Info about Havanese
Information about our Indiana Havanese Puppies

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Havanese Good with Children?

Havanese are wonderful with children if they are well socialized. The Havanese by nature are people lovers and love all of their family members. I choose to have Havanese due to their loving and playful nature. I have two children and five grandchildren, and my Havanese dogs love all of them. However, they do tend to love the main caregiver more than others and follow them everywhere--even the bathroon! All breeds of dogs have their own thing about their nature and genetics. Some of the other breeds similar in size to the Havanese often become attached to a main person in the household and can be very nippy and not social to strangers or other household members. This is not true of Havanese. They LOVE all family members and are especially loving and gentle with children.

Are Havanese Good Watchdogs?

I have to chuckle here...If you're looking for a watch dog that will scare a burglar away, then the Havanese is not for you. Although one of the only times a Havanese barks is when someone comes to the door, this is merely for the excitement of who is there and who is the next human to love up!!! Havanese are very social and playful but not aggressive to humans. They are very helpful, however, if you do not hear the doorbell. You WILL hear them. They do settle down quickly after your pet sees that the stranger is a friend or known to you.

What is Socialization and Why is it Important?

Havanese were bred as companion dogs. Socialization is the process of introducing puppies to humans as friends, and all sorts of circumstances to ensure that they grow up well rounded. Socialization starts with the breeder and continues with the owner. It is important to buy a puppy from a breeder that exposes puppies to people, children, situations, etc. Home raised puppies are usually better socialized than kenneled puppies. A puppy that isn't socialized may exhibit behavior problems later on. And some puppy mills or pet stores won't tell you, but the puppy should be yours between 8 and 12 weeks old so that they can become attached to you. This special bonding, sometimes called imprinting, needs to be done early, or it never really "takes." So to get the true value that a Havanese offers, you should try to purchase during that time critical time period. Of course, older dogs can still be wonderful pets, but you lose that valuable imprinting time.

I work all day and no one is home during the day.

Then a Havanese is not the dog for you! They require human companionship at least off and on during the day. If you are never home during the day, look for another breed of dog.

Will my Havanese Chew me Out of House and Home?

Havs are very controllable on their puppy chewing habits. All you need to do is supply them with their own toys - they love their toys!

I have allergies. I hear that Havanese are hypoallergenic.

There is no such thing as a purely hypoallergenic dog, although some breeders may try and tell you so. There are dogs and cats that have been proven to carry much less dander and allergens. Havanese are known to be one of the best breeds for allergy sufferers. The best thing to do is spend some time around Havanese dogs and decide for yourself. That being said, I have never heard of any person with an allergy to react to a Havanese.

Do Havanese shed and how do I maintain his or her coat?

Havanese do not shed, but they do lose hair, just as humans do. Regular brushing helps to maintain a healthy coat. To keep a Havanese in a full, long coat requires regular (daily) brushing. As a young puppy, brushing a few times a week will suffice. Around 6 months of age the adult coat begins to come in and the dog will require a daily brushing until the coat is mature. You probably will want to take your Havanese to a groomer every 5 weeks or so for a bath and grooming. This keeps their coat cute and managable in what is called a "puppy cut." This cuts down greatly on the combing or brushing, but doesn't eliminate it.

How Much Activity Do Havanese Require?

Havanese enjoy exercise and activity, but as dogs go, they are on the low end of requirements. Havanese should have plenty of play time and at least a short walk each day.

I Live in an Apartment, Can a Havanese Adjust to That Lifestyle?

There are many happy apartment dwelling Havanese.

If I am Getting a Pet, Why Must I Sign a Spay/Neuter Contract?

This ensures that unwanted dogs are not produced and it helps to keep dogs out of puppy mills. Breeding needs to be handled by people who understand the dogs, genetics, health problems, and are willing to commit to bettering the breed.

Are Havanese Difficult to House Train?

Havanese are small dogs of the Bichon family. If your family dog growing up was a lab or a shepherd, or other large dog, you may have found house training occurred very easily. This isn't always the case for many small dogs including the Bichon family. Their bladders are much smaller. Havanese do take work and consistency to house train. It may take months before your dog is reliable in the house. About the time that you see their chubby-puppy, short body elongate into a more mature longer shape, the bladder will have more space and all-of-a-sudden, it will happen! While potty training is in progress the use of puppy pads will help to ensure there is an area for your lovebug to go to if you are not noticing that he needs to be let outside.

Are Males or Females Better Pets?

Both males and females make wonderful pets. Both are extremely affectionate and make great lap dogs.

More general info or FAQ (frequently asked questions) on Havanese:

Havanese love attention and will demand it! They will constantly be in your arms, lap, or following you around everywhere you go. Although they are careful to not trip you. They watch you carefully to bounce out of the way. They will graciously return the love and attention to you.

Speak softly and gently to them. They do not respond to yelling or shouting. They will naturally learn to respond to displeasure in your voice or even a "No" rather softly spoken will be a very effective deterant.

Havanese are very intelligent and can easily learn many commands and tricks. The breed used to be (and still is) used as circus animals because of this.

Havanese must be part of the family. They are not happy if they are left out of attention and family activities. So find accommodations that will accept your Hav when you travel. They do like vacation. Many hotels and motels now accept dogs, especially small ones.

Havanese rarely bark—they are not "yappers." However, they are really good watch dogs. They will sound the alarm when the doorbell rings or someone knocks on the door. Allow them to have a bark or two or three and then consistently make them stop--a signal like hand lowered, palm to the ground--is a good one, while saying something like "Stop barking"they will calm down and be a wonderful host for your guest. Again, don't get loud and agitated, or they will think this is how to act. Look him/her in the eyes, talk quietly, even hold their mouth shut or make them lie in a submissive pose like on their side to stop barking until they learn your command.

Never sedate your puppy when flying and always take him in the cabin with you. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases cats and dogs should not be given sedatives or tranquilizers prior to flying. An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation, which can be dangerous to your Havanese. When flying, animals are exposed to increased altitude pressures which can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems for dogs and cats which are sedated or tranquilized. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs and snub-nosed cats are especially affected. Flying is like riding in your car, they calm down and go to sleep, usually before the plane takes off. Usually your travel companions will not even know your dog is on board the aircraft.

Havanese like to play a game called ‘Run like hell and catch me if you can’. It’s really a fun game for them but they must be allowed to play this game in a controlled area such as a fenced area for their playtime safety.

Porkies, Puggles, Dorkies, Havapoo, Havamalt, or whatever fancy name is placed on them are NOT pure bred dogs. They are Mutts! If you want a so called ‘Designer’ dog go to a Humane/Rescue organization and do a Rescue. They are much more economical and they do need homes too.

The ‘Designer’ dogs are just someone wanting to make a buck. Mix breeding goes against everything a reputable breeder bases their breeding program on, i.e., conformation of the dogs, pure bred, health, temperament etc. When you mix two breeds you never know what you are going to get.

Mushrooms can be harmful to your Havanese. Some can even be deadly. Please check the area regularly where you walk your Havanese and remove any mushrooms that may have popped up.

 There is no such thing as a Shavanese. It’s just a fancy name for a Havanese with a bad coat. Don’t be fooled!

 Havanese Boys are more affectionate than Havanese girls, NOT TRUE. It depends on the dog. Either gender can be as affectionate as the other.

Havanese girls are better at potty training, NOT TRUE. It depends on your commitment to taking them ‘outside’ and training them.

 Havanese puppies will show their affection by giving your hands ‘Love Bites’. They have very sharp teeth.  Puppies learn biting by playing with their litter mates. If a playmate yelps, a pup knows he has bitten too hard. Make use of this instinctual behavior to train a pup who mouths or nips by yelping yourself, and then stop the playtime. Your puppy will learn quickly that he must not bite or nip you. You should train your puppy that a human's hand should never be a plaything in their mouths.

Havanese will jump from any high place. Don’t leave them unattended on any high place. They will jump off.

 Puppies should never be allowed to jump off a couch, chair, or anything elevated until they are over 7 months at least. They could harm their growth plates.

When you buy a dog from a pet store you are only putting money in a Puppy Mills hands. Walk away; you are not rescuing the dog.

 When you buy from a Puppy Mill you are not rescuing, you just put money in their hands so they will go make another puppy. If they can’t sell their product they will quit producing it. Walk away.

 You may find puppies at a ‘discounted’ price. They are usually Puppy Mills. When a reputable breeder spends thousands of dollars showing, health testing, and vet bills providing health care for their dogs they do price their puppies accordingly. Reputable breeders do this to provide the best healthy puppies that meet the breed standards that can possibly be produced. If you want a ‘discounted’ puppy, you get what you pay for.

Teddy Bears, Dorkies, Porkies, Havamalts, and all the other fancy names are not pure bred dogs. They are not recognized by AKC. They are mixed breeds and more commonly known as mutts.

Havanese get so excited when you return home. Allow them to give you the ‘greeting’ and you must give it back. They are so happy to see you! Early on they may pee a bit when the woman or the man of the house comes home. This is a subserviant "gift" for him. Try to be gentle about this--scolding will not help, and it does go away as the puppy grows up.

 Havanese seem to think that the bed belongs to them. If you ask real nice they will share the bed with you but forget the pillow. Hey, a Hav must draw the line somewhere!

 Be the person that your dog thinks you are!

Havanese are like potato chips ‘you can’t have just one’! Havanese are pack animals, the more the merrier and the bigger the party!

 There are several products on the market that you place in your dog’s food to control tear staining. Please check it out. It may contain Tylan. This is an antibiotic and should not be used for long periods of time. You should NEVER give this product to a puppy, pregnant gal, or nursing gal. It is harmful to puppies.

If your Hav has excessive wetness around the eyes, keep it dry by applying corn starch to the face. Just rub it into the coat with your fingers.

 Havanese love to play in the snow so let them have fun. When they come inside, to remove the snow balls that have accumulated in the coat just run warm water over the snow balls to melt them.

Havanese just love it when you remember their birthday. So find a dog bakery or a recipe and give them a birthday cake or special birthday treat. Don’t forget that birthday present!

If you don’t like making a bed with ‘somebody’ in it, you don’t want a Havanese!
If you don’t like ‘company’ in the bathroom, you don’t want a Havanese!

 Havanese owners are a rare breed themselves. We are so devoted and enthusiastic about our Havanese that some people even think we are a little ‘off our rocker’.

From www.dogbreedinginfo.com/havanese.htm: Havanese are natural companion dogs, gentle and responsive. They become very attached to their human families and are excellent with children. Very affectionate and playful with a high degree of intelligence, these cheerful dogs are very sociable and will get along with everyone including people, dogs, cats and other pets. They are easy to obedience train. This curious dog loves to observe what is going on. It is sensitive to the tone of one's voice and will not listen if it senses that it is stronger minded than its owner, however it will also not respond well to harsh discipline. Owners need to be calm, yet possess an air of natural authority. The Havanese has a long reputation of being a circus dogs, probably because it learns quickly and enjoys doing things for people. Few tend to bark a lot, as they can be taught not to do this; it is not their nature to bark a lot. It is best to teach them not to bark unnecessarily while they are still young to prevent it from becoming a habit. Havanese are good watch dogs, making sure to alert you when a visitor arrives, but will quickly welcome the guest once it sees you welcome them. Some dogs that have not been properly socialized may exhibit a degree of shyness around strangers, but this is not characteristic of the breed. Havanese live for your every word and gesture. They should be neither timid nor aggressive—if they are, that is a result of a human who is not providing proper pack leadership and/or not treating the dog like a canine, but rather a human. The Havanese shows no cowardice, in spite of its size.