Havanese Wind Blowing in Ones Hair

Have you taken your dog out and watched their hair blowing? Maybe it's the artistic side of me but hair blowing - messy as ever and that's my memory.

Really - Wasabi was perfectly brushed earlier..but that's not Wasabi. She just enjoys mucking and romping it up and loves that breeze flowing through her. You've seen those type of dogs - the ones hanging their heads out the window. That would be her, if we allowed. When I blow dry her - she just loves it when its on air only and it's blowing right in her face. Most dogs find this to be rather unenjoyable but not her.

Looking at this photo, she looks 50 lbs but she's a svelte 12 pounds - hopefully soon to be a heavier dog with pups. She's already getting that sucky - just need to be close thing they do and I love that as I am her one to cuddle with.

It's raining and all that tough snoozing is over for today. One does have to come in from the rain. It doesn't appear that the sun will come back out.

Zack and Coco is visiting for a week and fun is going to happen for sure this week. Let's see - we already had a run-like-hell session - snoozing - hiding in tunnels - retrieve game and more to come. Okay - we do need to get a life but our lives are the dogs - so excuse us for celebrating such delightful moments of the Havanese.

Your life will never be the same once one enters your life and you will wonder how you ever did without one or two or like crazy us...many!

Havanese and Warm Weather

Warmer days are coming and yesterday the garden furniture went out. It's about time don't you think? But don't put out plants just yet - cooler weather is coming tomorrow. Remember all sensitive plants shouldn't be placed out til the end of the month.

Well, we made progress. Nathan pulled a million and a half dandelions and I cut back some branches and shrubs and the dogs just had a grand old time dragging the sticks from my cutbacks from here to there.

The Havanese are like us - they can't wait til warmer times but when the really hot weather arrives - hey give me that pool or air conditioner - any old time.

Yvonne's puppies from our Kat and her Lola's are already 10 days old. WOW! We still have 12 days to go till Wasabi's ultrasound and tomorrow Zack and Coco are coming for a week to play. It's going to be great fun.

Then today Linda's mother and Linda of course are coming - 89 years old to be surrounded by all these dogs. It's the start of a great holiday weekend. What have YOU got planned? How about a walk with your fave Havanese. Did you know that they create conversations wherever you go? I find that to be rather nice and when that happens - you get to human socialize them. That's a GOOD thing!

Havanese Show Dog Struggle

When you show your dog you have to look at it without the glow in your eyes that your Havanese meets the standards and tends to stand out but that is all subjective.

Is there more?

Well everyone who sits and says their dogs LOVE the shows - well they aren't ALL right. There are some dogs that grow into it, others that tolerate it and others that never get their groove on but could be amazing moms and still can finish.

So, why do it when your dog isn't totally in love with the sport? I guess to say they achieved their championship.

There are various reasons why you may not show your dog to championship.

They are not in love with the sport but do adhere to the standards and would be amazing brood bitches etc. or in one instance that we had to deal with - another dog ripped out one of our dog's top knots all in fun. The dog didn't do it to delay the show career but rather to play.

Another reason could be a blown coat that does happen once in a Havanese life or you are simply too far away from the shows, the costs - to name just a few of the reasons.

We struggle in keeping the hair intact, having a balanced Havanese that enjoys life and is not segregated from others and figuring it out.

Is this really that important and is it fun for the dog?

Treasure last night in class had a ball. Her body, her bounce, her smile - yep a smile said it all.

She loves the time in the ring but she likes to be the only one.

In Chatham she was 'on' just like last night. With company - well she wants to play. Is it that she wants to be the only one or having your pack mates just means fun and you can't do that while the focus is on so many?

This show business is tough. It's a dance between you and the dog - a view from a given judge and yes you can have an exquisite dog that doesn't win in a sea of professional handlers. Yes, that happens and we have watched it not just in the Havanese when we haven't had dogs in but in a number of breeds but being a judge isn't easy, I imagine and when you do not win even when you are on your game - your Havanese is on its game - well you did win as you achieved that special dance between handler and canine that should be applauded. Add that the dog and handler enjoys the experience and you have achieved more than any championship, imho.

When our dogs do achieve their championship - I celebrate. We relax in this hair business and don't worry as much when they play hard, rough and tumble style and life is good but we do manage to make sure they enjoy life before championship and just do it with less than perfect hair as the dog counts the most in all of this....at least for us.

Puppies are the things we celebrate - play - achievements - balanced - healthy - fun - all the things that if not in their lives here - well we would choose to forgo the shows as the dogs and their lives matter the most and we do not fool ourselves into believing that all dogs love the show ring - as they don't. But that's okay. Do you like to do everything?

Just call this written exploring - and food for thought!

Havanese Heat NO MORE

Well - not - never but it's done - ah...and till the next time. I adore male dogs - I do and I mean totally do. They are so lovees etc. but not stud dogs that are kept away from a gal in heat. They are an entire 'nother beast but today - calm...no interest - and tomorrow a bath as the marking outside has stopped.

We were going to take Kat out to class tonight to get him to get away from the scents but now it will only be the Treasure. She's practicing for the show coming up and we like to keep her exposed to kids, other dogs, different scenery etc. It's important especially during their fear stages.

Treasure hasn't been around screaming - running kids so last night I asked the kids to stop at class (class was outside) and say hello to her. All of this is done to make her realize that no matter how headache driven the screams are - it's all harmless.

Leaving Your Havanese Behind

Last night we went to handling class with just Kat and Treasure was miffed, to say the least. She rather likes the classes but she had just finished 3 days of show and we felt she needed a break despite what she thinks. Tonight she is back to handling class.

There's a fine art to balance when training. You can't do it so much that they get bored or don't find it as a treat to go to class so leaving Treasure behind at times is a good thing despite her - but daddies that she so prominently displays.

We bought these 'no bark' devices from Home Hardware and placed one at the front door. We had a few barkers that we were boarding at the same time and it got our pack barking in unison. I don't mind a few barks but then that should be enough. It hasn't stopped the barking totally but it has stopped the number of times. What it does is put out a high pitched sound that they can only hear. It doesn't hurt them. It's a sound correction. Will it work long term - don't think that is necessary if you use it as an attention thing and use your usual correction - you should be able to shut them off and still have the same affect with the anticipation. So far - day 1 - it's doing the attention thing so we can correct. We will see what happens when we get a boarder or two that likes to bark. We have one on our deck but may need another further out. We shall see.

Bad news - they need batteries and who knows how long they will last.

Two weeks till Wasabi's ultrasound. Why do the days string out when you want them to go by fast and zip by when you don't want them to?

Oversized Havanese or WHAT?

This weekend someone asked Nathan to show a 130 lb dog. Can you guess what it was?

When the judge said run it around twice, Nathan got his full workout.

Nathan really enjoyed the experience though a dog that size - when it wants your treats - well who is going to win? You, of course but it gives new meaning into getting your dog trained. This one was a rather well trained special who already had his championship.

Well, today was a catch-up day with much grooming. Due to rain, and not being here - well I had work to do and - well sometimes they say - there are days like this....

Can we have another day?

Abigail Championship

Well, Abigail now has 13 points - you need 10 for their championship and the question is - do we cut her down or do we leave her in full coat? What do you think?

That's it - Abigail can play to her heart's delight and muck it up, swim and not have mommy give her all those deep conditioning baths.

Life is going to be sooooooooooo much fun. ROFL

Abigail Finishes

Well Abigail does it with a bang - beating out all the specials for breed and finishing her championship and get this - with a blown coat.

More after today's show and a champion photo tonight.

Gad - am I tired or what and soon we have to pick up our friend Valerie Weston that helped us and continues to and I get to watch her TT in the ring today as she is on this afternoon while Nathan is on this morning with Abigail and Treasure. Fiona gets to hang out at home and enjoy already getting her championship just a few weeks ago.

We are sooooooooooooo excited to have 2 champions in such a short time.