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Posts Tagged ‘Havanese’

The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a lively small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They love to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This requirement for attention means they are not the choice for a working couple. They will often follow owners around the flat, however they are not possessive of their “friends”, so are good with other animals and dogs. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “ true dog”, playing games such as football with all their strength. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.

For dog care they are straightforward. They do not shed much, so whilst not strictly non-allegenic, they may be suitable for a family with an allergic member.

The Havanese have a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should be groomed every day, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If not a show dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..

They now come in many different colours and patterns, but were originally white.
They have a robust appearance relative to other toy dog breeds. They have a weight range of normally five Kgs ( roughly 12 lbs). Its height measured at the withers is around 250mm( 9-11 inches). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

They move with an agile springy gait. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but careful when near water if there is something for them to chase.

They have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are disposed to ear infections, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. Sometimes they may require their inner hairs to be plucked by tweezers or hand. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. They have very sensitive noses and are trained in some countries for search. They are easily trainable so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

They generally live fourteen to sixteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a few genetically-linked disorders. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia (dots and streak on the retina). It is recommended only to buy Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

The dog was bred from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Cuba by original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a relatively recent breed, rapidly growing in the seventies from only ten animals in the USA. They were common in Cuba, prior to the revolution, but suffered afterwards. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. For this reason it may be difficult to acquire one, so the best of luck on finding one.

A wonderful family dog that should be considered.

Havanese puppies at around twelve weeks are becoming more and more aware of the power of their senses. Sometimes, for them, everything simply must pass through their nose’s and mouth’s (or teeth, to be precise!) scrutiny. A puppy chewing on a leash is therefore something typical to expect. Besides, they are bound anyway to outgrow the idea that the leash is just another chew toy.

But if you think you need to take serious Havanese training action about your Hav chomping through the strap and the buckle (short of sawing through the metal part!), then here are some alternatives that can compose your game plan.

Instead of the bite-prone collar and leash, check out using a harness. In this alternative, the leash is attached on the back, making it harder to reach. Put it on the dog eight before leaving, so the dog can’t go for it.

Indeed, doing something about the leash is the starting point of the solution. The following steps illustrate another way of using the leash in order to discourage chewing on the leash.

Hook first the leash to the collar. Then take the leash and wound it around the dog’s neck to make a circle. Take the slack part of the leash, insert and pull through the leash handle. You now have what looks like horse’s reins, consisting of two shorter leads instead of one long one. In effect, the leash rides higher than the collar on the neck.

The following is an intriguing Havanese training way to get a dog to avoid touching the leash, and at the same time to allow slack on the leash. The owner needs to walk backwards in this procedure, holding the leash of the dog. He or she will hold a long wooden spoon with a few smears of peanut butter, and entice the dog to follow with it. When there is some slack on the leash, the dog will get praise and a lick on the spoon.

For Havanese dog owners that are constantly on the move, an easily car sick dog is one more pressing issue that demands time and effort. It gets even more frustrating knowing that it is a condition that is not so prevalent anyway. Wouldn’t it be great to have a Havanese training dog that, upon hearing the jangle of car keys, is rough and ready, waiting by the front door, for a car ride?

Sadly, most dog owners are far from living this rosy scenario. So sometimes, a car ride means having to get the dog to sit near a human passenger, or to be held on the lap in order to avoid a very messy accident from happening. Other steps that dog owners take is to avoid certain types of roads that they are sure bothers the dog very much, or to avoid feeding the dog a few hours before the car ride.

On the other hand, the following tried and tested steps may just do the trick in resolving doggie car sickness:

1. Some owners make sure about exercising their dogs before the car ride starting from the puppyhood of the dogs. Another common alternative is to give the dog a good walk. The effect of this is that the dog goes to sleep in the crate. Overtime, a dog accustomed to this routine will simply go to sleep during the trip, with or without the walk or romp.

2. If veterinarians are asked, the likely response will most likely be (although a consultation is still the safest and error-free) about meclazine or Bonine. In the case of the latter, the recommended dosage is half of a 25 mg tablet before travel in the case of a dog weighing 9.5 pounds.

3. Another likely suggestion would be half a Dramamine pill for a ten-pound dog. The pill needs to be given 30 to 40 minutes before making the trip.

When all anti-car sickness tips and Havanese training tips are tried and judged, perhaps the best things to do are still to keep the dog well-exercised before the trip. An extra rare treat given to the dog before revving the engine will also associate the car ride with good stuff and rewards. But opening that car window may also be the straw to break the camel’s back.

Housebreaking sounds as easy as one-two-three from the perspective of Havanese training articles, but how come things seem to go different when families themselves are trying to manage the actual nitty-gritty of training the dog its toilet manners?

Okay, so in fact things are not that bad after all. Behind all housebreaking projects and plans, is an owner that needs to work on housetraining on a case-to-case basis. Nevertheless, certain elements to problem solving remain the same: first of all, pinning down the concern, and keeping a tab on the factors within the owner’s influence.

So what’s to be done about the almost universal story of the Hav that avoids making use of the dog door at night, and even balks at going under a little rain or snow, and in cases of these, prefers pooing inside the house?

Really, the problem above could still thankfully be worse! If there is a way that it could spill into “the perfect crisis,” it would be for the owner not to lift a finger and put into action some consistent and firm havanese training.

So, in this dog’s case, it would be helpful to have a clue like, say, the dog can stay for hours inside the family car without asking to be let out to poo or pee. In case of this, then the dog may do best if crate-trained. If the dog is a rescue, then there is indeed a need for owners to be assertive and to put in place a pattern that helps the dog know what is expected of it. If the dog won’t go outside during bad weather, then it may be a habit picked up from previous owners.

Here are a few Havanese training tips to wrap things up. It is obvious in dog training that the dog generally must never be allowed to do just about whatever it wants, like turning down crate training, or refusing to go out when it is time to poo or pee. Things will go fast indeed if appeals are made to the dog via its favorite treats. Dogs take notice of treats, of course, first through its smell, then by sight. So getting the dog accustomed to being within the crate starts by placing treats bit by bit close to the door of the crate, until such time that they are within the crate, which makes the dog create an association between a positive experience and being in the crate.

When you are leaving for work and you see your havanese puppy protesting at the top of its lungs why on earth you are leaving it, you know that it is time to seek answers to one of the most highly anticipated havanese training issues: separation anxiety.

Veteran dog owners immediately recommend crate training as a sure way to start working on the dog’s losing its head every time people leave. The routine will look something like the following (although these definitely can be improved some more): put dog in crate for a set number of minutes, then leave room; open crate door and ignore dog for set number of seconds; greet puppy and play with it; repeat and add more minutes.

Some owners apply the simple scheme of first leaving the dog alone in the crate for short periods of time a few weeks a day so it becomes accustomed to the idea of people leaving. The dog will predictably cry for a week or two, but it is sure to get used to what is going, once everything settles into what looks like routine.

So before anybody leaves, the radio or TV is turned on, the dog is told to be a “Good boy,” and is given a treat. Only after this does everybody make a discreet exit.

But perhaps nothing can beat the plan that seeks to remedy the situation by resolving its many dimensions. In that case, the following steps need to be followed.

1. Before leaving, the puppy must be ignored for 20 minutes. The goal is to get the dog adjusted to still being happy even if the owner is home yet not interacting with it.

2. It’s actually possible to get the dog to feel positive about someone’s leaving. The owner needs to give it a very prized treat that it will only get when the person leaves home.

3. A shirt or pillowcase full of the owner’s scent needs to be left inside the crate. The dog can get soothe by this if everybody leaves.

4. Before leaving, the owner has to give the dog the keyword that signals the owner will be back. It could be “Be good.”

5. Upon coming back, the dog needs to be ignored until it is calm. This further tells the dog that it will do fine without its person in the house.

Last of all, dog owners need to know that in havanese training, using the crate to remedy the anxiety does not have to apply all the time. Its door can be left open to allow the dog to have a transition period, although the end in mind is to actually have the dog have a run of the house in a few months’ time, right after the preceding steps are implemented. But even then, the dog’s tantrums need to be preempted by putting away all the rugs, covering and hiding the trash cans, securing the breakable bric-à-bracs, etc.

As a lot of Havanese dog owners know, this dog breed happens to be among the smartest known, and do not think twice to show they are! For example, countless owners may remember how simple it was to get the dog to understand the “shake hands” command. While some would initiate a series of actions to culminate in the “shake hands”, others actually only pick up the dog’s paw and say to it “Shake” over and over. Then the day comes that asking the dog if it knows how to shake leads to the dog actually doing it! Thus it is obviously important that the dog be given time, sometimes several weeks, just to let all the information “sink in.”

Another havanese training technique that appears more methodical is to hold a treat in the fist in front of the dog. Then the dog will try to check out your hand using their nose and mouth, but wait for the dog to eventually start pawing at your hand. Praise the dog effusively if they paw. Some re-training, on the other hand, may be needed in case some dogs are not used to using their paws when sitting.

Still another way to do it is to put one’s hand down, palm up, then with the same hand to nudge the knee of the dog so that they lift their paw. When the dog lifts its paw, the owner needs to slide his/her hand under the paw and praise effusively.

One clicker training method is interesting enough to check out since a clear tupperware cover plays a major role! The first step is to place the treat on the floor, and let the dog see you cover it with clear tupperware. The dog’s expected reaction is to swat the cover and to try to move it with its paw. Click and give treat when they touch the tupperware. Repeat the first step up to covering the treat with a tupperware, but this time place your hand on the cover. When the dog’s paw touches your hand, click and give treat. Then your hand becomes the cue, and this time there is no treat or tupperware. Last of all, add the word “paw (or shake hands)” as they touch your hand. End the havanese training by clicking and giving treat.

A too-submissive or too-shy Havanese is something that seriously stands in the way to reaching the target of an optimistic and positive-personality dog. A dog may be in such a condition if, say, it acts frightened or cowers from its owner, who simply is trying to get a leash on it, and recalls no incident of hitting the dog. Then, still another sign among the many possible is of the dog that refuses to sit when asked to do so during grooming, and actually curls up in response to the brushing. Lastly, the dog may also refuse to pee or poo when told to do so, and instead stares at the owner sideways and licks its lips, all of which are signs of submission. Where in these scenarios can havanese training play its role?

Training definitely can help improve the dog’s situation, first by helping pin down and identifying what exactly is the matter with the dog; shyness and submission are two behaviors that have different triggers, effects and of course solutions. In case of shyness, one solution is to bring the dog to at least 5 new places a week and staying for some ten to fifteen minutes. In a few weeks of hard work, it is actually possible to have a dog that is greatly improved.

How about responding to a submissive dog? For starters, there is so much meaning in human body language and postures that humans take for granted, but which mean so much from a canine point-of-view. A consequence of this is that anybody who wishes to put the dog at ease need to avoid standing and leading over it. Instead, all humans need to try squatting at the dog’s level, allowing the dog to approach if it wants to. A good way to stand near the dog is to do it facing sideways. With these steps and many more, a person is thus capable of appearing more friendly and approachable.

An even more vast source of confidence builders and self esteem boosters are havanese training for puppies, agility classes, obedience, and therapy dog titles; its a great plus point that havanese dogs usually do not think twice demonstrating before people how much they learned. Lots of patience will be needed to help a shy or submissive dog overcome itself, but results are possible if the owner takes the first step!

The Havanese is one of the Bichon type breeds, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a good-humoured small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They like to have peoples notice and will do tricks to catch peoples attention. This love for attention means they are not the choice for a working couple. They will often follow owners around the house, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ family”, so are great with other dogs, pets and other animals. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “ true dog”, playing games such as tug of war with gusto. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional Dog Walkers such as London Dog Walking, if doing grouped walks will pair them with similar dogs, rather than big energetic dogs.

For dog care they are relatively simple. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should ideally be brushed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If not a show dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, they do suffer in extreme cold, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..

The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
The Havanese has  a sturdy appearance compared to most toy dog breeds. They have a weight range of about five Kgs ( 10-15 lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm( roughly 10). It is an unusual dog in that the rump is higher than the shoulders.

They have a sprightly agile movement. They are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but be prudent when near waterparticularly if there are birds for them to run after.

They have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are susceptible to infections and diseases of the ear, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may require their inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. They have very sensitive noses and are trained in some countries for search. They are easily trained so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

The Havanese routinely live around fourteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a  few genetically-linked disorders. The most common being liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( blots on the retina). It is advisable only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese sometimes develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a new breed, taking off in the seventies from only 10 animals in the United States. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.

A great family dog that should be considered.