Q. What kind of dog is a Havanese?
Havanese are part of the Bichon canine family, but are a distinct breed in and of their own. Havanese come in all colors and combinations of colors including white, cream, black, black & white parti, and many others!
Q. I've never heard of the Havanese breed. Are they recognized by the AKC?
They were admitted to the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1995 and are in the TOY GROUP!
Q. Can I get a Havanese from the pound or from a pet store?
No. Pure-bred Havanese should only be purchased from a reputable individual breeder. Havanese are still a rare breed and in some areas are still very hard to find!
Q. Do Havanese shed?
Havanese are perfect indoor pets because they do not shed! They are also hypo-allergenic! Havanese make wonderful pets for those who have sensitive skin and respiratory problems such as asthma.
Q. Do Havanese have to be professionally groomed?
No. Most people do prefer to have their Havanese groomed professionally because it is easier, however you can groom your Havanese yourself. It may take awhile to create a grooming routine with your Havanese, but it is possible! Please remember that you should groom your pet on a daily basis even if your pet goes to the groomer! Brushing your Havanese's coat can be great bonding!
Q. How often do Havanese have to be groomed?
Usually every two or three months. This will depend on your individual pet. It is essential to brush your Havanese's coats two to four times a week or more if possible. Also, regular eye, ear, and teeth care is required for optimal heatlh. Trim your Havanese's nails every couple of weeks.
Q. Are Havanese good with children?
Havanese are extremely sociable and love to play. They are exceptionally good with children even when the pet does not live with children on a daily basis. It's important that children are taught to be gentle with pets and that they are not toys! I recommend supervising any situation where dogs and young or unfamiliar children are together.
Q. Are Havanese too small or fragile for a home with children?
Havanese are a very good small breed for families with children. They are a sturdy dog, similar to a small terrier; they are very hardy and all around versatile. Havanese are very loving, playful, and gentle with children. However, again, it is important to teach children the proper ways to interact with any pet.
Q. What type of activities can I do with a Havanese?
Havanese were bred as companion animals. They love to be a part of the family! As well as conformation showing, Havanese owners can compete with their dogs in obedience and agility trials. Havanese are quick to learn tricks and love showing off to friends and family and revel in pleasing their owners. Havanese are social, active, and intelligent-the total package! It's more like what type of activities can't I do with my Havanese!
Q. Are Havanese "barkers"?
No, most Havanese are not barkers. Havanese will alert you when someone is at your door and to strange noises outside your home. Otherwise, they are fairly quiet. However, some Havanese are more "vocal" than others!
Q. Do male Havanese make better pets than females?
In our opinion, no. Both male and female Havanese share the same breed characteristics and are much the same. Both male and female Havanese make excellent family pets!
Temperament
Activity Level:
Indoors: very active-enjoy spending time cuddling on the couch as well.
Outdoors: moderate-love to run and play!
Behavioral Vigor:
Gentle
(This dimension relates to the force of behaviors regardless of how often they are produced.)
Variability/Constancy: moderate
(This dimension relates to the "stick-to-it-iveness" of a breed.)
Territoriality: low
Havanese are low in territoriality and generally only consider the owner's home and property as their own.
Dominance:
Strange dogs: submissive
Familiar people: submissive
(Submissive dogs approach most familiar and unfamiliar people and dogs with submissive displays.)
Emotional Stability/Vacillation: Stable
(This dimension is defined by how frequently an animal changes from one emotional state to another.)
Learning Rate: Fast to very fast
(The ease with which a breed is able to form associations between two or more events determines its trainability.)
Functionality:
Obedience: Very good
Problem solving: very good
Obedience training is achieved with very little effort for Havanese. Havanese are fast to learn and anxious to please. This makes Havanese a charming, open-hearted breed.
Watch/Guard Dog:
Alert/unsuited
Havanese are good watch dogs, sure to alert you when a visitor arrives, but will take their cue from you and welcome the guest when all seems well with their owner.
Sociability/Solitariness:
Very sociable
(The number of people a breed can tolerate in one location. A very sociable dog can tolerate, even enjoy crowds. A very solitary dog would get irritable, fearful, or aggressive in a crowd.)
Social Dimension
Owner/family: open-family
(Open-family dogs can discriminate between family members and non family members. However, they readily accept new members into the family after one or two playful experiences with them.)
With strangers: very friendly
(Very friendly breeds are described with the following terms: "likes everybody," "very friendly," and "likes people." These breeds may be very playful and jump on people who enter and continuously nuzzle, smell, and rub up against visitors. They are basically indiscriminate in their friendliness. They can be a pleasure to people who love dogs but an annoyance to people who do not.)
With children: exceptionally good
(Breeds that are exceptionally good with children can usually withstand the physical taunts of children; be calm in response to rapid movements; react unemotionally to loud and sometimes peculiar noises and modulate their physical strength in relation to the size of the child.)
Havanese Myths
1. Havanese are calm and no not bark.
Havanese are very outgoing, social, and comical. They love to be around people and are very energetic. Like other dogs, Havanese do bark. Some Havanese bark more than others; it depends on the individual dog. However, compared to some small breeds which are known for being yappy, Havanese do not bark excessively.
2. Havanese are low activity dogs.
Havanese are definitely NOT low activity dogs! They love to run in the yard and bounce around. When you take your Havanese outside, always take him or her out on a leash! A favorite game our Havanese play is chase!
3. Havanese are low maintenance dogs.
While Havanese do not necessarily have to be professionally groomed, it is necessary for you as a responsible pet owner to brush your Havanese at least 2 times a week at the least. I would say that Havanese are moderate maintenance dogs; they do require special upkeep with bathing and grooming.
4.Havanese are easily housetrained.
Havanese are very quick learners; they catch on quickly to new concepts including housebreaking. As long as you start your Havanese puppy on a housebreaking routine when he or she is little, you will have no problem with housebreaking him or her. We start all of our puppies on a housebreaking routine which gives them a great start on the process of housebreaking with their new families!
5. Havanese are an ideal pet for apartment dwellers.
Havanese like to run, bounce, and play! Havanese do best with a fenced yard to run around in. Havanese are capable of adapting to apartment living because of their small size. However, if you are able to provide access to the outdoors and a fenced in yard, your Havanese will be much more content! When taking your Havanese outside, you will want to have him or her on a collar and leash or access to a fenced in area! Havanese will play chase if not in a closed in area!
