Coat & Grooming:

I keep hearing new Havanese owners say “my puppy’s hair doesn’t mat”, haha! Well wait for their first birthday, on that exact day they will become one huge hair ball. This is when their under coat comes in. I have tried EVERYTHING, believe me. So here is what works, and no I don’t own the company.

1.     Always spray your puppy before combing, and never wash them before getting all the knots out.

2.     Isle Of Dogs is truly amazing. Available on amazon.

3.     Any scent of the coco brush spray.

4.     Wash with #10 and condition with #51 (follow the directions)

5.     Isle Of Dogs makes their products breed specific. It says to dilute with water, I don’t but then I am bathing a herd.

6.     Havanese coats do not have to be cut in hot weather to keep them cool. They are tropical dogs; their coat was designed for heat.

7.     The tools I use ; a flee comb to get into the corners of their eyes, a comb with wide teeth on one end and closer teeth on the other end, a mini mat splitter and a slicker brush.

8.     Remember harnesses and collars ten to rub and create mats.

9.     They can see through all that hair! just try to sneak a spoon of ice cream without them noticing!

THE CAR:

Yes, you do need to restrain your dog in the car, in a crate, in a booster seat, or even a seatbelt made for your dog (it clips into your cars seatbelt).

I’ve recently been told by another breeder when she has a puppy that gets car sick, and some do, they give the dog a bone or Kong’s stuffed with something delicious, it helps take their minds off things!

Also, start out with a trip that’s a few minutes long and gradually add to the trip.

Always keep a small supply of pee pads in your car just in case.

Try to avoid rest stops even if your dog is fully vaccinated. (You never know what yahoo has stopped before you with their unvaccinated coonhound on his way to visit his cousin in the back woods to hunt raccoons with his unvaccinated puppy mill dogs.

I know this sounds harsh but you really dong want to lose your new precious puppy to Parvo or distemper.)

If you are traveling find a nice quiet exit to get off the highway and walk your dog there.

FLYING:

You must have an airline approved soft crate for your dog. The crate with your dog combined must weigh under 20 lbs. Make a reservation in advance. Only five dogs are allowed in the cabin at a time. What will you do if you are #6?

MY FAVORITE TOYS:

Small soft toys with squeakers, NEVER plastic or rubber. They may be small, but their teeth are mighty! Also, split antlers and everlasting Himalayan yak milk bones (expensive but lasts a long while) It’s my treat when I really need peace, then I remove it for another time.

SOCIALIZE! SOCIALIZE! SOCIALIZE!
Your puppy needs to be exposed to lots of situations and all different kinds of stimulus. Noise, cars, trucks, children of all sizes, shops, time at an outdoor café, etc. On the other hand, they must be able to be on their own as well. Start slowly, leave for a few minutes, and slowly increase it.

SLEEP TRAINING:

Be prepared to hate me for the first three days. Your puppy will scream and cry when you put him into his crate for the night, may I translate that for you?... “Who do you think you are and why am I in here? I am a big dog now”. If you take them out, you are setting a precedent. Let them cry themselves to sleep. I find it’s easier on them if they can sleep in your room to start so they can see you. Also, in the middle of the night they will have to go out to pee. The clue to this is usually whimpering, they are too small to hold their pee all night. Remember, this is not the time to engage with them! No eye contact, just business.

 I have recently found that cool air under 68 degrees directly on your puppy can help as well.

CLEANING:

MISTAKES:

If your puppy does make a mistake, don’t punish them or yell at them. They won’t learn anything from that except to be afraid to go to the bathroom, or afraid to do so around you. It can create all sorts of unusual potty-training problems.

Calmy move the puppy where they can’t see you clean up the mess. After you clean up using a wash cloth or paper towel, be sure to use a pet- safe cleaning product to remove all traces of odor from the area. If your puppy can smell any odor, they will think it’s okay to use that spot again.

If your puppy keeps using the same spot, you haven’t gotten the odor out and they think it’s okay to use. Don’t yell, clean!

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES:

Havies cant have enough beds.

Remember if they cant jump on it they shouldn’t jump off it

Electric fences will keep your dog in but wont keep predators out.

Yes, again, food in poop out!

Food down for 20 minutes, then take it away.

Outside within 15 minutes and do not come in until they have pooped. The time you spend doing this now will save your sanity later.

No matter how well your dog is bred or how many vaccinations you get your dog may still get hurt or sick. Pet insurance is a good thing.

Ask your vet which insurance they work best with.

An exercise pen is a must in my house. Put their crate or bed, toys, water and a pee-pad in it and your Houdini will be safe when you don’t have eyes on them.

Chewy.com or amazon have much better prices than local or big box stores.

Do not buy your flee and tick meds from Walmart, BJ’s, tractor supply or Costco. These are medicines and can be toxic, get them from your vet ONLY. I know its tempting and the prices seem so much better but not if you need to calculate emergency vet visits.

Yes, I do think you should attend dog training classes. Also, your havie will LOVE agility classes if they’re offered near you.

Havanese will not chew the leg off your grand piano but they will shred paper you leave around even if it is in the toilet paper holder!

Timing Bathroom Breaks*:

Always take your puppy out!

-The very first thing in the morning, before you do anything else.

-Immediately after meals.

-After playing, if you know you are going to be playing with the puppy (as opposed to being charmed into playing with the puppy without much warning), it’s smart to take him out first.

-Before bedtime.

-When he wakes up from a nap.

-During car rides, stop to give him a chance to relieve himself.

-If he starts whining, circling, or sniffing around, pick him up and take him outside immediately.

-If you are having problems reading his behavior, take him outside every 30 minutes during the day for a while. You can increase the time as he gets older.

*Found from a different source within a potty training guide.

POTTY TRAINING:
My number one favorite helper for potty training is samivy.com/housebreaking

Print it out and put it on your refrigerator.

House breaking is all about CONSISTENCY!

If you see your puppy starting to poop, please check for “poop plugs”. Your puppy may poop then sit on it, creating a little seal on their bottoms. Wash thoroughly with warm water. Be VERY careful using scissors. It is very easy to cut their skin.

If your puppy has soft stools; chick and rice is a go to.

Pumpkin (unsweetened) is magic – it helps with both diarrhea and constipation. Add a small spoonful to regular diet. Also, if your puppy develops the charming habit of eating their own poop- Pumpkin!

If they eat your other dogs poop – give that dog pumpkin! Just a few weeks and magic!

Read this article by Lucy Laing from the Dailymail.com and learn how the Havanese breed has been discovered as the “best breed for reducing anxiety”.

To quote from the text, “A spokeswoman for the Kennel Club, Heidi Ancell-Day, said: ‘All the puppies produced calming effects. A lot of people nowadays have a stressful job and whether it’s working in or outside the city, those stress levels can be reduced by interacting with puppies.

‘The Havanese had the most productive results and seemed to have the most calming effect of them all.

‘It’s a lovely breed of dog and has won many admirers with its long silky hair and cuddly size. It actually has the nickname the Velcro Dog because it sticks so closely to its owners side.’”

Havanese Facts:

Hypo-allergenic

Non shedding

Sturdy frames

Alert barkers (no yapping)

Odorless, even when wet

Considered one of the top healthiest breeds

Average life 14-16 years

Size 8-18 lbs

Every color a dog can be

Longer back legs than front

Agility dogs

Service dogs

“I’m happy all the time” dogs

Love to climb, hike, kayak

Loves tv and reading

Havies have a great sense of humor.

And yes, they do fly - just wait and see!

Now, what more could you ask for?

There are two distinct types of Havanese:

The standard havie has a black nose and dark brown/black eyes. They can be any color including brown, sometimes referred to as chocolate

Then there is the less known “chocolate” Havanese that is any shade of brown but is distinct because of its brown nose and more “human” eyes that can be hazel, orange, green or blue.