havanese

Look out world the Sparks’ Family has it’s own Spice Girl and she’s rocking the Casbah!Introducing Picosa’s Posh Panache, or Posh, Poshy, Poopy, Posh Puppy, Little Girl, Honey, these are just some of the names we are calling the newest member of our family!I picked up Posh on Tuesday from the wonderful Char Renslow, to whom I am forever grateful. She is part of an amazing trio of breeders who are dedicated to the integrity of the breed. They really love their dogs and are unselfishly honest, committed, and put the best interest of this incredible breed first.I thought it would be fun to include some pictures of Posh’s parents.This is her “playful” mommy, Ch. Picosa’s Simply Irresistible “Godiva.”This is her daddy, Ch. Jefe’s Reason to Rumba “Rico”I contacted Char way back in July about meeting a Havanese ” in the flesh” and attending one of the Open Houses she, (along with Carol Krueger of Jefe Havanese and Mary Ellen Vickery of Deja Havanese) hosts each month. Char emailed me with an invitation to attend their next information night held on a Sunday night in August.I barely made it to that Open House. I left late, as usual, and got lost on my way. I think I walked in with 15 minutes or so left. My hosts were awesome and I think I stayed, along with others, for maybe an hour or so? You can read about it in my previous post, Have to Have a Havanese, if you are really aching for the details…Anyway, I remember noticing a little brindle puppy Char’s eleven year old son was playing “fetch” with. She looked to be about ten weeks old or less, but Char told us that she was on the small side and that she was really about three months old. She was adorable. I tried to get a picture of her, and she was just having too much fun, the picture turned out totally blurry. I felt a connection with her right away. I even remember thinking, “Well, of course the breeder is keeping her for herself to show, move on Amy.”Fast forward a month and a half or so.Violet becomes obsessed with this book:Everyday Violet tells me, matter-of-factly, she wants a posh puppy.I receive a letter from the breeders that they are expecting two litters in early fall. At this time I send in my deposit money for a puppy, but write a note saying I’ll wait until the October litter is ready to go home (sometime in late December). At this time, I was interested in either a show co-own agreement, or a pet adoption, I just wanted the “right” dog for our family and was open.Skip ahead another month. I check my Google mail account, which I rarely open. There is a letter from Char. “Do I want to pass up both litters? Am I still interested in a show dog commitment? If so, would I like to meet her little show potential girl Posh?”My heart skips a beat.Did I really read “Posh?” Instantly, I think about Violet’s request and I know exactly which puppy Char is talking about. Meanwhile, I’m working at Buffalo Books and Coffee. I look up into the Children’s Literature section, and what do I see? You guessed it. So, I felt I had to buy the book. Intuition scene one.The following weekend, I round up the family and we head up to Ham Lake (about an hour and forty minutes) for another Open House to re-meet Posh and some of Char and Mary Ellen’s newest pups. Of course, the little ones are darlings and they climb all over Sage and Violet. However, it’s Posh who steals all of our hearts that night. Since the last time I saw her she has blossomed into such a beautiful sweet girl. She is a Gold Brindle, and I think her coat will forever change and surprise us. It reminds me of knitting with Noro fiber, you really never know what color will come next, and that is one of the main reasons so many of us are addicted to knitting with it. The surprise element is intriguing. And, as with the Noro, the feeling of Posh’s fur is absolutely amazing, like a whisper, almost like feathers, and yet so much softer.Here are some baby pictures of Posh that Char has sent me where you can really see how much her color has changed already. Don’t be confused by her name, at that time she was a “Godiva candy” baby called Taffy.Taffy aka Posh, was born in May of 2007, on the same day our beloved border collie, Beauty died. When I found this out, I just knew in my heart that she was supposed to be part of our family. Here is a picture of our Beauty girl. April 1997-May 2007. She has gone over the “Rainbow Bridge,” and will always hold such a special place in the hearts of the humans who knew her.I didn’t find this out until we had arrived home from the Open House. Adam and I were pouring of the details of her co-ownership agreement when I noticed the day Posh was born and the hairs on my neck rose. Meanwhile, a week of agonizing over some of the details of being in a show commitment, I had the crappiest reality biting moment. I had to tell Char that while we loved Posh, we just couldn’t commit 100 percent to being in the show arrangement. I knew this really had to be a decision that everyone was on board for. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, because I was already so in love with this dog. I put my faith in God that things would work out the way they were supposed to.In the end, or the beginning for me and Posh, Char unselfishly decided that it would be in Posh’s best interest not to breed her, as she is a smaller Hav and therefore runs the risk of C-section, etc… Consequently, it wouldn’t make much sense to show her in a Conformation ring if she wasn’t going to breed her.The next question from Char was when could I pick her up?I wanted to bolt out the door, the minute I read those words. I had to remind myself that I had waited this long, I could wait a couple of days. So, I puppy proofed. I cleaned, I shopped, I rested, I prepped the kids, I obsessed. And, finally, Tuesday arrived.I left the house, feeling prepared, my empty Pet Fly carrier bag in tow. The carrier ended up being too small, and of course I took off all the tags…So, she rode next to me in the front. She was lovely.When we got home, I don’t think she knew what to think of Otto. In fact, I’m pretty sure she didn’t know he was a dog at first. After a couple of hours they were fine together. Now, it’s like they’ve always been friends, they’re so comfortable.Here is a funny height comparison of rears:She’s doing great on the potty training, sleeps really well in her crate, is EXTREMELY picky about her food, has some work to do on walking on a leash (she likes to do a crappy flop), has already learned how to sit, had her first bath here at house today, and I am totally in love (as is the rest of the family)And, so, I now go to bed. Here are a few more Posh pics. Victoria Beckham eat your heart out!