Two Updates Today
Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 6:29PM 
Dallas is already home. We miss her already. Dennis took most of the photos today. I took some.
We also have Leo and Pixie visiting. Leo was from the Emmy litter.
This is a Rowan puppy called Emmy. Are you following this? Emmy is here just to play, a bath and haircut. She departs tonight. It was a pleasure to have her here.
Chester also departs tonight.
Sorry Shannon. When I looked at the photos I do not think Dennis clicked Trigger and Levon. I asked and he said everytime they were playing he didn't have the camera. You sure I didn't click them? It is sometimes a struggle to get him to click. I will do better tomorrow. I promise. They are having fun.
Lila and Zoe have found their spots in the tv room and in the bedroom. Zoe wanted above Nathan's head and so did Cooper. This time Zoe won.
I am going to make this short as I have the Cooper to thin out. Each night I spent an extra 2 hours or so thinning his coat out. I sometimes get on a roll and time slips by and Nathan yells time for tv isn't it? Last night I said no - too tired and he was mighty grumpy but understood. hahahaha
I am also getting Cooper used to an electric toothbrush. I am using mine with a new brush on it. No, I do not brush everyone's teeth. They bring his brush and toothpaste and always tip me so we have fun with the experience. I tend to clean my own once a week and use a spray at bed on everyone. So, yes even the visitors get a spray.
Off to sing to Cooper so he can look at me like I lost my mind.
Be sure to check out the birthday entry below.
Reader Comments (19)
I never thought about using an electric tooth brush on Kona.. I will have to give it a try.
Dallas has beautiful markings.
I remember Emmy because of the distinct markings on her head.
Emmy is a cutie.
I enjoy the daily gallery, all the dogs having so much fun makes me happy.
Me either - what an interesting idea! Although I think Trigger and Levon would be too scared.
There was a Levon photo, but I totally understand you won't always get them. I was going to joke and say there was one of Trigger eating poop. Ha ha.
Darlah I meant to ask how Nathan's trip to Global with Raven turned out ?
Do all havanese need their hair thin out?
Dallas and Emmy look so dashing!!!
We are having a hard time brushing teeth. With the puppy teeth becoming loose, we are worried that we are extracting teeth by accident. Even the smallest toothbrush seems too big to maneuver in the back teeth... I started using a Q-tip. There was some food stuck between two back teeth, so I username Qtip to get the jammed food out. Can't wait for all the adult teeth to come out. God help us, maybe one day it will get better!
I also got the latex elastic band. I don't seem to have the touch yet because Tenshi is not liking it when I put the elastic on. Any tips?
By the way, I got the order from the plush puppy Canada website. The shipping was fast and inexpensive. I tried the wonderwash self rinsing shampoo close to the face hair where the tears ran. It's working, Will came home and said she smells good!
I also got the OMG concentrate grooming spray, what is the dilution would you recommend based on Tenshi hair texture? Should I just follow what the instruction says? Darlah, thanks for that link to Plush Puppy, I was down to the last drop of spray you gave us!
Miss Dallas and Emmy are so beautiful. Love their bangs. Lovely pictures, it is winter fun days.
How do you thin the hair?
OMG 1 to 2 capfuls of OMG to a dollar store spray bottle of water. Take top off, fill cap with omg and pour in water bottle. Fill with water. Shake.
I like top knots vs bangs but some dogs wear the bangs well. Others not - just like us. heh. Hair on head grows VERY slowly. Tail hair too for whatever reason. Someone chewed Kat's top knot off years ago and it took him 2 years to get it back and 3 to be able to show.
Raven did really well at Globals. She is quiet. Stormy is all out there. They are polar opposites. Stormy chews everything, steals toys, persists relentlessly at stealing other dogs food despite them growling and saying no. Raven listens to the adults and tends to relax and play but watch. She started out with the appearance of being shy and running away from people at the door. She no longer does. Conditioning works. But instead of jumping all over guests like Stormy does she settles in for a deep hug and is happy getting held. Both are great dogs just different. It is why we select dogs for certain families. Not everyone would fit with a Stormy and not everyone would fit with a Raven. Their needs are different and the family needs are different. Raven was not stressed with her adventure out. We will do it again.
Emmy is 3 weeks older than Thyme and her hair was a tad longer than Thymes. I hated cutting it off. I was so wonderful long. heh
Dallas went somewhere else as I was sick or too busy so we are busy smoothing out the look of her hair. We are also trying to get the hair back on the ears. Why people thin out the ears is beyond me unless they are extra thick. If that is the case you thin out just enough to reduce the thickness not make them look sparse. Ears are also one of the areas that grow in slowly. But I rather liked how she turned out and she is one that appears to wear the bangs well.
Christine, the way I do it is very tedious. I am line combing and pulling out the loose hair from the roots. So I do a section at a time. Cooper is usually here for well over a week when I do it so by the time he is picked up, it is done. You can't see it's been thinned out but you can feel it and the coat is easier to care for. This method is done for show coats with dogs that have coats that are too full. It doesn't hurt the dog. Cooper usually falls asleep while I am doing it but I take a line of hair, weave and pull, weave and pull.
With Shoshi I thinned out using scissors from the shaft down. You can see scissor cuts if not done very straight but it is also effective and quicker. Many people will use chunker thinning shears and cut down the shaft as it takes out a lot of hair that way. I don't own chunkers but will use thinning shears. The amount of hair chunkers take out scares me and many groomers feel the same.
You DO NOT do it this way. This way will leave you with a shag truly uneven look and therefore the uneven hair will tend to mat despite what this guy is saying. Now if he was not using a slicker that damages the coat and going up and down the shaft in the direction of hair growth, it works. There will be less hair but you maintain a thinner longer look with easier care. Of course if the dog had cotton hair, thinning out aggressively is important to keep mats at bay. You are not dealing with a cotton coat. All dogs even if cut short must be groomed and best if you do it every other day not once a week or short or long you will get mats. Try it with your own hair.
As you get mats, cut down the shaft in a straight fashion through the mats so you can easily pull it apart. It may take several cuts if the mat is getting larger. Over time the coat will get thinner and you will reduce the problem spots.
Does that make sense?
Sylvia:
No, Tenshi will never need her coat thinned out. She does not have a coat that is too thick.
Use a finger toothbrush. You can't extract a tooth that is not already falling out. It should not be a concern. Thyme already has all her adult teeth now. You can also use a pick to get food out from between. She will get used to it.
Latex bands are wrapped 3 times not too close to the head. If it is pulling the hair too tightly she will work on getting it out. You get better at putting them in over time. It is also easier as the coat gains length.
we wouldn't trust anyone else to thin out Cooper's coat. We started doing it two years ago at Darlah's suggestion. This is the third time that we get it done. It's worth it as it helps us manage his coat better. I'm always amazed at the amount of hair that is thinned out.
Darlah, thanks for the info! We tried finger brush and small tooth brush, it's still difficult to get to back teeth. We are trying every 2-3 day, Will aka dentist daddy is getting better at it. I can't do it because it gives me the shiver when she is fighting and wiggling everywhere. And she knows that I'm the weakest link, always trying to plead with her eyes.🙏🏻
I use the Qtip and break the tip off so I can use it as a pick (less sharp but still small enough to pick the jammed food).
As for her top hair , maybe it's still not long enough for me to put the band on because the band has to sit close to her head for me to hoop the band around two times to hold the hair. I'm using a small hair clip for now to get her used to have her hair pulled back a bit. I watched her at that time just in case she shakes it off. It's becoming a game. I put it on, she shakes it off, I put it on and she shakes it off. But omg, when I see her eyes, they are so beautiful! 👀 I don't even know how she can see anything with her hair shades on?!?😎
Anne: how often do you bring Cooper for the thinning? I haven't been to any groomers yet, but I have to agree that I would put my total trust to Darlah.
Sylvia, the last time it was done was in June 2016. I would say every 7-8 months. His hair grows fast and is very thick...just like his human mommy 😉
You mentioned you use a spray Darlah. Could you please tell me what it is?
I use OMG but there is also a detangler that I really really like from Tropiclean readily available from Global or PetValu called Tropiclean Detangler.
Thank you Darlah.
Dallas looks beautiful! Thanks Darlah.
Jory face timed me so that I could see my baby.
Your advice put us all at ease. Much appreciated!
Yes, Darlah, your detailed instructions make sense and are very helpful. THANKYOU!
The toothbrush I like best is a child's size battery toothbrush you can pick up at most grocery stores. My hygenist, who is a dog person, recommended it to me. It has a fairly small head and even if Katie bites on it, the brush still moves. In ten years she has only had her teeth cleaned once. I found that short sessions everynight after I do my teeth works well. Katie is use to the brushing but still fights a little. She would rather lick the toothpaste than have me brush. For those of you who aren't sure about the brush, first turn it on and leave it where the puppy can sniff and explore it. Don't try and put it in their mouth right off.
Marilyne:
Great advice!