more tomorrow. Today - we are chillin'. mom is grooming and then eating then finding a couch and Havanese to cuddle with. Ah...life couldn't be better.

Friday, April 25, 2008

I Would Rather Sleep

Abs was at her first show and as you can see, she would rather sleep. ROFL

She won a blue ribbon for best of Junior female puppies but no points. It's a start. Both Nathan and her survived and so did I. Abs coat was stunning and soft as ever.

Well she's now playing up a storm. I need a nap, build a couple of celeb pages - Snipes for tax evasion, Winehouse for assault and then wash the Wasabi woo all to get back up at 4am tomorrow. Ouch and we will see what tomorrow brings.

More later>>

Show Day & Then Relax

It was such a productive day for Chico, Fiona and Coach in class last night, Keep up the training and we will kick ahem next week. :-)

Today is the 1st show for the Miss Abs. We got up at 4am and bathed her and an hour and 15 minutes later, daddy was keeping Chico away from her so she wouldn't get messy or dirty. So, she's out sitting with me while Daddy is getting food ready for the clan. Me, I am about to take a shower and then get on the road.

I had to work till almost midnight then up at 4am - yeouch. Needless to say, I am ever so tired.

Then we will come back from the show and get Wasabi washed and relaxed - we think all to start again with packing, organizing, cleaning etc for the next day. Never thought I would say, can't wait till Monday. heh

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Fiona's Time to be Stylin'

I am the test case. I am not sure what that is but human mommy calls me THAT. It's something about a packmate going to a show tomorrow? Why does the littlest one have to be one? It must be something WAY special cause that is what I am - you know!

Human mommy washed me up much to my - are you crazy, lady reaction? Oh yeah, I am getting better but Miss Abs tolerates it better than me. I am getting slow conditioned. ROFL

That's really what it is about. We had someone say - hmm our dog is now letting me groom/wash them after staying at your place. That's because they can't darken my door without getting combed and brushed daily. This way when it is show time, they will know the drill.

Here I am, after all that vigorous grooming - like I said a test case - whatever that stuff is all about and can you see my hair looks like different colours depending on the lighting. One of these photos was inside and the other was outside.

I am incredibly soft with what my human mom did to me and even she is impressed. Now let's see if she can do it on teh Abs tomorrow at 4am. ROFL

Washing Havanese Time

Chico had every hair in place after his bath today and then he shook. Oh - he's such a boy Havanese dawg - loves to go natural. But wow is his hair silky. I knew it was when he wasn't clean but he has his canine mom's hair - just fuller. He's not as big as he looks but that fluffy hair - wow nice.

Chico gets to go to class tonight with his sibling Coach and his housemate, Fiona. Fiona is next to get bathed. shhh don't tell her.

Take another look at him after his shake from a different position. Got to say - the boy cleans up well. :-) Not that he looked bad unwashed.

Well, off to do Fiona - next - in a bit - inbetween work.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Windy Talemaker Times

It's quite windy today. We had flying everything outside and you couldn't tell by this photo but I actually brushed these dawgs.

Talking about grooming, I almost have the Abs laying down and falling asleep while I groom her. That is progress. If you keep at it as I do - a daily dose of slow positive conditioning, they do get used to it and they never get knots.

Well, Miss Abs has handling class tonight and she is going to see Sebastian and Apple there. We hope she stays focused and gets in the groove. If not, we will still have fun with it.

Tomorrow night we have Fiona and Chico in obedience class. Then we have the Dog Show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a visit to the vets on Saturday. Oh my, crazy times!

Chico is really into relax mode these days. It's as if he had to go through some 'what now' experience and learn how to deal with it all.

He gets a bath tonight or tomorrow. I have to look at the weather to figure it all out. His scabs have completely fallen off.

He loves kids. He kissed a friend and her mom out of the blue. He's really enjoying people. He did a play bow over and over again with Linda's Basil last night and seems to be happiest with other dogs, people and kids. He's finally coming into his own. He adores walks but he needs to learn to heel. We will be working on that.

Mentally and physically he's going to be more than alright. We are truly glad otherwise he would be staying right here while we worked out the kinks.

All dogs go through a transition when there is a huge change in their lives.

He now 'comes' and sits and tomorrow night he will start obedience. We are hoping to really get a real feel for him and find him his forever home real soon.

More later>>

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Getting Ready For The Show

Here's Nathan having a bit of fun with Abigail. She's getting ready for a show this Friday.

We are looking at this as a fun experience for both human and dawg. If it can't be fun.....

Monday, April 21, 2008

Downtime After The Guests

Chico now has his staples out so he is staple-free. He's going to get a bath - probably Wednesday or Thursday so we make sure he is 100% scab free - this way he will look beautiful for class on Thursday night.

The crew is all vegging after training. I did all that I could do with all including out old lady Whitney.

We did stands for Fiona - sits for Chico, stands and heeling for Abs, everything for Katsuro, Terra and Shoshi and a mix of things for Risa.

Now all they want to do is veg from all those treats and brain testing.

This is the stand at the door - can't you hear me - let me out. We now have bells but we have yet to train them to ring them. I would like to train Fiona and Abigail to them as they are inflicted with the - don't you know I am standing here waiting till you let me out?

The gang is emptier without Sebastian and Coco.

Classes Thursday. Are you ready Coachie? I know we aren't yet. hahahaha

After Bath & Much More

The day started with a bang. They just was having a roaring grand time. I swear it is a bonus to have 2 Havanese together. Throw in our gang and doggie chaos with roaring laughter.

I have learned if I want to sleep in, one or many dawgs will give me that morning lick to say - okay - it's time. Then the play begins.

Sebastian's human mom is coming at 1pm and he had to have a bath. He was whispering to me that dawgs should always have fun and not worry about those things but something about snuggling up to a dirty dawg... he went on to say - well okay I guess I can handle that but I like smelly!

The human dad around here walked all the dawgs this morning and they had a blast. I am not sure he did walking 5 times and these aren't short walks but hey - good for that bod of his!

Here you can see them enthusiastically waiting for THEIR turn.

We are hoping Chico's staples can come out soon.

Crazy dawg week this one - Abigail's in a show, Fiona and Chico are in classes, Wasabi goes to the vet. Busy but event-filled week and Sebastian is going to handling class this week too. Me..I have to work on Fiona and Chico before their class - just the sit for Chico will help and the stay for spazz Fiona too - hahahaha.

More later...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Catching Up With Talemaker Life

This was a fun weekend with lots of people, dogs etc and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Coach, Sassy and their human dad and mom and shall I say human sibling came over yesterday and hung out - gave Chico some human interaction.

Here you can see Coach nose to nose with Chico along with Kat and Abigail. The dogs had a wonderful time.

It was nice to relax with John and his family and the dawgs before we had company in the evening, cooking, food, and all the fun that comes with a dinner. The dawgs kept sniffing for their share.

It's going to be fun going to class with John and Coach.

Then we had our 2 grand kids come over with our daughter and hubby and Chico just ADORES kids. I guess some of his best moments have been with the kids he lived with for the last 4 months. It shows as we had kids here today as well and he just lights up with the kids. He's a tad shy with the adult humans at first but once you pet him, well he warms up. Kids - no warming up - he's just excited to see them.

Chico starts classes this Thursday and tomorrow I am going to start working on sit, come, and stay to help him get a head start on class. This way, if he is not sure of the environment, knowing the commands even if he is not doing them perfect will help him make the transition to class is fun. Plus he will be in class with Fiona and Coach.

Sebastian's mom comes tomorrow so Sebastian won't get a bath till tomorrow morning so he can look GORGEOUS. We are going to miss him.

Here you can see Linda (who came to visit) lovin' him up.

Remember you can click on the photos to see a larger view.

I thought about washing Sebastian today but figured with the way he loves to play, tomorrow is a better day.

I am going to fluff and dry him then take a photo so you can see him all so handsome and all!

We got to see Coco again and she remembered me - gave me lots of kisses and snuggles and that was really nice. There is nothing like kisses from puppies and I got them from Yvonne's Downsey too.

Here you can see some of Coco's family. Thanks to Yvonne for bringing her here so we could see her again.

Well 4 days till Abigail's show debut. Got to get that grooming bag ready. ROFL. Got to get busy - ooops that's Nathan has to get busy.