My name is Sandi Kubler. I live in upstate NY. I am a breeder and enthusiast of all things Havanese.
I remember when I saw my first picture of a Havanese, I was hooked! Back then the cost was not affordable. But I knew I was destined to have one. As time passed, I kept checking for a breeder that was relatively close to us, or at least within a day’s drive. We had a long-haired chihuahua rescue and Champion Bichon Frise at home that I doted on and bred, providing beautiful companions to many loving families. More years and searches passed before I found the perfect breeder for us...
I have lived in New York State almost all of my life. This is where I bred many beautiful, healthy Bichons for many years.
In 2008 my husband was struck with a previously unknown rare genetic disease and had to retire early. The "why" now eludes me, but we (I) decided that we should move to South Carolina.......It'll be warmer, I said. The kids and grandkids can always visit anytime, I said. We can stay in touch with family and friends by phone or Skype, I said. No more fall leaves to rake or snow to blow, I said. It will be so great and we'll be so happy, I said.
I couldn't have been more wrong...
Family and friends had jobs, and children had school and sporting commitments. If one parent was on vacation, the other had to work. Seeing everyone at the holidays via Facetime or Skype wasn't the same. Mailing gifts was not the same as watching their faces when opening them in person. Weddings, birthdays, and even funerals happened as various events and time passed by.
Along came Hurricane Florence in 2018! We had three feet of water inside our home and had to rebuild. Then, like a miracle, in 2021 the housing market boomed back. We immediately sold and came back to New York where the seasons change, the snow glistens, the hills provide winding country roads, and family and friends can gather!!
Enter Maggie, the girl who started it all...
In 2019 we brought Maggie May, a little black and tan beauty into our family. Maggie was such a delightful ball of energy. She was smart, funny, and sassy all at the same time. She exuded all of the qualities that Havanese are known and loved for. She was a cuddle bug and a sock thief! We were head over heels in love with our little girl.
Dooley...
Next came our male, Paz Amor Talk Of The Town, aka Dooley. He was the cutest little cream fur-ball with a large black nose peeking out from all that fur. Dooley was a quiet boy. He wanted to be close to me at all times. He was all hair with a little puppy underneath!
Dooley got his AKC Champion title at eight months old! Go Dooley!
Mena...
Dooley was a wonderful boy and took showing in stride. I enjoyed my time raising and showing him so much that we added Mena, aka Paz Amor Walking the Catwalk to Nauti. Because of her outstanding genetics and structure, I am hoping she will become my foundation bitch.
Mena is a glossy, jet-black, glorious girl. Her beautiful structure shows whether in motion or standing still.
She immediately became the boss of the pack. She dominated and stood out in every aspect...
She is so intelligent that she breezed through her first puzzle at ten weeks old. She conquered ALL of the puzzles I bought for her, even the one for expert dogs, by the time she was five months old!
Mena is currently in the show ring, competing for her championship. When she obtains her title, Mena and Dooley will undergo the health testing per the OFA guidelines. Their test results will be listed with OFA and be available to the public.
Updates on Mena’s progress will be posted on the Available Puppies page.
What To Look For In A Breeder
Before you read any further, here is a wonderful guide for you, as a potential puppy buyer:
- The breeder I choose will always be available, by phone or email, to answer my questions, provide expert advice, or just enjoy all the photos of my puppy growing up. Not only do I get a healthy puppy, but I’ll also get a friend and mentor for life, someone who is totally devoted to their chosen breed.
- Because I would like a puppy whose parents have been carefully chosen for health—and have gone through a series of genetic tests to make sure that the puppy I get has the very best chance of being healthy, well-socialized, and well-adjusted.
- Because I don’t want any surprises! I’ll be able to predict my dog’s adult size, exercise/grooming requirements, temperament, and more from years of traceable pedigrees. Also, because I will have a personal relationship with the breeder, they’ll be able to match an individual puppy’s temperament perfectly to my individual lifestyle. In every litter, puppies exhibit a range of personalities—some are more dominant, while others are more laidback and mellow. By observing and evaluating the litter daily, the breeder will find the puppy that suits me best.
- When training my dog, I’ll benefit from the breeder having begun that process early on. My puppy has been handled from birth and has already begun to be socialized, which greatly affects how well-adjusted they’ll be as an adult. My puppy and their littermates have probably been exposed to other dogs, cats, and children, along with loud noises like dishwashers and vacuum cleaners. They’ve also already spent individual time in a crate. All of this early training gives my puppy added confidence as he joins my family.
- My puppy will have received excellent care from day one. Perfect nutrition, the best medical attention, and lots of supervised playtime—all the components that go into making a happy, healthy adult dog.
- If anything should happen to me, my family won’t have to worry about finding a caretaker for my dog. My responsible breeder promised in writing to take the dog back. They are my dog’s advocate for life.
- There’s nothing more thrilling than witnessing a dog’s natural instincts (which have been carefully, expertly bred into them for generations) come to life. Watching a herding breed start to move cattle in a barnyard? Watching a pointing breed aiming their muzzle at a bird, even though they’ve never hunted a day in their life? Amazing!
- That new puppy comes with a huge community of great people who love their breeds and their breeders. The American Kennel Club offers a large network of dog lovers, available to give me expert advice and invite me to sports and play sessions. There are many new friendships waiting to be made.
- I’ll be investing the time to research a breed that suits my personality and lifestyle. By doing that, I’ll be virtually guaranteeing that the bond with my dog will be like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. I’ll have a partner in crime, a friend who will never judge me but will share my joy and my tears for years to come. They will break my heart when they pass away because they’ve been in my life since they were a baby—and even so, I know I’d do it all again.
