Havanese: Reading Dog Language

Sassy says - oh no - here that lady goes again talking about socialization and all I want to do is play, play, play. If you don't recognize me, I am Sassy Lassy - the one that can't seem to get enough of my siblings. This was a fave stance of Sassy Lassy when she was with all her littermates and it didn't matter which one it was or if it was all of them together, she always managed to find that fun play.

Sebastian seems to have this balance thing going on too with larger pups that is a 'good thing' and so does Sassy. The larger dogs don't seem to rile them up.

When we walked a visiting dog that was unsure of the lay of the land, I walked him with Rita's (Sonrisas) Opal and Opal is a bouncy gal without a care in the world. It didn't calm this particular dog down but then I walked him with Mojo who is also a Sonrisas dog and a very calm, assertive dog. This totally calmed this dog down. What does that tell you? Well, a dog that is unsure of himself and has not learned how to read other dogs well enough yet will feed off of another dog's emotion and take direction from the other. They also feed off yours as well. Surrounding them with grounded dogs really helps yours.

As you can see, Sebastian is engaging in a play bow, stance to get the classmate in play and Abigail, who was not sure what to think about the larger classmates now has her tail up, a confident stance and tried to play as well. Often, when you have another dog that was exposed to larger dogs already and therefore has learned to communicate, it helps others that haven't yet had the exposure to the strange larger ones. There is confidence in numbers but it also rubs off. Just be sure it's all positive.

Here you can see a proper 'meet and greet' by Sassy and the classmate. She's confident, tail up and not concerned in the least. That Sebastian is still full of play and bypassed that hello - let's just play - or is that - let's just rock and roll. That also tells the other dog the intent. Both work. Remember, Sebastian lives with two Labs and was raised with two Goldens. He's not at all concerned with larger dogs.

There are excellent books out that help us humans read dog language and if you read one (I have one any of my puppy owners can borrow) it will help you 'get' what other dogs are saying so you can appropriately handle all situations and therefore help your dog do the same. Let me know if you want to borrow it. It will tell you more than you thought you knew and you will be amazed when you also 'get' what other dogs are saying with their body language.

Well, we do not have class next week as it's the new Family Day holiday. So, we have 2 weeks to practice, stay, finish, come and heel. That doesn't mean we wait till a week from now but a little each day and we will all be stars.

Abigail and Fiona are starting to play. Fiona climbs couches and sleeps on the back of them. Such a 'ruff' life!

Havanese Lovefest

Last night we had a Havanese get together with 2 siblings and 1 half sibling. The siblings and the rest of the crew including momma Wasabi got along fabulously. It's good to see those that didn't have total grounding, 'getting' it. Comfort, and grounding takes time with changes but with some investment with us human types, it all comes together.

Socializing is the key in a balanced dog. Click on the link and learn how we took a dog like Shoshi who hid under a chair her first class to the dog she is today, playing and enjoying all friendly dogs and people. She has learned to read other dogs and become balanced. As your dog learns what the other dogs are saying, their grounding and knowledge of what to do is perfected. Each positive social interaction is a building stone to a confident dog. Classes help this process tremendously and positive exposures on a regular basis do as well.

We are off to class with Sassy, Abigail and Sebastian today and see who remembers what. Sassy missed a class last week so she is behind but we will see if she can play catchup. If not this week, next. When you miss a class, it does set them behind a tad but they do recover. It's really important to make them all, if possible but its not always doable.

Then we are back home for some dawg fun and then on Sunday we have Remy and Chico perhaps and on Tuesday Gidget (Paris) comes to stay for 2 weeks. Wasabi will be thrilled as she adores (Gidget) Paris. They were the best of pals. With a bigger bed, larger crew - fun times are in our near future.

More later - after class.

Alert: Talemaker Crew Loses Mind

Well, we have totally lost it or have we? Until we get a larger bed, we moved in a twin bed to go next to the king sized bed to give us more room. We are lucky as we have a really large bedroom that also has a sectional couch and TV/stereo in it on the opposite wall of the bed so it doesn't look so hot but it surely will give us room as we expand. Next Tuesday we have Gidget (alias Paris) visiting for two weeks. We are still thinking about how we can create an oversized bed. As you can see we also have a bench and 2 sets of stairs. Yep - we are a dawg house!

Who do you think will sleep where tonight? Any takers on a bet?

Fiona is out on the pool cover looking at the guys wondering if she can get Miss Abs to play with her. The crew hears a dog in the distance, they bark - they run and Fiona goes - what was THAT! Miss Abs has already adjusted to such craziness. Fiona is still in the stage that they think we are all crazy and we are.

Miss Abs says to Fiona - so - you want to play? Fiona has learned a lot of tricks. She slides under a bench faster than you can say her name and she does the same when the pups are after her in the house - well slide under the couch - belly sliding all the way. It's all in fun and rather a riot. I have to catch it on the video camera.

We had a practice session. Sitting perfectly straight was an issue and walking behind without getting up - well let's see how we do tomorrow. One more session before class.

Coach is coming over to visit with his human dad for a bit so the pups are looking forward to that and so is Wasabi. We may have Chico on Sunday and Remy is coming on Sunday before his class. How great is that? We also got a photo of Benny from Risa's crew so we will be posting that tomorrow.

More later...ooooh class tomorrow - fun - fun fun! Are we ready...hmmmmm.... I blame human mommy and daddy if we aren't as we had a way busy week. Excuses, excuses...hahahaha

Meshing Havanese Into One Happy Family

Well Miss Fiona is starting to mesh with the lay of the land. Today she was outside climbing on the snowbanks to get busy but then her bum fell into the snow when she went. It was rather hilarious. I guess she thought the snow was stronger or more solid than it was. Me thinks she is going outside more than she ever imagined. tee hee but we are in deep 'potty' training.

The crew today is starting to play with each other. As you can see, the younger set is in a flurry of hair having a roaring grand time.

Be sure to click on any of the photos to see a larger version.

Slowly but surely bonds are starting to be made and comfort is setting in. Interesting enough, it has been Abigail that has made the overtures and has engaged Fiona in play. Now you can see them sleeping together.

Bonding takes time - much easier with siblings as they have that natural bond but with a new family plus new dogs, it works if you give it time. With a multiple dog family, after one connection, the rest will come faster and easier.

We will add more as the day goes on but we have training today, class tomorrow and lots of fun. I may even take a nap - heh!

Hearing & New Adjustments

Miss Abs went for her hearing test today and was told that her hearing was exceptional. What does that mean - she can hear the guy down the street snore? Oh no!

Nathan and Yvonne got there very late as there was a huge snowstorm. I couldn't even bring the dawgs out till we had paths shovelled. They looked out the door and turned around as if to say - you want me to go out in THAT - it's over my head! So, paths they got - tons even the ones that give you tunnels under a garden bench, another under a picnic table etc. We have to make it interesting, you know. That's what it is all about.

Miss Fiona is here for the rest of her life and is making the adjustment. She's not sure what to think with all these changes but we will keep you aware. She's figuring out the lay of the land and investigating all over the place.

Yvonne had the puppies here - actually all the dawgs but we only took photos when the pups were here (see the slideshow below) and forgot about the camera when Yvonne came back. We had a roaring grand time visiting with them.

More later or tomorrow....got to feed the dogs and train the little ones - stay - and what is it you are doing better than us, Sebastian? Watch out - girls RULE!

Fiona's First Day & Yvonne's Dawgs

Top Dawg C-Bass

C-Bass is practicing his show stance on top of WHERE? ROFL. Now relax - ohhhhm get rid of that arch (his mom just told me it's a tuft of hair - and looks like it now that I have my glasses on) and you will blow them all away. Mommy was checking what!!! - you say? Now I understand why the hair is sticking up but don't worry about it - you'll get used to it - you may even grow to like it.

You ask - what are they talking about? Well - use your imagination. A dawg never speaks of such things.

Are you practicing stay? If not, maybe the gals - if they get their act together will blow you away in class on Saturday. Can't have a guy dawg thinking he is king - now can we?

The Fiona comes tomorrow and baer tests are getting done. Reports later. Thnx for the photos of C-Bass - we just love them!
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Mark and Maryanne said...
It's a tuft of hair standing up, not an arched back! Honest!!!

Dog Shows - Woodstock 2008

Well, I woke up in serious pain - actually been up half the night. My back hurts terribly and not sure why. I did manage to get the Woodstock dog show videos up on You Tube. You can find them here:

I couldn't match music - too long and you can't put it up as one file as You Tube has its limits so I had to do 4. I didn't make them slick - just way too much work when I have other things on my plate but it does allow you a view. I didn't not erase ANY copy so its crude. Sorry but the owners get to see what their handlers were doing and the owner handlers get to see what the other are doing in all their glory. The only thing I did was take out the audio. Sorry, Kathy - I did not get that winning face. Enjoy!
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snqXqp0MikE
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmT-eLDiHD0
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsdrGK2JCmw
Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KTvMYCzGoI UPDATED

More later on the Talemaker crew after rest.

The Big & Small: Eating Together

Sometimes things are better with friends - even eating.

We had a full day today. Beth Obrecht came to visit to see her Miss Abs and visit for a bit.

We also did training with pups. Oh all I can say is class will be interesting. We are getting there but C-Bass best be ready for the gals to rule! Heh

Mommy is heard screaming this primal scream that makes dawg barks seem like gentle raindrops as she keeps crashing. She's working on that dog show video and I gather its too large for YouTube. She'll keep trying.

We played a game of retrieve the toy and they all got into that. That human son of my parents - Joe - well he was hanging out here. He loves the dogs so.

Two more days till Miss Fiona gets here. Crazy dawg house at Talemakers - and we can't wait!

All you Wasabi pups - practice, practice, practice. Stardom can be yours - just get that stay down.

Shots, Visit & Late Arrival Home

We went to get shots today for Miss Abs (3rd one done) who weighed in at 6lbs. She got her shots and so did a couple of other dawgs in our crew. The vet thought Miss Abs had great knees, perfect bite, nice compact body. He thought she was a beauty. He even commented how clean her bum was. I wanted to ask what kind of bums he saw but I held my tongue and thought to myself that I didn't want to know. ROFL!

Then we headed to Yvonnes and saw her pretty babies (pups) and got to play with Fiona - who comes home Thursday after her Baer test. Fiona has 4 white sox like her grandmother - our Risa. I got more photos of Yvonnes pups that I will post and we had lunch - thnx Yvonne and Alex - most gracious and then headed home. The dawgs were really happy to be home.

I have work waiting - the dog show video to do and all I want to do is crawl on the couch.

Here's a photo of Fiona (is that what we are calling her?) It's not a good quality but I had the camera on the wrong setting - gad - shows me to play with it. I promise better photos after she comes.

She's an Ever-Ready battery - at least at Yvonne's and then she crashes. It's going to be a ton of fun - ah puppies - nothing like them!

Havanese Game Time

I try really unorthodox things at times and when I saw two dogs getting a tad too aggressive in their tug, I put the toy in my mouth and was teaching them to 'drop it' so they understand the game isn't always about winning but the play.

It seems to have worked as they were seen playing and dropping and waiting and pouncing so the game became something entirely different and more fun than simply yanking . Even Risa got into it but I will tell you tomorrow how the jaw feels.

The photo here is the least of the ridiculous ones that Nathan clicked tonight.

Tomorrow afternoon we have 3 dogs going in for shots and a very busy morning so updates may be late in the day. I am also going to get a video up of the dog show, if possible to help you see it as if you were there - sort of.
So check back with the Talemaker Havanese crew and see what fun we are up to.

Puppy heaven, adult heaven - I just love them and you thought Nathan was the only one who lost his mind around this place. Maybe his sense of adventure with the dawgs is catchy. hehehehe

Woodstock Dog Show '08

We got to attend the Woodstock show today where 11 Havanese were entered. What a sight to see all the Havanese! Sorry about the quality of the photos but we got what we got.

Havanese Comforts

Well we are off to a dog show today to see all the dogs strut their stuff. I promise to bring home lots of photos for you to see. I best remember the camera and I best remember to take it out.

Our beloved Fiona - is that what you are calling her, Nathan? Well, she's coming on Thursday after her Baer and Abs gets her Baer then too. Monday we have 3rd shots and we can rest a tad easier.

Our home is really for the dawgs. We create comfort places all over the place. Here you can see Wasabi sitting under a table on a bed. This gives her a birds-eye view with the comfort of a perception that she is in a den. The dawgs LOVE things like this. It doesn't cost you hardly anything but a pillow under the table and it all works for them.

We try to give our dawgs a sense of really having the cush life and they do.

Our son came in from Japan and that was way exciting. Today is Super Bowl time and all I can think of is yeah Havanese - not yeah football so virtually shoot me all you Super Bowl fans but we are off to the dawg show and will be lovin' it seeing old faces, new faces and getting into a positive state of mind. More after we come back.