I <3 Pet Faces

I couldn't resist this weeks photo challenge of Pet's Only at I <3 Faces!

Here is Sully when he was still "Kokomo's Smokey's on Fire" right after he won is American championship for Havanese dogs at just under 9 months.

He looks happy huh?  Within 2 months of the pic he was brought from Hollywood, to Nebraska.  Retired from the ring and got his balls cut off.  Bet he wouldn't have smiled so big knowing that all was coming!

His color is showing...

I am honestly trying to look on the bright side of this haircut. I mean REALLY trying. God love LaDaun but his hair is so weird feeling his feet got messed up. They will grow out. This is the first time in almost three years I have seen a short haired Havanese. And NEVER was Sully's hair this short he was in full show coat when we got him at 9.5 months old. His hair no longer feels like cobwebs, but like slick silk. It will grow out, and it was the first try at the cut. LaDaun and I have decided that the dog pictured here, has a different hair consistency than the Sully-meister!

Sully is just laying around the house right now. More ticked off than when we first did this to him, but he got over that and accepts that. Corey just wanted to see what it would look like. Well there you go...it will grow back out.









I see this..I think...


and add in the Song from Shrek 2 (cue to 1min 14 seconds!).


Sigh.

Sully's 1st true full grooming today

My fur ball is going in for his first full grooming AND style this morning. Now I by policy don't function outside the house before 9am. This morning LaDaun wanted him at 8am, damn. Here is the cut we are looking at. Body will be shorter, legs and face still longer. We totally stole this picture off the Havanese Forum. No he will not look like this little girl, just her hair cut.



I have the utmost faith in LaDaun unlike some other groomers...but I am still a bunch of nerves about the new do!

What a day

I started off hitting the ground running knowing I had to go get food for the Sr's party at the Y. Was I going to all the effort to just get reimbursed? Nope. Didn't even submit the time. So, my boss pulled me aside in the evening and told me they were going to see if Logan can just go into day camps this summer for free! Like I am going to say, "No, don't save me 100 bucks!" For 3 hours and 20 bucks? I think it is more than a fair trade. I got the extra food, prepped and set, and took pictures (gratuitous use of my new Nikon, I know!). Sweet! I have to get the pictures developed in the morning and will get them bound for Judy since this was her last Active Older Adults party as Aquatic Director.

Then left ran to collect the boys who were at Menards, off to the bakery to get some fresh foccachia (sp?) and sour dough. Next to cook some yummy angel hair marinara to eat with the bread. It was just a super busy and did I mention it was 85 today? OMG it was great! Bike rides, ice cream, and fun in the sun!

The only downer was the fact that I brought Sully in for an emergency grooming, his anal gland was surprisingly full...damn you Taste of the Wild! LaDaun is on medical leave, so it was a different groomer. Picture the lady who made all the outfits on the movie The Increadables! She oiled my dog and told me he was graying because his hair was dry and on cheap dog food. K, first off: You don't oil a Havanese you moron! Second: He has the silvering gene and is a charcoal/blue in transition, you would know that if you looked at the paper I gave you stating his color. I am not a moron, I forgot more about Havanese then she obviously knows about them. Last: He is on Evo Big Bites (which are ironically only about 1/2 inch sq. they are TINY-ish). And it is super high quality and NOT cheap! She can suck it! I spent almost two hours grooming him out tonight two days after the bathing, there were matts from not being brushed out while drying. I could wait a week and lightly brush him out w/ LaDaun. Of course she's never oiled him either! I also see scissor marks after the grooming...grrrr The moral of the rant is I miss you LaDaun, and can't wait till you are better. No one else is getting their hands on Sully. You are worth every penny, always get us in when you can and are just all around awesome!!!

I should go to bed, morning for some reason, isn't going to wait for me to drag my ass out of bed in the morning. Though I think it should! Till later!

The Forgotten Refugees of the Cuban Revolution: Facts on the Havanese Dog

Havanese are one of the most wonderful small dogs, they are smart, soft, cute, and great with children. Much of the problems we see today are not with the dog breed itself, but lack of knowledge on the part of those looking to own them. Many people do not properly research the dog they are going to buy. They use their emotions to choose. The costs of ownership will be addressed from purchase to daily up keep; these dogs have a hefty price tag. There are dangers of not researching where the dog comes from, puppy mills are becoming more interested in the breed as they are compact and hypoallergenic they expensive to purchase. One has to know where to look and what questions to ask of a breeder to insure a health tested well adjusted pet. These dogs though small and lovable are not an accessory as many others in the toy breed can be labeled. They can have color changing coats, emotional issues, and even may have some health issues other small breeds do not, and so will an owner have the time and patience for them if a problem arises? One need to realize the gender roles are somewhat switched in this breed from what one would expect. People need proper education on these dogs before they buy them. Is the Havanese of today even the same little dogs as the eleven rescued by their owners as they fled during the Cuban Revolution? The Havanese is a somewhat controversial dog; from the mystery of its past, right up to what a true Havanese is today there are debates raging.

Research Proposal -YEA BABY!!!

After countless emails and phone calls he graded my works today, even telling me not to worry about some other papers. Problem is, I did them already. Poured heart soul and time into them. Frustrating! Oh well, this is the paper I needed and as you can see by the date has been pending for a bit. It was a pass/fail, his comment is on the bottom. I start the paper in the morning.



Krimsin K. King
Spring 2009
27 Feb. 2009

Why are the seemingly perfect little Havanese dogs, much more difficult to own than your average dog?

Throughout this paper my audience will become more informed as to why the Havanese dog breed is far more complex in owning than those of other dog breeds. The targeted audience will educated on the history of the breed, if the Havanese dog is right for them, the proper way to go about purchasing the dogs, the cost of initial ownership as well as the continuing costs, health issues you need to look out for with this breed, and why they are known as “rainbow dogs.” Many people see these cute little dogs, and fall in love with them and this paper will teach them Havanese are harder to own then they appear.

The paper will need first need to go into the history and the controversy of their past. How they arrived in America and how the breed was brought back from the brink of extinction.

The Havanese dog breed has breeders and experts around the world. How does one sift through all the information of the dogs, separating the myths, and the facts? How do you discern a proper breeder from a puppy mill?

As this breed is created a small cluster of dogs, as such there was a thought at the beginning they were a very healthy breed, as the breed has become members of the American Kennel Club the popularity has soared. While the popularity has gone up, so have the health issues.

These dogs are high price dogs, when buying a good breeder you are paying for health testing, and proper socializing of a dog. But is the initial cost of the dog over inflated or fair? The audience also needs to factor in the reoccurring costs of higher end food, grooming, continued health testing throughout the dog’s life, and vet bills.

The Havanese breed is also known as “rainbow dogs.” The reason that they are called that will be talked about as well as basic genetics as to why many of the dogs purchased in one color are likely to change colors.

The sources for this paper include several Havanese books and Havanese based periodicals from the Havanese Club of America, and breeders and fans of the dogs that have created their own periodical. Websites that focus on the dogs will also shed light on the importance of buying from a good breeder, giving you the proper questions to ask before you buy. Academic articles on health testing will be included to explain some of the health concerns that have come up within the breed in the last fifty years of the breed.



****This looks good. You seem to be pulling the ideas together into a more coherent whole. This is obviously a Pass.****

Don't knock the Havanese!

Through this hellish semester, I have found out far more about the Havanese dogs then I ever thought I could. Some good, some bad. I have to start compiling this info and actually structuring it into a real academic paper like NOW! Hang up being the instructor has the class structured so that one has to get a grade on one paper to proceed on the next. I have a number of papers out. Including my Havanese Research papers structure assignment. I am very apprehensive as to the out come of the class. In the grad scheme it is nothing, just an accidental class I took not knowing I wouldn't need it.

It is extremely difficult to do an academic paper on a dog breed. Even harder when the truest history of the breed is not really for sure known. The instructor knows this, and told me as much. But, also told me that if I can make it a factual academic styled paper I will not have a problem. I have the info, I have the know how, now I just have to do it. I am citing everything in APA style as he says I am far more proficient in that form of citations. I prefer MLA, but have been known to pander to get the right grade. He is not sorry he is making this class difficult for me and pushing me to think. "Some students just need the challenge." Damn him, how does he know I will dig into this like a pitbull.

I just want this over so I can go back to free writing again. I detest the prision of this structered writing.

Havanese Research Project

"Why can a Havanese dog so difficult to own?" I will touch on the Havana Silk controversy within the paper as it is a part of the Havanese story, grooming needs, the breeds potential separation anxiety, but also on the major health concerns one should know about before they think about the purchase of one these dogs. I know there are several health related issues that have come up with in the breed. There needs to be education to avoid pet shop and puppy mill dogs also, as the popularity soars within the breed. The breed is not perfect, and not for everyone. I hope that is what this paper will assist in making educated not emotional decisions about the Havanese breed.

Krimsin answers your question...not really

Where the heck have I been?

Thursday sucked something big. First realizing how much it would cost for the repair on the car. I understand Corey's reasoning, you spend over 30k on a car, it should look nice. Doesn't mean it still doesn't suck! If I ever catch the ass hat who hit my car I will make them think twice about ever coming within eye shot of my car again. Then there was that lovely email from Valerie stating she wanted 28 more credits to get into the program! WHAT?!?! Even Janelle doesn't know what the hell she is talking about. I'll just go get an associates if they are going to pull that shit! Medical transcription here I come...

In my never ending search for fleeting sanity, I have been a busy girl. Friday was great we had a lunch with Steve at Nick's then Logan crashed and nap was wonderful. Later we ran out and bought Madagascar 2, and some 'zza and crazy bread for dinner at our house with my friend Nicole. We chatted while Logan watched the movie. I will likely watch it again (and again) so I didn't study the movie.

Saturday and Sunday were really a blur. I do remember there was a lot of citations being done, and I didn't groom out Sully. So Monday I caved and called LaDaun to bathe/groom him so I don't have to clip the boy parts this week. I have some quotes and paraphrasing assignments due this week. Would be nice to get the first citation grade so I can submit the other two that are waiting in limbo...I'm just saying! My working bibliography is getting sizable, and I should type it out, as I hand write most things before I do them. Better retention, or maybe I am just retentive!

Westminster was a wash, the Havanese (looked like a silk to me) got no love. Looking at the judges body language, I knew "PJ" wasn't going to even make a cut. He spent too much time scrutinizing the body and the coat. I was also hoping the rat terrier would show well, one of my favorite Aunties has one. We tuned out and flipped to Encino Man. Here we sit, Logan up WAY past bedtime. But I thought an update was needed so my in box stops getting flooded with "where the hell are yous' and my favorite, "are you dead or something?" I am very much alive, better then last week, voice coming back, still getting wicked headaches though. So is life!

I am very emotionally torn right now, there is an opening in LaCrosse right now, but Corey will not put out for it. He was acting weird last week and I read he was hiding something right away. His energy was VERY off and he wouldn't say why. Finally in off topic conversation he caved and talked. He was going to keep it from me, but I broke him down (it's a talent!). I want to go home, badly, it explains the feeling of home sickness I have been feeling. Sometimes I have being perceptive with shit like that. I understand he likes his office here, but damn, he could get me home. He is choosing himself over me. I miss my friends and the family I can stand...I am a bit mad, sad, I don't know. Grrrr...

Logan want's to read 'Sometimes I Share,' to me, so I am out all! Take care.

Research project revisited and Sully news

I have changed the topic a bit delving into the history of the Havanese and the "re-created" breed of Havana Silks. I will focus on the similarities of the dogs. I was happy to find in writing to "Doc" who was on of the key people in the Silk break away more then happy to assist me in the paper. I was touched. I was not expecting to get a reply, an not only did she reply but comment, giving honest and heart warming points. I think no matter what the outcome of this paper, I have more respect for "Doc" then before, most of which was influenced by Dee to begin with.
"We are not out to 'destroy' HCA or 'rip apart' the Havanese community. We have simply accepted the fact that, like people stuck in a very bad marriage, all parties concerned would be better off going their separate ways...an amicable divorce, so to speak, which should relieve the continual conflict that occurs when 2 groups with different philosophies try to live under the same roof and keep bumping into each other and butting heads. We wish the HCA well and many years of continued success."

I was really pleased to see she wrote that at the end.

Another thing I was able to garner out of her was the fact of her being a DVM, she was valuable in the health issues for both sets of dogs.


On another note, I broke down and bought a Dremel to do Sully's nails, a Remington beard clipper for trimming his pads, butt, and boy-part area, some shampoo and conditioner, lastly the grooming table from our groomer. Most groomers woulsn't encourage batheing and grooming yourself of a dog like Sully, but she has been after me for a while to give it a try. I did this afternoon. I was petrified. I had done his nails and clippered where needed last night, it went well. Thanking God again Sully is California cool and laid back! I washed him in the sink letting Logan hose him from time to time. It took 78minutes on the table to blow dry him, I used the cheap old hair dryer we used to use with Monarch. Really it was no more difficult then when I used to bathe FoxGlove our old rescue sheltie. But combing him straight while drying was interesting. He is all soft and poofy now, I am happy, so is he. He got some filet minion this evening, left over from my dinner, he was a happy dog. I think I took pictures but with the day, I may have only thought about doing so. Mommy brain!!! I will check later and post if I did on Sully's page.

Research project

After being told I know too much about this and that, too emotional of a topic of another and of course the "you will alienate yourself from the community no matter how you write this" of another I found a topic the instructor will let me write on. It is in the world of Dogs actually quite a hot button at least in the Havanese community.

Is the American Kennel Club’s standard of Havanese correct? Or is the Havana Silk (sub-breed?) actually the renewed version of the official native dog of Cuba?

Well over this semester, I hope to find out. I am taking on the 3rd rail in the Havanese wold and asking the question. How can I do this of all topics without letting bias show through? Well quite simple actually, Sully is on of the few, a pure 50/50 mix of the 2! Which is likely why he did so well in the ring no matter the judge!

So it begins, my calls to Karen to see who are "the people to talk to" on both sides. It really is a no-brainer that I have to talk to Diane Klumb and Joanne Baldwin about the Silks. They are the main movers in the in that movement. For Havs I have to look to the ones in Florida. Thank goodness Karen was my hookup! Thanks again Karen!!!

I was looking at the Havanese Club of America website and low and behold who was there staring at me but my won doggie! I had forgot Karen had submitted his pic back in the day! What a happy discovery.

So Sully is wondering...

Does this make my ass look big?

Happy Cooper the Havanese update!

A little Christmas present early for the whole family. How amazing!

How sad

You will have to read back a bit to get the whole story. A Havanese was killed by another dog while in the "care" or her professional handler.

You will see later this week or weekend

2 new blogs from your favorite crazy woman. One will be Logan's blog,likely replacing his babiesonline page. This is just easier get pics uploaded here. The other will be hosted by Sully all about his furry self and the awesomeness that is Havanese. There will be some of his other doggie friends too.

I love this dog

If he had less white, I would be BEGGING for him. He is the Chocolate version of my Sully. That means he has brown instead of black on his nose, lips eyelids. Of and chocolates are a mutations, a lot more common than Sully's Hava-Brown coloring. The eyes are the cooliest as they are greenish/yellow as a few chocolates have.

Just a warning there will be millions of posts like this. I love Havanese pictures.

And on the dog note

I don't know how in the heck I have done it but I have gotten Corey from no way no how another dog to, maybe in the next couple years. I told him I either wanted a little all black guy named Nuno, or a all chocolate with green/yellow eyes either gender, or just my choice of another of Sully's 1/2 siblings, Corey REALLY likes Faith Karen's newest one. She is cute and has the weird blaze that is indicitive of many a Bailey pup, but a bit too much white for me, but she will silver out. Any would need to be reared by Karen first, likely another ring winner too, so they will be older. Corey asked if I was worried about the silver gene that Bailey carries, I said "Hell no! that's what makes it so fun, you never know what color and when they will turn. Look at Sully!" My goal is to someday be a Havanese foster Mommy, or have a line from Bailey to be bred. Like that will happen! BTW, this all started because they had a standard silver poodle in the paper. Our groomer has a standard, and I have fallen in love with him. But I think a Hav would be better for me, and I think Karen's got some of the best, plus we know all the other good breeders around the country. It will be a couple more years of plotting, but if I get a full time job, Sully will HAVE to have something here with him.

Havanese from Blak and Decker commercial

Now I am the first to say that corded Havnanese are dreadful looking. THey are nicknamed "silks" due to the silky flowing hair...but I stole this from our havanese forum. The dog is, Rags is out of Ch. Namaskar's Grace of Fuzzy Farm and Ch. Lynyear's Get Offa My Cloud. Yes we can find out pretty much most well bred Havanese down to their pedigree. THere are some whip smart people on that board. And they are awesome to chit chat with too...

Sull's new do, kindof...

He has the beautiful eyes of his Daddy, Bailey's California Star. Corey is giddy being able to see his eyes. Don't let it fool you his hair is so thick, esp in the neck. He's just furry cuteness! He just looks depressed, but right after was playing grab-ass with Logan!

Lisa take a look

please also pass this around to friends and family in the area. He has been missing for a while now, BUT there could still be hope...Coppers Thread. Now Havanese look like a lot of other breeds, and could be called a mix or something.