Costs

Unfortunately starting in the New Year, our costs will go up. Please contact nathan for updated costs.

Picnic Photos & Details

The picnic date took place on August 17, 2019 from 12pm to 5pm at Yvonne's place in Brighton. Check out the details here. Photos from the 2019 picnic can be found here. Yvonne's place is NEXT DOOR to her old place. I will try to put a havanese flag out front. Hope you can join us. Directions are here. The house # is 25. There is no picnic in 2020 due to COVID but hopefully in 2021. Stay Tuned!

Grooming 101

Want to see how I get a smooth coat and what equipment I use? I am continually learning and perfecting but I created this video Windows version) and for you Mac apple folks - here's a conversion. - not a professional one, to help you get a head start and perfect your own skill. Got questions? Ask away.

Want to know how to create a bathing machine that will save you time, product and wash your dog better than ever before? Check out Dick and Irma's instructions on how to create your own machine for a fraction of the cost.

Woofstock Is Back

Meet us at Woofstock. Dogs are welcomed. We meet at the restaurant across the street from Woodbine Park. Here is the location. Meet up happens on June 22, 2024 at 9:30 to 945am. Rain date is the next day. Look forward to seeing your havanese there and the humans too! Don't have your havanese yet? Well join us anyway! 

Award Photos
Friends & Associates
Blog Archive
Certified Pet First Aid

Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid is a recognized National Pet First Aid Certificate course for dog and cat professionals and pet owners. Talemaker Havanese now has that certificate having taken and passed the course.

Entries by Darlah (6326)

Tuesday
Feb242026

Snow Coming?

Here is a small gallery.

It has been a lazy day. Dennis is off so it means I do more and well photos are secondary. I washed floors as a few dogs marked on the floor. I change water. I change pads and I even fit in exercise. Oh, and that laundry lol. Hope you had a day that was more relaxing.

I had a roaring grand time running like an idiot in the house expelling energy in me and the dogs. My apple watch said I did this for 64 minutes straight and most of the dogs either watched or hung in with me. It was fascinating to watch who was energetic. Yes, we do silly stuff here but it exercises me and them. I can't wait till spring though. 

They say snow is coming. Fun...well the yellow will disappear but still. 

Monday
Feb232026

Monday Monday

Here is the gallery.

Lucky is a lucky gal sitting on high like the princess she is. She departs today. 

Murphy likes to sit in her crate and I say hers as she has claimed it. Mr. Ozzy arrived. We have a number of arriving and departing going on. It is also my day off and I am  playing with my 3d printer making drawers to go under it to hide all the tools. 

Yesterday I made Sherry a fun purse. You are supposed to be able to line it and put flowers in it or so they show it as. 10 hours later - yes laughing as it was different. You never know what you can make and she makes purses with her sewing machine. Murphy gets a groom when I wake up and wonderful that Sherry is good enough to have her home. I wonder who will steal Murphy's bed at night after she departs. 

Ms Juni is going home this Sunday if their house sale goes through. She will miss this place. I may have to do her just before pickup as she would never stay combed. There are just some dogs. 

The sun is shining. Weather is not bad for winter. We hear Florida is downright cold. 

Vivi sauntered in the door having a ton of fun already. 

I am short blogging it today. I just want to relax. I want Nathan to get me popcorn and he is crabbing about it but hey, I think I deserve double layered buttered popcorn - don't you? 

Sunday
Feb222026

Play Before Departure

Here is the mini gallery.

Sorry, Sherry - think Dennis forgot to click Murphy but she has been enjoying Juni. Juni is a puppy that we now have to put away from Winston as Winston thinks she is in heat and she is not. LOL So, it is as if Murphy says to her - I will hang out with you as I get it.

Cassie, Arlo, Lola, Axel and Olive depart today. They have all had a blast!

It is wet outside so those that are departing after grooming can't go out. We had snow fall off the gazebo and fall into the kitchen. The dogs barked at it. It was funny. 

Saturday
Feb212026

Wet and Fun

Here is the gallery.

I am trying to get Nathan to get me a double layered butter popcorn from SilverCity and he says - no, I am too tired. That is okay. I am eating fishies with a chicken sandwich and the dogs are looking at me as if to say, where is mine? I feel guilty but they already ate.

It was mighty wet outside.

Winston thinks Juni is in heat. She is not but Dennis is going to sleep with her tonight and we have Winston with the guys vs the girls.  

The dogs got mighty wet so too much grooming today. Blog is short but they are having a TON of fun!

Friday
Feb202026

Mostly Indoors

Here is the gallery.

This is Arlo. He is having the time of his life getting to play with everyone.

Winston and Quinn - siblings played till 1am last night till finally Nathan said ENOUGH. I put ear plus in. LOL Oh the fun they had and I couldn't stand not looking at the play. Quinn has departed and I net he was sleeping as he played hard this morning too. Winston is playing with Opus a tom. 

We have hardly been outdoors as it is raining - cold rain and dtipping wet dogs. You get the idea so we have been playing games indoors - running, catch, fetch and anything else to work those minds.

Thanks goes to Ronnie for some chocolates. I do love chocolate. LOL Thank you for soup and a special present of hiding treats mat from Quinn's mom. 

Thanks goes to Murphy's mom for an unexpected gift of a sander for these 3d prints. Am hoping it works and helps post print projects. I do appreciate all of you!

It is Nathan's day off. He is upstairs reading and sitting in a recliner. 

We had Elvis and Rosey here and they had a ton of fun after grooming and Elvis before and after as he aws the last to do. He would be more apt to wreck himself if Dennis let him out when he took the dogs out after a groom and I would be doing more work. 

Lucky thinks she is the queen always choosing her high up position. It is funny... and well everyone else is doing well and having moments too. 

Thursday
Feb192026

Running Play

Here is the gallery.

We had several dogs join us tonight. One was Winston, who is Quinn's brother. Thet do remember each other and are having a total blast.

Arlo - a new dog has arrived and is thoroughly excited with the other dogs. Olive found her place in Dennis' arms and we are awaiting Coco.

I had a ton of grooming to do today so I am finding a couch, watching tv and avoiding anything used to be prince Andrew as it seems to have been on all day here. 

We have a magnificent group of dogs here. 

Oh and Murphy decided to take Panda's high up spot seeing Panda went home today. It is funny how some spots become more coveted than others. It's a dog perception as I don't think they are coveted. LOL

Wednesday
Feb182026

Snow Day

Here is a mini gallery.

I am not feeling well so forgive me for a short blog. Nathan and Dennis was out so it was me and the dogs making Ikea Skadis boards. LOL

That means I was outdoors with the crew many times and one of those times I clicked. 

The dogs know how to have fun.

Nathan is napping late as he got back with Dennis late and I am about to cuddle with the dogs on a couch. 

I am not seeing it snow, at the moment though the roads I am told is trecherous. 

Will it start snowing again and Dennis can get more photos? We shall see.

Tuesday
Feb172026

Puppy in the House

Here is the gallery.

This is Juni and Quinn. Juni embraced the meltdown but I am under the weather so I did not brush her today. I had other dogs to do that are departing. As we will be getting snow tomorrow, I will do her then.

I will tell you Quinn is out of his mind happy to be with everyone. He did take a nap with Nathan and his canine mom and then he woke up raring to go. He is having a total blast. 

I am about to crawl on to the couch and watch Dennis have fun as he preps for a colonoscopy and some other test. He is having fun. 

We still have 2 dogs departing tonight. 

The dogs have what I call an immense amount of fun going on and Ms. Murphy embraced outside. We shall see what she does tomorrow.

Monday
Feb162026

Looking from Their Abode

Here is the gallery.

We have a line of crates under our table. We also have them in bedrooms and in the TV room - all without doors but one that has a sliding door that is left half open. The dogs go in there to have a rest without someone bothering them. Well, today Cassie was in one as you can see above and Murphy was in another. Safi crawled into the one her sister Murphy was in and you could hear this audible sigh as if to say - if you must - okay and it is a small space - meant for 1 dog. They settled in and both fell asleep for a good hour. I kept checking on them as it was so funny and silly of a reaction just to make sure all was well and it was. 

Dogs do have their own sense of exasperation and giving in, I suppose. 

We had a number of dogs departing. 

We had a ton of play and well it is wet out there... but better than the frozen tundra it was.

Nathan still refusing to go to the dr and that shoulder is still hurting but I caught him snuggling with a variety of dogs and suddenly when he was, he stopped complaining. See - dogs are special medicine to the  soul!

Sunday
Feb152026

Sort of Late

Here is the gallery.

Sorry - a bit late. I just finished grooming 5 dogs and suddenly 3 more was going home so 8 dogs today and just finished now. I have yet to do dishes. I am tired and I need bed but not yet...

Small blog today. I apologize. Not many photos as Dennis wasn't feeling well and I was busy grooming. Life...

But dogs hung out with me. Each dog that was finished, I played with them. Nathan took them out and well now he is taking them out for the last run, play and bathroom break before bed. 

Lots went home today and several tomorrow. 

Saturday
Feb142026

Happy Valentine's Day 2026

Here is the gallery.

I had a pretty bow in Murphy to take a photo and cheer her mom up who had surgery - now home. But I wanted to make her smile. Murphy was saying I know it is warmer but let me in, please. I have to laugh. At least she is consistent. 

We have Nafas and Kandoo here and Nafas was so excited to see her mom. They did play off and on. Kandoo ignored Opus turning her back on him each time he tried to engage till he got the message, Dogs are so funny!

We had gift certificates for Montanas and that is how we celebrated the day. Nathan has a sore shoulder line but it has become so bad that I think it is a rotator cuff which he has issues with since playing baseball in his younger days. He needs to get checked. He can't seem to lift anything and has taken over my recliner and the dogs go oh boy a lap so they join him.

We have a full crew here. Daisy departed and was excited to see her human. Noah and Zoe said oh this place again. I have fave spots here so best grab them before anyone else gets ideas. Chicklet is now home. He had been on 3 legs since his acl issue he had jumping wrong at home. Just a couple of days ago he started using it. Bravo little one and no more pain pills. 

Cassie and Juni are keeping us on our toes. They seem to have similar spirited personalities. It is fun to watch.

Buddy is one of THOSE that is a creature of habit and likes many fave spots. 

Ollie, Petey, Lucky and Ollie are looking for something in the backyard but they are not finding it. LOL Yes, we have 2 Ollies here.

Leo, Marcie, Pepper and Barney well run run run - it's warm enough - hey finally but we hear it is about to drop again.

Did I mention everyone?

Hope everyone is having a relaxing special day. 

Tomorrow I have a ton of grooming so the blog may be shorter and less photos but we shall see what we can do!

Friday
Feb132026

Issues

Here is the gallery.

I had a long blog and it disappeared. Hopefully this time it will stick.

I talked about bedroom rituals where each dog goes to snuggle and kiss and have their moment. Last night it took 45 minutes as each dog said their good nights. They all sleep on the bed and I am done as this won't upload - argh

Thursday
Feb122026

Warm Enough to Enjoy

Here is the gallery.

It was my day off (Monday was not doable this week) and I have been troubleshooting issues with my 3d printer almost all day long. Let us say I am continually learning. I am tired of being frustrated. When it works, I go wow I made that. When it doesn't, I want to throw it out. Somehow my son thought this was what I needed. Gee thanks...

It is warmer outdoors and that means the dogs are enkoying outdoors more. Murphy still says - no not yet.

I watched the Epstein victims after the Bondi fiasco on youtube and felt horrid for these women. It was just more irritation so why do I watch? 

Socks and Hazel went home and they did have fun. I find Socks does have this affection with Hazel but at times it is as if he says - grow up - calm down but he does it now with just his eyes.

The dogs ran and ran outside today. It was nice to see them like that. 

Wednesday
Feb112026

Oh Is it Warmer

Here is the gallery.

I am not sure it is warmer but it is -8c at the moment. That is cold to me.

Dogs are coming - going and instead of Monday, my day off is tomorrow as Dennis has been feeling out of sorts and it appears he is not sick but severely anemic. Anemia is something I have lived with all my life. Joy that he has the same issue so now we deal with it. 

The dogs have been having fun but mostly indoors. Rocky - the 16.5 year old is heading home tonight. Hazel and Socks are staying overnight. Everyone is truly having a blast!

Though Murphy really wants to only use the pad and I can't blame her. LOL

Tuesday
Feb102026

Visiting Things

Here is the gallery.

What do you do instead of going out? You crawl into a crate so no one can see you. LOL That is Murphy!

Today we had a visitor on our deck. The dogs went absolutely wild - some more than others. You can see this being in the gallery. The being just froze and wouldn't move till I got everyone away from the door and then it sauntered off. 

It is always an amazing amount of fun around here. Even though it was Dennis day off, he went and carried Ollie inside as he was the most - I got to get this thing but if I do what do I do with it? 

Is it still cold? YEP!

Monday
Feb092026

Frigid it is

Here is a very small gallery.

We but go out for under 5 minutes. It is simply too cold. This has been a horrid winter but we do play indoors.

Not all the dogs were clicked today. Some just wanted to hibernate in warm blankets. 

Dennis fixed our dryer so we have been washing and drying all day. I feel blessed to have a dryer after many days of none.

Shout out goes out to Sherry - Murphy's mom who had hip surgery today. I hope things went well. Murphy is one of those dogs that are refusing to go out and instead uses the pad. I caught her and Safi hugging today. The sisters are still close. 

I need to start doing the dishes and get us ready for bed. We try to get Nathan up at 930pm and I get in finishing things up hopefully by 11.

Sunday
Feb082026

It is Downright Frigid

Here is a mini Gallery.

Not sure about you but even the dogs think this is a brutal winter. It is so cold, it is awful. They hold their paws up. They look forward to playing indoors. It is simply not fun. This is not weather to take a walk. Use a pad, if you can or a quick out and in is desirable.

I can't remember it being this cold for this long in a long time. Can you?

How are you coping with this cold?

Saturday
Feb072026

Frigid Cold

Here is a mini gallery.

Not many photos today. It is downright frigid outside and many of the dogs say enough. Marlie went out, lifted his fromt paws and Dennis got to the door and ran in along with the rest. He was out less than 3 minutes. It is that cold. If you notice your dogs lifting their paws, pick them up. Thi sis dangerously cold weather. It has been some winter.

Thankfully we have pads down and the dogs can use them vs heading out.

Hazel and Socks departed. They were sleeping with Nathan when their parents arrived. I bet they sleep tonight. They have been playing hard. Mr, Murphy departed and Ms Murphy arrived. Ms. Murphy has NO desire to go outside. I laugh. She is a smart gal!

Dennis is going to do a run game and hide the treat game. They have gun in and out. One has to keep their mind busy. It is how we all thrive by doing so!

Friday
Feb062026

Mini Update

Here is a mini gallery.

Sorry it is cold and yellow outside again. I apologize but because it is so frozen, you can't eliminate. Apologies. I could not take photos but not fun for families of visitors. It will go or get warmer so Dennis can clean up.

We have Winston the puppy here and he is having a blast. We have Daisy, Socks and Hazel, Lachlan and Marlie and the wonderful Benji. They too are delightfully excited - like really excited - all of them.

Dennis has been working on the dryer all day and had to order more parts. My grooming room looks like a war zone. Let's hope the wheels - yes wheels that help the belt rotate arrives tomorrow. The belt had to come from the states and took 4 days. Soon Nathan will have to go to the laundrymat unless Dennis can fix. I have been washing and hanging items and they come out so stiff and rough. Oh well...

It is Nathan's day off. 

I am late blogging but it has been our day!

Thursday
Feb052026

Happy 14th

Hi Darlah:

So hard to believe Laci is celebrating her 14th Birthday. She’s always been such a sweet & calm companion. We treasure every moment with her.

Here’s a pic. Still my pretty girl!  ๐Ÿ’•