Everything You Need to Know about Owning a Havanese

havanese

If its name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The Havanese sounds like a dog that might have a little Cuban heritage because it is a Cuban dog. The Havanese is the official dog of Cuba – the only one – and it is quite an interesting character. It’s not as widely known as some of the more popular breed of dogs in this particular country, but that’s not something you should worry about if you are in love with this dog and interested in adopting one of your own. With looks that are very similar to that of a Maltese, this small dog has very long hair and looks a bit like a broom walking around the house. In fact, you might find that you need to use your broom just a bit less when this dog walks across the floors with its long coat and it’s sort of broom-like appearance.

The Havanese is a wonderful little dog with a great disposition, and it makes a wonderful family pet. In fact, most people will recommend this breed as it is so easy to live with, so sweet and a very pleasant little companion. If you’re not overly familiar with this breed, you might want to know why you would want one, especially considering the fact that the AKC recommends that you not trim your Havanese’s coat, leaving it long and more difficult to manage. Is this the right breed for you? We cannot make that decision without knowing your personal history, what kind of home you have, who lives with you, how much you travel and what kind of person you are. However, you can make that decision and we have a few facts that will help you make that decision a bit easier.

How to Care for a Havanese

One of the main concerns people have with the Havanese is the long coat it comes with. The AKC, as you already know, does not believe you should trim this coat. However, that means it will require a bit of grooming. A dog with a coat this long will require that you groom him regularly, brushing him almost daily to prevent the coat from becoming matted and tangled, and this is a dog that you will want to ensure is bathed regularly and brushed after each bath to keep the coat it tip top shape. However, you will not be unable to own this dog because of its coat. It has a very long coat that is very easily manageable if you take the time to do so, but it will not shed. This makes it less likely that you will suffer from allergy issues with this dog in the home.

This is not a dog that does not like to walk. It loves to be taken out on the leash for a long walk around the neighborhood, and it will likely want to do this at least daily. This is a dog that loves human companionship as much as being energetic, so it’s also a good idea to get this dog outside to play even when it’s not on a walk. It’s small, so it doesn’t need as much exercise as another dog might need, but it does require daily exercise. If you do not have the time to dedicate toward walking the dog at least once a day, this is probably not the right dog for you.

Havenese puppies are very loving and affectionate, but they do require a lot of work when it comes to training. It’s not a lot of work, persay, it’s more a consistent amount of work that is designed to ensure that the dog is always going to listen and learn. Consistency is the key if you want your Havanese puppies to learn to use the potty outside, to behave and to understand basic commands.

Mixed Breeds

If this is not the breed for you, but you like the idea of this breed, perhaps you should consider a few of the mixed breed Havanese dogs. They’re often considered “designer” dogs, and sometimes the mixed breed is a bit easier to come by since they are so popular. Two of the most common and most popular mixed breeds are the Bichon Havanese, which is a mixture of a Bichon Frise. This dog is very similar to both breeds in terms of temperament, and it’s very difficult to tell which dog it might look more like or behave like, considering it really just depends on the overall genetics from parentage. The same goes for the other most popular Havanese mix, the Havanese Poodle mix. People love this because the coat ends up usually being a bit shorter, and the dog a bit cuter – if that’s possible. Since poodles are highly intelligent dogs, they make great breeds to create hybrid dogs with. These two animals make one very adorable animal that is very easy to train and very lovable.

What To Look for in a Havanese Breeder

If you are going to purchase one of these dogs or their hybrid versions, you must find a reputable breeder. One that always has dogs available, one that wants payment up front, one that asks you to purchase a dog without seeing the dog or encourages you to buy a dog now because they might not have any more available if you wait any longer to purchase. Additionally, you should never purchase a dog that does not come with a health certificate from the vet, and never purchase one that does not come from a breeder with a home that doesn’t look suited to keeping a dog. Puppies that seem skittish might indicate owners who are not treating the puppies right, and that should always be a red flag.

Adopting a Havanese

Rescues that specialize in saving these dogs are very easy to find. You should know, however, that when adopting a dog from this type of rescue, you might not always be able to get one. The dogs here are mostly here because their owners could no longer care for them be it because they are financially unable, their health is failing or perhaps they moved somewhere that does not allow animals. Some are abused, but most are not. Most have not been abandoned by choice, but rather by circumstance. And rescues want good homes for their dogs. Be sure that you will have to fill out an application for adoption, you will have to under a home inspection and you might be denied when you ask to adopt a dog based on your living conditions, your yard and the answers you provide on your application to have one of these animals.

Photo by Getty Images 

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