Since the Cairn has been gone, however, the Havanese tends to leave her food uneaten for a great part of the day. She takes a mouthful, walk out into the hallway, drops it onto the floor, and eat the pieces one by one. She’s healthy and of good weight. I’ve found out since, that many Havanese have a similar eating quirk. Her previous need to finish her meal at one sitting was because she was intimidated by the Cairn, who would have eaten her food if she walked away from it.

I’ve found that the best schedule for feeding my Havanese is ½ cup of commercial dry dog food given twice a day; once in the morning and again at dinner time. With the Cairn gone, I leave the food at her eating station all day. She seems to like it that way. Sometimes she eats it all, and other times she leaves half a meal. I try to give her reward snacks only when she’s eaten her regular food. I don’t want her to replace the balanced nutrition with what she considers to be good tasting snacks. I always present her with fresh food mixed with a little water at each meal. If she has food left over from the morning meal, it has usually absorbed all the water and become mushy. I throw it out and replace it with fresh food mixed with a little water.

I tried different dog foods and, although I won’t recommend a specific one, settled for one of the good commercial brands that offer different food mixes for different stages in the dog’s life, as most good ones do. I had the Cairn on a weight-watching formula for older dogs, while the Havanese was started on a puppy mix and will soon be moved up to the active dog mix. The dry food, a constantly available supply of fresh clear water, and rationed snacks seems to be working to keep her in good shape.

From my experience with dogs, I’ve found that most of them become used to whatever food they are normally given and may reject different foods or eat them reluctantly, even if it’s a food that I might think was a major taste treat. My Cairn was an exception. I think she was part goat. If it was available to her and even remotely edible, she would wolf it down and never be bothered with stomach problems. The Havanese, however, might take a very small piece of cheese or a small cube of turkey and enjoy it, but when I decided to give her some chopped up turkey, broccoli, and rice after Thanksgiving dinner, she left it in the plate.

I think it’s safe to say that your Havanese is pretty much self-regulating with regards to what and how much to eat. If you keep her provided with clean fresh water and a food that she enjoys, she’ll pace herself and eat properly, setting a good example for her owners.

You probably brought your new Havanese puppy home when he was about eight weeks of age. At that age he is old enough to begin learning some basic rules of behavior. It’s up to you to be consistent when setting and enforcing these rules. The dog will become confused if you’re not consistent in your demands upon him.
The first things he needs to learn is where he is allowed to eat. This will be easily learned if his food and water dish are always the same and located in the same place for each meal. He can be assigned a place to retire to and groom himself or rest; a private secure area which he can reliably call his own. He can be learn to eat, walk outside, and play according to a dependable routine. He can be taught to understand the word “NO.” He can quickly learn that you, not he, is the boss. This is the period when he can be most effectively crate trained.

At about three months you can begin to teach him simple commands like sit, stay, lie down. He can be trained to always come when called, not to run away, and to walk on a leash without pulling, and to permit you to remove anything from his mouth without reaction. He can now learn to become socialized with other family members and pets. Between four and six months it will be possible to begin training the dog to perform tricks, play games, and enjoy family activities like hide and seek.

Of course it’s easy to suggest what your dog can learn at which time; it’s another thing to actually accomplish the training. Remember that your Havanese is an intelligent dog with a delightful disposition. The most important component of successful training is your attitude.
• Never show anger when training.
• Give positive rewards when a training milestone is met.
• Always be affectionate to the dog and he will learn to trust and love you, and work very hard to please you.
• Always speak to the dog in a calming tone. Raising you voice will frighten him and distract him from the training activity.
• Always try to provide training in an area free from distractions.
• Learn to understand when the dog is tired, and don’t force him to train.
• Expect to repeat lesson over and over several times before the dog totally understands.

Training is a process that never ends. Once your dog has learned a certain behavior, you’ll need to reinforce it at all times. Your dog will become an important part of your family. Its behavior will affect all family activities in which the dog is a part. If your dog is well socialized and trained to exhibit acceptable behavior he will be welcomed wherever you go.

Brushing and Clipping
Brushing your dog’s hair regularly keeps the coat in top condition. Havanese dogs are said to be non-shedding, and it’s true that they don’t shed readily, but the coat must be brushed daily to remove dead hair. It also provides the dog with a gentle massage to improve circulation. Regular brushing offers owners the opportunity to examine the dog’s coat and skin for ticks or other parasites or hidden wounds. If you’ve had considerable experience clipping dogs’ coats you can give your dog a bimonthly trim. If you’re not an expert, it’s worth the few dollars expense to have a professional with the proper tools do the job.

Bathing
How often your Havanese needs a bath depends upon his lifestyle and his color. A white active Havanese could need a weekly bath, especially if he is allowed up on the furniture and bedding. Keeping the coat clean helps to keep the coat free of tangles. A Havanese that lives primarily as a house pet may not require bathing as often.

Eyes
Dogs with bright white coats like Havanese often get discolored hair near the eyes, usually red. Wash the skin around the eyes using a soft wash cloth or cotton ball. This staining can be minimized through daily cleaning. Lotions are available from pet stores that can help minimize eye irritation.

Ears
All dogs with long, wide, floppy ears are prone to ear infections. The floppy ears cover the ear canal so efficiently that moisture collects and cannot escape. Infections can be avoided by regularly cleaning the ears with a washcloth or cotton swab. Hair in the ears should also be removed using your fingers or tweezers. Be very careful not to probe too far into the ear canal.

Teeth
Dogs, like humans, have plaque buildup form on their teeth. This plaque can turn into tartar, support colonies of bacteria, and cause infections. Regularly brushing your Havanese’s teeth can keep the teeth and gums healthy. Use toothpaste which is made especially for a dog’s teeth. Canine toothpastes are available at all pet supply stores. To the delight of dogs, they come with a choice of chicken, liver, and malt flavors.

Nails and Paws
Your Havanese’s nails will become too long if not trimmed. Dogs do not like having this done, especially if they have had the quick injured in previous trimmings. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming your dog’s nails, seek the help of a professional groomer. Also, when you clip your dog’s fur, pay specific attention to the paws. The Havanese’s hair grows so quickly that it can build up to form a slipper like cushion which can cause the dog to slip on smooth surfaces.

Havanese are also susceptible to juvenile cataracts, which can also impair vision, and luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps), ear infections, tearstains, and dry skin. To reduce the incidence of luxating patellas, HCA requires thatpuppy knees be checked before the age of six months; any puppy showing signs of the condition cannot be used for breeding. The Havanese is a hardy dog overall, with a tolerance for a wide range of temperatures and a relatively long life-span of 12-15 years.

Like any breed of dog, the Havanese is subject to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new Havanese puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Havanese Dogs include:

• Juvenile cataracts
• Chondrodysplasia
• Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP)
• Elbow dysplasia
• Liver abnormalities
• Cardiac problems

Again, a responsible breeder will be well educated about these problems that can occur in the Havanese breed and have their breeding dogs undergo rigorous testing to help ensure that their puppies will not have these disorders. It is extremely important that you educate yourself about health conditions affecting the Havanese so that you can be sure you are dealing with a breeder from whom you will acquire a healthy, well socialized puppy.

Havanese are generally considered healthy and sturdy dogs, and live between 12?16 years, though there is a prior history of genetic conditions with this breed. Don’t buy outside recognised breeder circles, and research the history of the breeders stock.

Havanese, even ones not to be bred, should go through several tests, including a one-time BAER hearing test, a CERF eye test annually, and a Patellar Palpation and Hip Evaluation. Soaping has also become a popular way for breeders to test health. It involves soaping up the dog to flatten the coat to its body and reveal the structure of the legs. Crooked, bowed or over short legs are a symptom related to many Havanese health issues, and dogs suffering from them should not be bred.

Because of the small genetic pool from which the Havanese were revived, Havanese organizations around the world are always on the lookout for new health and genetic issues that may come to the fore in this lovable and generally healthy breed.

The Havanese commonly has cataracts, poodle eye (which is discharge from the eye and staining), PRA (causes blindness in both eyes), dry skin, or luxating patellas (knee problem sometimes leading to lameness) but these disorders mostly appear when this breed ages. An average life expectancy for the long living Havanese is 14-15 years.

The biggest drawback in cleaning a Havanese dog is the coat. Grooming a Havanese dog takes a long time because the coat need to be cleaned frequently. If you don’t have the time or inclination to clean your pet dog a lot, then this dog breed is not for you. Havanese Dogs should have their coat groomed two-to-four times a week. Their coat should be brushed or combed in layers from the skin outward in order to get it really clean. During winter or in drier climates, a light oil or coat dressing can help prevent split hairs or static build up.

The coat must be free of any mats(tangled hairs) before bathing your dog. Mats can be removed by moistening the coat with oil and rubbing it with you fingers until the tangle separates. The coat should be shampooed liberally and rinsed completely before application of a coat conditioner. Pet owners can brush the coat frequently to keep it free of tangles then take their Havanese dogs to a groomer for bathing.

For many, this is the deciding factor on whether or not to get a Havanese puppy. With roughly 6-8 inches of fine silky coat, the Havanese dogs fall into the high-maintenance category. Requiring either a thorough brushing, at least every other day, or a couple of trips to the grooming salon, this is too much work for a person with a busy lifestyle to handle. Thus only the really committed people get these dogs. Additionally, pale colored dogs can get rust-stains at the corners of their eyes or the hair around their muzzles can get dirty when they eat. In addition to bathing these gos, responsible owners also have to take the time to dry their furry companions. Because of their thick coats, this can also be a lot of work and take a lot of time.

Havanese dogs need plenty of grooming which is expected because of their long flowing coat. However, to prevent immense grooming the fur can be clipped short. Left long, their fur needs to be brushed two times a week plus extra fur should be trimmed away from the pads of their feet. Of course a show dog will need more grooming but for a pet this is all that needs to be done. Exercise, such as walks or play sessions, will keep this breed happy and healthy. If you’re considering getting a Havanese dog, be sure to keep in mind just how much work one of these little dogs will be, and weigh that into your pros and cons.

If you have a Havanese puppy you should spend the first few months focusing on the basic things that every puppy should know. Make sure that your Havanese thoroughly understands his housetraining. Time devoted to training your Havanese puppy completely understand the housetraining process when he’s first learning it will prevent problems later.

Spend a great deal of time on socialization. Socialization is the key to building confidence in a dog. The time you spend letting your Havanese dog meet other puppies and people will help him become a happy, well-adjusted adult dog. Many later behavior problems, especially separation anxiety, can be traced back to a lack of proper socialization. Take your puppy to puppy obedience training classes and puppy preschool. Take him to pet supply stores which welcome puppies and dogs so he can meet other puppies and friendly people. Encourage people to pet your puppy and give him treats. Take your puppy for leashed walks in the park where he can see things and meet other people who may want to pet him. In short, the first months of a puppy’s life are a time when he is forming his impressions about the world. It’s important that he sees many things and meets many people to become a confident adult dog. Praise him and encourage him to be happy and friendly. Put him in situations that will be fun for him.

Be careful about taking your Havanese puppy to places like dog parks, especially when he’s young. Dog parks are fun for some dogs but a Havanese puppy is small and can be bowled over by larger dogs. Always make sure that your puppy plays with dogs close to his own size. When he’s older and more able to take care of himself he can have some bigger playmates.

Formal dog training for your Havanese puppy can begin with puppy kindergarten classes or puppy preschool. These classes are primarily for socialization but puppies are often taught basic things such as walking on a leash and coming when called. Beginning obedience classes will cover teaching your Havanese to sit, lie down, heel and stay. Your Havanese dog will most likely be in a class with dogs of many breeds and mixes. He may be a bit of a clown in these situations. Remember that his traditional job has been to be a companion and lapdog. He plays to people and loves attention. This means that he is likely to do what will gain him the most attention and that’s not always following the rules. Give him lots of praise and attention for learning and he is more likely to enjoy learning.

Havanese dogs are very intelligent dogs and can learn anything you are able to teach them. There is no reason that you can’t teach your puppy or dog at home. Havanese respond best to positive reinforcement — use positive training methods that focus on praising and rewarding your puppy or dog for doing what you want instead of corrections or punishments.

When training a havanese puppy at home there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Keep training sessions short. Dogs learn best in a couple of short sessions per day.
• Make training fun for your Havanese.
• Your attitude determines your dog’s attitude.
• Don’t train when you’re angry or frustrated.
• Be consistent in your training.

Consistency is very important in any kind of dog training. It doesn’t just mean training frequently, although that is important. Consistency means giving your dog the same message each time you ask him to do something. For instance, if you ask your dog to Sit and he does sit after a few seconds, you reward him. The next day you ask your dog to Sit and he lies down. To be consistent, you do not reward your dog. You only reward your dog for sitting when you ask for Sit. Some people would give their dog a reward because he has done something, even though it wasn’t what they asked him to do. You need to make sure you are asking for and rewarding the proper behavior. Otherwise your dog will be confused and he won’t really be learning what you are trying to teach him.

Focus on housetraining and socialization when your havanese puppy is very young. You can gradually progress to more formal obedience lessons. If you make training a havanese puppy can be a lot of fun and stay positive he should have no problem learning anything you want to teach him.

If you’re bringing home a havanese puppy it’s best to continue feeding what he’s been fed by his breeder for the first few months. Your puppy’s breeder typically has a lot of experience in raising puppies and has chosen a food that she believes is good for your Havanese puppy. After that you can do some research and consult with your breeder to choose an adult food for Havanese dogs. He may not yet be an adult but there are some issues related to skeletal growth that make it a good idea to move away from puppy foods.

Don’t forget to keep fresh, clean water available to your Hav at all times. Remember to wash your food and water bowls daily.

Havanese dogs are a longcoated breed of dog with a double coat. That means that he needs at least a light grooming every day. It doesn’t have to be a formal grooming session. You can brush him lightly while he’s lying on the sofa next to you. But do brush him daily. Otherwise his coat can become a tangled mess.

Plan on giving your Havanese dog a bath about once a month or on the rare occasion when he gets into something smelly. According to the Havanese Club of America you should start paying particular attention to your puppy’s legs around nine months when you are bathing him. It’s easy to see how they are shaped when your dog is wet in the bath. If they look bowed or irregularly shaped you should talk to your breeder or a vet about chondrodysplasia. This is a disorder that involves the growth plates and it can be seen in a dog’s crooked front legs.

You should also clean your dog’s ears weekly and brush his teeth at least weekly — doggy dentists recommend daily brushing. Don’t forget to trim your dog’s nails. You can do this with either a scissors nail trimmer, a guillotine-type trimmer, or with a small nail grinder. The important thing is to get your dog used to having his nails trimmed from an early age and to avoid hurting him. Just take a little nail off in each trimming session and give your puppy or dog lots of treats when doing each paw.

Don’t forget the flea and tick care. Flea and tick prevention are much easier now than they once were. Topical flea treatments such as Frontline and Advantage have made it very easy to apply a treatment once and not have to worry about fleas for weeks. There are also products such as Program, Capstar and others for different situations. If you do find a flea give your Hav a bath right away, wash all of his bedding, vacuum your house and dispose of the vacuum bag (which could contain fleas). Treat both your yard and your house with a good flea product.

It’s important to stay current on your Havanese dog’s vaccinations. When you first get your puppy he should have already received his first and possibly second set of shots. You should continue to follow the schedule that your breeder has laid out for him. If there is any difference of opinion between your breeder and your vet (and sometimes there is), you should ask your breeder to phone your vet and discuss the matter. There are currently a couple of different vaccination protocols for Havanese puppies. Some call for more shots and different shots, some starting giving shots earlier or go on longer. If there is a disagreement between your vet and your breeder they should work the matter out.

Your dog also needs heartworm prevention. Heartworm is now found throughout the United States and it is present year-round in many places. Heartgard, Interceptor, Revolution, Sentinel and other products provide good protection for your Havanese dog against heartworm. You can discuss with your vet which product is best for your dog.

Your vet will probably also do a fecal exam on your puppy to see if he has any worms. If he does need worming this is something that is easily taken care of.

After all of his health needs have been met (which can usually be done in just a couple of trips to the vet), your dog will be ready to take over the house. A happy, well-cared for Havanese dog will typically live 14-15 years. Take care of him, see that he gets regular vet care, feed him good food, and be his best friend and those will be wonderful, happy years for both of you.

Buying a Havanese dog sometimes takes a little patience and effort. Most breeders are very protective of the breed. You’ll find those who have havanese dogs for sale are careful who they sell to because they don’t want to see the Havanese overbred by commercial breeders.

You should know that if you are looking for a Havanese puppy from a good quality breeder that you may be put on a waiting list. Most breeders keep their dogs in their home and may only keep a few adult dogs. They may not breed very often. Since Havanese dogs are toy dogs, they do not have large litters. You may have to wait six months or up to two years if you want a puppy from a particular breeder. The wait is well worth it. Puppies obtained from these devoted breeders usually come from the very best parents — dogs which have been tested for health and which have the best temperaments and conformation. Good breeders will keep in touch with you and keep you updated on how things are going.

Sometimes you may find a show breeder who needs to re-home an adult dog. This may be a retired champion. Sometimes people simply don’t have room for all of the dogs they have and need to find a home for one. These are often lovely dogs with great temperaments who have been well-socialized. They just need a new home.

You should do plenty of research when you are looking around for a Havanese dog, whether you want a puppy or an adult. You should be aware of the potential health problems in the Havanese dog. Although they are considered a generally healthy breed these issues can occur. That does not mean that every dog will get one of these problems. It only means that they have occurred with some dogs:

• Cataracts
• Cherry Eye
• Chondrodysplasia
• Deafness
• Hip Dysplasia
• Legg Perthes (or Legg-Calve-Perthes)
• Liver Shunt
• Patellar Luxation (slipped kneecaps)

These are all issues that you should ask about when you talk to a breeder. They should be able to tell you if any of these problems have occurred in their dogs, particularly in the parents of your havanese puppy or dog you are interested in.

Havanese dogs can be tested for the following conditions:

• BAER hearing test
• Cardiac
• Elbow dysplasia
• Hip dysplasia
• Legg-Calve-Perthes
• Luxating Patellas
• Sebaceous Adenitis
• Thyroid

Note that none of these tests are required but you can ask the dog breeder if they have had their dogs tested for these conditions. Asking about health conditions before you get a puppy or dog goes a long way toward preventing heartbreak after taking a puppy or dog home.

When you have chosen a breeder you like and there is a puppy or dog available you will almost certainly be asked to sign a contract. This contract will cover things such as the breeder’s health guarantees and your own responsibilities. Many Havanese breeders require owners to agree to spay or neuter their puppy or dog. They may also sell the puppy or dog on “Limited Registration” with the AKC. This means that the dog is registered with the AKC but that it is not eligible to compete in conformation events. Their offspring cannot be registered with the AKC. However, the dog may compete in performance events such as obedience, agility and rally.

Some breeders may want to keep your puppy or dog’s AKC registration papers until you provide evidence that you have spayed or neutered your puppy/dog. Strictly speaking, this is illegal under AKC rules. Registration papers are supposed to be given to the buyer at the time of sale. If the seller insists on holding onto the registration papers then they must clearly state the conditions in their bill of sale or contract and they must be delivered to you when the puppy/dog is spayed or neutered.

You should also discuss with the seller who will register the pup. Will you have the right to choose the registered name yourself? Some breeders prefer to choose the registered name themselves. If you have a problem with this you should say so.

The breeder should also discuss with you your puppy or dog’s care. They should tell you what the havanese puppy or dog has been eating, what vaccinations the puppy or dog has had and what schedule to continue with vaccinations, heartworm prevention, worming and other health care basics. And, of course, they should answer any questions that you have about grooming, housetraining and care of your puppy/dog.

Buying a Havanese puppy from a breeder should provide you with the kind of safety net that you don’t get when you obtain a dog from other sources. The breeder should be there for you for the rest of your puppy or dog’s life. Most breeders are even there for you if, for any reason, you are not able to keep your dog during his lifetime. Forming a good relationship with your breeder from the start helps both you and your Havanese puppy. Your breeder has a wealth of knowledge about the breed that they can pass on to you. Get to know them. It can be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Just as we teach our children, the values of life so also, we must teach our Havanese. Learning starts from the very day they are born.

At 8 weeks of age: The Havanese puppy must be taught simple everyday things:

• Where his water dish is?
• Which is his private nook in the house?
• His daily schedule – eating, playing, bedtime, quite time, and bathrooming schedules. A routine has positive effects.
• The meaning of “no.”
• Who is boss?

You can teach the infant simple things like house rules, housebreaking norms, crate training, being handled by you as well as others, as well as bite inhibition.

When your Havanese puppy is 3-4 months old: He can be taught simple commands: sit, stay, down, to come when called, to never run away, to walk politely on leash, to “give”—handover when asked, anything he has in his mouth, stop barking when you say “No Bark,” as well as people skills (socialization).

When your Havanese puppy is 4-6 months—the training becomes more intense and goes to a higher level. You can teach the pet eye contact, to listen attentively when you speak, hand gestures, to play fetch, to do tricks, to greet guests politely, to have a “Lie down” and rest, to recognize family members by name, play hide and seek, and more.

Havanese Puppy Training Tips
Havanese puppies are like human kids—you will find that the puppy is excitable, easily distracted, forgets what he has been taught, and is sometimes reluctant to learn. It is with long interaction with your dog that you learn what is feasible and what is not.

Treat your Havanese puppy with lots of love and respect—just as you like respect so does your Havanese dog. If you give him plenty of love, attention, nurturing, as well as hugs and kisses from day one – the dog will learn to love you, allow you to take the place of its mother, respect you and look up to you for guidance.
Always use a soft and calm tone with your Havanese dog. Shrill or loud tones only serve to excite the dog. To establish control over the dog, you need to speak to him in soft and firm tones. When training a havanese puppy, teach it that you are in control of the situation and will handle all matters calmly.

Always select a place for puppy obedience training that is a distraction free zone. This will help both you and the dog focus on the lesson and not the surroundings. Once learning becomes an established routine and your puppy learns to concentrate, focus, and respond well to your commands you should gradually introduce distractions /disturbances in the form of people, noises, other dogs and so on. And soon you will find, that your puppy responds to your commands even in public places.

Keep a watch for the body language of the dog—you will be able to tell when he is distracted, when he is not in a mood to learn, when he is not focusing. Adjust to his needs – he too has good days and bad. Never force a dog or nag him. Go slow in the lessons — if necessary, go back 2-3 steps before you go forward.

Use only positive training methods—they work better and are enjoyable.

Love, patience, and persistence are the three keys to efficient havanese training. Havanese dogs are very easily trained and lovable. Follow the tips here and you will find it easy to care for your new pet.