Pretty In Pink Dogs

Sleepless in Grimsby Ontario

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 01:26:00 +0000

Times right now have been a real balancing act and I am not getting any sleep for several night in a row. This whole sleepless in Grimsby thing actually has been going on for a while but has recently kicked up a notch or two in the past month.

My youngest son, D, an infant, had only started to sleep through the night recently, within the past few months or so. A couple of weeks before the start of school I had him start going to daycare. The start of school is also when my oldest son, Q, starts Junior Kindergarten (JK) and when I return to work from my maternity leave.

Since the day my youngest started daycare, he has been waking up in the middle of the night. Within the last week or so, he has started to sleep through the whole night which is such a sweet blessing. I am guessing he needed some time to adjust to their schedule. In that thought, it was good he started early so he had time to adjust. I am telling you being able to sleep uninterrupted through the night is truly a sweet and precious thing.

The past few nights it has been my dog Caillee, an 11 year old Havanese, who has been waking me up in the middle of the night to go outside to potty and often. She had opportunity to see a veterinarian yesterday and we have found out the poor thing has an urinary tract infection. She has started antibiotics.

Last night was really one of the worst nights I have had in a while. I think I was up every hour except for 5 am when my spouse woke up as well and I begged him to let Caillee outside. It wasn’t all about my poor Caillee. I was up with my son, D, as well. Luckily with a bottle I was able to get him back to sleep and back to bed.

I am really looking forward to Caillee’s medication to really start kicking in. Yes, my immediate concern is to get some sleep, but also if they do not work there may be more serious issues down the road for Caillee if the medication doesn’t work out for her.

Bolognese Grooming Tip: Repair Dry Fur

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 23:00:00 +0000

Their fur may seem a bit like wool at times and they are not really supposed to be. There fur should feel soft to the touch and continuously conditioning their coat will aid in keeping their coat soft. A few days before a scheduled grooming, I would suggest using The BodyShop’s Coconut Body butter all over their coat.

Brush small sections of their fur at a time and as you brush their fur apply small amounts of body butter on their fur. Continue this process until you have brushed and applied the body butter all over the dog. As you cover your Bolognese with Coconut Body butter, try not to use too much; you will find that if you use too much their hair will look gray from all the dirty they will pick up during the day and hence why you would want to do this tip a few days before their bath time.

As you become skilled with this tip and you have found the happy medium with the amount to apply on their coat, you can do this technique at any time and no one would ever know the difference.

These instructions may help your long hair breed too, not just the Bolognese. However, if your dog is like the silky hair of the Havanese, you shouldn't do this too often because it will make their already light hair even softer.

The Bichon Bolognese are Highly Intelligent Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:00:00 +0000

The Bolognese are highly intelligent but yet comical in their demeanor. Almost everything I have ever read about them says they are a serious dog. Have they met one? The Bolognese is not as much of a clown as lets say the Havanese or the Bichon Frisé but we are still talking clownish just the same.

Do not take their clownish demeanour for stupidity either; they know just how to work a crowd and make adoring fans out of each of them all. The whole ‘chasing my tail’ thing usually is a sign of lacking brain cells with most breeds but I have seem the Bolognese do this as an attention grabber, this technique usually wins a few treats from their adoring on-lookers.

Not enough can ever be said for their intelligence; this can be a blessing for their owners or a curse and it all depends on how you want to look at it. They make great dogs for canine sports like obedience, agility, and fly ball because they are so easy and quick to teach them new tricks or commands.

This brief breed profile of the Bolognese was provided by Juanita Heidebrecht. A dog lover and enthusiast of the Bolognese breed, who was an active board member of the Bolognese Club of Canada.

Bichon Bolognese are 'People-Dogs'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 May 2016 21:00:00 +0000

The Bichon Bolognese is first and foremost a ‘people-dog’ as in ‘people-person’. They love their owners and if they had their choice would never be without them. They love all people actually and can be great companion dogs because of it. The Bolognese are good with children but the children should be old enough to know how to be gentle with small dogs.

The Bichon Bolognese are highly intelligent problem solvers but yet comical in their demeanour; and always cheerful. Almost everything I have ever read about them says they are a serious dog. Have they met one? The Bolognese is not as much of a clown as lets say the Havanese or the Bichon Frisé but we are still talking clownish just the same.

Don’t take their clownish demeanour for stupidity either; they know just how to work a crowd and make adoring fans out of them all. The whole ‘chasing my tail’ thing usually is a sign of lacking brain cells with most breeds but I have seem the Bolognese do this as attention grabbers, this technique usually wins a few treats from their adoring on-lookers.

Not enough can ever be said for their intelligence; this can be a blessing for their owners or a curse and it all depends on how you look it. To train new tricks or commands takes less time than other breeds. They make great dogs for canine sports like obedience, agility, free-style dance, and fly-ball because they are so easy and quick to train. The down side of their intelligence is that they can be easily bored which can lead to behavioural problems and property destruction just like any other intelligent breed.

Their cheerfulness is what really sets the Bolognese apart from any other breeds. I swear they are constantly smiling. They are also outgoing and never shy about meeting new people.

Though they are ‘minimum exercise’ dogs they are sturdy enough to handle an afternoon of exercise like a hike threw the woods or an afternoon of sidewalk shopping.

To sum up: The Bichon Bolognese are highly intelligent, comical, clownish, cheerful, outgoing, and happy dogs.

This brief breed profile of the Bolognese was provided by Juanita Heidebrecht. A dog lover and enthusiast of the Bolognese breed, who was an active board member of the Bolognese Club of Canada.

Recommendations on Dog Crates for Traveling

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:00:00 +0000

Traveling with your dog can be fun for both you and your dog; and being prepared provides for those opportunities in fun.

If you are traveling via car or via plane, you should get yourself a hard plastic crate.
I am not going to go over the specifics of which one you should get. Ideally you should visit the websites of airline carriers you often use to review their specific requirements about the size of crate you should get or your dog. Get one to the specifications of the airlines for your dog and do not try to use one bigger than required for your dog's comfort. Staff may spot it and deny your dog passage. Something to think about.

Chances are most airline flights you will being taking with your dog will be within your own country and you will find the requirements between national and international flights are slightly different.

Most of the time, airlines will only require ventilation holes, besides the wire gate/door at the front, only on the sides of the crate and not in the back. Most international flights will also require holes in the back as well. If you are in the situation where your crate meets the requirement for national flights and require the extra holes in the back as well. Save money and drill holes in the back of crate. File the edges and it should now meet the international requirements. And, there should be no reason why the same crate could not still be used for all your regular flights.

Regarding water in a water dish, check with your airline for specific details. Most will let you provide water for the dog. If that is the case, I recommend freezing a big block of ice (that will fit in the dish) so it is less messy for your dog and lasts longer.

Make sure to get "Live Animal" stickers for your crate when traveling by air and put them on.

If you have a small dog and a small dog airline approved carry-on bag, and your airlines is ok with bringing your dog with you on the plane, bring along pre-printed sheets of paper and tape with you with the words "No Animal inside" or "This crate contains no live animal". This way your dog goes along with you and you can fill-up the crate with stuff to take home; plus you will not be charge an extra fee for live animal in the cargo.

When I travel with one of my small dogs on a plane, I might take an airline approved carry-on bag and a hard plastic crate as well. The plastic crate will serve many purposes: a crate when the dog cannot be supervised, a crate for the night, a crate when traveling in a vehicle, and on the plane.

And what if you are only planning on traveling by car? I would highly recommend using a hard plastic crate as well. There are countless stories of people who might only use a wire-mesh crate, if they use anything at all, to later see how their light wire-mesh crate crumpled up after a car accident. Chances are your dog may not survive a car crash with a wire-mesh crate. Something to think about the next time you hop into your car with your dog.

What Kind of Crate should I get for my dog?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 May 2016 21:00:00 +0000

When getting a crate for a puppy who you may be trying to housetrain, you will need to get one that will be just the right size for your dog to only provide just enough space for a comfortable sleep and nothing else.

A wire crate, with a light blanket or towel thrown over top, usually is an ideal crate for dogs because they provide the most ventilation and can be more versatile than the hard plastic kind normally primarily used for traveling.

Most wire crates come with a divider these days and I would lightly recommend getting a crate which comes with a moveable divider.

Find out what the approximate height of the dog should be when then dog is full grown. You will need the overall height, from the floor to the top of the dog's head and this will give you an idea of how high the crate needs to be. And, find out the height from the floor to his shoulder's, this will give you an approximate wide you will need for the crate.

Crates are an essential accessory for dogs throughout their lives and if you want to save some money by not having to purchase two crates, I would recommend getting a crate one size larger than what you really need for housetraining. Read more about how crates are not just for housetraining.

Use the divider to reduce the available room in the crate for the dog for housetraining purposes. Read more about housetraining your puppy.

Other recommendation I have

Avoid crates with a wire mesh on the bottom of the crate above a pull-out tray. For one, in order to use them you need a thick blanket on the bottom so it is comfortable for the dog. And two, the wire mesh serves no other purpose other than to let liquid and solid waste fall onto the tray. These types of wire crates will hinder your efforts in trying to housetrain your dog and frankly are uncomfortable without a thick blanket. I got one many years ago (see image with the white dog (Bolognese)) and I had regretted my purchase.

Get a crate with a removable divider for house training.
Make sure it has a removable tray for easy cleaning.
Second side door is completely optional but it may come in handy later (in years to come) on depending on how you want to set up and use the crate.
Plastic coated usually look great when you first get them but generally the plastic falls off after years of use.

A Look at the Bichon Bolognese

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 May 2016 21:00:00 +0000

The Bichon Bolognese is a rare Italian breed only recognized by the European Kennel Clubs under FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale)and the Kennel Club of Great Britain and are recognized in the United States by the American Rare Breed Association and the United Kennel Club.

As of April 2004, they are listed with the American Kennel Club under their Foundation Stock Service Program.

Canadian Kennel Club gives the Bolognese a notable mention.

They are members of the Bichon family; members include the ever popular Bichon Frisé, the clownish Havanese, the darling Maltese, the very rare Tvetnaya Bolonka, and some say the Lowchen as well.

They were given as gifts between nobility and royalty as far back as the 11th century and gain much popular in Bologna Italy which they were named after. The Bolognese was almost extinct after WWII.

They are one of the most delightful breeds you'll ever meet: always happy and always smiling; though they tend to be more thoughtful in nature and demanding at times.

The Bolognese are an adaptable breed; they are able to live comfortably in the country, urban settings, as well as apartment buildings.

Their exercise requirements are minimal but like any small breed, good walks during the day are both healthy for them and keep them out of trouble due to boredom.

They are a very smart breed so training is a must, but be careful of repetitive style training because they will bore easily.

The Bolognese have a double coat meaning they have both a light long hair that keeps growing and an undercoat. Their grooming needs are high. Many owners choose to keep their coats short, though if you remove the undercoat by grooming them daily their light and long coat will aid in keeping them cool during summer months.

The Bolognese are also a hypo-allergic breed.

This brief breed profile of the Bolognese was provided by Juanita Heidebrecht. A dog lover and enthusiast of the Bolognese breed, who was an active board member of the Bolognese Club of Canada.

Updated Hyacinth's Tragedy Page

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 May 2016 15:24:00 +0000

If you are interested, I updated the page about Hyacinth’s Tragedy and provided a collection of links about her death. Link: http://www.prettyinpinkdogs.com/p/hyacinth.html

Crates are Not Just for House Training

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 May 2016 21:00:00 +0000

There seems to be some misunderstanding about crates and not just among new dog owners. There are some people who feel crates are cruel. If people used a crate at all, then I often hear "my dog is house trained and we no longer need a crate anymore".

Dogs are not little humans and we need to stop thinking of them in terms if we would like it or not and therefore they are not going to like it either. Dogs are dogs, and they have their own behaviours and understanding of the world around them.

To a dog, a crate in many ways represent a cave like environment and their safe place, their home if I may. Dogs if at all possible would not want to soil in their home, hence why using a crate for the purposes of housebreaking a dog can be so effective.

Just like you have a favourite spot in your home and this spot can be often considered "your spot", the crate is "their spot". A crate should really be a must have for any dog. A wire crate works just fine. It is best to have a crate in or near your bedroom for sleeping and for when your dog cannot be supervised.

When the situation changes at your house, like a big gathering of people or a party, and the situation gets too much for your dog, the crate can be their oasis away from the temporary disruption. Depending on the size of your home, moving your crate over to the busy area provides a nice break area for your dog close to gathering. Some choose to have two crates in their homes: one near or in the bedroom and an occasional one near busy areas.

Their crate should never be used as a form of punishment and they also should not be left in crate for too long. Either situations can lead to putty accidents and /or behavioural issues. A full-grown, housetrained dog can comfortably stay in their crates up to eight hours. Puppies and sick dogs need to be more frequent outings, link coming.

When used correctly, crates can be very handy and a safe, comfy place just for your dog.

An update - Things are Moving Along

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

I have to admit it has taken me a long time to really come back to this website and really start sharing again. Granted I have recently be doing a lot of updating of content and pages within the website and also updating the general structure of it as well. All I feel have been long overdue.

I have also been moving a sections of my Hydabrek Havanese website over to this website where, arguable, some of the content should have been in the first place.

This is all a start and a start in the right direction.

A lot has changed since I have made an update last. I don’t even remember the last time I made an update. I have two young boys now who are keeping me very busy and I don’t remember what sleep is like anymore.

My Bolognese Josie passed away recently. She was 14 ½ year old. She was diagnosed with kidney failure which we were managing by diet. It eventually got the best of her after a while.

Caillee is eleven this year and it is so hard to believe that since certainly doesn’t look or at it. That would make Oliver six years old. No one has bothered to tell him he isn’t a puppy anymore.

Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 May 2016 18:18:00 +0000

We going to be bringing in a little Boutique.

Tail Waggers Waffle Bites

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:19:00 +0000

Mouth watering waffles.

Prep time: 1 hour

1⁄2 c rolled oats
1⁄2 c corn meal
1 c whole wheat flour
1⁄4 c wheat bran or oat bran
1 T oil
1 c beef broth
1 egg (beaten)
1⁄4 t baking powder

In a medium bowl mix together the dry ingredients, rolled oats, corn meal, flour, bran and baking powder. In a large measuring cup mix together oil, broth and egg. Add to dry ingredients and stir to make a thick batter. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a hot greased WAFFLE IRON. Bake till done, approximately 2 minutes. Remove from waffle iron and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes for a soft chewie waffle or for 60 minutes for a crunchy waffle.

This recipe was provided by Suzanne McKay. Find more of her recipes at http://havaneseabc.com/treats.html or visit her website, an in-depth look at everything Havanese at http://havaneseabc.com. Suzanne is also an award winning author, you can check out her latest works at http://www.woofwags.com/

Carrot Crunchies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:14:00 +0000

A treat your dog and keep him healthy.

prep time: 1 1⁄2 hours

1 1⁄2 c flour
1⁄2 c rolled oats
1 c apple sauce
1 c carrots (shredded)
2 T honey
1⁄2 t ginger
Finely shred 1 large carrot. Add the apple sauce, honey and ginger. Blend well. Add the rolled oats. Add the flour, ½ cup at a time. Dough should be quite stiff. If it is too soft; add a bit of flour. If dough is too stiff, add a bit more apple sauce. On floured board, pat out to about 1/4" thick. Cut out with small cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush to tops with milk. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Turn the oven off, but leave the cookies inside to get crunchy. I just leave them in till the oven is cool.

This recipe was provided by Suzanne McKay. Find more of her recipes at http://havaneseabc.com/treats.html or visit her website, an in-depth look at everything Havanese at http://havaneseabc.com. Suzanne is also an award winning author, you can check out her latest works at http://www.woofwags.com/

Puppy Pretzels

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:10:00 +0000

A pretzel treat for your dog.

Prep time: 1 1⁄2 hours

1 1⁄4 c flour
2 T vegetable oil
1 T parsley flakes
1⁄4 c parmesan cheese
1⁄2 c tomato sauce or pasta sauce
1⁄4 t garlic power

In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients, flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and parsley. In a measuring cup, whisk together the oil and tomato sauce. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Add flour if needed. Dough should be soft, not too dry or it will crumble when rolled. Let dough stand for about 5 minutes.

Sprinkle cutting board with corn meal. Take small balls of dough and roll into ropes about 8 inches (20cm) long. Ropes will be lightly coated with corn meal. Take each rope and tie into a very loose knot to form pretzels. Place on sprayed cookie sheet. Chill in refrigerator for 45 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 degrees and bake for 1 hour longer. Remove from oven and cool on rack. Depending on thickness, these pretzels may be slightly chewy rather than bone hard. They should be stored in the refrigerator.

This recipe was provided by Suzanne McKay. Find more of her recipes at http://havaneseabc.com/treats.html or visit her website, an in-depth look at everything Havanese at http://havaneseabc.com. Suzanne is also an award winning author, you can check out her latest works at http://www.woofwags.com/

Mckay's Raggamuffins

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 May 2016 18:33:00 +0000

Yummy muffins named for a special Havanese, Jomarans' Rgamuffin.

Prep time: 2 hours

1 lb chicken liver
4 c flour
2 c wheat bran
1 t garlic powder
1⁄2 c honey
1⁄2 c oil
1⁄2 c chicken broth
1 egg (beaten)

In blender, liquefy liver with broth, oil, honey and garlic powder. In a large bowl, mix together 3 cups of the flour and the wheat bran. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in liver mixture and stir well. Add in the last cup of flour, a little at a time, kneading by hand to form a firm dough. Let dough rest 10 minutes. Pat out on a floured board to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Let air-dry for 30 minutes. Beat one small egg with 1 tbsp. water and brush cookie tops to glaze. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 degrees and bake for 1 hour longer. Turn oven off, but leave cookies inside a few hours to dry.

This recipe (and image of Rags) was provided by Suzanne McKay. Find more of her recipes at http://havaneseabc.com/treats.html or visit her website, an in-depth look at everything Havanese at http://havaneseabc.com. Suzanne is also an award winning author, you can check out her latest works at http://www.woofwags.com/.

Liver Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 May 2016 20:36:00 +0000

These are treats dogs cannot resist.

Prep time: 5 minutes

1 lb Liver
3 Eggs
3 T Blackstrap molasses
2 1⁄2 c Whole wheat flour
1 t Baking powder
1 t Garlic powder
1 T Onion powder

Blended mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just mixed.
Place in greased muffin tins (DO NOT use muffin cups as they will not peel off of these muffins).
BAKE at 350F for 20 minutes.
Cool slightly and turn out of tins.

Author Unknown

Robyn's Doggie Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 May 2016 18:04:00 +0000

Yummy doggie cake topped with mashed potato frosting.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ground meat (doesn't matter what)
Rice
Egg
Salt
Pepper
Worcestershire
Garlic
Mashed potato

Mix ground meat (any meat or mixture, it doesn't matter) with enough rice and egg to hold together.
Add enough salt, pepper. Worcestershire and garlic to be yummy.
If you dog prefers different seasonings, use what he/she likes.
I use a sheet cake pan or a pan in the shape of a dog bone. Bake at 350 degrees until done.
Let cool and ice with mashed potatoes and decorate with canned Cheese Whiz.

Notes
A nice variation of this is to use ground turkey, salmon and chicken livers with some oatmeal mixed in. Why not make both versions? :-)

Provided by Robyn Rosenthal, Sterling Cotons de Tulear, Virginia

Liver Brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 May 2016 16:10:00 +0000

Show how much you love Fido with these cookies. Freezable too.

Prep time: 30 minutes

1 lb Liver (lamb, beef, chicken, any)
1 c Corn meal
1 c Flour
1⁄4 T Garlic power
1⁄2 c Water

Preheat oven at 325F.
Puree meet in Food Processor.
Spread on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 325 (plus or minus) for 18 to 20 minutes, or until sides pull away from cookie sheet.
Cut into small squares
Freeze if desired.

Author Unknown

Doggie Biscuits by Linda

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 May 2016 15:36:00 +0000

Doggie Biscuits.

Prep time: 45 minutes.

1 Egg
1⁄2 c Water (cold)
2 1⁄2 c Whole wheat flour
1⁄2 c Dry milk powder
1 t Salt
1 t Sugar
6 T Margarine, butter, or bacon fat

Preheat oven at 350F.
Knead for 3 minutes.
Roll out in ½ inch.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Options:
May add 3 tbsp. bouillon, dry soup mix, peanut butter, or liver powder for that extra special biscuits.

Provided by Linda, British Columbia

Doggie Biscuits / Dog Bone biscuits by Sandi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 May 2016 15:03:00 +0000

Doggie bone biscuits. You need to use little doggie bone cutters to create these yummy biscuits for your dog.

Prep time: 1 hour

1 c Whole wheat flour
1 c All-purpose flour
1 c Milk (skim)
1⁄3 c Melted meat fat (beef, lamb, or bacon)
1 Egg (lightly beaten)
1 c Water (cold)

Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine dry ingredients.
Drizzle the dry ingredients with melted fat add egg and water.
Mix well.
On a floured surface, roll out dough to ½ inch thickness.
Cut with dog bone cutters.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until dark Brown and crisp.
Makes about 30 biscuits

Submitted by Sandi, British Columbia

Doggie Biscuits by Sandi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 May 2016 14:52:00 +0000

Healthy biscuits for your adorable dog.

Prep time: 3 hours

4 c Whole Wheat Flour

1⁄3 c Milk (powered)

1 Egg (beaten)

1 can Beef Consommé

2 T Bacon fat or oil

1 T Cod liver oil (optional)

Steps:

Combine dry ingredients.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Roll out ½ inch thick and cut into dog bones.
Place on greased baking sheet and prick with fork.
Bake for 40 minutes at 375F.
Leave on oven for 2 hours afterwards.

Submitted by Sandi, British Columbia

Happy Birthday to Oliver, Jack, Rupert, and Lucy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:58:00 +0000

Happy birthday to Oliver, Jack, Rupert, and Lucy who were all born six years ago today to CDN/US CH. Mystykalsky's Cailleach Bheur RN and US Ch. Pillowtalk Tiziano. I hope they each get something extra special today for a treat along with extra hugs and kisses.

Mim Says Hi and She Needs Some Advise about a Favorite Toy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 01:38:00 +0000

Mim say Hello and needs some advice.

Guess who contact me out of the blue: Mim's mom! It has been a long time since I have heard from Mim or her family. She sounds like she is doing alright. Her mom says "She is the sweetest little girl and people love her and she likes people too!". Mim's mom also says Mim is "very intuitive and if I get upset she will come and sit beside me and kiss my ear". Awe, what a lovely Havanese Mim is. Thank Mim's mom for sending in and sharing a photo of Mim. I love hearing from Caillee's puppies.

From what I understand Mim's other four legged family members are no longer with them. Mim's mom says Meeko died when he was only ten years old and they lost Mercedes last year. So sad. I miss hearing stories from their home about the three fun-loving Havanese.

A Havanese named Mugsy has managed to crave a spot in their hearts. I look forward to hearing stories about Mim and Mugsy! Maybe a photo or two? Fingers crossed.

Mim's mom was saying she couldn't believe Mim will be five years old this coming August… If she will be turning nine… that would mean my Caillee, Mim's doggie mom, will be turning 11 years old in very April. Wow, how time totally flies by!

Mim's mom tells me Mim took over an old-pink-dog toy that once belong to Meeko. She loves this little dog and it has become "thread bare". Mim's mom is in a dilemma about the old-pink-dog toy. You see if Mugsy, her new four-legged family member gets a hold of the toy, Mim goes all over the house looking for her toy. Mim's mom has tried giving Mim other toys, and new toys, but Mim will have none of them. She has asked for some suggestions.

I understand this sort of dilemma. Oliver, Mim's half-brother, has a favourite toy. Well, he had a favourite toy which fell completely apart from pour enjoyment. First the squeaky died, it was a quick death, and then the whole stuffed toy seem to fall apart. This particular toy had seen more time with a thread and needle than I think any other toy has ever in our home. I sometimes would hide the toy and only leave one other toy out to play with. It was a similar toy, not the same in any way other than it was stuffed and had a squeaky. He played with that and as more toys came out except for the original favourite toy, it was eventually his favourite toy. I eventually had to throw out the original favourite toy because it did completely fall apart at some point.

That is what I did in a similar situation. Perhaps you have a better suggestion to share?

One Cool Looking Havanese

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:51:00 +0000

These guys sure find great places to sleep. What you are looking at is my Havanese Caillee in an orange child's swivel chair with a canopy from IKEA, their PS LÖMSK. An egg shaped chair which encloses when you pull the canopy all the way down.

Someone must have left both a small pillow and a blanket on/in the chair (depends on how you see the chair). So cute.

I got the chair through Kijiji, an online classified, way cheaper than purchasing it brand new from IKEA. I personally think the chair is very expensive, a whole $80 brand new, for something that looks so uncomfortable. My one kid played with it once or twice and it pretty much just sits in the corner of the room most of the time looking cool.

To Shave a Dog or Not

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 04:08:00 +0000

There can be a lot of variables in your decision to shave your dog's fur right down which may include how matted the dog already is, your skill level in removing mats on your own, the time you have to remove the mats, the seasons, money, how much time you have to take care of your dog's coat daily, and there is also the emotional factor that weighs in your decision.

I myself have come to this very crossroad of whether I should shave all my dogs' fur off. Guilt certainly played a factor with me. You see I have the skills and wasn't that long since their last cut-down many months ago. I could have easily de-matted their fur. Plus it is technically winter right now – though by looking out the window you would never know. Luckily for us winters can be very mild but it doesn't stay like that all winter, it will get colder.

Right now, time is my major factor. Time is so precious right now, plus getting enough sleep. If you have ever had a newborn (human baby) or eventually an infant – you already know the struggles I am facing right now. And, my newest little guy is *not* sleeping through the night yet which makes me extra tired most of the time.

With all this lack of sleep, my poor dogs are suffering. I didn't want to: it is winter time and I really like the look of them in their fur. I had to make that hard call and actually do it.

I guess I made that call a while go but I was making all sorts of excuses not to pick up my clippers and just do it. At first it didn't seem like excuses but it dawn on me when I needed to get my clippers out for something else when I realized I was merely making excuses.

I did it. I clipped them all down and they all seem a bit (at the very least) happier for it. Now everyone is in sweaters.

My hope is as my infant get older he will start to let me sleep more which will lead to more energy to groom my poor sweet dogs more often.

The nice result of all of this is all my dogs are extra snugly since their shave.

What has been your experience with the same or similar situation?