Bigger Dawg Play

Saki had fun playing with the wee ones today in the x-pen and was having a roaring grand time. Fiona didn't mind a bit.

It's nice when a mom relaxes enough to realize the others won't hurt their little ones.

The crew had 2 outings outside and on one of them, I swear the wind was going to blow them away - well it felt that way but they were okay.

Mom is trying to totally wean them off of her now and they are eating up a storm.

This week they go for their hearing test and first shots.

Check out this pileup with Saki. The pups totally adored her as they did Jasper and Chewy.

The pups are truly enjoying the beds especially the ones they can hide and snuggle in. When we come into the room, they get way excited.

I am now grooming them up on my grooming table daily - cleaning around their eyes, checking their teeth coming in, checking bums, looking at ears etc all to get them used to the experience. They aren't crazy about it but that's usual and they do get used to it.

Mom is no longer sleeping with them at night. The transition to go to their forever homes have already begun even though they still have a bit to go.

Slow conditioning is the key.

Few Photos From Today

The pups were quite busy today getting wet outside. They don't seem to mind in the least and actually relish playing outside. It's rather nice.

Just thought I would share a few photos from today...

Can't Come Out

The puppies play all sorts of silly games with their Mom and I have never seen it quite like this with any of the others.

Yes, this pup was saying - Mommy, you can't come out.

You see, she wanted to eat from Mom and Mom has decided to wean them. Why? Well - they have teeth. Oh, she feeds them the odd time when she gets full of milk but that's not often.

She does play all sorts of fun games with them and she adores them. Good thing a couple of them will be here til December 3rd/4th - one to someone that won't be back till then and a show home for the other. We figure it is easier with two otherwise we would have to spoil and take her to bed with us and then what can they do but do the same. heh

Two will be going home in 2 and a half weeks - way too soon for me but probably not for their forever homes.

The crew no longer has Mom in with them at night nor any of us humans. They are in a room across from our bedrooms in hearing distance and this is on purpose to get them to sleep the night. They hear us get up in the morning and rarely whine for us but there are the odd times they do when they are extra hungry.

Usually they sit all together in the x-pen in the crate awaiting us to bring them downstairs. They eat - they do their business then go back to sleep.

They will soon be up playing up a storm. Their rowdy play has kicked up a notch.

Come this week they will get a hearing test called Baer and their first shot. They will be nose diving down the stairs though human Daddy has worried that they are still too little but Wasabi's was stairing it at this point - (have to check).

Lots of changes...and the two going home will be due for their 2nd shots right away.

We are also planning an Abigail and Wasabi litter so stay tuned and then we may concentrate on doing some fun things with our dogs like rally. We shall see.

Puppy Wrestle

The gals are wrestling these days. I was wondering when they would really get into it. They are now making their grrrr sounds and loving it.

The pups run - not walk to the back door in hopes that they are going out.

They enjoy the outdoor romp with the rest of the gang and who could blame them.

We took the gang out tonight - first time out in the dark and had no concerns in the least. I remember the first time we had Shoshi out at night (Shoshi was from another breeder), she was rather unsure of what this night business was. Glad this crew embraced the dark and had a great time. Of course they always have to get their kisses in too.

Let Me Out

Well, the rain didn't stop the pups from wanting to go outside and even getting wet as all get out, they wanted to go back for more. Can't say they mind the rain.

What can I say, they are having too much fun outside. I can't blame them but I need a rain jacket to watch this gang.

The pups still amaze me at their quiet play. Watch next week they will turn into gremlins. hahahaha

We had a great time in the kitchen and outside today but I grow weary of trying to take photos with this camera. Here's hoping I get it fixed tomorrow.

Under Cover

Yesterday the crew discovered under the deck. I said to Fiona - 'Fiona go get your babies' and off she went under the deck and shooed them out. Yes, she understood.

But now they have figured out that they can go under the deck and pounce out - run underneath and have a jolly grand time.

They also run and fall over and play up a storm. It's a riot. It's better than TV, folks!

Sometimes they even appear to be strutting their stuff. It's fun to watch. They are so bloody adorable and totally fun to play with.

You just laugh and laugh.

Remember the first time they went out on the pool cover - when they had to brace themselves as it was bouncing them all over?

Well no concern now. They run across it without concern. It's great fun.

Fiona continues to play with them in such a wonderful way. She's teaching them the ropes, so to speak.

She also tells the others off if they play too rough with her babies.

She's such a great mom - truly!

When she's not playing, she is watching them making sure they are enjoying themselves and not in harm's way.

You know, you fall even deeper in love with them when they show you their maternal side. Fiona - she's rather special.

The pups are too!

First Bath

Pups had their first bath today and no one complained much except when they were in the crate getting blow dried.

What I do is I wash each one putting them in a crate after towel drying them and I have 2 blow dryers blowing in on them on a tepid setting.

When I finish the last one, I start in on the 1st one hand drying her under the dryer and Nathan does the same with the 2nd one that got washed. Then we moved on to the last two.

Pups are now:

First Born -2lbs 11 oz
Tiger lily legs gal -2lbs 10 oz
Brown Sable -2lb 13 oz
Blond Caramella - 2lb 12 oz

This crew is smaller thus far than Wasabi's last crew. They are almost 7 weeks.

They are fast asleep as I type. They had visitors today, a bath and much play time.

They found the under the deck and I said to Fiona - 'go get your babies' and she went under the deck and shooed them out.

Hope you enjoy some of the photos from today.

Visiting Fun With Pup Owners

We try to have new owners over a few times before the pups go home to their forever homes with them. We feel it is important not only for the humans to bond and enjoy and appreciate but it also gives the pups some socializing - slow conditioning to strangers. It's really important that they get exposed to all sorts of noises, people and when they go home this doesn't stop. The more you expose them, the better they are about changes and new things that pop up. This process is one that lasts forever.

Not too long ago we had our dogs in a handling class and the woman that owns it is in a wheelchair. All the dogs - all different breeds reacted. Some owners were adamant that she shouldn't go down the middle of the room as it was frightening.

I didn't like the abruptness and felt it could have been a slower conditioning but life is not that way - is it? After a couple of weeks, the dogs stopped reacting. That's what it is all about - slow conditioning.

Below is a video with the pups and 2 of the owners plus a few of our older dawgs. I hope you enjoy!

Yesterday's Jaunt in the Rain

It's not much but it gives you a bird-eye view into puppies trying to perfect the run in the rain.

Fun Can Be Had

You don't have to get soaking wet when the rain is coming down hard.

There are ways to enjoy and get exercised inside.

This is Fiona's 1st born running up a storm in the kitchen.

This one is a character making all sorts of funny noises when she plays with you.

As you may have noticed, their skills have increased as time goes on. Each day they perfect their skills from running, to climbing to everything in between.


When the crew gets tired, they crawl into bed or snuggle up to something and enjoy a rest-filled set of zzzzzs.

My camera is still broken. I am still having fits with my video camera.

But, I have the pups - the dawgs and all the visitors to remind me what is important.

Then when everything seems like it's more work than fun, they do something silly that makes you laugh and suddenly you are succumbed by their magic.

Talking about laughter, this little one is nibbling on Nathan's ear and wouldn't stop. You have to love the little ones.

Their actions are so innocent with unabandoned fun thrown in. How can you not want that?

Life's SOOOOOO Ruff

Well, the pups are 1 day older than 6 weeks and they play up a storm now and get way relaxed dreaming of what dawgie's dream.

Soon the cold will set in (we have major chores to get ready) and that white stuff will be flying.

Pups get snowballs in their feet and on their tummy when the snow is wet. Find yourself a coat or buy a cheap dollar store neck warmer and put it on them right around that mid section and it will protect the area. You still may have to wash the snowballs away or brush them out (always brush after each method or you will get knots) and dry your little one. They will certainly get chilled.

That's why many get all over coats for them as it's warmer and just plain easier. Also, that salt on the road during winter months is very irritating to them getting stuck between their toes. Be sure to clean it out.

Okay - no white stuff yet but its good to be prepared. Call me silly but I would love some white stuff before the pups go home just to have that moment with them. Silly - is it not?

The crew is playing in the kitchen today to stay dry. Grooming lots of wet dogs is interesting. So, yes they are going out but yes they are also playing big time inside.

Rain, rain go away - come again another day!

Pups 6 Weeks Old

We decided to take the crew outside in the rain to slow condition them. They didn't seem to mind a bit. It was great fun. We were supposed to have 2 of the Wasabi siblings come to visit but that's cancelled till next week due to the rain.

We got a tad wet but still managed to have fun. Still having %$^& video camera issues and no camera but Nathan's but hope you check out our latest video at http://talemakerhavanese.com/

Enjoy today's photos.

Corruption & Pups

Had major issues with a video - such a fun thing - camera in the shop getting a repair and now these rewritable mini DVDs that seem to not be so rewritable that part of the video becomes corrupt. I have spent hours and hours trying to recover data and I am missing all the big dawg play with the puppy play but managed to get the pups with their mom and the two visiting Wasabi pups. Hope you enjoy. The crew is almost 6 weeks and we promise - we are going to try to get good video today without corruption but if not - I need to get a video camera with a hard drive. :-) Gad...although I think we are missing some of the best parts..this isn't so bad either.

Be thankful for what you have - they say. Enjoy the pups!! Be sure to check out the big dawgs with Wasabi pups video too!

Bleepin Day

Here I go spoiling all the fun. We had a great time playing outside with the Wasabi pups and human Mommy's %^$& mini DVD is giving errors so her video is a mess. We are trying to recover cause we missed a great deal of fun.

We really did have a grand time and I hope to have even a bit of it to show you.

The pups are truly enjoying outside and are even willing to play with the big guys. The pool cover is not terribly scary for them any longer and Fiona and the rest of the gang was playing up a storm with the little ones.

Remind the human to save up for a video player with a hard drive vs. using mini DVDs that tend to get errors on them. So much for rewritables.

The camera is also in the shop so we are taking photos with human Daddy's camera. Joy...not...are we spoiled or WHAT!!

Stay tuned...hopefully we will have video.

Camera - &^%$

My camera is not working correctly so this was what we got today. If I can get my camera to work - great but if not - off to the shop yet again. I am hoping it is still under warranty.

The pups are really active and they tucker themselves out.

Mommy is playing with them so wonderful that it's a joy to watch. She is also stopping them from feeding when they use their teeth. Yep - teeth are starting to come in. One already has a ton of teeth. The teeth all come in at a different rate but one has the advantage or not depending how you look at it. When they play and one uses their mouth, the other will say - don't bite so hard. It's all a good learning experience.

I promise tomorrow better pix but til then...they are truly fun to watch.

What's Life Like?

Well, we hit the pad most of the time.

We do tend to play and wrestle with each other making all sorts of cute noises.

Gad we gives kisses and are fast practicing our runs and climbs.

We are now eating a fair amount of food instead of just from mom.

Life is fast, fun and then they sleep.

More tomorrow....

Today's Outside Jaunt

Hope you enjoy seeing the pups enjoy the great outdoors.

What can I tell you about them? So far the light cream coloured gal runs the fastest and like crazy when you say 'puppy, puppy' but they all had various ideas of what to do outside AND ALL enjoyed the great outdoors with their mom and a few of our crew.

Standing Up Saying Pick Me

This gal is a 'pick me' character.

She has my number and does it every time.

In Kat's litter - as he was born here, he was also the 'pick me' type. But as weeks go on and their personalities unfold, we will see who is what in the scheme of things.

The crew is getting their exposure and play sessions in the kitchen now. We will start taking them out on a regular basis so they can play in the fallen leaves and walkways.

Fiona continues to be a great mom. I am amazed always by her. She is so attentive and loves to play with them. It's such a delight to watch.

Tomorrow night one of Wasabi's pups re coming to board and another on Saturday. I believe Wasabi and Abigail who adores pups will be in heaven.

Five Weeks Old - Celebration!

Yes, 5 weeks have passed since we made our debut.

We made sure that Human Mommy was up all night and Daddy half the night just so we could all come into the world on that wonderful 09-09-09 date.

We are all around 2lbs now. We are enjoying our time in the kitchen and outside. Humans...we are excited about but don't wake me up from my sleep as sleep- well it gives us the energy to play and play.

We are really finding toys are fascinating but not as much as humans and the litter mates.

We don't mind running water but a noisy dryer gave one of us pause but that's what slow conditioning is about to get us used to all sorts of sounds.

We are at the halfway mark before going home. Too fast...too soon...

Today's Photos

The pups are 5 weeks tomorrow and we decided to take them in for the start of their daily kitchen romp. But canine mom didn't get too far and they went in for the food.

This little one was checking things out. The reflection of our trash cans and dog food container was new - shiny and reflective. Hey - there's another dog, I think.

Even when canine mom was moving, they were hanging on and eating. She's such a good sport and say - okay...

This one was looking at me as if to say, what is canine mom trying to do. Should I try it?

Of course the day would not be complete for the pups if that human Daddy didn't just play to his heart's content and theirs with the lil' ones. They adore him.

When all is said and done, the best ride is sitting on the arm of that human Daddy. I can watch my sisters muck it up and I can just relax.

Till of course that sister of mine that thinks she's a kissing machine. ha! We hope you enjoyed a small glimpse into our lives.

Attack of the Carrier Bag

Okay - not an attack but this one has a really fun time going after the handles more than going inside.

It's inside the x-pen to allow them to get used to a carrier in case they go on a plane or two.

It's important to slow condition the puppies.

We are going to take them out to the kitchen and outdoors more frequently when they hit 5 to 6 weeks. We play with them all the time but the cold is an adjustment and we plan to get them conditioned little by little.

As you can see in the photos, the puppies are now progressing in their play. They are standing up - swatting the pup inside and having a grand time. The swat is all in play and this crew is very gentle in the type of play. They may get more rough and tumble style as they get older but not so far.

They have a lot of weeks to go before we see it all unfold so...watch to see what happens. It's bound to be fun.

Hey Brrrrr

Well, we are practicing burrowing thanks to our mom who has been teaching us all the tricks. It's a tad cold around here but they have these heat lamp thingies and blankets and a closed door.

It's heating up fast. Who would have thought frost was coming tonight?

Well, we are picky about what we eat. Throw goat milk in - yum. Throw Mommy's dish in with turkey - oh boy. Hey - that human took it away - something about us not having teeth yet and not being old enough. Geez...
Hope your Thanksgiving turkey is more enjoyable than ours. heh

2nd Outside Event

It finally warmed up a bit and the rain stopped to allow us to get the pups outside. Nathan did it on a whim so I didn't have the video charged etc. but I did manage to get a few pictures.


Fiona decided to run on the cover to get them to play but seeing they are less than 2 lbs, they were sort of bouncing all over. They didn't quite understand it but they were adjusting. She thought this was great fun and they did too but the bouncing cover made them try to balance themselves. All made it off from that first run and then went right back on. Nathan went on the cover to get one or the other but as much as they didn't get the cover, they went right back on.

Eventually they would get their sea legs till mom would jump on it again so we decided grass was better perhaps?

This one seemed to get her sea legs the quickest and didn'y pay any attention to the bounce, perhaps even enjoying it.

The rocks felt funny to this one but she soon adjusted. All these sights and sounds and feelings - all rather new.

These humans sure have a funny thing they do with what they call conditioning but it was fun.

Then after this 10 minute romp, off to the house we went and canine mom continued the play inside. She surely is enjoying this crew and it's easy to see why.

Turkey Time

It's still too wet for us to go outside...can you believe?

But we are adapting to go to various rooms - sleeping in different places and seeing different humans.

We are starting to play even more when we are awake but we do sleep a fair bit of the day and night.

We are eating food but we are not overly zealous over it so that human mom is going to add some goats milk to it to see if we will go for it more. Oh - we eat just not a ton but maybe cause we are small and our bellies can only expand so much.

Those humans have a son that came in that we haven't seen till last night. He's a real dawg person. Now we have 2 sons to play with. Plus their daughter-in-law is coming over for turkey - those big dawgs are excited but us - not yet.

It will surely be a busy and noisy night.

Oh and that mom has to wash a dog for a show and pack a car and... so updates tomorrow will be done late at night. Watch for them.

PS: Next week Wasabi's pups and visitors will be here and how cool and fun will that be for us...slow conditioning...and fun!

Puppy Kisses

There's nothing like puppy kisses and these two do it all the time with each other. I just laugh and laugh especially cause the lighter one was sleeping and the other one would have none of that.

The pups are all just a bit under 2 lbs. We wanted to get them out again but we have been dealing with too much rain. We are hoping to do it the next sunny day.

The pups slept in a different environment to help them adjust to changes and they LOVED it. They were practicing runs. The area was a tad larger than this so they had more room to practice in. It was really great to watch.

They are still sleeping a fair amount of time. They play and play then sleep and wake up - eat and play and do it all again.

Gad they are so soft - kissers and quite the personalities coming through. I can't wait to see how it all develops. Stay tuned.

Hey Stop: 4 Week Fun is Too Much

The pups just can't get enough of that play.

They are not as rambunctious vocally as some but they do manage to muck it up and we are starting to see the beginning of that.

As they get older, they will perfect their skills.

Life as they know it has just begun.

Today has been a day of firsts. First to go outside.

Then it will be the first to move upstairs.

Hope you enjoy a touch of today...

First Mushy Food

The pups turned 4 weeks today and had their first bit of mush - kibble softened up almost to liquid so they can eat.

They took to it like they were born to eat. heh.

Some you have to coax but not this crew. I put the dish down and away then ate and did their lip smacking food face in the bowl thang.

Only one was adventurous enough to walk in it.

We're not telling which one. We have our secrets to protect - yeah right...

Then a couple tried the water dish and then they headed for mom. As you can see - a milky faced pup is now fast asleep satisfied completely.

Life is good. Have to get some sleep so the play can commence. They are doing that a great deal these days..playing full steam ahead!

I promise video - soon...