Josie caught playing

Stop the presses! Let this be noted for history. Josie was playing with Oliver and Caillee. Really, no word of a lie! Seriously! Ok, I know you don’t believe me but it is true.


When Josie playing, she normally just plays with me or hubby and often includes a tennis ball. If she plays with Caillee it would be for a few seconds and only on her terms.

Yes, Josie is older but often think she is just plan stuck up; hence the silly nickname for her “Diva Josie”.

For two whole minutes Josie was playing with Oliver; which she normally never does. She was wagging her tail, playing bad, and everything.

Darn, didn’t think to go grab my camera! Next time, if there is a next time.

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Lucy Sending Oliver Well Wishes...

Hey there, I hope you are enjoying North Carolina with Oliver. I love the picture of him "taking notes"!


Here are a couple of pictures of Lucy beating the heat. She is very much like me -- we both hate extremes, whether they are cold or hot.

Lucy's Mom

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Oliver's Comments on Hotel Living

Hotel Living isn't so bad: beds are made and tucked when I get back; carpets are vacuumed; and there is lots of nice fluffy pillows to jump on.

This bed spread is much too nice, I should roll around on them.

I think I will just hang out on this bed.  There are *two* beds here to choose from.  One minute I am on that one, the next, if I want, I could be on the other one.  Life is grand here.

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Oliver May have Found His Long Lost Twin Brother

Who is who?  Which one is our Oliver and which one is Fabio?

Answer: Oliver is in front of the yellow ribbon. 

We talked about how, if we were to come back to the nationals with our two boys that we should enter them in Brace.

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Day 1 at the HCA Nationals 2011

Today is day one for Oliver at the Havanese Club of America National Specialty.   It was a day for people to arrive, attend seminars, tour AKC, join meetings, etc.

Here is Oliver taking notes at one of the seminars.  The nutrition seminar by Dr. Korinn Saker was fabulous, I doubt many who attended wanted to leave.

Here is Oliver at the Meet and Greet.  He sure did get to "meet and greet" many people.

Here is a photo of Madalyne, loved by Nadine J.. Oliver and I shared a room last night with a few furry friends, including Madalyne.  Others seemed a bit camera shy.

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Took 13 1/2 hours to get to Durham, NC

I took Oliver and I about 13 1/2 hours to get from Grimsby, Ontario (10 minutes away from Hamilton, Ont.) to Durham, North Carolina.

We arrived safely but extremely tired.

 Soon after we crossed over the North Carolina boarder, it was thunder storming.  Lightening, hard rain, and the booming thunder made it feel like we were driving through the wrath of God.  I noticed bikers were stopped under the bridges.  It was a good idea as we drivers were have never have noticed them.  I could barely see the car in front of me let a lone a possible biker. 

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Oliver is all Ready for the HCA Nationals

Car packed.  Oliver *finally* groomed.  Need some sleep and off driving we go tomorrow morning.

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

New Camera came in time for our trip

Pretty In Pink Dogs has a *new* camera.

This means no more excuses why there isn't any photos lately.  It also arrives just in time for our trip to the US Havanese Nationals in Durham, North Carolina this year.

Our old camera finally died a while bad and we have been humming and uhhing about what camera to get next.  Picked up a Casio EX-ZR10, see photo.

It also came with a belt case so I might be able to pull it through a belt while at the show.  That might beat just leaving it my purse, though both of the purses I am planning on bring are mighty cool.  Please forgive me if I become a bit crazy with all the photos but I am sure you won't mind.  ;-)

JOSIE!.....

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

What Should I Use the Tin Can for?

I won this at a fund raising auction.  Both the mug and coster are ceramic and everything matches, including the tin can.  I admit I have had this for a while now and I still have no idea what to use the tin can for.  I first thought perhaps tea biscuts for my self.  Then I thought doggie cookies since it had dogs on the outside of the can.  When you think about it, the mug and coster have the same pattern on it and my only intenion for the mug and coster is for lovely hot chocolate or perhaps some tea.  For a short while I was using the tin can for loose plastic bags but that seems like such a let down for such a lovely looking and *matching* tin can.  I welcome idea. Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Poor hubby on feeding dogs

I just finished writing up a one page document on how to feed the dogs for my hubby. Seriously, it was one full page. The page was nicely spaced out and I used headers to make the document look nice but that is beside the point.


In the document I indicated when and how much to feed each dogs. I also included instructions which supplement to give; how much, and when to give supplements to either all dogs or for a specific dog. This is all, of course, based on the size/weight, age, and activity level of each dog.

After reviewing the document and then printing it out, I realized “No wonder the poor guy has so much trouble feeding my dogs!”.

As I type this, I just realized I forgot to note that Josie gets one capsule of glucosamine each morning for her joints. Sigh, just when I thought I was finished!

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs

Just Say No

My husband has got to stop catering to Josie's demands.  It is becoming (1) embarrassing, and (2) annoying to listen to.

Even the mere act of playing along and mimicking the noises she makes is giving her attention and fuel for her fire to keep getting what she wants and when she wants it.  My husband is becoming a slave to Josie's desires.  Who is really at the end of the leash in this doggie/human relationship?

I cannot stress this enough.... ignore, ignore, ignore.  Only when your dog stops and is quite then your dog will get whatever you feel s/he needs.  That walk should be a treated as an enjoyment and a reward, even you plan to walk your dog every day, they won't know that, and you can pretend it is a reward each day for being so good. Once it becomes expected and then demanded, the joy of the task becomes a chore and that isn't what owning a dog should be about.

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs Update 2015/06/21 - Made a few spelling corrections and a change to the title.

Happy Canada Day!

Petey, Oliver's friend from Saskatchewan, wishes everyone a Wonderful Canada's Day!  Petey is loved and adored by, photo taken by, C. Paulson. 

Secret Lives of Pretty In Pink Dogs