Havanese Pups Getting So-o-o-o-o Big

Because Phoebe had six puppies instead of eight, they are all much larger and stronger. Already they are sleeping for long periods...twenty minutes or so...between nursing. The smallest puppy in the litter was bigger than the largest one in the last.

I am calling them my Happy Holidays Litter and will select names along this theme. So far I like Carney's Bells are Jingling, Carney's Jolly Holly and Carney's Joy to the World. If you have any suggestions let me know.

We Have Puppies!

Phoebe whelped six beautiful black and white puppies yesterday morning in a very quick span of two hours. (Last whelping took over four) They are all healthy, nursing well and squeaking protests when they lose hold of a teat. More photos will follow as you all know!

An Open Letter to Puppy Buyers

Good morning,

The Havanese are a wonderful breed. They shed minimally and have no dander, which makes them ideal companions for people with allergies. They are terrific around children, love to play and love to cuddle. They are playful and fun to watch. They like to walk but their energy levels do not require it. A healthy Havanese will live for fourteen to sixteen years. 

Some of you have asked two very important questions and they are related. What about your pricing and what about Havanese health issues? I hope you will take a minute to read my lengthy but important explanation.

Because Havanese have become so popular they have attracted the attention of many kinds of breeders and, consequently, there is a very wide range of prices for Havanese puppies...$700 to $3000. The difference?

At the lower end of the scale are the breeders (many call the puppy mills) who breed a dog repeatedly until she literally drops. They do not test for genetic disorders and they typically breed many varieties of dogs. The puppies are raised in crates with little (if any) socialization with people and especially children. Their bedding is rarely changed so they are living in their own waste. Typically these breeders release their puppies at six weeks or younger because it cuts the breeders overhead by 25%! And typically they will ship their puppies as airfreight cargo to anyplace in the country (at your expense, of course).

What you usually get is a puppy that is adorable but may have any number of health issues, is not necessarily friendly (contrary to the Havanese' natural personality), that is extremely difficult to potty train and who may be registered but not with AKC (the time-proven standard in canine registries). Because they have left their siblings at an early age they will not have learned to get along with other dogs.

At the higher end of the scale are breeders who are interested in producing puppies that will do well in the show ring. They will have gone though all the health and genetic testing. The optimum standard for genetic testing is the dog's CHIC number. Assigned by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), this verifies that the dog has had its eyes tested, its hearing tested, and its skeletal structure tested for dysplasia. Because the dogs need to be close to two years old to have their bones accurately tested, this number will not be assigned to younger dogs--but the sire and dam should have them.

What you want to do, in any case, is visit the breeding facility where the puppies are raised. Meet at least one of the parents. Talk to the breeders. Play with the adults...they are the ones have lived there a long time. Are they friendly, happy, playful and sweet?

Pricewise, I fall in the middle. My puppies are $1900. They have all the health testing. The sire and dam have their CHIC numbers. They sleep in crates at night (which facilitates potty training) but they play freely in our indoor puppy room (off my kitchen and family rooms) all day long. Their bedding is changed many times a day and at four weeks they start to potty outdoors (yes even in the winter). 

They play with my adult children and with our neighborhood little ones many times a week. They go for walks in our downtown city park. I do not release my puppies until they are eight weeks old. I will not ship my puppies as airfreight cargo. They can go to their new home on an airplane but only under the seat of their new human. They come to their new homes with their first shots, de-wormed, a microchip identification number. They will be paper-trained which greatly simplifies the potty training process. You simply put the paper near the door they will be using to potty and the transition takes less than a week. 

I know this is a long, drawn out explanation but it is important people understand what they are getting. You are more than welcome to stop by and meet our Havanese family. The people who have already committed for a puppy are looking forward to visiting many times to get to know their puppy before it leaves here. That, again, is your choice. 

If you are interested in stopping by, please let me know. If you have any other questions you can reach me at 248-701-8187.

And be sure to check out my website and blog ... addresses below. Thanks so much for your inquiry.

Jacqui Carney

http://havanesehaven.blogspot.com

http://www.carneyshaven.com

Phoebe's Haircut

After her first litter Phoebe's coat became wiry and dull...normal hormonal situation. It was not the greatest coat in the first place which was a problem for her in the show ring. Deciding I did not have much to lose (you cannot show Havanese in anything but their natural coats) I gave her a puppy cut. Have to say, for my first attempt, it turned out pretty good!
Phoebe before her cut.

Phoebe after her cut.

Puppies on the Way

Phoebe is with puppies! I feel a little weird getting so excited about another litter.
Can't explain it. I love puppies, plain and simple. The sire is Specs, a perky and loving boy from Michigan's thumb...one of Kathy Ambler's boys. Specs is a champion...in the USA and Canada. Beyond that he is handsome, outgoing and friendly. These are his pictures.

What more could a grandmother ask for?

Due date early December...stay tuned!

More Bad News--Please Don't Ship Your Dogs!

I really don't like to focus on the negative so I promise to follow up these last two posts with some good news!

You don't hear about airline tragedies often but, it's like everything else, who wants it to happen the them if you can avoid it.

This is a link to a new article from yesterday. Very sad.

AIRLINE TRAGEDY.

Why You Should MEET YOUR BREEDER In Their Home

If you buy a puppy from a petstore the odds are it was whelped at a puppy mill.

If you buy a puppy from a petstore you are supporting this cruel practice.

Please do not buy at a pet store and please take the time to visit your breeder and the dam of your puppy's litter before you buy.

Just What is a Havanese?

About the Havanese

The Havanese is a member of the Bichon family, which includes the Bichon Frise, the Bichon Bolognese, Maltese, Coton De Tulear, Tsvetnaya Bolonka, Franzuskaya Bolonka and possibly the Lowchen breeds. They were developed from the now extinct Mediterranean Bichon Tenerife, which was introduced to the Canary Islands by the Spanish to other islands and colonies of Spain by sailors.

Appearance
The Havanese, while a toy dog and always a companion, is also a hearty and sturdy dog for such a size, and should never give the appearance of fragility or of being overly delicate. The height range is from 8½ to 11½ inches (216 to 292 mm), with the ideal being between 9 and 10½ inches (229 and 267 mm), measured at the withers, and is slightly less than the length from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, which give the dog the appearance of being slightly more long than tall. A unique aspect of the breed is the top line, which rises slightly from withers to rump, and the gait, which is flashy but not too reaching, and gives the Havanese a spritely, agile appearance on the move.

The expression of the face is one of mischievousness rather than being cute and the ears, which are medium in length and well feathered, always hang down. The tail should curve over the back at rest, and like the rest of the dog, is covered in long fur.

 

The key word for the Havanese is 'natural', and the breed standards note that except for slight clipping around the feet to allow for a circular foot appearance, they are to be shown unclipped; any further trimming, back-combing, or other fussing is against type and will cause a dog to be disqualified. That includes undocked tails, uncropped ears, and even a standard that forbids the use of topknots and bows in presentation. The AKC standard notes "his character is essentially playful rather than decorative" and the Havanese, when shown, should reflect that, generally looking like a toy in size only, but more at home with playing with children or doing silly tricks than being pampered and groomed on a silk pillow.

Color
Though there is some question whether the original Havanese were all white or of different colors, modern Havanese are accepted in all coat colors and patterns, with allowances made in every breed standard for their unique colorful nature. The only restrictions is that every Havanese must have a black nose and eye rims, except in chocolate colored dogs, where brown coloration is allowed. Popular colors include fawn, white, and black. Parti-colored Havanese are as well regarded as solids.

Coat
Havanese, like other Bichons and related dogs like Poodles, have a coat that doesn't readily shed. Rather, it catches hair and dander internally, and needs to be regularly brushed out. Many people consider the Havanese to be nonallergenic or hypoallergenic, but they do still release dander, which can aggravate allergies. It's best to be exposed to the Havanese before deciding to choose one as a dog for a house with allergies.

Havanese have three coat types, the smooth, which is similar to the Maltese, the curly, which is not unlike a Bichon Frise coat, and the wavy, which is the preferred coat type and the type most uniquely Havanese. The hair is long, soft, and abundant, and should have no coarseness. A short coat mutation shows up occasionally in otherwise normal litters, but these are not showable Havanese and go so far against standard that even novelty breeding of them is discouraged.

Because of the tropical nature of the Havanese, the thick coat is light and designed to act as a sunshade and cooling agent for the little dog on hot days. This means, though, that the fluffy Havanese needs protection against cold winter days, in spite of the warm wooly look of their fur. The coat can be shown naturally brushed out, or corded, a technique which turns the long coat into 'cords' of fur, and which is hard to start but easy to care for when completed.

 

Temperament
The Havanese has a silly, friendly temperament, which is unlike many other toy dog breeds. It is at home with well-behaved children and most other pets, and is rarely shy or nervous around new people. Clever and active, they will often solicit attention by performing tricks.

The Havanese is a very people oriented dog and will fret if separated from its owner or family. Because of that, they are not suitable for people who work long hours or take frequent trips. They will follow their humans around the house, even to the bathroom, but do not tend to be overly possessive of their people, and do not usually suffer aggression or jealousy towards other dogs, other pets or other humans.

The Javanese’s love of children stems back to the days when it was often the playmate of the small children of the households to which it belonged. Unlike most toy dogs, who are too delicate and sometimes too nervous or aggressive to tolerate the often-clumsy play of children, the Havanese, with care, is a cheerful companion to even younger children, making them a most popular small dog.  Cheerful, mischievous looking small, good with kids? What's not to like?

Health
Havanese are generally considered healthy and sturdy dogs, and live between 12�16 years, though there is a prior history of genetic conditions with this breed.  Don't buy outside recognized breeder circles, and research the history of the breeders stock.

Havanese, even ones not to be bred, should go through several tests, including a one-time BAER hearing test, a CERF eye test annually, and a Patellar Palpation and Hip Evaluation. Soaping has also become a popular way for breeders to test health. It involves soaping up the dog to flatten the coat to its body and reveal the structure of the legs. Crooked, bowed or over short legs are a symptom related to many Havanese health issues, and dogs suffering from them should not be bred.

Because of the small genetic pool from which the Havanese was revived, Havanese organizations around the world are always on the lookout for new health and genetic issues that may come to the fore in this lovable and generally healthy breed.

History
The Havanese itself developed uniquely in Cuba, either as the result of said Spanish sailors, or as gifts from Italian traders to open the doors of wealthy houses to their goods. The "Little Dog from Havana" even traveled back to Europe where it found brief favor in the late 19th century as a circus and trick dog and a court companion.

As part of the Cuban Revolution, many trappings of aristocracy were culled, including the pretty but useless fluffy family dogs of the wealthy landowners of Cuba! Even though many upper class Cubans fled to the United States, few were not able to bring their dogs, nor did they have the inclination to breed them. When Americans became interested in this rare dog in the 1970s, the gene pool available in the US was only 11 animals.

With dedicated breeding, as well as the acquisition of some new dogs of type internationally, the Havanese has made a huge comeback, with recognition by many major kennel clubs and one of the fastest growing registrations of new dogs in the AKC (+42% in 2004). They have also suffered from a certain level of trendiness due to rarity, good temperament, and publicity by such famous owners as Barbara Walters.

Havanese at work
Because of the cheerful and readily trained nature of the Havanese, they are increasingly a dog utilized for a variety of jobs, especially those involving the public. Havanese have been utilized for:

• Therapy dogs
• Service dogs, such as aid dogs for those in wheelchairs and hearing-ear dogs
•  Performing dogs
• Mold and termite detection
• Tracking

Havanese also compete in a variety of dog sports, such as

• Dog agility
• Fly ball
• Musical Freestyle
• Obedience

Care

• The Havanese has difficulty in housebreaking and can take a year or longer to consistently train. This is due to a smaller bladder than many other dog breeds. Crate training or litter box training are two options to help aid in this difficulty.
• The Havanese has a profuse coat that requires daily grooming. If you do not intend to show your dog, a trimmed coat requires less brushing so do consider a haircut.
• The Havanese, with their drop ears, need to have their ears cleaned to help prevent ear infections.
• Though they are not a dog that requires long walks, Havanese are active and require at least a large, well-enclosed yard to run around in a few times a day. They will also use up energy tearing around and getting underfoot.
• The Havanese is not a yappy dog, but may alert its owners to approaching people. Usually acknowledging that you have heard their alert is enough to make them shoosh.

Buyer beware the Puppy Miller
The Havanese is an expensive and rare dog, and the cost of getting a dog from a breeder who takes the time to put them through the right health tests can drive the price to $2000 or more. You will not find a high quality animal in a pet store, they simply can not make money selling such expensive dogs unless they forgo the tests, see a registered breeder.  Beware the puppy miller, you risk getting a sub standard dog, and in the process will be promoting poor breeding practices.

Article borrowed from http://www.justusdogs.com.au

Getting Started With Good Grooming Habits

As soon as your Havanese puppy is three or four weeks old, start him off on the right foot--or left foot--by learning to accept your gentle massaging of his toes, his ears and his mouth. Lift his lips and look at his teeth. Lift his ears and look inside them. Stroke his hind quarters, his chest and his forehead with a small, soft brush, all the while giving him soothing talk and treats so he is accustomed to being handled.

You might also ask a friend to do the same so your puppy is used to strangers. All these motions will help your puppy be more relaxed at the veterinarians or on a show table with the judge.

It is a good idea to bathe your Havanese puppy weekly once he is six weeks old to get him used to the tub, the gently scrubbing and the rinsing. Hug him with the towel and give him lots of kisses so he associates this part of his day with lots of love.

Another important part of the grooming process is a pedicure. Good breeders will start clipping the puppy's nails when it is a couple weeks old. Much easier on mom when the puppy is nursing and it also gets him used to the clippers. There are automatic, battery operated ones on the market too for owners who are skittish about clipping too close to the quick. Have a bar of soap handy. If you too clip too close, scrape a bit of soap on the nail to stop the bleeding.

Remember, if you enjoy this part of your puppy's care he will too!

Birthday Party

Six puppies helped celebrate my daughter Jenny's birthday. Her friend, Jen, has Filer and he was very happy to host his brothers and sisters. It is his last visit with DeeDee who is leaving us tomorrow. Her forever home is in Raleigh, North Carolina!

We have three boys left to place...Turbo, Rapper and Sammy.

Birthday Party!

Jenny blowing out the
candles on the beautiful
cake Alex decorated.

More Puppy Play

Books for New Puppy Owners

1. The Joyous Havanese by Kathryn Braund (Phoebe's breeder!)

Probably only available online. You can Google it. A great all around guide to everything from the history of the breed to the steps of breeding to raising puppies. It then goes into the colors, the care of a puppy, grooming health issues and a little about performance events.

2. The Havanese by Diane Klumb with Joanne Baldwin DVM. Besides giving the breed's history there is helpful information about choosing a puppy, getting off on the right foot, crating, potty training, feeding, grooming and more. This book is from a vet's perspective as well as a breeder's so it is more detailed in that regard.

3. For the Love of A Dog by Patricia B. McConnell, PhD. This is a recent publication that goes into 'reading' your dog's facial Author has also written 'The Other End of the Leash.'

4. The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey is a great book that focuses only on the puppy stage of your dog's life. Some chapter topics are the developmental stages and how to deal with them, housebreaking, socializing, toys and games, handling and grooming, discipline and how puppies learn.

5. Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, DVM and Susan Hubble Pitcairn is, as the title implies, a holistic approach to many dog and cat health issues from creating a basic natural diet, creating a healthier environment for your pet, selecting a healthy pet, caring for the sick animal. It also gives a quick reference guide to many ailments including allergies, appetite issues, bladder problems and more.

Two more I like are:

6. Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy R. Schultze.

7. How to Speak Dog by Stanley Coren

Photo Update--Ten Weeks

This is Rapper--
   He is medium sized right now, is very frisky and loves to burrow in the hostas!










Maxi and Filer after a busy romp in the garden.











This is Turbo. His is the largest but the other boys are catching up.

He is a real lover boy. Loves to nestle on the grass next to us.








This is Sammy.  Understated and sweet...my little shadow.















Katie (left) and Turbo.











DeeDee. Got to love that face! She is beautiful.

Filer and His Forever Family

Everyone's Healthy!

We got our physicals from Dr. John Wilson's Veterinary Clinic yesterday. Very busy afternoon!

Everyone passed with flying colors--great bites, no knee issues, no hernias and no heart murmurs.

Here are the weights--quite a range!

Katie--2 lbs, 4 oz.-- SOLD!







 Filer--1 lb., 13 oz. -- SOLD!

 Go Go--3 lbs, 4 oz.--SOLD!

Maxie--3 lbs. 5 oz.--SOLD!

Turbo--3 lbs. 14 oz.








Sammy--3 lbs. 7 oz.

Dee Dee 2 lbs., 11 oz.--On Reserve

Rapper--2 lbs. 11 oz.

Puppies Meet the Kids

What is the best way to raise puppies who greet strangers with kisses and wagging tails? 

1. Pick a breed known to enjoy the company of humans (like the Havanese).

2. Socialize, socialize, socialize.

Guess what we did Saturday?


Liam is very gentle with Sammy












 Luke and Filer with Mom Lesley












Bill, Liam and Filer






Bill, Liam and a patio of puppies













El and Luke
with the Puppies   
                           
            
Puppies everywhere!!!