Havanese/Maverick update

It's been a long time since I wrote,,,,,,but it's a beautiful time to catch up on what is going on in Maverick's life.
2010 was a busy year.  Maverick did several shows.  Expertly shown by Sandy and sometimes Bill, Maverick's breeders, he has gotten one major and a total of 10 points.  They do such a good job with him, .  It is exciting to see your own dog struting his stuff in the ring,,,looking like a million bucks!!  He likes the show ring and even all the preparations for it, well, maybe not the bath part,,,that he just tolerates!  But he loves Sandy and Bill and is SO excited to get to see them both.  He loves being with his Havanese friends and relatives there.  Waiting to go into the ring, he seems to know just what is going on and in the ring he seems to have such a good time.

Right now, Jim and Maverick are out for their afternoon walk in the woods,,,,,Maverick will come back looking a lot different than he does in the ring!!  Sometimes they play "stickdog" where Maverick finds a stick and runs like crazy with it while Jim chases him trying to grab it.  (small stick)  It is Maverick's favorite game.  Although, when the kids come over (Sami and Billy our grandkids) he LOVES to run around the cedar tree and have them try and catch him.   He does a lot of thinking and planning trying to outwit the kid that is trying to catch him....He'll double back, swing wide, pick up speed, it is hillarious!  Sometimes Jim and he will just sit on the bench overlooking the woods and stream and doze for a while.  They just like spending time together. 

The next exciting event for the boy is a herding instinct test on June 12.  Havanese were used in Cuba for many things, circus dogs, companions, and herding the family's chickens.  So, I thought since there is a herding training facility about an hour from here, we would try it out.  He will be in with the trainer and 3 sheep,  she directs and manages the whole adventure and guides the dog at first.  Then apparently, the instinct kicks in, if the dog has it, and they just know what to do.  I spoke to the woman from there this am and she said this was their first Havanese to try it.  I guess any breed could have the ability.  Two boxers completed the test successfully last time.  I wouldn't have guessed they would be good at herding

Two things to mention.....Maverick never took to swimming in the doggy pool, and,,,,,,,we never did successfully wean him off treats!! He loves his treats, and still at 2 1/2 years old comes a running when called, licking his lips with his little pink tongue thinking of the great treat he gets when he gets to us. 

At the end of the day, he is ready to get brushed (not his favorite thing either) he usually falls asleep on my lap while I brush him out, then over to Dad's side while we read or watch tv.  He, and any Havanese, I think, is just happy to be with their people.  If you have your own Havanese, give him or her a big hug from us.