Close To You
Have you ever heard the song "Close To You" by The Carpenters?
That is precisely how your Havanese, whether a puppy or a mature dog, feels about you!
I'm sure you've heard Havanese referred to as "velcro" dogs. What does this mean? The most obvious answer is that they are always with you. The REALITY of this is, you will never go to the bathroom alone again! They do not typically do well if left for long periods or boarded in a kennel. If this is something that you know you will need, you should consider another breed that tolerates being left alone. If I must leave my dogs behind, I leave them with a close friend or family member they know very well and will happily stay with. Many Havanese, and pet owners in general, will claim that their pet has separation anxiety. Consistent training and clear communication with your pet can fix most of this. However, "doing it right" from the beginning makes for fewer issues later on!
Havanese Health
In general, Havanese are a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years or more. The vast majority of Havanese go through life with no major health issues. This is due to diligent health testing by reputable breeders who take seriously their role as stewards and guardians of the breed. They take the time and go to the expense of testing their breeding dogs against known heritable health problems.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) serves as a data base for registering results of health testing for all breeds. If a breeder submits results for the testing recommended by their parent club, they will receive a CHIC number for that animal.
At this time The Havanese Club of America, the AKC parent club for the Havanese breed, recommends three health tests be done to get a CHIC number. These tests are:
- An annual eye exam (CAER),
- A hip x-ray, and
- Patella (knee) certification.
Although not required, we also do:
- Cardiac Exam
- Elbow x-ray
- Dentition
If you come across a breeder that states they don’t need to health test because their dogs are healthy, RUN, don’t walk, away as fast as you can.
While on the subject of breeder statements, I would like to also caution against any breeder that ONLY offers a replacement puppy in the instance of a severe genetic defect or disease. The buyer should always get their money back, or at the least be given the option of a refund or a different puppy.
You are seeing more and more Havanese puppies for sale. They seem to increase in numbers with every internet search...
This is very, very, true!! BUT...
Buyer Beware!
You've decided to get a new addition to your family. You've done your homework and selected your breed. You start searching the internet for a good breeder. You. are. overwhelmed.
There are so many breeders offering puppies out there that it is difficult to know who is reputable and who is not. There are a lot of individuals who are more than happy to swindle you out of your money and scam you out of your happiness. Added to these are countless numbers of Puppy mills. Logic will tell you if it seems too good or cheap to be true, it is! Too many people end up with sick, completely unsocialized puppies due to price. They are either saving money or falling into the "it costs more, therefore it's better" trap. PLEASE - do your homework. Locate the breeder that is right for YOU. They will stand behind their puppies and maintain a relationship with you for the life of your dog and beyond. As a potential owner, you must get to know your breeder. This is not a light decision, this is a LIFE decision. The average lifespan of a Havanese is 14-15+ years. I am certainly not trying to ward you off, but want to deeply instill that this is a commitment. I ask that you make your decision only after much thought.
Communication is the key to any good relationship and that goes double for you and your breeder. If they are within traveling distance for you, make an appointment to meet them and see the litter in person. If you can't, or are not comfortable traveling, set up a time when you can speak face-to-face over the internet. I will welcome any contact from you. I WANT you to get to know me just as much as I want to get to know you!
Don't ever just accept a photo sent via message, text, or email as proof of anything! Don't be fooled or overly impressed by the term "championship bloodlines!". This means nothing of consequence. I am positive this is a valid claim and one that can be made by tracing the lineage of any purebred, AKC-registered dog. Ask if the puppies will come with AKC registration and what type. Will there be a written contract? The answer should be "Yes". Ask to be given a copy so that you can go over it. Ask to see proof of health testing on the parents. The breeder should have everything at hand and registered with OFA. Write down questions as you think of them but don't be afraid to contact the breeder as many times as needed. A genuinely honest breeder welcomes your questions and feedback.
You want a healthy, genetically sound, well-adjusted, loving, social, puppy and a great breeder should fulfill all of this!
Coat Care: Beauty Salon or Wash & Go?
One of the reasons we all fall in love with the Havanese breed is their beautiful silky hair that flows when they move about.
That hair takes maintenance
Frequent washing and daily brushing will keep their coat in shape. I begin this with a gentle brushing sometime around 6-8 weeks, depending on the individual puppy. I use a baby brush so they get used to the feeling. At this age, they are mobile and may become soiled from one thing or another. If this should happen, you can easily clean with a baby wipe. Baby wipes are gentle enough to use and will not harm them.
Brushing when young will also help tremendously in later weeks and months. As with any growing puppy, they become more feisty and wiggly, lessening the odds of success as they age. Early brushing and grooming will strengthen the bond between you and your puppy. Make it a relaxing, happy time for both of you.
Also, the earlier you can introduce them to a professional groomer, the less frightening it will be. It doesn't have to be a complete grooming session. Your puppy will gain confidence and learn "table manners". They will know what is expected of them on the grooming table. As their hair grows, you will find it much easier to maintain in between salon visits if you have been doing routine brushing. You won't have to fight your way through every session. This makes for a much happier puppy and human!
You may prefer to keep your puppy's hair shorter. Maybe in what is called a Puppy or Teddy Bear cut. Any way that you like it is perfectly acceptable. However, a brushing schedule is still going to be needed. A shorter cut might only need care once a week or every other day. Whatever fits into your lifestyle is totally up to you.
Did I buy a puppy, a baby Shark, or a Woodchuck?
Teething puppies…..
Just like with human babies, puppies go through the painful experience of cutting teeth. And it is painful for them. They will want to gnaw and chew on anything they can get their mouths on.
So many new owners have experienced the pain of getting pierced with puppy baby teeth while their adult teeth are coming in. Many, including myself several times, have had the wooden legs of every piece of furniture destroyed by teething puppies.
First things first. A puppy pen, or expen as they are referred to is your best friend!! ANY time you cannot completely supervise your puppy, they should be confined to a safe area. The LAST thing you want is a puppy that has found their way to a nice, chewy, electrical cord! If you don't have a pen, you can always crate your puppy. To crate or not to crate is a whole other topic that we will get to below.
You can provide safe teething toys and objects for your little guy. Just remember, NO RAWHIDE. Even with toys, puppies still have to be monitored that they don't chew off and swallow a small piece of anything.
Some puppies like squeaky toys, others might like nylabones, wool balls, or even washcloths that have been frozen while wet. The variety and number of toys for teething is limited only to your imagination. If one thing doesn't work, move onto the next. Inevitably you will hit on the perfect object, even if it is only for that day! Tomorrow may be another guessing game. It has been my experience that Bully Sticks are the most effective. I’ve never seen a puppy who met a bully stick they didn’t like.
If you happen to spy your little one chewing on something inappropriate, just exchange it for one of their toys. This is always a good opportunity to reinforce taking away one thing and giving another, lessening the chance of resource guarding.
Crate Training
It has been my experience that crating is always the best option for so many reasons.
- Dogs are by nature den animals. They enjoy having their own den.
- A crate creates a sense of a "safe space" where they can go when things get scary, chaotic, intimidating, or if they just want to lay quietly.
- Crating an overstimulated puppy, or a puppy that is acting in an unacceptable or unwanted manner is a great way to communicate to the puppy in a positive way that you want it to settle down.
- Crating also insures that the dog is safe and will not get into anything that can be dangerous or a threat to its well-being. After all, you do not have eyes in the back of your head and you cannot watch them 24/7.
- Sometimes people have difficulty sticking with crate training if they have a puppy that screams at the top of its lungs when crated. This is hard but take heart, it will only take 2-3 days of sticking with it before it stops.
We always begin crate training puppies while they are still here in our home. We will provide each puppy with his/her own crate. The puppy crates are very small and will need to be upgraded fairly soon after going to their permanent home.
This helps immensely when they transition into their new homes!
Temperament
The question of temperament might not come to mind right away, but it’s often the most important.
Genetically, parents pass down their personality traits to each puppy. Some might get more of Mom, others might get more of Dad, and some pups are anomalies all their own.
Because of the time spent socializing, caring for, and observing their puppies, I will be able to recommend the puppy most likely to fit best into your life.
How soon can I bring my puppy home?
In my breed, the Havanese, you will not take your puppy home before it is 10-12 weeks old, ensuring he/she is old enough to adjust well.
I will communicate with you what you need to buy before you bring your puppy home. Your puppy will be Microchipped and pre-enrolled in AKC REUNITE. He or she will have started potty training, had their health checked, and been vaccinated by my Veterinarian. He or she will have been exposed to having their nails cut, feet trimmed, and coat brushed. All of this gets your puppy off to the best possible start.
I do not ship. If you live more than a comfortable driving distance away, you can always fly here to pick up your puppy, or have a professional animal transport service pick it up.
