A description of our dogs:
1. COMPANIONS- Since they are bred to be companions, they LOVE their families and live to make them happy. They are always happiest when they are with their people!! Which is why they are often referred to as the 'Velcro' dog, they love following you around all day.
2. TRAINING - They are very good at obedience, agility, rally, and other competitive sports. Some have even been known to enjoy dock jumping and swimming. They also enjoy a good boat ride!
3. ALLERGIES - They tend to be a good choice for allergy sufferers and are generally considered to be hypoallergenic. They do not shed, but will loose some of their hair (just like humans) that needs to be brushed out. If an allergic reaction occurs, it is more likely due to the grooming products used or the food that is being fed. Once these are changed, the allergic reaction is usually significantly decreased if not totally alleviated.
4, THERAPY - These dogs tend to be excellent therapy dogs, since they are quite easily trained and love people. They are therapeutic to the owner also!!
5. GROOMING - While keeping your dog in a full length coat will take some extra grooming time (comb 1-3 times per week) and baths every 2 weeks, many people choose to keep their dog in a puppy clip which is easier to maintain and still looks adorable.
Characteristics of our Dogs:
* 9-10.5 inches at the shoulder
* 8-11.5 pounds
* rectangular in shape
* carries the tail over the back
* come in all coat colors other than merle; we do not breed for chocolate
* very soft and silky coat with a small amount of wave
* topline has a slight rise from the top of shoulder to the point of hip
* elegant neck with high head carriage
* lean boned with straight legs
* lovely almond shaped very dark eyes
* lively, playful, curious, intelligent
* loving, devoted companion
In essense there are three 'types' of Havanese today, Cuban, American, and Silk.
Each type is slightly different, yet all fit well into the standard. We prefer the more elgant
silky coated variety. Not only is the coat beautiful, it is also fairly easy to maintain in a long coat.
AKC standard: "Silky to the touch, the coat is soft and light in texture in both outer and undercoat, although the outer coat carries slightly more weight. The coat is long, abundant and wavy. It stands off the body slightly, but flows with movement. An ideal coat will permit the natural lines of the dog to be seen."
The way we interpret this, an ideal coat is neither too abundant or poofy to hide the natural lines of the dog, nor is it cottony or frizzy. A silky coat with a slight wave (subtle curves) will not obscure the natural lines of the dog even as the coat drops profusely lengthwise completely covering its body, ending near the ground. As the dog moves across the floor it is a lovely sight to behold as the coat flows with the movement of the dog.
Our Havanese Journey
Our Havanese Journey began in 2002 with the addition of Molly to our family. She has been nothing but a love. From there we have grown to adore the breed and become dedicated to preserving it. Along the way we have had to make many difficult breeding decisions. We have chosen to spay an entire line due to learning about some health issues in some related dogs, even though our dogs were health tested, healthy and so were their puppies, we just couldn't take the risk once we knew. Thus... we had to start over. This time we looked for lines that had generations of health testing behind them. Despite good intentions sometimes things just don't turn out like you planned. Because we take breeding seriously, we chose to neuter and place a male we had purchased as a stud because his conformation did not turn out as we had hoped. We continued to grow our breeding program and welcomed our newest generation of dogs, whom we are really thrilled with. We believe you should breed only healthy dogs and sound dogs with good temperaments. We believe in breeding to the standard, but within each standard there is room for personal preference. In our dogs, we prefer a smaller dog of 8-10 pounds with a lean build and an easy care silky coat. We are excited to see our next generation!
What to look for in a breeder:
When looking for your new puppy it is important that you look carefully for a breeder who health tests and posts the results on OFA. Ask the breeder about their dogs, their breeding program, health issues, temperament etc. Look at their dogs and determine if the style of dog you desire is what they have since each breeder has a distinct style they breed for within the standard. Ask about structure and ask for soaped photos so you can see if the parents have straight legs. Ask about what type of coat their dogs have, how easy they are to maintain since some dogs matt easier than others. I have found the cottony coats tend to get matted more easily which is why I prefer the silkier coat because it is much easier for me to maintain. You will also find some breeders prefer a dog with more or less leg, heavier or leaner bone, longer or shorter neck or back. All these things can be breeder preferences that fall within the standard.
AKC:
It is important for potential puppy buyers to understand that getting AKC papers does not guarantee you a beautiful or healthy dog. The AKC is a pure bred pedigree registry, that is it, they guarantee the dog is from a purebred line. This is the reason why you see 20 pound Yorkies and curly coated Maltese, these breeders are not breeding to the standard. Not all breeders are created equal and it is up to the puppy buyer to discern the differences. Unfortunately there are puppy mill breeders even in Havanese. It is likely in order to get a puppy from a reputable breeder who health tests you will pay more than one who does not. It is not enough to get a vet checkup or to say the dogs are health tested, you should require verification of the health testing. It can easily be looked up on OFA by typing in the dogs registered name.
Do your homework, learn about the breed, check health testing, interview the breeder asking questions about the breed, health, their dogs and their breeding program. If there is anything you are not comfortable with, look for another breeder. You need to work with someone you feel comfortable with and can trust. Check references. Go for a visit, all reputable breeders will welcome you.
Red Flags (things to be concerned about)
-doesn't do health testing
-their lines don't have health problems
-doesn't know the breed standard
-litters are not raised in the home
-dogs do not live in the home
-health testing isn't listed on OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
-offer to meet you with the puppy, not to visit at their home
-are not able to meet the parents
-ship puppies as cargo
-breed more than two breeds
-do not interview you before taking a deposit on a puppy
-unclean environment
-website doesn't give information about the dogs or the family
-give full registration papers without guidelines, co-ownership, detailed interviews
Selah Havanese
Dressed in Silk, Lavished in Love
