|
Because Havanese
are a longer coated breed they do require regular
brushing to keep them free of mats. An half hour once or
twice a week should suffice for most dogs. The exception
would be youngsters at the in-between coat stage when
puppy coat is giving way to the beginnings of an adult
coat, and the whole thing seems to take on the
consistency of cotton candy! At this stage it seems like
as soon as you finish brushing them they start to mat
again. Eventually they do get past this stage!
Be sure to mist the coat lightly with water before you begin. If a
shorter coat is desired that can be done by a
professional clipping the coat every two months.
Before bathing
your Havanese be sure to comb out the coat completely.
If there happens to be a mat and you do not comb it out
first the bathing will just make any mats worse.
Be sure to use a good "dog" shampoo as (dogs have a
different PH balance then we humans). In the event that
soap should get into your dogs eyes I suggest using a
"puppy no tear" shampoo. This is also suggested to use
on puppy coats. Put a swab of cotton in the ears to stop
water from entering the ear canal.
Even though a
young puppy has a short coat, it's important to start
out with regular grooming sessions from day 1 to get the
pup used to it and enjoying it. Grooming can be a
pleasant experience for both owner and dog if approached
the right way. Waiting to do the first grooming session
until the pup is 6 or 7 months old and has developed
some mats and tangles will result in a battle as the now
considerably larger, untrained pup balks and fusses at
not only being restrained but at the unpleasant feeling
of hair being pulled as tangles are removed! Grooming is
not an optional thing with a Havanese, it is simply
something that will HAVE to be done many times
throughout its life.
Understand this
before you decide to get a Havanese.
Start out right
by introducing the puppy to being handled all over. A
grooming table is a valuable asset as the pup will be
much calmer and easier to handle on a table. Put the pup
on the table frequently, run a brush over his body,
handle his paws, open his mouth, lift up his ears. Make
it fun - praise, give treats, make a big fuss over what
a good pup he is! Nail clipping should also be
introduced to the pup from the start. From the time of
birth to the time they go to their new homes most pups
will have had their nails clipped many times, so it's
definitely not some new traumatic experience for the
pup, but no doubt they will still be fussy about it.
Don't fight with the pup about it, or get angry with
him. If you hold his paw and he pulls back, holding it
tighter will only cause him to get more distressed and
pull back harder. Let go and pick it up again. With
initial nail clipping sessions, if the thought of
clipping all the pups nails seems ominous, break it down
into smaller sessions. Decide, for instance, that today
you'll clip all the nails on one foot, or two nails on
each foot, and tomorrow you'll do some more. Decide
ahead of time so you know when you're finished, rather
than giving up when the pup gets too rowdy, and in
effect letting him win that session. Regular nail
clipping will keep the quick (the blood supply to the
nail) short and will make it easier to keep the nails
short.
Grooming Supplies
Just about
everyone who owns a Havanese has their own favourite
tools for grooming, but here are some basics that most
agree on: A pin brush is a good basic grooming brush
similar to a human hairbrush. The pin brush is used for
everyday grooming in a method called line brushing. Line
brushing refers to lifting up sections of the coat and
brushing one layer at a time, being sure to get down to
the skin (look for that line of skin as the section of
coat is lifted). It is easiest if the dog is trained to
lie on its side while you do this. If you neglect to get
right down to the skin and simply do 'surface grooming',
the dog may appear groomed but under that top layer will
be a mess of matted coat.
A soft slicker
brush, which consists of very short, bent metal pins set
in a cushioned backing, is useful for helping to remove
tangles, and is also good for getting the puppy fluff
out when it is being shed and the adult coat starts to
come in. Not all slicker brushes are created equal, and
many have pins that are too hard and are set in a rigid
backing. These can very easily scratch the dog's skin
and cause pain. Try them on your arm - if they scratch
you, then you surely don't want to use them on your dog
(however they are good for picking up hair from the
carpet!).
A 'regular' comb
should be used sparingly as it will pull out way too
much coat. Where it is beneficial is for areas such as
behind the ears where little mats tend to form, or for
checking other areas for mats after brushing them with
the pin or slicker brush. A medium tooth comb is best
for this.
The type of nail
clippers one uses depends on personal preference. The
two main types are the scissors type and the guillotine
type. I prefer the scissors type as I find they allow
for more control of the dog when I clip nails.
Other tools such
as mat combs or undercoat rakes can be useful in some
situations. If you are interested in showing your
Havanese, however, or just like the look of the full
coat, then be very cautious with their use as they are
designed to rip and cut the hair, or remove just about
all the undercoat, which can leave the dog looking less
than spectacular.
When brushing
the Havanese it is beneficial to use a spray bottle to
mist the coat lightly, thus eliminating static that can
cause the hair to break. There are many different sprays
available and everyone has their own preference, but
plain water will work fine. If the skin seems a tad dry,
some Keri-Lotion can be added to the water.
In owning a
Havanese (or any other breed for that matter), the coat
will need brushing, nails will need clipping; ears and
teeth will need cleaning. To avoid these chores because
the pup or dog 'doesn't like having it done' is to
neglect the responsibilities of dog ownership and leaves
the dog open to developing health problems in the
future.
Regular grooming
is beneficial in many ways - it keeps the dog in good
healthy condition, it is an opportunity to detect any
health problems or concerns early, and it reinforces
your position as being in control.
Back
To Index
Back
to Havanese Main Page
|