Sebastian at 11 Weeks

We just received a handful of pictures of Sebastian. I thought the least I could do is share one of them with those of you following this blog. Have you ever seen a sweeter face?

Nathan

Terra Speaks Out

I was just reading the latest bias one-sided propaganda from my human Mommy about her Wasabi and all her other darling Havanese. I thought I’d take this opportunity to offer my Golden Retriever perspective.

First of all let me say with all due modesty that I am a smart cookie and easily graduated Obedience school at the top of my class, or at least I would have been first if not for Shoshi also being in the same class. Second is good too.

I know how to heel perfectly and do so when my human Dad walks me, if he asks me too, a few times, nicely. Meanwhile Risa heels perfectly all the time.

I can recall in seconds, if I feel like it, or if my human Dad really wants me to come, now. Meanwhile when Daddy calls Katsuro to come he runs back to him. What’s that about?

I don’t need to be washed every time I go for a walk. My body easily clears the ground. I don’t need to be brushed as often as my Havanese brother and sisters because my hair, unlike theirs, falls off, all the time, all over the place.

I play wonderfully with all the Havanese. I do not step on them. I am always aware of them, especially when Sassy is eating my coat. Yes, that’s right, I don’t wear a coat.

Shoshi and I have been best friends since the day my human Mommy and Daddy brought her home even though she never grew to full size (well retriever size - the only way to be). I understand that poor Shoshi is going to remain at around 12 lbs. and never achieve her full growth and that’s ok because I love her anyway. (Shoshi says - silly that is my full growth, Terra)

I do have one large pet peeve. All the other dogs sleep on the bed but I’m not allowed. What’s that about?! I don’t even require doggy steps but am perfectly capable of stepping right up onto the bed. It’s outright full size dog discrimination, that’s what it is. Luckily I can sneak on the bed with my Daddy when Mommy is downstairs. She’ll never know.

Terra

PS: I have included a picture of me chillin' in one of my four beds. You can clearly tell it isn't the same as sleeping with the pack in Mommy and Daddy's bed. And I have included a picture of me and my Shoshi when she was about the age that Sassy is right now. Hey - she's even wearing that same sweater Sassy was the other day. Hey human mom - can't you buy her something NEW?

Exercise for Your Havanese

Sassy went for a walk today with Wasabi, Katsuro and Risa. Then we took Louis (a visiting dog), Shoshi, Terra and Whitney. We also did a great play session out in the back.

This brings up a point that Sassy hates getting dressed. and she could go ala natural for short walks but for a bit longer while its cold, the sweater or jacket helps when young. A good sign that it's getting too cold is when they are lifting their paws/and or shaking but they can lift their paws from salt, sand and ice piles in-between their toes. Just brush it out and continue unless it is a continual issue then its a red flag to get home. When it comes to clothes, brushing, anything - new that is something that needs to be done - the term - just get him to deal comes to mind. If they are fighting you, as Sassy has tried when I put a sweater on, I just hold her, put it on and then continue to get her ready to go. If I coddled her or let her win when it is something she needs - guess what - you set her up to buck the system and she will know that she can get away with it sometimes if she acts up enough. This is a dangerous precedent to create with a toddler and the same with your pup. I don't yell - nor make it a terrible experience - just do it and reward the correct behavior. Eventually that struggle will cease.

I am often asked how often do you wash your Havanese? It all depends on the elements. I can go 3 or 4 weeks in the summer before I can't stand it but even then, you can use a waterless bath, brush them line by line with it and then they look almost as good as a bath. So, it really depends on you. You can also just wash feet or bums or whatever the need.

If you look at the picture (you can click on it for a larger view), this is Terra, our retriever and Sassy doing her - 'I am relaxed look' and mommy Wasabi laying next. Now notice that Wasabi's hair is still shiny as she is what we would consider a silky Havanese and that's a good thing as her hair stays shiny even when dirty and tends to not mat - a double coat but not a thick double coat but she is getting a bath today. She hasn't yet had a comb out and she 'may' look better then but her hair will tend to become shiny greasy looking when I think its dirty and I believe she has arrived at that point. For some she may not. It's been a few weeks and I tend to groom and brush and clean mine more than others. Yvonne (good Havanese breeder friend) would say - more than ANY others but this gives you a perspective. Each of us have a different standard to what we expect and what we will tolerate. My dogs sleep in our bed so they get that comb out daily with a spray on conditioner and the waterless bath and I never experience 'doggy' odor like I do with the retrievers that always have it. :-)

So baths today, play sessions, walks all help stimulate their minds and body and that is a 'good' thing. If you can't walk due to the ice and cold, start teaching retrieve. This is a critical window for teaching it easily. Find a hallway with one way in and only one way out and you sit at the way out and throw the item down the hall. Use a keyword, stop the game when they refuse to bring it to you, praise when they do and you will have a Havanese that retrieves better than a retriever. When teaching it later, it's more difficult and by teaching it earlier, you give them the ability to exercise their bodies, expel that energy without you moving a thing. You will be glad you introduced this game if you ever get sick and can't walk but if you can, still walk your dog as retrieve is not a replacement but rather an additional avenue for exercise. Your dog needs to see new surroundings. If you were stuck in the house 24/7 think of how you would feel about the world outside and how depression may set in by being so limited.

You have an intelligent breed that needs their minds stimulated. Use that and you will gain great things from it. They are what you put into it.

Bringing Up Havanese Puppy

I think it was Dr. Ian Dunbar that covered the subject of your dog is what you expose it to positively and I am an advocate of that. After you have had a couple of sets of shots, you can start taking your little one to classes. It not only helps your bond with them but exposes them to a different environment, new people, various types of dogs in a safe environment - that is if the school is a good one. There are some that aren't despite what they tote and we have experienced those ourselves.

We already started the process with visiting dogs, our retrievers but what is in the home is deemed safe to a litter vs. outside. It is their safe zone and what is outside is something they do not have comfort in yet. It's important to help your dog gain the skill of achieving comfort.

The degree of a dog's socialization - whether he becomes a 'well socialized' or 'poorly socialized' member of the community depends on the type of social interactions and environments he experiences while young. Those who are exposed to a wide variety of positive, rewarding experiences will form a different view of the world than an isolated or mistreated dog. Your goal should be to help your dog grow to be people, animal and dog friendly.

If your pup is exposed in a positive way to a wide variety of dogs, humans and other animals under a variety of different but non-traumatic circumstances, your puppy will grow up to be well balanced. This way, when faced with an unruly or under socialized dog, your dog will understand that the world as a whole is a good place and there is no need for defensiveness nor fear.

An adult dog who is startled or fearful is an entirely different matter than a scared puppy. The puppy has yet to learn the skills to achieve confidence, balance and understand the communication of other dogs. This is a learned process that they develop from other dogs. Each dog learns at various rates. Beyond the fact that your dog needs to learn a dog's language (you should too - I have an excellent book), it also has to learn how to behave appropriately given a set of circumstances and this only happens with practice. It's sort of like the human learning how to become a good friend, a leader, how to fit in, what the rules are at this place or that place etc. We all make our mistakes but hopefully we move on and perfect our skills and become better as we go along. This is the same with our canines. You need to give them the opportunity to perfect their skills - to go through the learning process.

Pups that are taken too early from their mother miss a critical development that helps them achieve this learning window in a quicker fashion but even those with a high degree of socialization can learn.

As they develop they will test their social boundaries with other strange dogs to find out what they are able to get away with. It's similar to a human child that puts half their foot across the line you have drawn - can I get away with it - what are the consequences - all a learning process.

But if you wait till your dog is older, an adult dog will be less patient with another adult dog than a puppy. The dogs do know that your little one is a pup and they may play with them rough and physical but it's play with a learning process. They won't react that way to an adult who should know better, in their opinion. When an adult dog does correct your pup in a positive way, he may protest but he will have learned he crossed the line in his behavior. That's why pups that stay with their canine mom longer 'get' the - 'ooops - I crossed the line - let's try this again process' easier than those that don't.

But leave the nest they must in a positive way. Sassy will be (after her next shots) exposed to other dogs she is unfamiliar with. If she stays with us long enough, will be in classes and we have already started confidence building. By teaching her commands you are actually teaching her confidence skills. When she finally gets it and you get excited, she gets a treat and you display joy that she has completed a request, your dog feels good about his accomplishment and you get a better, more behaved dog at the end with an amazing bond - if you take the journey of training completely in a positive fashion.

Sassy has learned 'sit' that all I need to do now is hold the treat so we have now moved on today with 'down'. She has to get past thinking treat is 'sit' and that's all I am expected to learn. She's struggling with 'down' but after the 5th persistent try - she did it - perhaps by accident but its begun. We will continue and we hope you will too and yes I have to get the video camera out to capture it but with grand kids here, a kid home from university etc - well it's a crazy house so soon.

When teaching down, realize it is a submissive position and some dogs may learn more slowly but not due to their learning capability but rather not wanting to be in a position they deem vulnerable. Down is an excellent way to bridge confidence and get past feeling vulnerable.

Once you have achieved this skill 100% and completely, your dog has taken yet another step in bonding and trusting you.

Give them love and patience too...and they will give it back 10 fold.

More later...

Havanese Puppy Changes

Well Sassy had a guest over - Quito - a rather good looking Havanese, I might add. It was only for a short time as it started to snow heavy white flakes and then they left and it stopped - sigh.

Sassy is now sleeping on the bed, curling up to you and if she has to go, she goes down the stairs and goes to her pee pad but last night she was back to sleeping all night but we let her sleep partially each nap and woke her up and played. We found she was sleeping way too much missing the brothers but she's back to being herself. It takes a few days to adjust to big changes.

If anyone is interested in who makes this bed as the Havanese adore it, you can find it at http://www.woodruffforpets.com/funfur.html <-- they make all sorts of beds and you can get anything embroidered on it. We have 'Our Precious Havanese' on ours. They also have tunnel beds and you pick the fabric so its made special for you. They have no clue we are posting this nor do we get anything out of it except to share our experiences and it has been good.

Sassy went out in the snow and got totally soaked. She adores the snow. There's human mommy and daddy's grand kids staying over for another night and then the crew - the dawgs are going to get a bath. They are rather a motley looking crew.

We are reinforcing 'sit' but still finding although when calm Sassy does it always - if she has competition or perceived competition, she can't sit - oh she tries but that bottom wriggles and wraggles so we are sticking with that command through Friday and trying down and then we will video tape both and share.

Sassy is making down the stairs - prefers the foam ones off our bed vs. the wooden ones - yes we have 2 but still won't go down the stairs from upstairs to down but will go up. Down is scarier direction with a perceived open staircase, I imagine.

Coach's parents called - Sassy's sibling and that was way exciting to hear. When he's all settled in we will have to create a play date. We hear he adores his walks. Got to get Sassy back out today.

More later...

Sassy Takes the Stairs

Sassy is now going up the long staircase from our main floor to our second floor. She stops a few times along the way but seems to be going faster each time. Once she makes it upstairs she heads straight into the ‘puppy’ room where she and her siblings slept for 10 weeks. She plops herself down on a pad inside the x-pen which is now entirely left open, takes stock of her surroundings, then grabs a favourite toy and heads into our bedroom. She then proceeds to run right up the doggy stairs onto the bench that sits at the foot of our bed. From the bench she takes a quick hop and she’s on the bed. She finds this much easier when the other dogs aren’t in her way. Then, she waits for her mom to jump on the bed so that she can jump on her mom. She still hasn’t managed to go back down the stairs but it won’t be long now.


We take her and all the dogs outside probably a dozen times a day. She’s right out there with the rest of them and loving it. Tonight Wasabi was trying to teach Sassy to play run-like-hell with her. It was hysterical. I’m sorry I didn’t tape it when Wasabi would come blowing by Sassy and get her to chase her. Then stop once she did and chase her back, then run by her again at top speed and repeat. She was clearly trying to teach her run-like-hell and Sassy was just as clearly getting it. I LOVE this breed in general and I love these dogs in particular. How can you not?
--Nathan

ps: When I went upstairs Risa just naturally tagged along just in case it was time to go to bed. Oh that gal Risa loves the comfort of the bed and she won't do couches without pillows for her to lay down on.

Leader of the Pack

From Sassy Lass: Daddy keeps saying I am a born leader but some strange reason these 4 legged creatures around me - especially that big thing out front - well she has other things in mind. It surely doesn't look like a Havanese so what is it? Well, she thinks she has the right to be first. Just because she's 70lbs bigger doesn't mean she's the alpha around this place. A gal would get a complex if she let them actually believe all those pipe dreams they seem to have.

That's okay, last night I looked off the bed and gave her that look as if to say - you THINK you are and winked. hahahahaha

Then I try to come inside and guess who is crowding me out? Yoo Hoo - Daddy - I don't think they buy those words about me being a born leader. What's a gal have to do around this place to gain some - as Aretha Franklin would say R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

Well, that's okay as I know who got the snuggles and sleep time on the couch here and it wasn't that big yellow thing nor those other Havanese that think they are all that.

Oh - sigh - mommy just told me they are all that too.

Tux's Latest Shenanigans

Just got photos from Rita Thomas, Tux's new owner, 'Breeder of the Year' from Sonrisas Havanese - our mentor and here is what she said....

I think the KING has been de-throned. NOBODY has dared get into Mojo's bowl before.

Now anyone who knows Mojo knows what she is talking about. He is the most confident, I am all that' Havanese and for a good reason. Katsuro spends his days competing. ROFL

Then she sent another with Tux's fave position. (You can click on the photo to see a larger version always)

I think it's called the 'rub my tummy - you can't resist' stance but I might be wrong. ROFL

Thanks for sharing it with us, Rita. Nice to see photos of the little guy.

Does he have the same - look at me thang going on that Sassy seems to have - seems to. ROFL! wasabi sure makes interesting pups - and yeah I am biased but wow - too smart for their own good - hahahahaha

Talemaker's Sassy's 1st Walk (More Added)

Well, we decided that December 25th early was the best day to take the dogs out as no one would be out and we were right. It's icy out there (I had to put my Yaktrax on), way dirty from the sanding and you have to remember to wipe and or wash the paws to get the salt out. If they are biting their paws, you didn't do a good enough job.

Bath times for all mine when I am up to it. Not today...

What we found interesting was Sassy was so much more interested in walking on snow than the cement. Maybe it was the salt - maybe the sand but she wasn't thrilled and we had to use Wasabi out in front to get her to forget about it. It tells me she needs to do this all the time after her next shots and for longer. The cement seemed foreign to her - teach me what I have to condition winter pups to. I am making notes. Then the cars whizzing by - what was that but she was fine. No adverse reactions just a - WHAT WAS THAT? We only took her out for a very short walk down the street and back not even around the cul-de-sac.

We heard her brother Sebastian did fine on his walk.

For those of you in the in between stage on sizing - a sweater is the best route till that next size. As you can see, Sassy has a lot of stylin' clothes as she got Shoshi's hand me downs and she doesn't mind except to say - what is that you are putting on. If it's very cold, we sometimes place a sweater on and a jacket over it.

Well, off to make a sandwich and nap. Walking all these doggies this morning was fun but tiring maneuvering in the ice. Hoping it either snows or thaws. Now to eat then snuggle on the couch with the crew.

PS: Nathan reminds me that although we were allowing Sassy and Wasabi to walk in front of us - Wasabi as a lure - Sassy to gain her comfort level with collar, walk etc - the goal is to get them walking NEXT to you after this stage. If we have Sassy here long enough, we are going to enroll her in 'Who's Walking Who' classes and she will be practicing heel till she gets it right till that squirrel pops by, I imagine. Doesn't every dawg lose its brain when that happens?

Mark and Maryanne said...
Sebastian went out for his first "walk with the dudes" last night and didn't miss a step. He was up for another walk to grandma and grandpa's house this morning where he proceeded to charm the socks off them. Thanks to his first parents, Nathan and Darlah, he is already quite well versed in sitting, buffet eating and using the back yard outhouse. Not to be outdone by his sister, today he has already retrieved several of the many gifts he was able to bring with him to his new home. More firsts to come...Mark and Maryanne

Darlah & Nathan said...
Sassy better get her act together - hahahahahaha

Havanese Bed Shenanigans & New Day

Well, Sassy slept on the bed last night. She was a tad confused on what was what but she's decided human daddy is her security - her thang - she moved around - slept up against Risa and Risa allowed for part of it - wow but realize they do look to one at first and then bond to the others but last night - daddy was it.

We had the usual stuff in bed. I ended up with Shoshi as she was miffed that her spot was taken. The Sassy gal took over but she will get over it. Then Risa did her usual grumpy thang - another on the bed - oh no! Katsuro was on and off the bed snuggling with both of us and Wasabi said forget this and went to the bench at the foot of our bed - its like an extension of the bed but way comfie.

We left our closet light on as we forgot we had given the pups a night light but we were too tired and lazy to get one so the closet light worked.

Today she's not back to her usual but she's better. Human daddy was teaching her retrieve and she's starting to get it. All of you new puppy owners - start NOW as there is a window for easy learning and this is it. Plus those with kids - it's an excellent way to bond. Shoshi is the best retriever in our house and that's due to us teaching her when she was young. It gives her exercise and she adores the game. Your little one will too. Sassy brought it back about 70% of the time and when she didn't, the game ends. They get that if they want to play, you will only play as long as they bring it back.

We also worked on sit but when Sassy is too excited for the treat - well her sit goes out the door so we are reinforcing that by not giving her the treat till she gets it. We find when she is tired, it's much easier to get her to do it immediately and hold it.

I want to start getting motivated to do some videos on the training but taking a break and just enjoying the dogs. Their lives from their usual gets put on hold, to a point when you have puppies as you have to be concerned with exposures for health reasons but as soon as sassy gal gets another shot, we are starting serious walks even if she ends up in our coat as we want to introduce her to our local school, the forest, the trails as we did with Shoshi.

If it warms up - maybe today will be the day for that walk around the block and if its not too icy, I may video tape it. If it's too icy, walking backwards might not be wise to do.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. More later...on the Talemaker crew.

Different Dynamics Change Everything

We are not sure what this means but today Whitney, our old lady rescue has taken the time to just be with Sassy. It's the very first time she's gone into the x-pen and just slept near her. Whitney is 12+ years - a tad obsessive at times and had lots of babies and almost died from that experience, I am told.

We managed to get 98% of her quirks and behavior issues turned around but last litter we had Whitney just watched but didn't interact that much. This litter was relentless. They jumped in her bed, climbed on her and gave her kisses all the time. Sassy was always one of the first. She would touch noses, allow them to crawl all over her. Sassy was a bit lost today and Whitney took over.

She had her in her bed with her and then she is now sleeping in the x-pen with her. It's precious. It tells me, puppies can often bring that extra something out of a dog who has had a tough life. We have had Whitney for 6 years and wanted the time with us to be what great memories are derived from and here she is creating more memories for us. It's obvious she loves the puppies and it's nice that this old gal just did what came natural.

Now to see how Sassy does in bed. Reports tomorrow....

PS: We heard Sebastian did great on his walk. Sassy says - hey you beat me to the lead - heh!

Remember you can always click on all pictures to see a larger version.

Remy Welcomes His New Family

It has been a tough day for us. When Remy’s new family showed up I got choked up. I think it had more to do with Sassy being the last after Remy leaves. The two of them were snuggling and sleeping on one another at the time.

But thinking about it, poor Sassy doesn’t have it so rough. She now gets individual attention from Darlah and me, not to mention Wasabi who is all over her, Kat, Shoshi and even Terra and Whitney.

When we came back inside from having Wasabi and Sassy out with us, all the dogs, even ‘Queen’ Risa, touched noses with Sassy. I don’t know how we are supposed to handle this aspect of breeding, watching the puppies we love leave, but I can say that it is hard for us both and I suspect it always will be. That is why it is so important that we see the puppies as they grow older, so that we see how very happy they are. (All you new puppy owners need to be paying close attention.)

Remy is an excellent match for his new family. Their youngest walked in the door and said “can we take Remy home now” after they’d been here 5 seconds. When the girls approached the wide open x-pen where Sassy and Remy were sleeping Remy jumped up and went running into their arms. I swear it was spontaneous and just perfect. Join me in wishing Remy the very best as he joins his new family. He’s going to get all the love he can handle and then some.
Nathan

What is THAT?!!!!

The crew is all gone and it's just the Sassy Lassy. We took her out on an errand with her Mommy Wasabi. We just kept human daddy company and had the experience of looking about. We were going to start doing some minor walking out front to get her used to the idea but it's still too cold so in we came. Shoshi wore this outfit when she was about the same size.

Sassy is looking in the mirror trying to figure out who that dog is staring back with that funny outfit on. Now she's snoozing and we are cooking and we will soon settle in to blankets, watching TV and chillin' with Sassy sleeping on the bed tonight. New adventures for all...

Picture of the Dudes

My new family has allowed me to post a picture of the four of us hanging out. I call this 'Picture of the Dudes'.

As you can see, I’ve already wiped out one Lab who crawled into Daddy's lap for protection and after I take a short break, and pose for my picture, I’ll get on to the next one.

I have peed and pood outside and have already picked out my own spot. Soon I'll be lifting my leg so high that the Labs will stay out of my territory altogether or maybe, if they are nice to me, I'll share it with them. We'll see.
sign me - Sebastian

For anyone who doesn't know what this leg business is all about and calling cards - well read this.

Sebastian's New Family

It was 8 degrees (Celsius) today. It rained off an on for most of it. The snow has been melting so much that steam was rising from the ground. The dogs came in from playing in the backyard soaked to the skin. Kat couldn’t care less. He’d have happily stayed out all day.

Now the temperature has dropped dramatically and the wind is howling outside. The temperature tonight is supposed to reach -6 not counting the wind chill factor. In other words, it’s going to be freezing and the roads are going to be totally iced over and treacherous and so are our backyards. If you don’t have to go out, stay home! And please don’t spend too much time outside with your dogs or puppies tonight, just enough to do their business and get back inside. Dogs can get frost bite too!

Sebastian left us today. He is the sweetest little boy. He’s going to a home where they know dogs! I’m told he’s already met his two new four legged companions, both Labrador retrievers that only outweigh him by 90 lbs. Knowing Sebastian he’ll have no problem establishing dominance, licking his way to the top of the pack. I’ll post a picture of Sebastian and his entire new family as soon as I can get it. In the meantime those wee Labs better leave room on the bed for the new king. I taught him martial arts for nights like this.

Nathan

A New Havanese Journey

It's wonderful to hear how it all unfolds. It helps this crew here immensely. What can we say - we love the little ones...

Chico's new family (2 of the members of his new household are in the photo here) said...My eldest is still saying "pinch me. I must be dreaming"

It's so hard to say goodbye to the little ones you nurture, comfort and fall madly in love with but nice when it all comes together. We look forward to visits from Chico's family and Chico, of course.

Precious that they found time to share and we appreciate that!