Havanese

Housebreaking difficulties- Some toy breeds are difficult to housebreak... A Havanese is no exception. You'll need to be very patient and probably clean up several messes in the meantime. Small dogs come with small bladders.

Separation anxiety is common- He will show you his frustration by destructive chewing and barking or by having "accidents" on your furniture. This is probably not the breed for you if you work long hours and would have to leave him home alone.

Maintenance- Their coats come in three varieties... Smooth, curly and wavy. All three types need regular brushing and grooming. The coat is more easily cared for by having it trimmed regularly, but if you prefer a more natural look, your Havanese will need brushing at least twice per week.

Fragility of toy breeds- Though the Havanese is a sturdy little dog for the most part, they are still a toy breed. They are known to enjoy the company of children, but we would caution against bringing a puppy into a home with toddlers. Older, well behaved children should do very well with an older and well behaved Havanese.

Health Issues-

A lot of work has been done to ensure the health of this dog. Good breeders select their breeding stock wisely and have their dogs vet checked for health problems regularly. This helps to eliminate many of the issues listed below. The Havanese, in general, is a a healthy dog, living as long as 16 years.

Luxating patellas-A joint condition in which kneecaps dislocate. This is very painful for your dog and expensive to correct. This is a common complication among many small breed dogs.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome- A disease seen in varying degrees in many small breed dogs. It's degenerative and leads to bone loss and collapse of the hip joint which is obviously painful. Early treatment can help to prevent degenerative arthritis.

Hip Dysplasia is a crippling disease which can eventually lead to lameness and arthritis. It's caused by genetic as well as environmental factors and severe cases often require surgery.

Chondrodysplasia is another disease that still surfaces in this breed. Bowed or dwarfed legs is a sign of the condition.

Heart Murmurs, Deafness and Cataracts are some of the other conditions that responsible breeders and organizations like the Havanese Club of America are helping to eradicate.

Raising small breed dogs and working with dogs of all shapes and sizes, through various volunteer organizations, rescue groups, etc. for more than 20 years years now, we've came to know and love them all. It's been our business and even more than that, it's been our passion. We're glad you stopped by.