New Havanese Puppy

When you first bring your Havanese Puppy home he might feel confused by his new surroundings and it may cause him some stress. Allow the puppy a day or two to get accustomed to you and his new environment before you introduce him to friends and neighbors.

Avoid public places where other dogs gather like the park or pet stores until your Havanese Puppy has had all his first year shots, this is around four months old providing you are keeping up with your Havanese Puppy's vet appointments.

Your Havanese Puppy will Thrive with a Consistent Routine

Try to stick to a scheduled time for feeding, exercise, going potty and play time for your Havanese Puppy. Cesar Milan from the TV show 'The Dog Whisperer' always tells his clients in order to have a well balanced happy dog one should provide a routine of "exercise, discipline and affection" in that order.

Exercise to Cesar usually means what he refers to as "Mastering the Walk", where he shows his clients how to hold the leash properly and project confidence walking the dog. He explains the importance of being the pack leader and how mastering the walk can instill confidence in your dog that you are in fact the pack leader, which puts your dog at ease and allows him to concentrate on being a follower which in turn creates balance in your dog. He needs to know where he falls within the pack, if you are not taking on the role of pack leader your dog will step up to fill that role, likewise, if you are asserting yourself as pack leader your dog will gladly fall in line and be the follower.

Discipline does not mean hitting your Havanese Puppy, only that you need to set boundaries for your puppy just like you do with your children. Then of course a well-exercised, well-behaved Havanese Puppy deserves lots of affection.

You should avoid giving affection to your Havanese Puppy when he is in an excited state, like when you come in the door and he is jumping all over you, as this will reinforce the behavior. It is better to ignore and correct your Havanese Puppy until he is calm. Never give affection to your puppy while he is excited, scared or during or right after any unacceptable behavior. Always give affection when your Havanese Puppy is in a calm relaxed state.

Below is a list of supplies needed to bring home your new Havanese Puppy-

Supplies Needed for Your Havanese Puppy:

ID Tag: Always attach ID tag directly to collar
Leash/Harness: Small body harness and leash
Bedding: Washable, comfortable dog bed
Feeding Bowls: Stainless steel or ceramic feeding bowls. (plastics harbor germs)
Food: My pups are eating Purina Puppy Chow 3 times a day. To change food, mix them together and gradually reduce the Puppy Chow. I use Prairie brand starting at 1 yr. There are a lot of choices out there, look for the fewest by-products and preservatives possible.
Toys/Treats: Lots of chew toys for puppies. Training treats or non-color biscuits to reward good behavior. Keep away from Rawhide bones, dogs choke on them and they are terrible on digestion. A rubber "Kong" or similar product that hides a treat inside are great puppy occupiers.
Pet-specific cleaners: Use "Simple Solution" or "Natures Miracle" to clean pet messes.
Dog Crate: The crate only needs to be big enough to use as a bed for the puppy. Look for a crate that has a separator panel to avoid having to buy another one when the puppy grows. Avoid crating for more than 7 or 8 hours, 4-6 hours for puppies.
Grooming Supplies: spray on conditioner, small pin brush, small slicker brush, small fine come, combination comb, nail clipper or rotary file. See the Havanese Grooming page for tips.

Obedience training is essential to raising a happy, healthy well balanced dog. Visit the Havanese Information page for free training resources.