LIVING WITH HAVANESE By Joan J. Ambrose
T he first word most people would use to describe living with a Ha- vanese is: Fun. My dogs have also opened new worlds for me. When we got our first Havanese in 1999, we had no idea how much this little dynamo would change our lives. We were introduced to dog shows, breeding, Delta Therapy dogs, Obedi- ence, Agility, and hilarious antics. Her name is “Hanna,” CH K.B.’s Star of Havana. She is 13 - 1/2 now and is still beautiful. Another thing people say about Ha- vanese is that they are like potato chips; you can’t have just one. Hanna introduced us to the dog fancy and to dog shows. However, we were lonely when she was away at shows. So, our family was joined by our darling “Tig- ger,” CH Los Perritos Star of Varade- ro. He is the happiest and gentlest soul. Like Will Rogers, he never met a man he didn’t like. Although a Cham- pion at a young age, he found his niche as a Therapy Dog. He is 12 now and has retired. I have tremendous respect for the work so many of these little dogs do as Therapy Dogs. Patients love their soft, silky hair and happy demeanor. They have the most uncanny aware- ness of the various situations, and seem to know just what to do. Living with Havanese brought us to our next great experience; breeding. We listened carefully to our breeder and studied every aspect. The re- sult was our GCH Shallowbrook Starlet O’Hanna. She grew up a bit and went into the ring like the super- star she has always believed herself to be! She was a Specialty and Best in Show winner. At ten, she still loves to be in a show. Havanese are called Velcro dogs. They follow you everywhere, not to demand attention, just to be near you. They don’t like to be left behind.
They can open zippers, jump most barriers, and figure out how to work a swinging door. I even had one that could climb a fence. They adapt eas- ily to travelling in carriers, and on a plane they are good under the seat. Each has special qualities. One of mine does back flips to express joy. One “talks,” and has a very extensive range. Some hide favorite toys, some hide favorite treats. So, look behind the cushions on the sofa! Another thing people notice about living with Havanese is that they sleep in all sorts of positions. Mine often sleep upside down on their backs. They curl up in unusual places too, and like having a pillow under their heads. I think they watch us! They wear costumes without com- plaint. One owner said, “What is it about these dogs? They put on a cos- tume and go to a party like it is the most natural thing in the world!” They love to dance and to jump. You need to be careful when they are young as they can injure themselves. It is awonder that any of themhave in- tact patellas; they lead their lives like a flying squirrel! What are the problems? Well, house- breaking must be done consistently. After six months [they are] good as they are mature enough to “wait.” If puppies are allowed to roam around when they are small, and have acci- dents, it is more difficult to really fix it later. They do get bored. When teaching tricks or obedience, they will “get it” pretty fast, especially if it is fun. So, don’t do too many repetitions or yawning will commence. Paper is a favorite toy. If you have a low roll of paper towels, drop a Kleen- ex or have toilet paper within reach, youmay find that they havemade con- fetti. Fast too! Havanese are usually healthy. Good
Some Havanese have a strong attachment to babies and small children.
breeders try to keep it that way with frequent and extensive health testing. The Havanese Club of America is do- ing aHealthSurvey now, so in the near future we will know of any issues. All in all, this is a happy, fun-loving, affectionate, and gentle breed. They are beautiful and they make us laugh with their antics. They have opened wonderful new worlds for me. What could be better? ABOUT THE AUTHOR JoanAmbrose was born and raised With their enthusiastic athletic ability, Ha- vanese are nowmaking their mark in Agility.
in NYC. She a t t e n d e d the Brearley School and
Columbia University. Joan now re- sides inKey Biscayne, Florida. She was the President of the Havanese Club of America from 2010 through 2014 and is a Board Member of the Progressive Dog Club (NYC).
36 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2021
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