Havanese Care

The toy-sized Havanese is a friendly, affectionate, fairly active breed that's often called a "Velcro dog" because it never leaves its owner's side. The good thing about this breed is that, though it requires a lot of TLC, overall Havanese care and maintenance doesn't require a great deal of work.

Below you'll find plenty of details on how to take care of a Havanese: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered here. Consider this your definitive Havanese guide--and keep reading!

These are fairly active dogs, so Havanese exercise requirements aren't too extensive. These little guys will fulfill a lot of their daily activity needs just running around being their happy selves, but they'll still benefit from a couple of short walks and a brief play period (either indoors or out) each day.

The typical adult Havanese, depending on its age and overall activity level, will only need 30-45 minutes of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your Havanese puppy at 10-11 weeks of age by taking it on very short (5-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to keep in mind when exercising your Havanese: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Havanese will need to be leashed when in public. While they don't have high prey drives or herding instincts, these dogs are highly social and friendly, and will quickly run off in search of new friends or environments if allowed; at the same time, they can be seen as actual prey by large dogs and other predators. A leash will help you control and protect your Havanese in these situations. Finally: these dogs often suffer separation anxiety if left alone, so they'll respond best to exercises they perform with one or more of their human family members. (Putting your Havanese out in the yard to exercise alone, in other words, probably won't do any good; the little guy will likely spend all its time barking and scratching on the door to be let back in!) Exercises you do together are definitely best.

Precautions aside, it's recommended that you exercise your Havanese every single day. Without adequate physical activity, these dogs will become fussy, hyperactive, and thoroughly unhappy in general. Consistent exercise will be great for the dog's peace of mind, and for your own sanity as well! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 10 to 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use the dog's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Havanese enjoy the company of other dogs; be sure to use a leash
• Laser Pointer: These dogs, like most, will go nuts chasing that "little red dot"

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Havanese access to one or more balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you have a consistent exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need too much care. Havanese dog shedding is year-round, but pretty light; drooling isn't an issue.

Havanese have long, silky coats that don't shed too much. Does a Havanese shed at all? It does shed a bit of hair and skin dander (as all dogs do), but the shedding is pretty minimal. Many owners choose to have their Havanese's coats clipped short to minimize grooming, but others (especially those who show their dogs) prefer to leave the coats long. Clipped Havanese only need brushing once or twice a week, while long-haired ones will need it daily. In either case, though, hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will only be necessary once in a while.

And a Havanese almost never drools. If your Havanese is drooling excessively, it's probably a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's car is needed.

Like that of all dogs, the Havanese diet will need to have plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin health. This means the best Havanese dog food is the premium dry kind, particularly brands formulated for small breeds. Premium food provides essential nutrients that your Havanese will require to maintain its health in the long term--and inexpensive food simply lacks that nutrition.

The good news is, dogs of this breed don't eat much. The typical adult Havanese, depending on its age, size, and activity level, only needs about 1½ cups of premium dry kibble per day, divided into two meals. Havanese puppy food portions are a bit less: again depending on age, about a cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age. For more info on feeding your Havanese from puppyhood through maturity, here's a feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions. If constantly overfed (and under-exercised), these dogs will become obese--and a fat Havanese will have joint, breathing, and digestive problems, not to mention a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Havanese's weight by establishing consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put the bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up a few minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Havanese is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Owners, enthusiasts, and veterinarians all agree that the best dog food for Havanese dogs is premium dry kibble, especially the kind made for small breeds. This premium food, while more expensive and harder to obtain, has the nutrients your Havanese will need to sustain its health in the long term. Cheap, generic dog food is not recommended for this breed, as it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are unhealthy, are harder for the dog to digest, and may even shorten its lifespan if eaten on a daily basis.

Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Hill's Science Diet are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium food for small breeds.

As a companion breed, the Havanese is definitely an indoor dog. While these little guys will need a bit of outdoor playtime each day, they'll certainly be happier living inside with the human family members they love so much. And for the Havanese dog, apartment living is perfect--just make sure the dog gets outside to stretch its legs for a bit on a daily basis.

Another consideration for owners of a Havanese: climate. These dogs are actually pretty adaptable to most kinds of weather, and will be comfortable in all but extremely hot or cold temps. Overall, these dogs are best suited to life in moderate climates.