Temperament
Havanese have a playful, loving temperament. They become very attached to their people and will follow family members around just to be near them. They love attention and are eager to please. They are good with children if both puppy and child are trained to be gentle, and are supervised appropriately for their age. They may become anxious if left alone for long periods of time, but they are generally happy little dogs. Barking is usually minimal, mainly alerting the family to a visitor.
Grooming
Havanese naturally have a long, silky coat. To keep the coat long and free of mats they require daily brushing and weekly baths. It is best to start brushing early with a puppy, so they become accustomed to the grooming process. Many pet owners choose to cut the coat short for ease of care. A "puppy cut" is a great way to keep your Havanese coat cut to minimize the grooming time and maximize that cute puppy look! Because Havanese do not shed, they are commonly hypoallergenic to most allergy sufferers.
Housebreaking
With time and consistency your Havanese puppy can be 100% house trained. Our dogs have been trained to use puppy pads, which they use very successfully. It will take at least 6 months to train a puppy, however, and consistently observing them when they are out of their crate is necessary to catch any mistakes.
Training
Havanese are very intelligent, easily trained little dogs. They are anxious to please and are willing cooperate just to get your attention and hear your praise. Besides basic obedience Havanese are quick learners at doing tricks and love to perform! That being said, all dogs benefit by establishing the right relationship between the two of you, where you are the leader and he is the follower. When your Havanese respects you, he will follow your rules and obey when you tell him "No." Dogs are pack animals and will respond best if they are submissive to you, your family, and all humans they come in contact with. A dominant dog feels that he needs to be in charge and tries to control the situation by barking, growling and becoming aggressive. You will both be happier if your dominance is established early in your relationship with your puppy.