Things to Think about Before Getting a Havanese
Taking a puppy into your home isn’t something to be done lightly. Here are some things to think through to help you decide if you are ready!
If you have young children:
Considering a Havanese as a family pet when you have small children presents both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, Havanese are known for their friendly dispositions and playful nature, making them excellent companions for young kids. Their affectionate temperament enables them to build strong bonds with family members, while their small size means they can easily fit into your family's lifestyle. Additionally, Havanese are generally adaptable, enjoying playtime while still having a good “off button”, which can align well with the energy levels of young children.
However, Havanese are small dogs, and while sturdy for their size, they still cannot tolerate rough handling. So children must be taught how to handle them gently can carefully. Many are also sensitive to loud environments, potentially leading to stress for the dog so you would need to work with your breeder to choose the right puppy for your family. You must also keep in mind the considerable amount of time needed to raise any puppy. The first year or so is very much like having another toddler in the house. So you need to be sure you are at a stage with your children where you are ready to take that on. Having the kids “help” may sound like a good idea, but the responsibility, in the end, is still on the adults in the household.
Additionally, you will need to make sure your children are at an age and understanding level where you can ensure the safety of a very small, fragile puppy. It is always the responsibility of the adults in the household to ensure the safety of both the children and the puppy. That means that interactions between the children and puppy must be supervised at all times.
Sometimes, choosing an older Havanese rather than a puppy can be a better option for a young family.
If you have other pets:
When considering bringing a Havanese into a household with other pets, several potential issues may arise.
Socialization Needs: Havanese are known for their friendly and sociable nature. However, this requires proper introduction and socialization with existing pets. Without gradual and careful introductions as well as on-going supervision, there may be tension or aggression, especially if other pets feel threatened by a new puppy. You will need to discuss introductions of an adult Havanese with other pets carefully with your breeder.
Size and Temperament Differences: The Havanese is a toy breed, which may make them vulnerable to rough play or overzealous behavior from larger or more energetic pets. Care must be taken to monitor interactions to prevent severe injury or stress.
Territorial Behavior: Some pets can be territorial, and introducing a Havanese might disturb the established dynamics. This can lead to aggression or anxiety in the existing pets. It is very important to keep an eye out for this sort of behavior because it is likely to show up sometime later, not when you first bring the puppy home. Make sure that your established pets have safe places to get away from the puppy and that they get plenty of personal play time with the family without the puppy!
Training Challenges: Depending on the existing pets' behavior, training a Havanese may take longer. Puppies need consistent guidelines and routines, and if other pets are not well trained, your new puppy may adopt undesired behaviors from them. The converse is also true, however. A well-trained older dog can be a wonderful role model for your Havanese puppy!
Cats: Cats, and especially adult cats, are not always very accepting of new puppies in their environment, and they must be given places where they can feel safe and get away from a puppy in their home. At the same time, the puppy must be carefully protected from the cat, because even in play, a cat’s sharp claws can cause irreparable harm to a puppy’s eye. Another issue is cat litter boxes. Dogs think cat boxes are a source of endless “treats”. So you need to arrange a spot where the cat can get to the litter box but your dog can’t!
Small Animal Pets: Be very, very careful with small animal pets around Havanese, whether puppies or adults. They might be cute and fluffy, but they are still dogs and they have a certain amount of hunting instinct. It is not fair to either the small animal or the Havanese to take any chances!!!
To ensure a smooth transition, it is essential to assess the personalities and behaviors of all pets involved, plan gradual introductions, and maintain consistent training and supervision.
If you work outside the home:
Havanese are not a breed that should be left home alone all day on a regular basis. While it is possible to leave them for the day on an occasional basis if they know how to use an indoor potty option, this is a breed that thrives on being with their owners. It is just not fair to them to leave them alone day after day. That said, I know a number of people. who work outside the home and have developed successful ways to have their Havanese and keep them happy and comfortable during the work day. It just takes some thought and effort.
To effectively meet your Havanese's needs while working outside the home, consider the following strategies:
Interactive Toys: Invest in puzzle toys or treat-dispensing toys that can keep your Havanese mentally stimulated during the day. These can provide both entertainment and a challenge. Consider feeding your Havanese his or her breakfast in a frozen Kong or Toppl that they can work on for a long time in the morning.
Dog Walker or Pet Sitter: Hiring a dog walker to visit during the day can provide companionship, exercise, and a bathroom break. A pet sitter can spend quality time with your dog, helping to reduce loneliness. Another similar option is a retired neighbor who might enjoy having your Havanese visit for part of the day.
Daycare Options: Consider enrolling your Havanese in a reputable dog daycare facility. This allows socialization with other dogs and provides a full day of activities. Just be careful to check the daycare out carefully and make sure that it is really set up to meet the needs of a sensitive, small breed dog like a Havanese.
Routine Training: Establish a consistent routine for feeding, walking, and playtime. Havanese thrive on stability and predictability, which helps them feel secure when left alone. Take a class after work! Time spent training often wears a dog out more than physical exercise!
Comfortable Environment: Create a safe and comfortable space at home with their bed, toys, and access to fresh water. This can help reduce anxiety when you are away. I am a big fan of indoor potty training so that Havanese left home alone for long periods also have an appropriate place to potty without having an accident.
Time Management: Maximize your time at home by setting aside blocks for quality bonding time in the mornings and evenings and on weekends. If you can’t do this, you probably want to re-think if you really have time for a dog. Regularly check in on your dog's wellbeing to adjust care strategies as needed.
By implementing these measures, you can ensure that your Havanese remains happy and healthy while you manage your work commitments.
If you or a family member has a disability:
Incorporating a Havanese into your life when you or a family member has a disability offers numerous benefits and considerations. These small, affectionate dogs are known for their gentle temperament and adaptability, making them suitable companions for individuals with varying abilities.
They are highly trainable and can be taught to assist with daily tasks. Their intelligence allows them to learn commands and routines that can simplify life for their owners. For example, they can be trained to retrieve items, alert when someone is at the door, or provide emotional support during challenging moments.
Their size also makes them an ideal choice for those with mobility challenges. Their compact build allows them to easily navigate smaller living spaces and be carried if necessary. They can accompany their owners on outings, providing companionship and encouraging social interaction.
Additionally, the presence of a Havanese can enhance emotional well-being. The bond formed with a pet can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially for individuals with disabilities. The dog's playful nature and affectionate demeanor can bring joy and comfort, creating a more positive environment.
When integrating a Havanese into a household with a person who has a disability, it is important to consider potential challenges, be they physical, mental or emotional. Training and socialization are crucial to ensure the dog interacts comfortably with various situations and people. It is also important to talk to your breeder about your or your family member’s specific needs so that they can help you find the best possible puppy match for you.
Furthermore, daily care routines like grooming and exercise will need to be taken into consideration with the owner's abilities or someone else will need to handle those tasks. Remember, even grooming can be kept to a minimum by keeping a Havanese in a very short puppy cut. It is important to realize that depending on the disability of the family member, someone else may need to do the training of the dog, or at least support the disabled family member in that training.
It is also really important to keep in mind that puppies, including Havanese puppies, go through wild and often “bitey” periods as they grow up. They can “door dash” when it’s not expected, or run under people’s feet. For some people these behaviors can be hard or even dangerous to handle. This needs to be kept in mind, and appropriate training help should be arranged.
In summary, a Havanese can be a wonderful addition to a household where a disability is present. Their friendly disposition, trainability, and emotional support capabilities make them loving companions, enhancing the lives of those they accompany. Adaptations and strategies for training and care can facilitate a strong bond and smooth daily routines, ensuring that both the dog and family members thrive together.
If you are older (or don’t have a family network):
Planning for the needs of your Havanese in the event of unforeseen circumstances requires thoughtful consideration. Here are several key steps to ensure the care and well-being of your dog:
Identify a Caregiver: Choose a trusted friend or family member who is familiar with your Havanese. Make sure they are willing and able to take on the responsibility of caring for your pet.
Create a Care Guide: Document your Havanese's daily routine, including feeding schedules, dietary preferences, exercise needs, and any special medical requirements. Include information on their favorite toys and activities to help maintain their routine and emotional well-being.
Establish a Fund: Set aside financial resources for your dog's ongoing care. This can cover food, veterinary expenses, grooming, and other needs. Consider setting up a separate bank account or a dedicated fund specifically for your pet's care.
Emergency Contact Information: Provide your caregiver with your Havanese’s veterinary contact details, including any medical history and vaccination records. Ensure they know how to access emergency care if necessary.
Legal Arrangements: If you wish to ensure long-term care for your Havanese, consider including provisions for their care in your will or establishing a pet trust. Consult with a legal professional to understand the best options available to you.
Regular Check-Ins: Keep open communication with your designated caregiver. Regularly discuss your Havanese's health and any changes in routine or behavior to ensure they are well-prepared.
By taking these steps, you can provide peace of mind knowing that your Havanese will receive the love and care they deserve, no matter what happens.
Thinking through all these issues and understanding the pros and cons will help you make an informed decision about whether a Havanese is the right fit for your family dynamics.
Our New Champion! (and the story of a special puppy)
CH High Jump Nauti Picture Show (CH High Jump Shutter Bug CGC TKN X GCHB CH Nauti Pardon The Interruption ATT)
Our “Lili Bean” is our second generation bred-by Champion, born here at High Jump and all the more precious to us because we were not sure she would even make it when she first arrived! She was the first born of her litter, and practically fell out of her mom rather than being “birthed”. She was SO tiny, only a little more than half the size of her brothers. And she needed both the warmth and oxygen of our incubator for the first two days. Her mom, ZT, was not at all happy about that, and prowled underneath the incubator, wanting her baby back!
The good news is that Lili was very vigorous and suckled strongly. She was just very little and got knocked off the nipple easily by her bigger brothers. I made sure she got on a good nipple, and guarded her at each feeding to keep the boys from knocking her off, but she still needed supplemental feeding to keep her gaining weight well. She loved her little bottles each day, and gain she did!
She remained the smallest of the puppies in the litter, but she was the first to meet every milestone, and the first to try every new challenge. She wasn’t going to let those boys show her up!
Here she is with two of her great big brothers!
She was an intrepid elephant hunter when the litter moved to the weaning pen… even when the elephant occasionally got the better of her!
She was also the first one over the spice rack stairs!
She was fierce with her siblings in play…
And the ONLY puppy in the litter willing to “bob for treats” in the pool!
As she has grown, Lili has become a wonderful family pet, spending the summer weekends up in Vermont with us and being my obedience training partner. <Click here for a bit of Lili’s obedience work!>
She fell seamlessly into her job as a conformation show dog, working beautifully both for me and for her favorite dance partner, her handler Artemis Tsargarakis. (Keon Kennels in Ashland, MA)
Now, with Lili’s championship complete, it is time for her concentrate on continuing her obedience training… and if the stars align, her first litter this fall! (as well as romping in the woods up in Vermont this summer!).
We are so happy that the tiny mite that had a bit of a rough start in life has grown to be such a beautiful, bouncy, sweet and precocious young lady, and that she has blended such an outstanding female line with her sire’s lovely attributes. We look forward to seeing what she can produce for us!
One of the hard things about being a breeder…
Most people on our High Jump FaceBook Group already know this, but I thought I needed to add a blog post about it here too, just to bring Nutmeg’s story at High Jump to a close.
In the months that this little munchkin had been living with us, she had wormed her way into our hearts. She is a delightful puppy, and perfect in so many ways. She is smart as a whip, absolutely adorable, super cuddly, and able to talk ANYONE into a belly rub before she gets up in the morning!
However, as time went on, I became concerned that her bite might be “going off”. And by mid-March, it was becoming clear that Nutmeg had a very mild underbite. While this is not something that is a problem at all for a pet puppy, (and hers is so mild that you can’t even see it unless you go looking for it) it is disqualifying in a show dog or as a breeding dog. And as much as we have fallen in love with her, she came to High Jump to do a job… To be an outcross female that I could breed to Ducky. With her underbite, this was not a possibility.
It broke my heart, but I had to contact her co-breeders, Diane Moshe and Sandi Kubler about finding her a new, wonderful pet home. They were as upset as I was, of course, but they also completely understood, as they are breeders too. And then… it seemed like Kismet!
A family who had gotten a wonderful dog from Diane many years ago called her up looking for a puppy, as their old dog had recently passed away. Diane had had to tell them that she did not have any room on her waiting list. And then I called! She called them right back, and they jumped at the chance to take a little bit older, beautifully trained puppy!
So in just a few days, a plan was made for Nutmeg-Clementine to go to her new home in New Jersey. Her new family asked if I would trim her top knot, so that they would not have to try to put it up every day. I have to say, she looks adorable this way!
Then the plan was for her new family to meet me at the dog shows in Syracuse to pick her up. So off she went to the dog shows with me. To stay in the hotel, in a suite, for the first time in her little life. Where she was a super star! Pottying on her potty pad with 100% accuracy, playing with her toys, going up and down the elevator with the “big dogs” on her leash, and hanging out in the trolley at the shows. She made me love her even more!!!
When her new family arrived to meet her and take her home, we had a lovely time getting to know each other, exchanging information, and exchanging hugs and puppy kisses. Sandi, her co-breeder who she actually lived with from birth through 8 weeks was there to see her off along with me. Her new family has reported in and they tell us that she is doing wonderfully and they love her to pieces! They are on the High Jump FB group, and I’ve told them what a beloved member of the High Jump family that Nutmeg-Clementine became in her brief time with us. I’ve asked them to share updates and photos of her with us all from time to time!
That is Sandi on my left, and she is holding Ember, Nutmeg-Clementine’s sister! Nutmeg-Clementine’s new family are just thrilled with her, as you can see from the photo!
So there it is. One of the hard things of being a breeder. In a way, this was harder than placing the puppies I breed, because I know from the beginning that most of those puppies are leaving. But this puppy was supposed to be staying. She was supposed to be part of the High Jump family. And she made it so darned EASY to love her! But it was the right decision for our program to place her with a loving pet home, and find a different breeding girl for Ducky. And so, our search will continue!
Happy Birthday to My Duck!
Ducky, Ch High Jump Shutterbug CGC TKN is now 4 years old!!! How does that happen?!?!
Ducky and the rest of his siblings in the “Easter Basket” litter.
We knew he was special even when he was very young! Look at that stack, at about 6 weeks old!
He was an out-going, brave boy from the start! (and don’t worry! Robbie was being careful, and I was right there to scoop him out of the way!)
He started winning at his first show and never looked back!
He is a wonderful “dance partner”. He loves to go to shows, and even loves to get up on the table!
Ducky is an exemplary, gentle dad with his puppies, playing with them indoors and out.(sometimes eat the expense of his show coat!)
He has been a born therapy dog from the time he was a puppy! He has just gotten more empathetic as he has matured.
Ducky is also doing very well learning his job as an Obedience and Rally dog!
And he remains our little “Lion King” staking out his territory on “Pride Rock” in the dog yard every afternoon!
Besides the wonderful puppies he produces for us, Ducky is available for select outside breedings. He is fully health tested, <CHiC>
He passes his wonderful temperament on to his offspring. He has kids competing in the show ring (and closing in on their own championships!) and in performance events as well as certified therapy dogs. He is everything I could want in a Havanese stud dog OR pet!
So… Happy Birthday to my cheerful, sweet, pretty baby boy!
Growing by leaps and bounces
We got her first barrette in after her bath last week!!! She was actually pretty good about keeping it in, until a wrestling match with Lili spelled the end of it after 45 minutes!
Every day we try to layer onto what Nutmeg has previously learned; teaching her new things and reinforcing what she has already been working on. She is impossibly cute, (except when puncturing your foot or leg!) and in-between moments of wildness, she also snuggles into your neck for cuddles that will melt your heart. And really, while I joke about her puppy biting, she is super gentle with her teeth when she knows she is putting her teeth on skin. When she really hurts is when she bites down on socks or pants… that just happen to have flesh underneath! She just doesn’t yet seem to understand that there is a human in there!
School is going well, where she is being introduced to “big kid” concepts in “baby dog” ways. Here she is being introduced to ring entrances and “set ups”. She hasn’t got a clue what she’s doing, but she’s having fun, and that’s what matters! <Click here>
Nutmeg went to her first show with the big kids… mostly because I couldn’t leave her home alone and Dave was working. It isn’t safe to allow a puppy of this age on the floor or the ground at a show site at this age, so she stayed in the trolley. I was able to set up a potty tray in the top of the trolley for her, so she had a portable potty right on board for her! For any of you who have not attended a dog show, I highly recommend it. The shows at the “Big E” always have some nice vendors, and it can be really fun to learn about your favorite breeds in the conformation ring. Depending on the show, there are often also Obedience and Rally competitions going on too. The Thanksgiving Cluster has Agility too!
Another thing we started working on was was “Puppy Zen”, which is the basis of all work on impulse control. The idea is that you want the puppy (or dog) to learn that they only get what is in your hand by leaving your hand alone. You do not move your hand or take it away. You wait for the dog to move away, then reward them for their choice! Here is Nutmeg’s first session: <click here> And here is her second session: <Click here> They learn fast!!!
The next step was to start teaching her “location specific markers”. We use a number of these in our training, and over time, she will learn more. But for now, I have started with just three. “Gooood!”, which means, “Stay still and I will deliver the cookie to you. “Ex!” (with my hand lowered and stretched down and back) Which means, “Come and get the cookie from my hand.” And, “Get it!”, which means, “Watch me until I throw the cookie, and then go get it!” She learned these one at a time, but I forgot to video while teaching them. Here is a video of her practicing all three now that she knows them. <click here>
We have continued our conformation work, including working on having her allow me to “show her bite” (which is a work in progress!!!) stacking on the table, gaiting, and we have started free stacking on the floor. <click here>
Finally, I posted this on the Facebook group, but I’m adding it here too for those who read it later. I just upgraded our stroller. I think every Havanese (and small dog person!) can benefit from a stroller. They are useful for young puppies when they aren’t ready for long walks or are not yet fully vaccinated, they are useful for adult dogs when you want to take them along to outdoor dining locations or want to take them to a farmer’s market or other summertime event where large crowds or other dogs could be a problem, and they are wonderful if you have a dog with an injury or an elderly dog that needs a lift. Our new one is bigger than most people with a single Havanese would need, but this company has a number of models including ones meant for a single dog, and I am very pleased with the quality. So I will include the link. <click here> There is another brand that we used for over 10 years before switching to our new one. We were very happy with it for all that time. It was just finally wearing out, as well as being too small for the family! <click here> Whatever you get, make sure that it is one that does NOT close with a front zipper. Not only are the front zippers difficult to open and close, they wear out very quickly. Neither of the ones I have linked to have a front zipper closure.
We’re Back!
I Know it’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog. It has been busy here, I was also not well for part of the time, and my hands were too stiff for much typing. But Nutmeg still got what she needed! The weather got MUCH colder and it snowed so most of our play time has been in the kitchen. We got three of these octopuses in a package from Amazon… which was a good thing, because they have been a big hit with the entire family!!! Ducky, in particular, absolutely loves them, and wants to carry them up to bed with him!
There has still been some outdoor play in the snow, when the weather was not TOO cold. So it’s a good thing that Nutmeg got her nice warm coats!
We also had a fun play date with a friend and her new Brussels Griffon puppy. Queenie is a few weeks older than Nutmeg, but they were very well matched in play style and they had a wonderful time together! <video here>
We have to catch you up a lot on our training…
We have continued working on loose leash walking, first without the leash, and for more on that, please feel free to visit my YouTube channel for video, both of Nutmeg and my litters. you want your puppy to follow along with you without the leash, using lots of cookies, before you ever attach the leash. the leash is not for pulling the puppy in the direction in which you want her to go. work first in a small distraction-free environment, and for only a very short distance. Your kitchen can work fine. Then expand your horizons to the back yard or the porch, and then the driveway. When the puppy is staying with you happily in these places, it is time to think about adding the leash!
Then two weeks ago, Nutmeg had her first experience with the leash at school. Of course, the goal is that the puppy really should not really have any different experience with or without the leash. The leash should only be there as a “safety tool”. My goal in this video was to keep Nutmeg from going to visit Esther! <Video here>. She had not even had a collar on until this day, and everything was “itchy” and new. But she did a good job! You can see that she had enough experience staying with me that this was what she wanted to do.
In the two weeks in between, we noodled around in the kitchen a bit a couple of times on a show lead, still making sure that the lead stayed loose at all times. But she did not go to class last week because I wasn’t feeling well. Here she was yesterday, doing her loose leash walking and also hopping up on the Cato Boards. (something else she had never seen) <video here>
I think it is important to point out that not every puppy will be as fearless and forward as Nutmeg is. In the case of a puppy who worries about things more, it is important to take things at their pace. Don’t rush them or push them into situations that they aren’t comfortable with. Every puppy develops at their own pace. There is no rush, and it is not a competition!
Now that the Little Miss has acquired all her baby teeth, she has turned into a land shark. Or a beaver. I’m not sure. She is either attached to a piece of flesh, a pant leg or a piece of furniture. we are doing our best to discourage the eating of humans. For the furniture and woodwork, clear hot sauce from Amazon, “Frostbite”, is our “go-to”. I know some people say Bitter Apple sprays works for them. It has never worked for my puppies! My puppies laugh in the face of Bitter Apple!!!
We have continued to get her out on road trips as often as possible, and she charms people everywhere we go. It is really important with young puppies that you expose them to men, particularly men in hats, since that tends to be something many dogs find scary later in life. At least that has not been hard to accomplish in the current weather!
We had to replace our range hood microwave last week, and took Nutmeg with us to Best Buy. (Did you know that Best Buy is pet friendly? They are!) She tried to get us a discount, but the salesman wasn’t falling for it!
One tip for taking little puppies out in this very cold weather. Get yourself a Snuggle Safe microwaveable heating disk. These are meant for litters, but work just as well under the crate pad for an older puppy in a cold car. They stay warm for a REALLY long time (up to 10 hours). I like soft sided carriers for young Havanese puppies. You can put the puppy in the carrier in the house and carry them out to the car and buckle it into the back seat. There are lots of brands available, but I bought my Sherpa to bring Kodi home over 15 years ago, and it is still in great condition. So I can vouch for the quality of that brand! When they get older, Ruffland Kennels are a great option.
“C’mon, Dad! Let’s go buy somethin’!”
We have been continuing our stacking practice, both on the table and JUST starting on the floor, though I don’t have either photos or video of that yet. I included video of her table work in the last blog. She is STARTING to let me open her mouth to “show the bite”. Briefly. VERY briefly! That still needs LOTS of work! At this point it is just a matter of gently messing with her mouth, popping a treat in and telling her she is wonderful. I can tell it is working because she is becoming less resistant.
Many show people and breeders like to start their puppies in “Beginner Puppy” or “B-Pup” classes. These are classes for puppies between 4-6 months of age and meant to introduce them to the show ring. There are no points toward their championship, so it is just for fun and exposure, though some people take it pretty seriously. For me, it totally depends on the puppy. If the puppy is very out-going, confident about strangers handling them on the table, and happy about having their “bite” shown, I think it’s fine. But we’ll see if Nutmeg is ready for that or not. It’s fine with me if she starts at 6 months!
After a rocky start we have been making good progress on potty training. Over the past few days, she has pretty reliably been finding the potty tray when she is loose in the kitchen and she needs to pee. I need to keep my eye on her when she is making noises (and she makes a LOT of noises) when she needs to poop. She does need to be escorted to a tray to poop. But I almost feel like whatever her internal “turmoil” is that makes her vocalize so much may also make it hard for her to think of anything else at that moment. So I will continue to help her as she matures some more. At least her signs make it easy to tell what’s going on!
She is doing a great job learning to settle in her pens at home in her pen in the kitchen, she will fuss a bit when I put her in there, but as long as I am either working in the kitchen or in the family room, where she can see me, she settles and either plays by herself or goes to sleep. If I need to work in my office, she is really very good about knowing that when I turn my back to that pen to work on my computer, I am “out of service” and she is on her own. I can get a good two hours of work done if she has had a good play/work session before I put her in that pen.
<sigh> “I’m on ignore. I guess I’ll take a nap!”
And she continues to do great in her crate at night. She now remains quiet even while I get up and take a shower in the morning, knowing that this is part of the morning routine before we all go downstairs together!
I am going to pop in a question now and then that I have received that I think may be helpful to you too. Sandi Kubler, Nutmeg’s breeder, asked me what I use for training treats for puppies.
For really tiny puppies that don’t have many teeth yet, I’m a fan of rolled Fresh Pet. It’s messy, but soft and fragrant. You can cut it into small cubes and little puppies love it! Once they get enough teeth that they can chew, I use the same foods I use for my adult dogs. I just cut them smaller. I use mostly roasted real meats. Pork loin is a favorite because it is so easy to cut into small cubes with no crumbling, but steak or roast beef works too. Chicken, while the dogs love it, can get really messy. There are a couple of commercial rolled foods available now that work well. My favorite is Happy Howie’s . It comes in beef, turkey and lamb. I stick to the beef and turkey, because the lamb tends to crumble when you cube it. Lucy Meat Rolls is another brand, and that brand comes in beef and chicken. It doesn’t cube quite as nicely as Happy Howie’s, but it’s not bad, and is a nice change for the dogs. The pelleted Fresh Pet small dog foods are a great option. Just make sure you pick one of the ones that doesn’t have tons of little shredded pieces that you need to pick out. Finally, a really nice option is to go to the deli counter and ask for a really thick slice (like 1/2”) of London Broil or no salt turkey. At home, cut the meat into small cubes, then cook them in the microwave, between paper towels, for a minute or so, to dry them out somewhat. This makes a ton of economical and VERY high value training treats! Last are Finley’s Training Bites. They come in several flavors. They are already quite small, but each piece can easily be broken into three TINY pieces perfect for the tiniest pieces. I linked them on Amazon, but you can also often find them in Home Goods. And when they have them, they are cheaper there.
A lot of people with larger dogs use a lot of cheese. With our little ones, puppies or adults, I avoid using this too often, because of the fat in cheese and the frequency of small dogs getting pancreatitis. My dogs have never had this, but it’s not something I want to experience!
Two Weeks With Us and Ten Weeks Old!
Really? Could she BE any cuter? (And she has her mama’s eyes!)
Nutmeg is now 4 lbs 1 oz. of wicked cuteness. Everyone had baths on Saturday, and she did not swear about hers QUITE as much as last time, and actually seemed to enjoy her blow dry! She was less impressed by her mani-pedi, though was eventually willing to trade for the bully stick.
One thing that she learned about this week was her first food toy! She was pretty quick to get the hang of the “rolling kibble robot”, and slapped that guy all over the kitchen! This type of toy can be a wonderful way to keep a puppy busy
Nutmeg also had her first class at MasterPeace. This is a Novice Competition Obedience class with Esther Zimmerman. Nutmeg is currently the youngest puppy in the class, but different puppies join the class at different times (with Esther’s approval) and Esther modifies the content for the puppy’s age and experience. Lili and Ducky both started in this class and Lili is still in the class. This week Nutmeg continued her loose leash walking work, (without the leash) did a couple of fronts between my feet, and then had her first experience on the table for conformation, with a “judge”.
While a Puppy Kindergarten class is probably more appropriate for most pet puppies and new owners, this class has benefits for me that a puppy K would not have. Nutmeg gets to be exposed to dogs of all sizes and breeds, and although they are not puppies, and she cannot play with them, they are well mannered, and well-controlled by their handlers. She learns to be crated when it is not her turn, which is something that is important to me in a class setting, and not something typically practiced in a Puppy K class. Because my dogs learn to work in the ring with me, I do not really want them to see this space as place to play on a regular basis. I have the experience to give Nutmeg the socialization she needs, as well as the curriculum that would be offered in a pet class. So this beginner Novice Competition class is a great fit for us.
That does NOT mean that I don’t think that Puppy K classes are a great starting point for most puppy owners! I do!
Potty training seemed to be stalling out, with me being very well trained to set the timer for 30 minutes to get her back to the potty tray. Things improved slightly when her hoodie arrived, and I was able to take her outdoors for potty breaks too. She definitely likes going outside with the “big dogs” to potty, both pee and poop, first thing in the morning.
She definitely was starting to understand what I meant when I told her to, “Go Potty, Go Pee”. However, she was showing absolutely NO understanding that she should find her way to the trays by herself (even in the ex-pen) to use the potty tray independently. So I was feeling like I was the one getting potty trained!
Then I set up a second tray in the kitchen in the vain hope that she might show some interest in it. Just to make it easier for me to move around, I put a pee pad in it rather than the pine pellets I usually use. Her breeder had also used pine pellets, but I knew she would use a pee pad, because she had done so in the car, on the ride home from New York. Wonder of wonders, she walked across the kitchen, sniffed the tray and peed on it! A little later, she returned to it and pooped on it! These were the first two times I had seen her make a decision to potty in the right place independently! This was HUGE!!!
After that, I replaced the big Rascal Dog litter box in her pen (you can see this in the previous blog) with a smaller tray with a pee pad, with the same result. She is using it almost all the time, independently, even with the ex-pen fully expanded. I don’t know why, and I don’t know why she rejected the pellets. But I am not going to argue. If this is what she wants, this is what she will get!!!
Sweet Success!!!
Since she is pottying outdoors on command, you might wonder why I am working so hard on potty tray training, rather than just skipping that and going right to outdoor training. The problem is, I have seen that it is just about impossible to go back. One a dog has become totally outdoor trained, you will never get them to accept an indoor potty. And I have become convinced of the utility of having little dogs that are potty tray trained.
ALL my adult dogs prefer to potty outdoor. But they will also, when push comes to shove, use the potty trays. That means that if the snow is too deep for them to get out the door and we have not yet been able to shovel, they have a place to go. More important, in an emergency, if they need to be left alone for 12 hours, and I can’t find someone to let them out, they don’t have to make a choice between having an accident or bursting a kidney. We rarely have had to leave them for long periods of time like that, but it gives me peace of mind that we CAN. So I will persevere, and indoor potty train Nutmeg too, knowing that she will have NO problem learning to go outdoors along with everyone else also. (since she is already happy to do that!)
The weather got REALLY cold this week, and Nutmeg’s coats arrived from Amazon just in time for the snow!!! For anyone who is looking for little coats to fit Havanese puppies, I’ll put links to the two I bought HERE and HERE. Both fit WAY better than the hoodie! (and are warmer too). Once she got her jackets she has had a wonderful time running around outside with the “big dogs”!
In the just plain cute department, here she is playing with the “puppy in the oven”!
And finally, I was asked for a video of starting her on table work for conformation. The basic program I use for starting my puppies on the table is Jane Lindquist’s “Killer Free Stacks”, available from Puppy Culture.<Click Here>
Here is a video of Nutmeg on the table this evening when I was working with her! <Click Here>
So many things!
As time goes on, we won’t have as many “firsts” to report. But this first week has been so full of them that I couldn’t keep up! Nutmeg has settled in wonderfully, and is now sleeping through the night at less than 9 weeks old. She gets up with the other dogs in the morning, and she is not the one who wakes me up! We all go down for breakfast, she potties on her tray in her pen while the others go outside, then we all go back to bed for another hour or two. She has been great!
I’ve made a point of getting her out in the car every day, as I mentioned before. On Tuesday we went for her well-puppy check-up, where she was pronounced a “perfect puppy”. Then we went to Masterpeace, our training facility, where she met some friendly humans and a Tervuren puppy who is just a week older than she is! They both learned from this. Nutmeg learned to stand up for herself when someone bothers her, and Praline learned that “no means no”! (which she did, very nicely!) <video here>. Their whole interaction was less than five minutes. You do NOT need long “play dates” for young puppies!
Could she get any cuter?!?!
New Years Day, we started our “Loose Leash Walking” training, Which we always start without a leash! Our first session was in the kitchen, was a little tight, but we made it work! <Video here> It rained in the morning, but it was warm and sunny in the afternoon. So we moved outside for our second session. <Video Here>
Since she was already wet, and in need of a bath, this seemed like as good a time as any! So it was into the tub for the munchkin. Oh, she proved that she has the mouth of a sailor when she gets mad! But she looked awfully cute when she was finished! <video here>
I also brought up our puppy slide for her to play with! Do NOT go and buy one of these when you bring home a puppy! They are not appropriate for an older puppy, and most folks will not be bringing home a puppy as young as Nutmeg I have one for my litters. I knew she had been playing on one with her breeder, and since I have one too, decided to let her continue playing with it here. She is appreciating it!
Thursday is my lesson day at MasterPeace, and, of course, Nutmeg came along, and had her turn too! Here she is doing some loose Leash Walking as she explores our training ring! <Video here>
Things continue to go well with the other dogs. Lili is playing beautifully with her. This morning I watched as Lili played “tug” with her. Of course Lili could easily take any toy away from her. But she oh-so-gently tugged JUST enough that Nutmeg could keep hold of her end, even with her tiny teeth and light weight. When she lost her grip on it, Lili would stop and wait for her to grab it again. It was really adorable to watch. Unfortunately, no video of that, but here’s a photo!
Probably our biggest progress is that we have had two GREAT days as far as potty training is concerned. She just was not learning the way my other puppies have, so I started sort of modified “crate training”. She was in her pen rather than a crate, but she was not coming out until I saw her potty. It took some time and close watching to catch her the first couple of times, but she’s smart, and it DID only take her a couple of times to learn that the way to get out of the pen was to use her potty tray!
Then I set a timer for 30 minutes. Back in the pen, where I told her to “go potty”. If she went, she came back out. If not, she stayed in. Again, it took just a couple of times before she was going the moment I said “go potty”. She has also been pooping outside first thing in the morning, along with the big dogs!
Today she had one accident, but it was when Daddy let her out while I was at the grocery store, without making her potty first. Oops! I am still not seeing any sign of her going to use the potty tray on her own when she is loose in the kitchen, in fact, I haven’t trusted her in the expanded ex-pen yet, but we’ll get there! Considering that for the first couple of days I thought she had sprung a leak, we have made HUGE progress!!!
She’s a spicy girl!
(Photo of Nutmeg taken with her sisters at Sofila Havanese)
Nutmeg has spent the last two days settling in and taking over. The humans are all charmed by her, and the adult dogs think she is pretty cute. Lili is pretty happy with her new playmate!
The girls whispering about Ducky behind his back!
Havanese puppies grow hairy feet REALLY FAST, so it is important to trim them regularly. I like to work on “cooperative care”, by allowing puppies to chew on a bully stick (or something equally yummy) while I work on their feet. Here is a video of my first session doing this with Nutmeg. <CLICK HERE> I try to trim feet and nails weekly. If done in a gentle, kind way, the dogs get used to it, and it becomes an easy part of the routine.
I use a Dremel with my adult dogs, but Nutmeg still is too small for a Dremel. I do have a very quiet, baby nail grinder, and when she is a bit calmer about the clippers, I’ll start getting her used to that!
For Nutmeg’s first training session, I wanted to just introduce her to her name by playing the “name game”. <CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO> With an older puppy or dog, you would toss the cookies a longer distance and allow the puppy to chase the cookie. Then say the name just as the puppy puts her mouth on the cookie. You need to modify the game with a tiny baby puppy because their eyesight is still pretty poor. So for Nutmeg, I placed the cookies quite close, and making sure she could see where the cookies were. I still was trying to time saying her name when she put her mouth on the cookie, but the timing is harder when everything is so much closer together! Still, this is a wonderful, fun way to help a puppy learn her name. Keep training sessions very short. I think I divided 7 pieces of Fresh Pet in half, for this session, and that was enough! You can see how much fun she had!
Even though she had been introduced to potty trays by her breeder, dogs do not generalize well, and puppies less so. Nutmeg doesn’t seem to be putting two and two together yet! So we have had to resort to what I call “Puppy Jail”!
When I can’t be supervising her directly, EYES ON, Nutmeg is in a very small pen, with just enough room for her potty, a nice big fluffy bed and some toys, and a water dish. No room to have an accident! When she is out of the pen, I am either working with her, or watching her play. If I see her start to wander distractedly, or in her case, start to squeak (a sure sign!!!) I rush her back to her potty. Hopefully, before long, I’ll see signs that she is getting the message!
If the weather was nicer, we’d also be spending time outside, where she could naturally go potty out there as the need arose. But it has been too wet and nasty since we got home. I am hoping for some dry and not-too-cold weather so I can get her outside!
Our other adventure for the day was a short trip in the car to have a quick visit and cuddle with a friend. I put Nutmeg in a Sherpa bag and put that in one side of the VarioCage, and brought Lili along for moral support in the other side. She squeaked a bit for the first couple of minutes, but was fine after that. My dogs are in the car a lot, so it’s important to me that she get used to it. But I think it’s important for all dogs that they feel comfortable riding in the car. Too many people only put their dog in the car to take them to the groomer or the vet, with the result that the dog has no reason to like being in the car! Take your dog fun places! Often!
Ducky on one of his early car rides, a little older than Nutmeg!
Welcome home, Nutmeg (Paz Amor and Sofila Spice Girl At High Jump)!
I have been on the look out for an outcross girl to add to our breeding program for a while now, and when I saw this litter born at my friend, Sandi Kubler’s, home I was pretty sure that I wanted one of these girls to be the one. Their dam, Peanut, (Paz Amor I Got Nuttin But Love BCAT) had caught my eye in the show ring when she was just a puppy. I fell in love with her! I knew from Sandi and Peanut’s owner, Diane, that she was as sweet as she was beautiful. And she had been bred to Diane’s Milo (GCH CH Almendares Szara Eminencja) for this lovely litter.
So Friday, 12/27, we drove out to Sofila Havanese in NY to pick up Miss Nutmeg and bring her home! Because she is a lovely, well bred puppy, and has been beautifully raised using Puppy Culture methods, she took the trip home in stride. She slept most of the way, with only a minimum of fussing when we stopped a couple of times. She started to cry more urgently at one point, and we pulled over for her to potty on a pee pad spread in the hatch of the car. She performed right away, then had some lunch and went back to sleep for the rest of the trip!
Anyone who has spent time on this site knows how I raise my litters. And anyone on my FaceBook group has watched me raise my “keeper” pups. But it has been a LONG time (over nine years!) since I brought a pup in from the outside. So I decided that it would be fun, and might be helpful to others, if I were to blog about how I raise a puppy being brought into my home for the first time. This way it will be here on my website where people can refer to it as needed when they get puppies of their own!
So let’s dive right in!
When we arrived home yesterday evening, I put Nutmeg into her pen that I had prepared for her before I left. Here’s a video: I allowed the other dogs to greet her through the pen. If I had seen any sign of her being overwhelmed with that, I would have removed them, but she was all happy wiggles, and they were appropriate with her. Later in the evening, we also let the dogs visit with her in Dave’s lap, for a very brief period.
You have to play these introductions by ear, and you have to know your dogs. I KNOW my dogs are good with puppies, and I knew she had been raised among other dogs. She showed no signs of being worried about them. If she had seemed at all worried or if I had had any concern about my dogs acting appropriately, I would have slowed down introductions.
After eating a good supper of Dr. Harvey’s (which is the same food the breeder was feeding her, and some play time in the kitchen, Nutmeg was ready to crash. So I took her up to bed and popped her into her crate in our bedroom. Now, her breeder had started crate training, but usually sends puppies home at 10 weeks (as I do) Because we had gone out to NY to help her evaluate the litter at 8 weeks, and it is a LONG way, and didn’t want to do it again 2 weeks later, and she knows I am also a Puppy Culture rearer, she agreed to let me take Nutmeg home at 8 weeks. So while Nutmeg had been introduced to, and had been sleeping in open crates at night with her sisters, she had never been shut in a crate over night or been without her littermates. I put the crate on my night stand, right beside my head, and tucked her in with blankets that smelled of her littermates. She went right to sleep. She woke once and needed to potty, and a couple of other times and just whimpered and needed to be comforted to go right back to sleep. She slept right through until 7:00 in the morning!
WELL!!! This was unexpected!!!
I knew that QT was coming to stay with us today, and I knew she was going to have her first progesterone test today. Elizabeth and I were a bit mystified because she had not shown any of the normal signs of heat, but her boys were saying that they were interested.
Her progesterone test and other tests at the repro vet said we were a “go”! So… QT came home, and much to Ducky’s delight, she said “Yes, please!“ and he said, YES Ma’am!!!”
Later, he took his gal for a stroll in the back yard.
Sooo… Applications are open!
I would like to remind folks that puppies are NOT on a first come first served basis. I will get back to folks as soon as I can for phone interviews, and then we move forward from there!
I have talked to some of you who have filled out Elizabeth’s applications which she forwarded to me. Please remember that you still need to fill out one of mine! Thanks!
What Could Be Cuter Than the Ducky and ZT Puppies?
What about Ducky and QT Puppies?!?!
QT is in heat now, and coming to stay with us on Sunday. Watch this space or our High Jump Havanese FaceBook Page for information on when our applications are open. It will be soon!!!
Have a Good Life, Ducklings!!!
All the Ducklings are in their for-ever homes, now, all of the doing wonderfully, loved by their families and loving their new lives. Lili, High Jump Nauti Picture Show will be staying here, and Disco, High Jump Nauti Pardon The Disco Love, will join the Nauti gang in RI.
I have turned off the puppy application page for the time being because I do not know when we will be having our next litter. Possibly next year, but I do not maintain a waiting list. For the best chance of getting a High Jump puppy, please keep an eye on the website and the Face Book page. Plans for upcoming litters will be announced in both places, as will opening of the application process.
In the meantime, please feel free to join us on the High Jump Face Book page, if you aren’t already a member,. I will continue to post updates on what the High Jump gang is up to!
They Are Here and Doing Great!
The “Ducklings” arrived March 25, 2023 and are doing great! As far as we know, all are spoken for at this point, but feel free to join us and follow along as they grown our FaceBook Page as they grow. High Jump Havanese
We Are Excited to Announce...
We are VERY excited to announce that we are planning a litter between our wonderful Ch High Jump Shutter Bug CGC TKN (AKA “Ducky”)
And the lovely GCH CH Nauti Pardon The Interruption ATT (AKA “ZT’O”)
They have not told us when they plan to “tie the knot” yet, so puppy dates are still very tentative. But we are guessing April puppies. We have opened up our Puppy Questionnaire, so if you think you might be interested in a top quality show/performance puppy, or just the love of your life, feel free to fill it out!
We have also put a TON of work into our web site over the last couple of months, with a close look at how our litters are raised, as well as a lot of information that I hope will be of help to Havanese owners in general, not only to those looking for a puppy. So please take a look around, whether you are thinking of a puppy at this time or not!
Watch This Space in 2023!!!
High Jump Havanese and Arborway Havanese will BOTH be expecting litters sired by our wonderful Ch. High Jump Shutter Bug, AKA “Ducky”! I will announce here and on our FaceBook page when we are accepting applications, probably shortly after the first of the year.
All of our pups have flown to their forever homes!
It has been a hectic few months, and I haven’t had time to update the website, but the Easter Basket Litter has “fledged” and is enjoying growing up in their new homes. I couldn’t be happier with their lovely new families!
“Jelly Bean” is now High Jump Boo Radley, and Lives in Brooklyn, NY
“Cadbury” is now High Jump Chasing Moonbeams and lives in Fitchburg, MA
“Chirp” is is now High Jump Tula Luna and lives in Lexington, MA
“Peeps” is now High Jump Picasso and lives on Long Island in NY
And… “Ducky” is STILL “Just Ducky”, though his registered name is now High Jump Shutter Bug, and he has stayed right here to be a future show and performance dog and hopefully, someday a stud dog!
Panda has decided that as much as she loved being a momma, she wants to go back to her life as a “workin’ girl” and will not have another litter. So it will likely be several years before we have another litter. So for that reason, we have disabled our application, and will not be keeping a waiting list at this time!
One Week Old and Introductions!
It has been a long and tiring week for Panda AND me, but we are adjusting, coming up for air, and it is time to officially introduce everyone to the world!
It's official!
We had our ultrasound today, and while I am not a vet, and these photos look like blobs to me, the Repro vet assures me that this looks like five puppies to her! Now ultrasounds are not totally accurate, so there is always a chance we could end up with one more or one less. But five is the count we are going with for now!!!
