We believe education from dam to us to you is an important factor in getting your pup to be all they can be.Here are some items that you may consider when preparing your home for your new Havanese puppy. You may not need everything listed before your puppy arrives, but this list is intended to help you consider all your puppy's needs.
Comfort:
- Metal or Plastic Crate (check with breeder to see which your puppy prefers)
- Old Towels for Crate or cheap washable crate pads (2 will do - one to change, 1 to wash)
Once puppy is reliably crate trained, a "real" crate bed can be used.
- A blanket to cover crate to create a den feeling if using a crate for sleeping. There are also crate covers that people make to cover that are quite fancy. A variety of companies sell stylish crate covers or you can make one yourself.
- We use soft blankets to cuddle with. We have some from Petsmart that are cheap and can be often found in the cat or dog department for under 3 dollars depending on size. We find them sleeping up to them at a variety of times in and out of the carrying case/crate. Unless its important to be stylish, old items - baby blankets etc can be used.
Please realize your dog loves to den and when it is surrounded by something that is familiar with them, they often settle down. We also give them tons of love so snuggling with you will also be a calming moment for them.
Feeding:
- Food bowls should be stainless steel or ceramic. You can buy cheap ones at Dollarama that go into the dishwasher and have a few for the price of a ceramic one. Only high quality glazed as some poor quality & unglazed will leech lead and therefore be a heath hazard. Never plastics as bacteria can flourish in them. Water bowls should be large and heavier. If you are going to be away for a few hours, we highly recommend a watering device that circulates the water.
- Treats should be of high quality to enable you to get your dog to work for their treats. It can be as easy as a come, sit, stay but no free treats - well rarely – (we humans can't help ourselves)
Cleaning:
Cotton balls for cleaning ears and placing in the ear to keep them dry during the bath.
Your dogs will have had a number of baths before it comes to you but still may squirm when grooming. Be persistent and hold firmly but do not get upset. Your dog feeds off of your emotion and will react to it. They are rather intuitive. End a grooming session with a treat or massage or both.
We tend to groom watching TV, massage, groom and end on a treat. They do get used to it and look forward to the time if done right. As in humans though, there are always those that are the exception that buck the system but you can even manage to make it more enjoyable for them too. There are also bathing tethers that hold them in place in the tub that do not hurt them but rather hold them in place to enable you to clean them thoroughly. This leaves your hands free to play with the puppy while cleaning and therefore relaxing them. (see our grooming file that will be done soon for more information) We are a tad unorthodox and often put on our suit and take our dog into the bath tub to play to create a fun experience with water. We have a pool and therefore positive experiences with water is a definite goal with us
You can also get a professional groomer to bath and clip the belly areas and around strategic areas that keep them clean.
- Shampoo and conditioner (high quality does make a difference and one with whiteners keeps the white hairs bright) I have my favourites and you will too.
- Nail clipper and Quik-Stop Powder or styptic pen to stop any bleeding from an ooops.
- Good quality small comb (Greyhound or other professional brand) or one with movable teeth such as the comb for cats available at Global Pet Foods.
- High quality brush with pins (I prefer the short type for daily brushing and the longer tines for blow drying and lifting and fluffing out the hair) either Greyhound Teflon covered comb, Madan brush (blue I adore), Christenson or any other professional type pin brush. A combination boar bristle/nylon brush is excellent as well for finishing but is not immediately necessary. For a special luxury the Mason Pearson bristle/nylon brush is wonderful and good for your hair as well as your Havs’ hair.
- Soft slicker if you want to use during stage where they blow their puppy coat. It does break the coat and can produce more mats unless you close the ends by conditioning them with a good finishing spray. I tend to only use it on feet. They only do this once where they can get mats more easily and a slicker will take them out but tends to also give the appearance of split ends. If the dog is not a show dog, after this stage, you can always do a trim or cut him shorter in a more manageable cut.
Stomach Adjustments:
You will be sent home with some food. We buy ours from Global from Eva at Global Pet Foods on 1070 Major Mackenzie Drive E. Richmond Hill, Ontario (corner of Major Mackenzie Drive and Bayview on the north east side) but we also add the Missing Link as we have had good results with their coats staying shiny and believe in making sure they have balanced and complete nutrition. The health of our dogs matter to us greatly!
If you decide to change the diet of your puppy then you must do so slowly and over at least a 7 day period of time. Failure to do so can cause stomach upset and occasionally diarrhea. Be sure it's a quality food. There are a lot of good quality grain free foods available now with some made in Canada that are seeing great results. Just do the transition slowly.
100% Pure canned Pumpkin from the baking aisle of your grocery store helps loose bowels or constipation as it is a good source of fiber. Do not get pie mix. There is a difference. When puppy has diarrhea or constipation, a tablespoon or two with every meal for several days should help alleviate symptoms. Freeze excess in ice cube tray for future use.
Safety:
- Baby Gate(s) Try baby supply stores - or pet stores sometimes they are available at resale baby consignment shops or try Craigslist.
- x-pen if desired with puppy pads or newspaper (if you desire using the holders for the puppy pads you can usually find them at Petsmart). We will be using pads and gradually moving them outside to urinate/defecate depending on weather. Many of our apartment dwellers appreciate the pads as they use them on their decks or in an area designated close to their crate/sleeping/play area as time is a factor in successful training. As the puppies’ bladder increases, so will the time that they can hold it.
- Cord protectors (Home Depot sells tubing you can place over your cords that are exposed and they work rather well. We used them with rabbits who are notorious chewers.
- Plus: Bitter Apple (bitter taste deters dogs from biting, licking, and chewing) This will help them and you through their teething stage. You can use frozen soothers to help them and or buy baby oragel.
Ooops Mistakes:
Puppies are not 100% potty trained. We strive to get them the knowledge and we are diligent about getting them to understand but with a new home, new changes, it will take time and you being aware and consistent. By the time they leave our homes, they will be pretty accurate to a pad and partly accurate to outside but realize this is winter and it is not as easy to train really small ones when the weather is too bad for them to go out. Our goal is to make the transition for both the pup and you an easy one. We also believe in getting the pup to sleep through the night by extending their feeding time and having very active play sessions just before bed. You may want to do the same at first to help them sleep soundly. As their bladder grows, their sleep pattern grows naturally but play sessions for us is just a part of loving interaction
Reduce the space they are in and do not expect a 100% trained dog if you leave your puppy longer than it's bladder can hold it. Don't get angry. If you do not see the ooops, clean it up and watch for the opportunity to educate. Be sure to praise correct behavior by an uplifting voice of 'good boy' or whatever you want to use. Look for solutions. Call us for ideas and you will get there. For the first little while, you will have to take your little one out to show them where to go. This is a new environment and it is up to you to lend them guidance and to know the rules, limitations and boundaries in a positive way. Be patient. Allow them to sniff and do their duty. If you use the same words of praise each time, they will understand.
Initially you may have to leave the odor in the area that you want them to go in order for them to get the idea. We often leave pads that have a little urine on them to attract the others to the pad. It works. Also, walks are needed and desired by your little one gradually working up the distance as they get older. They will go on walks if they need to go. Many people use a walk as a way for them to release their energy but also to go. Therefore you cover two needs at once. A walk creates a healthy mind and body and helps your little one totally bond to you. If you haven't already 'got' it, we are advocates of walks and we do manage to walk twice a day with all of them. When your little ones get older, we will place a collar on them and a leash several times before they come to you so they get used the experience.
If you are away at work, find someone to take your little one out mid-day or come home and use an x-pen set-up like we have. Your pup will feel comfort early on and as it gets better at 100% hitting the pad, you can expand its exposure to the rest of the house when you are away.
Supplies:
Puppy pads (we will be sending you home with a couple)
*we are getting good results early on from Simple Solutions Jump Start Puppy Pads. They are new and seem to attract the pups.
Puppy Pad Holders (if desired)
Stain/odor neutralizer
Pooper Scooper & bags
Doggie door (but you will have to train them to use it as we only have a screen door doggie door)
Simple Solutions Pee Post (we have heard good things about this for the boys)
Misc:
Storage bin for dry food
Adjustable collar
6 foot (1.8 m) leash for training, retractable if you want them just to play but you have control (for instance in a park - do not let then off leash until they are fully trained and under your control)
I.D. Tag (Petsmart sells them and a variety of other places depending on how fancy you want)
Travel Crate for car until puppy is big enough to wear a car harness and or car seat so they can see out
Bell to hang by back door (helps at times for alerting you they need to go out)
Doggie door (only use when they have a safe place to go to that is fenced etc) You should consider going out with them early on to help training and it will also help you to know if they have a stomach issue.
Soft doggie bed usually with a bumper around so it can rest it's head called a donut bed or a bed that acts like a tunnel. We have both that the dogs adore. We have beds from here as well as other places but the one with Lola on its name is one we have here that the Havanese love on this page. http://www.woodruffforpets.com/personalized-dog-beds-cat-beds.html They also like cave and tunnel beds, You can acquire them in many places but this place will allow you to pick the material, what you want embroidered on it. We have 'Precious Havanese' on one of ours.
Fun Things:
Toys: (See our file on this) - we adore toys that create interaction and stimulate minds. We advocate putting toys out in small quantities and exchanging them the next day to keep the mind stimulated and avoiding boredom )
Additional Things:
Buy books on puppy training, care etc or go to your library or we can lend you books. An excellent book to obtain is Citizen Canine. We can also offer a number of other topics. Just ask. If you want to keep up with the Havanese market, get a subscription to 'Our Havanese'
Visit Your Vet:
Your Havanese health matters to us. Be sure to visit your vet. Get the required tests (see our contract) and shots (minus Lepto) and make this a positive experience by finishing each visit on a positive note.
Find a good obedience training center. We suggest using Who's Walking Who at http://www.whoswalkingwho.net/ if you are in the Toronto or Ajax area. They can start puppy classes at 10 weeks and we feel strongly that unless you are very familiar with training inside and out (we can always learn), a class is a must. They also often have new puppy owner seminars that we really feel strongly help new owners get a similar and positive way of dealing with their new additions and any questions you may have.
One of our faves is their Recall Seminar when your dog gets older. It's fun. It's interactive and the dogs enjoy it. It also allows your dogs exposure to other dogs in a safe environment. Always select a positive training center and not one who uses negative ways of dealing with issues that crop up. You end up with a better dog with a reward based system.
Visit The Havanese Canada Yahoo Groups for support and ideas. We tend to hang out there but we are always available to help by email, phone etc. and we mean that. We know that the dogs will have found new forever homes but we still care. We want to hear about anything you want to share, photos, stories etc and we hope to see you at our yearly picnic we hold in the summer.
Lots of Love and patience will give you an amazing dogs. There is nothing like the Havanese. They are endearing and tend to make you fall hard in love. Watch it - nothing better than two. heh
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