Wasabi Pup Comes to Visit

Chewie came over for a visit with his humans. It was an unexpected visit and it was fun.

He is such a happy boy going a mile a minute with his tail. It was great to see.

Tomorrow Saki comes for a visit and we are hoping it doesn't rain.

Chewie is going all silver like his dad. It's going to be interesting seeing him next summer and seeing the changes.

Here's a neat trick to teach your little one.

Flip a Treat
This trick is fun for both your Havanese and his audience. And it's easy, too.
•Hold your left hand under your dog's muzzle and place a treat on the end of his nose with your right hand. Slowly move your hands away as you give the command "Take it!"

•During the first few attempts, the treat will probably go flying over your dog's head. Grab it before he does and repeat. Eventually he'll figure out how to snatch the treat in midair.

•Teaching your dog to wait for your verbal cue before grabbing the treat requires a hold command and a release command. Place your left hand under your Havanese's muzzle and the treat on his nose with your right, then look into his eyes and say, "Hold it" in a low, assertive tone.

•Slowly remove your hand from his muzzle and say, "Take it!" If he begins to go for the treat before your command, repeat the hold cue.

Vinegar and Oil

Oh this duo is always trying to do a one upmanship.

It reminds us of two of our daughters. They either adore each other or they think the other one has to be beneath them as they are top dawg!
I just love both from the bottom of my heart but they - mostly that Treasie keeps you on your toes thinking.

The younger set actually play quite well with the older set and scramble up and down the stairs with ease. It's amazing!

Each day we take them out at least 4 times a day and then run around like banshees and sleep a deep dawgie sleep. Activity equals sleep.

Fiona's Empty Nest

They start going home tomorrow.

What's a mother to do when the pups are leaving the nest?

We make sure they do not go all at once and that makes it easier.

Ah - but we will miss them!

Havanese Calendar On Sale NOW!

Over 75 photos of beautiful Havanese
resting, playing, having fun
and doing everything that Havanese do best!

* Order your Copy Today *

You will recognize many of these dogs. It's a delightful gift for the holidays and will provide year round enjoyment. Proceeds go to the Havanese Fanciers of Canada, the national breed club for the Havanese. Both Nathan and I are members. Nathan is actually the Ontario Director.

Buy one today! If you are living local to us, visit and pick it up personally. You will get bonus kisses from many Havanese and if you bring a dog or two with you everyone wins. We call that PLAYDATE!

Funny Havanese Games

If you click on this photo, you can see a larger view. In it you will see Treasure sticking her tongue out at Abigail. These two gals have a face down all the time.

It's not Abigail. It's Treasure who wants to be top dog and Abigail says - who you - not you - couldn't be. hehehehehe

Treasure is a strong personality. She's fun. she's lovely and she will make you laugh but she needs boundaries. She's the kid that you say don't cross that line and she is edging her paw out seeing if you are looking.

This type of dawg is a huge ball of fun but you have to be boss and they have to understand that when they cross the line - no matter how cute you think it is, you have to set boundaries. Dawgs thrive with rules and boundaries - just some have to try to see what they can get away with and if allowed...well they will end up testing you to the point where you are not happy.

So, instead of playing recovery - set your rules and give positive reinforcement. Try not to laugh when they do something bad that is equally funny.

Your dawg is what you put in to them. They are worth it!!

Our Visitors Have a Great Time

When Do You Say Enough?

It's rather hard when one of our canine pals is dealing with illness or injuries. When do you say - it's time. It's different for everyone. That's okay but sometimes when you are in the thick of it, you can't see.

We would give our last meal to our dawgs. We adore them so. We fall hard for all our visitors too. It's just us.

Terra had a cruciate operation and has grade 4 hip dysplasia - not good. The vet said most would have put her down. I asked -will she be functioning again? Seeing she has 2 legs to do - he said there's a good chance but won't know till we see if she can strengthen her back end. She absolutely has atrophy from not using her leg. She must be walked around the block 3 times a day steady slow pace. It takes about 20 minutes each go around. Today she is in for her first rehabilitation on the underwater treadmill. I asked Nathan to take photos. I am hoping she does well.

Are we doing this for her or us? To be honest - both but if she had to live with constant pain, I would rethink this process. She will absolutely have arthritis. Perhaps be on Metacam all the rest of her life or maybe not.

She so much wants to be running like Treasure here and we can't blame her.

Before you read this as such a downer - it isn't. It's something we are all faced with eventually in humans and canines.

I do believe Terra is behind in her healing but she is also dealing with a hip and another bad leg - rather a tough one but if you saw her face when Nathan took just her to the car - well priceless.

Our big dawgs are a key element here - socializing the smaller sets to the big dawgs so they find that they are larger but just as friendly. That's important. Of course not all big dogs will be friendly but they must learn size is not a factor - it's about the dawg.

Gad, in our neighbourhood the dawgs must learn that even humans can be afraid of them. We try to get people over that but not always successful.

The puppies that will be 10 weeks tomorrow climb all over Terra and Whitney. They kiss them and snuggle with them. Plus the Goldens just truly know how to be a part of the Havanese pack.

We may never get a Golden after Whitney and Terra but we will always have some big dawg in our lives if we can. For us, the socialization element is critical and it is critical for people to expose their dawgs after they leave and have had their shots - to all sorts of things from dawgs to elevators to balloons etc.

Treasure the moments you have. Make the most of life and enjoy the laughter the Havanese bring - and they do - if you allow.

Always Changing

This photo begs the question, will Nathan be laying on the ground in the snow with pups? Time will tell.

The puppies start going on Friday. We will then be down to 3 till Monday when another goes and on Tuesday yet another. Then we have a boarder coming then the last one - the first born gone. Gad..no more puppies.

But come December we have boarders that will keep us busy and hopefully we will hear stories and get photos and hear all about their new adventures.

We feel like we are always in a flux of change around here but that's okay. Change is fun and good and different and it's life. :-)

Just got back from a walk with all the dogs - 2 at a time - Nathan does 2, I do 2 and so we go on multiple walks. We try to change the routes to make it interesting. Dogs and people get bored with the same old route day in and day out.

Clothing and Face Furnishings

Look at what these humans do to me.

Okay, I don't seem to mind - I just look downright funny but my face stays cleaner for the show.It's boy stuff putting my face in all sorts of places it shouldn't be...not neutered boys.

That's okay, winter is coming and Mommy will put these jackets on us when the snow is extra wet so we don't get ice balls. Yes, we get a very cold snowball tummy but if there is a jacket covering that tummy, well only the legs get it. It has to be certain type of snow and it can get washed off easily but for us its an assembly line dressing everyone.

Why are we talking about snow? It's coming - eventually... Best be prepared.