When you are leaving the house on your way to work and you see and hear your puppy or dog “screaming” for you to stop, you know it is time to jump into the fray of Hav owners and seek answers. You are here to deal with the hot and highly discussed havanese training of separation anxiety.

Crate training is hands down one of the most suggested solutions for the dog that runs amok when its humans leave. But the tried and tested blend of “consistency, vigilance and firmness” that often punctuate dog training sessions really go beyond simply something like the following: put dog in crate for a set number of minutes, then leave room; open crate door and ignore dog for set number of seconds; greet puppy and play with it; repeat and add more minutes.

Some owners apply a simple, related strategy such as this other one. The dog is left alone in the crate for short periods of time a few weeks a day so that it gets used to the idea of people leaving. The dog is sure to cry for a week or two, but then it is sure to get used to the scheme (which is like a drill of what’s going to happen sooner or later anyway). Before anybody leaves, the TV or radio is turned on, is told “Good boy”, and given a treat. Then the discreet exit is made by everyone.

But if anybody wants to implement something that seeks to “attack” the problem from several angles, perhaps the following steps are needed.

1. Prior to the departure of people, the dog needs to be ignored for 20 minutes. The no eye contact and no touching is meant to help the dog feel alright by itself, with or without you at home. The dog will beg for attention at first, but later on it will stop.

2. When you leave, give an extra special treat that the dog loves and only gets in only one situation, e.g. when you leave home. Eventually, there is a chance the dog will actually feel happy about somebody’s leaving!

3. The dog will need something in its crate to that will make it miss its people less. How about a pillowcase, or a hankerchief?

4. There needs to be a password between dog and owner which tells the dog the owner will return soon. Whatever it is (e.g. “Be good”, “Good bye”), it needs to be spoken before leaving the dog and house.

5. Upon the return of people, the dog needs to be ignored until it is calm and composed in its crate. This is further meant to get the dog used to people arriving.

Last of all, dog owners need to know that in havanese training, using the crate to remedy the anxiety does not have to apply all the time. Its door can be left open to allow the dog to have a transition period, although the end in mind is to actually have the dog have a run of the house in a few months’ time, right after the preceding steps are implemented. But even then, the dog’s tantrums need to be preempted by putting away all the rugs, covering and hiding the trash cans, securing the breakable bric-à-bracs, etc.

Technorati Tags: Havanese, havanese dog training, havanese training

As a lot of Havanese dog owners know, this dog breed happens to be among the smartest known, and do not think twice to show they are! For example, countless owners may remember how simple it was to get the dog to understand the “shake hands” command. While some would initiate a series of actions to culminate in the “shake hands”, others actually only pick up the dog’s paw and say to it “Shake” over and over. Then the day comes that asking the dog if it knows how to shake leads to the dog actually doing it! Thus it is obviously important that the dog be given time, sometimes several weeks, just to let all the information “sink in.”

Another havanese training technique that appears more methodical is to hold a treat in the fist in front of the dog. Then the dog will try to check out your hand using their nose and mouth, but wait for the dog to eventually start pawing at your hand. Praise the dog effusively if they paw. Some re-training, on the other hand, may be needed in case some dogs are not used to using their paws when sitting.

At least one has claimed that the trick can be taught by putting one’s hand down, palm up on the ground, then with the same hand nudge the knee of the dog to make it lift its paw. When it does so, the owner needs to slide his or her hand under the paw and lavish praise on the dog.

One clicker training method is interesting enough to check out since a clear tupperware cover plays a major role! The first step is to place the treat on the floor, and let the dog see you cover it with clear tupperware. The dog’s expected reaction is to swat the cover and to try to move it with its paw. Click and give treat when they touch the tupperware. Repeat the first step up to covering the treat with a tupperware, but this time place your hand on the cover. When the dog’s paw touches your hand, click and give treat. Then your hand becomes the cue, and this time there is no treat or tupperware. Last of all, add the word “paw (or shake hands)” as they touch your hand. End the havanese training by clicking and giving treat.

Technorati Tags: Havanese, havanese dog training, havanese training

For dog care they are straightforward. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese have a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should ideally be brushed every day, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that the kennel clubs, prefer and dictate a natural look, avoiding the bows and preferring the hair over the eyes, that protected their eyes from the Cuban sun.

The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
The Havanese has  a solid appearance compared to most toy dog breeds. The Havanese weight ranges from four to six Kgs ( around 12 lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm(  9-11 inches). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

The Havanese move with an agile springy gait. The Havanese are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but be prudent close to waterparticularly if there are birds for them to chase.

They have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are susceptible to infections and diseases of the ear, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may need inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have very sensitive noses and are trained often for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often found in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

The Havanese routinely live normally fifteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a  few genetically-linked disorders. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( streaks and dots on the retina). It is advisable only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, this is more obvious on the lighter coloured dogs.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Cuba by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the seventies from only ten dogs in the United States. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.

A superb family dog that is well worth considering.

Technorati Tags: Dog, dog breed, Dog Care, dog grooming, dog sitting, dog walking, Havanese