Another Havanese Puppy Fix

Just got back from seeing Lola and Kat's pups and Maggie and Oscars pups. How cool is that?

We had great food, great company and lots of puppies. Abigail thought the pups were great. Kat only wanted Flora and Fiona was miffed the focus wasn't just on her. Dear old Wasabi was fascinated too. Risa - she just chilled out and this particular pup of Wasabi's that has been with us was checking this wee one out.

Fun was had by all. We will be posting lots of puppy pix tomorrow. There's only a couple of pups available from this crew. I am going to miss them.

It was priceless to see one of them toting away a slipper larger than its body. Got to love it!

More tomorrow!

Stop the Presses: Havanese in Action

We open the back door, I sit at the end of the deck and they come running at me so I can point and click.

I look at Risa and wonder if she ever was brushed in her lifetime.

I just adore that natural look.

Oh, she is brushed daily - actually just finished doing the crew, cleaning eyes, checking ears etc but those messy moments - well I treasure them as that is when a dog is being a dog.

There's nothing wrong with those dogs that just hang out but be still my heart when you see one leap or get creative or use their brains to get what they want. That brain, if cultivated is a wonderful thing.

Kat always seems to manage to get out the door first. What is that about? Is he quicker?

Well, perhaps but he is also an alpha who thinks it's all about him. Oh yeah - we have a few of those. He is also the most athletic of the crew so far but the puppies haven't matured yet and I have a feeling he best watch out in that department.

Here's Abs in the middle of the crew looking quite like a bear these days. She's happiest just playing. She doesn't care where she fits in she just has to fit in and they all love her for that.

Funny, even she is showing assertive moments lately. She tends to do tag team stuff with Fiona if it suits her cause - meaning what she is going to get out of it.

Our crew all eats together but we are on diets - most of us except puppies as we had pups then roads we couldn't hike in the winter. Yeah excuses but we are at it again. The humans around here have that attitude so remember they are a reflection of you so they too adopt that - oh we will get to it. We are actually very active even when we can't hike with retrieve and silly games but nothing like a huge romp with some new pals or a long hike to get you downright sleepy and tired and burn those calories.

Well, Fiona was eating extra food as she needs to gain a tad bit of weight. the crew had eaten theirs and was waiting to see if she would leave it. One came up close and she gave him a warning. Abs decided she would also give a warning as that was hers if Fiona was going to walk away. See what I mean...if it suits her.

Don't ever think the Havanese aren't smart. Their little brains are churning thinking up new things. It's better than TV.

Talking about TV, I can't wait till the new shows come on so we can do body hugs together and watch TV. It's those moments I treasure!

Till later!

Havanese Attitude

Havanese can have attitude. Each have their very own unique personality but some are born with that 'look at me' desire that I adore. Not everyone appreciates or even likes this attitude. Fiona has it going over the top.

What do you do when they buck the system - so to speak? You ask what do you mean by that?

Well, Fiona was laying on the bed with her Daddy and I came strolling upstairs. She didn't know who I was so she did a low-based grrr. Daddy - I am protecting you but also - this bed is mine.
Fiona has an attitude that makes you laugh at things like that but that's when you can get in trouble. If allowed, a dog like her will escalate and suddenly what you think is cute is no longer. It's best to nip it in the bud. They need boundaries just like that creative, challenging human kind.

I corrected her. She did the submissive roll to me. It wasn't me that was the target but rather what she can and can't control. She's a puppy and she is learning that life is about others - not just her. Some humans have an issue with that so why not dogs?

She will take a tad more work than say an Abigail who tends to comply and not step over the line but if you keep at it, she will be the dog you can't forget.

It's all in the way you handle it.

Interesting enough, I have found that a dog in my home may act different in another home and act even different in yet another home. How can that be? Are they wishy, washy or are they people pleasers? It's the latter and they will, even the most strongest personalities learn from you.

Remember, your dogs are what you put into it and what emotion you send down the lead. It's difficult to get into that mindset but that strong-willed dog needs you to be a calm assertive but so does that dog that is timid.

If your spouse or someone important to you is in a &^%$ mood, doesn't it affect you? Most will say yes. It's the same for the dog but you can't talk it out with the dog like you should with the human.

Fiona may always be a challenge all her life but not in a negative way but one who will try new things. Her brain is always ticking but she's also an emotional one and needs to understand that the world is not just about her. She's getting there but nothing is born perfect.

Again, they are what we put into them and if you are consistent and keep at it, you will have a truly amazing companion and wonder how you ever did without them.

I know I wouldn't trade any of my dogs for anything. They each bring something different to my life and I treasure that!

--Darlah at Talemaker

More Havanese Picnic Photos: Thanks, Jean!

Thanks to Jean, we have a number of new photos added to the slideshow. Her photos are noted with her name next to the filename.

Check them out.

Here's a photo Jean captured of Nathan getting his doggie lovin' in.

Would you expect anything else? Enjoy!

Be Still My Heart: Havanese Living & Enjoying Life

Hey guys, I am Risa - the black dog with white feet. That's why my champion name is Whitesox. I tend to manage the crew here but the humans here just won't stop till we are all having fun.

That human daddy was getting me going and at first the rest of the crew went - dare we play with the 'boss'? But play they did.

We just uploaded a video from the picnic hoping you will enjoy. What has become abundantly clear is we like to play no matter where we are. Maybe it's that Abs that won't stop or those humans or...but forgive us as we tend to be all over that video as we were the ones moving our ahems off and crashing on the way home.

Oh, there are plenty of the others human and canine alike but like we said - we are used to having CRAZY fun. Enjoy!

PS: Disregard the jerky nature. That human daddy is still learning. We all have to do that for the rest of our lives. HA!

What a Havanese Day

Have you ever seen a growl and a grrr and a roll and a totally wrestlemania rough-house experience with your dogs?

We had guests over that assumed they were going to kill each other but they were having fun.

It's important to distinguish between play and aggression. There is a huge difference but perhaps not to a person that hasn't seen both in action.

Puppies play as if they are going to gnaw each others tail, hair, ears or what have you off but they know how hard to bite down and if one was to go yelp, the other would stop and then continue and lessen the impact. They don't want to end the play and if they don't 'get' it, well they won't have anyone to play with.

If you ever saw your dog growling or barking at others when they are a puppy, often its due to their inexperience in reading another dog's language and them being not sure if the other is receptive to play. They will 'get' that. Some get it earlier than others but if you socialize - and do it often, they will get it earlier.

Just like us, they learn from their experiences - good and bad. We have to guide them down that right path of being totally amazing!

Rita & Yvonne's Havanese Picnic '08

Havanese Fiona's Shag Look

Fiona Says:

Daddy thinks I am a sheep dog. They say I am supposed to show natural but I can't see a thing. Oh the hair stays back and then I give it a shake and watch out!

The judge on Thursday didn't like Fiona's 'cheeky' attitude but today's did. She just has to gain a tad bit of weight and get fat - ROFL. So, the Fiona is on a high protein diet starting tomorrow and eating frozen raw chicken necks. We will see what that does. We may have to hold her in place to get her to stop expelling so much energy. Oh that human wishes she had that metabolism.

Well, we are still working on picnic photos. Some were corrupted due to a virus but we are recovering what we can. Look for them soon.