Take a Hike!

Since Havanese are such a small dog breed, the type of collar and leash you choose for your Havanese is essential to not only the dog's happiness, but yours as well. Did you know? When a dog's leash is too tight or he pulls too much, it causes restriction of the airways, which in the future can cause serious permanent damage.

Here are some easy tips for getting your dog leash trained.

1. 100% Consistency! Don't let your dog take control. Consider purchasing a no-pull harness or head halter, this will eliminate the pull on the throat and airways and allow the dog to walk at his own pace when there is no time for training.  If you are training, don't give him any leeway at all. That's right, not even an inch.

2. Be a Statue: If your puppy starts pulling, stop walking. Your puppy will quickly learn that it is quicker to walk with you instead of pulling against you.

3. Walk Towards a Goal: When on your walk, there will be places that your puppy will be more excited to reach than others. As soon as your puppy starts to pull towards that place, stop, until he does as well.  Once stopped, turn around and walk back a few paces. Make this your starting point and do this consistently every time your puppy pulls towards that goal until he will walk with you to the spot he has been pulling toward. Give your puppy a second to enjoy the spot and then continue on your walk.

4. Be Different and Unpredictable: If the statue method isn't working try mixing it up.  It is easier to do this in a large field or open space rather than on a sidewalk.  Walk sideways, backwards, forwards, make it different. The dog will be confused and will learn to follow you.

5.  Don't let the Dog forget you are there: Reward the puppy with treats when they are doing well. They will be more likely to respond positively.  Make a fuss when the dog does something well. Get excited for him.

These are just a few examples of how easy it can be to train your new puppy to walk with you.  The next post will talk more about leashes, collars and what may work best for you and your new puppy. It is important to give your puppy a space that he can run without a leash as well, so as to help him feel less like a prisoner.

Visit http://www.havanesepuppies.com to learn more about the benefits and love of these special puppies!

Tips from the Trainers

Perhaps the most important tip for training your new puppy is Positive Reinforcement! It doesn't matter if you are house training your puppy or just simply teaching it not to bark, positive reinforcement has been proven to be the method that works the best in every situation.When you teach your puppy with positive reinforcement instead of fear, the problems of anxiety, and meanness, etc. are usually avoided. Positive reinforcements can be anything from play time to treats to a happy tone and belly rub.


The second most important tip when training a new puppy is Consistency! Being consistent while training will help the puppy feel both safe and loved.  When this happens, it will become much easier to gain the puppy's trust and a loving bond will form between you, making training a breeze.

However, while establishing trust and love with your new puppy, be sure to make sure it knows who the top dog is. You are Top Dog. This doesn't necessarily mean treating your puppy like you are the alpha dog, just take care of it and let it know that what you say goes, and it will be easy to gain your puppy's love and respect.

We will have more in depth training tips each week which will be more catered towards the Havanese breed. These will help you become more effective and ready to take care of and love your Havanese puppy.

10 Dos and Dont's When Choosing a Puppy Breeder

When choosing a puppy breeder there are a few things that are important to remember and check before buying a puppy.

1. DO NOT purchase a puppy from a puppy mill or puppy farm, back-yard breeder or even a pet store. The puppies from these types of establishments are much more likely to have health and temperament or behavior problems.

2. DO NOT purchase puppies from the back of a van or off the side of the road. Many brokers will make excuses as to why they can't come to your home, or why you can't come to theirs.  This is how they operate.

3. DO NOT consider purchasing a puppy from someone who advertises more than one breed for sale.  They are most likely a ‘puppy broker’.  These puppies probably came from puppy mills.

4. DO ask for health testing.

5. DO ask to see the mother of the puppies.

6. DO ask for the pedigree.

7. DO choose a breeder that socializes their puppies in their home and is willing to have you pick up your new puppy in their home.

8. DO purchase puppy that is AKC registered so you are guaranteed that it is a pure bred.

9. DO work with breeders that have written contract and health guarantee.

10. DO purchase a puppy whose shots are up to date and have been examined by a licensed veterinarian.

All of our puppies meet the DO requirements and you can make arrangements to meet both the puppy and the mother in our home. Visit our website for more information and current puppy availability. Havanesepuppies.com

Choosing a Breeder

When choosing a breeder, there are a few things that you should be cautious about and aware of when deciding who to purchase your puppy from. The terms "puppy mill", "puppy farm" and "backyard breeder" are terms that usually bring a negative connotation to the mind of puppy buyers, but what exactly do these terms mean?
The terms puppy farm and puppy mill are basically interchangeable and the negative connotations that come with these phrases are often true. Puppy farms and mills are commercially run and are almost always in the puppy business for pure profit. Because of this emphasis on money, many of these mills and farms have harsh conditions for the puppies to live in. Puppy mills and farms account for an average of half a million puppies born into the United States each year.

A backyard breeder is very similar to a puppy mill except it is generally a small scale operation with fewer animals.

Our puppies are AKC registered and raised in favorable conditions.  When you purchase your puppy from us, you can meet the puppy's mother and you will receive a clean bill of health after a checkup from our licensed veterinarian. They come with a signed contract and have been socialized by living in close proximity to our family.

Check back this week for the Top Ten Dos and Don't when it comes to choosing a puppy breeder.

From Our Family to Yours

Dr. James Dahlin, became interested in these puppies because one of his sons suffered from allergies to nearly all the pets...except Havanese puppies. These dogs don't have dander, and believe it or not they don't shed!

The Dahlin Family has been in puppy business ever since and they want to share the joy they have received from these little bundles of fun, with you and your family.

Meet the Dahlins:

James and Kim (AKA) Mom and Pop:
Married for over 25 years, the Dahlin's live about 30 minutes above Sacamento, CA. They are very family oriented and know how important it is to have personal relationships with customers and with those they do business with. They spend hours each day ensuring that the puppies are in top condition and when you purchase a puppy, Kim goes through puppy training with the new owners.

Eric, Angela and Brent:
Eric, Angela and Brent are the three oldest children and are currently all located in Utah. Eric has a semester left at Utah Valley University before obtaining his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.  Angela is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University and got her bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, she is currently working for a Health Assessment Company. Brent has about a year and a half left at Utah Valley University and his major is still undecided.

Garrett:
Garrett, the fourth in line, is currently serving a mission for the LDS Church in Lansing, Michigan where he gets to speak Spanish.

Andrew and Daniel:
Andrew and Daniel are the two youngest. They live at home and are both attending High School where they participate in tennis, basketball and scouting.

What You Should Know about the Puppies:

We are able to ship our puppies anywhere in the U.S. We only ship on passenger planes where they can be attended to.   

All our puppies come with AKC papers, a full health exam, the first package of puppy shots, have been dewormed twice, and we have begun crate training. Kim provides face to face or phone consultation to give you complete information on how best to care for and train your puppy. The parents of the puppy you choose are AKC registered and are in excellent health and come from champion blood lines.

To learn more about these puppies or to purchase puppies from the Dahlins, check out their website. 

History of the Havanese

The Havanese is a small sturdy dog of immense charm. He is slightly longer than tall, and covered with a profuse mantle of untrimmed long, silky, wavy hair. His plumed tail is carried loosely curled over his rump. A native of Cuba, he has evolved over the centuries from the pampered lap-dog of the aristocracy into what he is today - the quintessential family pet of a people living on a small tropical island.

His duties traditionally have been those of companion, watchdog, child’s playmate and herder of the family poultry flock. His presentation in the show ring should reflect his function - always in excellent condition but never so elaborately coifed as to preclude an impromptu romp in the leaves, as his character is essentially playful rather than decorative.

While historically always a toy dog and therefore never overly large or coarse, he does not appear so fragile as to make him unsuitable as a child’s pet. His unique coat reflects centuries in the tropics, and protects against heat. It is remarkably soft and light in texture, profuse without being harsh or woolly. Likewise, the furnishings of the head are believed to protect the eyes from the harsh tropical sun, and have traditionally never been gathered in a top knot for this reason.