Top products from r/Havanese

I work full time and also have a 4 month old Havanese. Something I found useful was setting up an exercise pen, which has plenty of room for play, potty (using puppy pads), and sleep. It also has a water bowl as well.
I also hired a dog walker through Rover, which I found to be the best, since I do 30 minute checkins, the focus is less on a long walk and more on play/human interaction.
Overall, routine has helped too. Chewy sleeps through the majority of the day, but expects playtime at night. And so I spend my whole evening playing with him and taking him on walks.
I also got an Adapdil Diffuser which emits a calming hormone that helps him stay calm, since that nervous energy can get destructive.
Puzzle toys are also helpful - anything that can distract him or keep him occupied.
So far, so good! When I come home, his ex pen is still tidy, and his disposition is positive. I would be happy to get more in detail if you need! Good luck!

We got this crate and love it https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/archie-oscar-ace-pet-crate-aosc1016.html?piid=30959892,30959896&csnid=5DFC326C-12FA-4D5E-8E45-7F22F43046C6&_emr=a7d1ecc4-f577-4e25-94aa-27e14387015b&wfdc=se&_eml=611af2bc-0348-46ec-8497-4de2cb6f3e4a&refid=EML_42&source=graymatter

We use Iams small breed puppy food and our vet said that's a good choice. She said to watch out for grain free diets because they're now shown to lead to heart problems.

I read this book by the faculty at Tufts and it was great.
Puppy's First Steps: Raising a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400104653/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UIj4CbAKZXZQM

If they're able to, they should try to take him on a long walk or a couple of twenty to thirty minute walks each day. It's great for bonding and will wear him out, which helps a ton with behavior.

We struggled with potty training but eventually got some bells that hang from the door for him to ring and he was much better after that and stopped wetting inside entirely once he learned to use it. He still poops sometimes...

His favorite chew item is cow kneecaps so we keep a bunch of them around to keep him from chewing.

We had trouble with his biting at hands and grabbing pants legs, so we shouted Ouch! In a high-pitched yelp and froze wherever he did it and he stopped pretty quickly after that.

They're in for such a treat! He's our first havanese and he's just amazing. We'll never get another breed.

My 1 year old Havanese has never been cut. We put his hair up with a hair tie so it's not in his eyes and he gets a bath once a week, brushed nightly, and sees a professional bi weekly.

This is the brush I use, Its pretty standard.

Here's the de-matting tool - This is a super important piece to the home grooming puzzle. It will allow you trim the matts into smaller matts that can be brushed out. I highly recommend watching several youtube videos of people using it so you don't hurt your little guy.

Detangling spray - I use this at every brushing. I use one hand to push his hair up and i pat and swoop the hair down to make sure I get every little hair on his body. It's a process.

and finally Leave-on conditioner - I give him baths with a 2 in 1 puppy shampoo and then i use this leave-on conditioner. Hydrated hair knots less so using as much moisturizers as you can will help.

​

I understand I spend a lot of time and money on my dogs hair, but for me, I wasn't going to spend thousands of dollars on a purebred to just shave him. I want my purebred to look like a purebred and he's the happiest boy ever! I hope this helps!

I think the easiest thing to use for over-all spraying is Coat Handler Conditioner - it's not expensive and works nicely. Also try to hit up like a Sally Beauty Supply or similar for a spray bottle that will give you a nice fine mist, you don't want to soak them, you're really just looking to cut any static.

For mats themselves, I seriously can't say enough good things about Artero Matt-X. Spray into mat, sort of tap it in with your fingers, and it makes combing out SO MUCH easier. It was one of those like life changing products for me.

Hope that helps!

I got my guy this one and he loves it! I love watching him try to figure the different parts out.

https://www.amazon.ca/Outward-Hound-Dispensing-Exercise-Ottosson/dp/B0711Y9XTF/ref=asc_df_B0711Y9XTF/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292999120956&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12127162462042952341&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001598&hvtargid=pla-349361985826&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DM81S8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought a medium for my 12.5 lb hav. He likes it more than his Kurgo or wonder walker, and it does put less pressure on his neck. I wish I purchased it when he was younger.

If you’re pup doesn’t mind it, a razor comb similar to this one does a pretty good job of cutting through mats without having to completely cut them out. You have to get the trick of it so you don’t pull their hair when you use it.

After a while my havi started biting at it, and it’s super sharp, so I had to stop using it. Now I just cut them out, which is anathema to many havi owners but her long fur completely covers the small spots that are trimmed.

I bought this one for my Poodle and Havanese. It takes the Havanese longer to solve than the Poodle, and a few of the ones she finds a little hard, but she can do it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Trixie-Activity-Board-Strategy-Multicolored/dp/B076MGW9RM/ref=asc_df_B076MGW9RM/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292982192345&hvpos=1o11&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1950599278842667707&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001069&hvtargid=pla-486364798764&psc=1