There’s a few aspects to take in consideration, before deciding if you should get a Havanese dog, or instead you should choose a different breed. When investigating a breed, you must consider many things. Your lifestyle, your home, the time you can spend with a dog, the grooming you are willing to do, and your reason for having a dog will affect your choices.
The breed’s characteristics may or may not suit your needs: size, temperament, grooming requirements, and energy level.
Size
The size of your home or yard is not an issue. The small Havanese does not need much space. Apartments or estates suit this breed fine. Big or small yards and neighborhood walks provide enough exercise. A small dog is an advantage if you travel and can take him. His carrier easily fits into your car or under the seat in front of you on an airplane.
Housebreaking
Small breeds tend to be harder to housebreak. If you get an adult who is already housebroken, this is not an issue. However, if you get a puppy or an adult that is not housebroken, then you have to deal with this task. It may take months of very consistent effort.
You can train your Havanese to go outside. If you have a doggy door that allows him to go out when he needs to, the task is simplified. Since the dog is small, the output is also small, so you can train your dog to use a “pee pad” or a doggy litter box.
House Dog
He must be housebroken, because your Havanese must live in your home, not outside, on the porch, or in the garage, even when you are not home. You may keep some rooms off limits, but your dog should be allowed into the rooms that you live in most.
Your Havanese is a social dog and wants to be with you. He will get on your furniture, by the way, for he feels it is his birthright. If you do not want a dog literally in the middle of your house and life and right next to you, you might prefer another breed.
Socializing
This is a busy breed, playful, affectionate, and entertaining. Your Havanese wants your attention and thrives on companionship. He likes people in his life as much as possible. He enjoys the company of other dogs and cats, too, so a multipet home provides additional company.
If you are gone all day and into the evening and all you can offer a dog is a solitary life, you might consider a breed that enjoys being alone.
Children
A Havanese is a happy playmate for children. However, if your children are younger than school age, they will need close supervision when interacting with a small dog. The younger the child, the more closely you must manage their time together to prevent accident or injury.
If you do not have the time or inclination to monitor your children and dog playing together, you might wait until the children are a bit older before getting a Havanese.
Coat Care
The biggest consideration in deciding on a Havanese is whether and how you will deal with his coat. It is a very soft coat that needs maintenance—possibly high maintenance, depending on the hairstyle you choose—to avoid tangles and mats.
The shortest styles need the least maintenance, but you must still comb at brush it, keep it dry, and trim it regularly to keep it short. Longer styles need daily or every other day brushing, with special attention to combing, and drying parts of the coat that get wet.
Many people enjoy grooming their dogs as part of their personal time with the dogs. Optionally, a weekly session with a groomer will keep a long-coated dog’s crowning glory resplendent. Your attending daily to the coat is part of your commitment to this breed.
On the positive side, the Havanese coat sheds minimally. It is light and soft rather than oily, so there is minimal odor from the coat. Because the dog produces less dander than many other breeds, it is considered hypoallergenic. However, if you have someone in your household who is allergic to dogs, visit Havanese homes to see if the allergies are triggered before getting a dog of your own.
More on how to groom a Havanese.
Other Pets
A benefit of the Havanese social nature is that he gets along with other pets. If you already have a dog or cat or two, a Havanese can join the family and get along well. However, if you have a large sighthound or an aggressive dog as a pet, you will need to manage the situation for your Havanese’s safety.
Some dogs will chase small, running animals. They may be friends inside the house, but some dogs may chase a small dog running in a large yard. Dog-aggressive dogs could seriously hurt a diminutive dog. On the other hand, friendly pet dogs and cats can be bonus friends for your Havanese.
Family Decision
Check with all the members in your family. Getting a dog is a family decision. Are they equally enthused about getting a social toy dog? If they are not, doing so may not be a good idea.
If you are really sure that this delightful breed is for you and you are willing to make a “til-death-do-us-part” commitment, now is the time to look at other decisions you need to consider, such as: choosing a puppy or adult, male or female, show or pet, and so on.
