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Hello from the Great Midwest

4K views 31 replies 16 participants last post by  Jackie from Concrete, WA 
#1 ·
Hi! I am seriously considering taking placement of this little gal. She's almost 11 weeks old. My questions are: (a) What color would you consider her to be now, and (b) what changes would you anticipate? The breeder is registering her as sable, but IDK about markings, and I also understand that is a very broad color range. Any ideas or predictions are appreciated.
 

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#2 ·
OH my she is CUTE!!!!! I don't know how you could resist that face no matter what :) she is a doll!

She looks sable to me, I know many sables do lighten up to white or near white but it can depend on their lines, some lighten more than others.

Sophie's breeder says the color around the eyes is often how they end up and this little girl isn't too light around her eyes.

Would you be able to ask the breeder about color change in their line?
 
#3 ·
OH my she is CUTE!!!!! I don't know how you could resist that face no matter what :) she is a doll!

She looks sable to me, I know many sables do lighten up to white or near white but it can depend on their lines, some lighten more than others.

Sophie's breeder says the color around the eyes is often how they end up and this little girl isn't too light around her eyes.

Would you be able to ask the breeder about color change in their line?
Yes, I will be able to ask her all my questions tomorrow morning. She has been very helpful already, and we have a good rapport. She is registering her as sable, and she said she thought the coloring just might stay similar to what it is on this one, but I wasn't able to ask her experience in her lines. I will ask her that tomorrow...I just thought I'd take a bit of a survey for ideas! The breeder intended on keeping this one, but after we talked a while, she agreed she was ready to part with her. I'm very glad! I think this may just be the cutest puppy I have ever seen!

I have never owned a Havanese in all of my 51 years, so I'm sure I will be asking lots of questions as I go along!
 
#14 ·
She's probably sable...the breeder should know, based on what color she was at birth. She could also be a really early silver, if she was born black. (sables are usually some shade of brown or red at birth)

If the only white marking she has are what are shown on the photo, she would simply be "with white markings". The other possibilities (which all have more white than her) would be Irish Pied (which are like the white pattern you expect to see on a Collie or Sheltie), parti, where the have random white patches in other places on their body, or extreme parti, where the color is confined only to the head, and perhaps a single spot on the back or base of the tail, and otherwise completely white.
 
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#16 ·
Well....unfortunately, I will just have to always wonder. After staying up all night long (literally) wondering what to do, I opted to wait to get my puppy. I have been reading nonstop, and I've read Havanese get deeply attached to their owners and can have separation anxiety. I know of at least 3 situations in the next 10 months when I will be gone for between 1 to 3 weeks, and I decided it is best to wait. It is rare that I have so many events in 1 year, so next year will just be better for everyone. I am disappointed but know it's the right thing to do.

Meanwhile, I will be scouring this forum hoping to absorb as much information as I can in anticipation of next year! Thank you all so much for sharing my excitement, no matter how short-lived it was.
 
#17 ·
I honestly think that "separation anxiety" in Havanese is an owner-created problem more than a real "breed problem". (Although you can have individuals with separation anxiety in any breed)

That said, the first year of a puppy's life is very work intensive, and a HUGE developmental period. With the amount you will be traveling, I think you may be wise to wait, especially since this doesn't sound like it's a normal, ongoing part of your life. I do travel for buisness at least a few times per year, and one or two of those trips can be 2 or 3 weeks. When the opportunity for Panda to join us came up in Jan., I did it, ene though I knew I was going to be away for 2 weeks in March. But I was able to send her back to her breeder for that period, where she has a blast playing with two of her littermates. So I don't think it was very stressful for her. It would be much harder if you didn't have a back-up like that built in.

The perfect puppy will be waiting for you when the timing is better. If you really like your breeder, see if you can stay on her waiting list for a litter next year!
 
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#18 ·
Welllllll, I started looking at Cotons and Bolognese and then my brain exploded...so I called this breeder back and bought this puppy! They are bringing her to me tomorrow along with her papers and her dog food and everything else.

I will go ahead and say upfront that this breeder cannot compare in expertise or knowledge to the breeder I talked to from this board, but she is not a backyard breeder who is running a mill or damaging the breed. And I will never breed her, and she will be - as all of my dogs have been - a beloved pet for all of her life.

I look forward to learning even more from this awesome board in the future!
 
#21 ·
Congrats! Please post lots of pictures.

Regarding separation anxiety, do search this forum as well as the web for ideas to start out on right away. I can leave either of my dogs at home no problem and with a neighbor. If I'm some place, like my brother's house or day care, and want to step out for a bit, that's another story. Bit by bit. Definitely start socializing her as much as possible as soon as you get her.
 
#22 ·
Thank you all for being so supportive! I will definitely take her around to meet the neighbors and their Roscoe and their chickens after she's old enough for that! And my parents have 2 baby Chihuahuas, so we can make lots of friends.

In some ways, I worry about separation anxiety even more because I am home all the time. When I have my surgeries and go on vacation, it will be a big change for her, and I am a bit nervous about it. But I have a pom and a pug to keep her company, and my daughter (age 23) will be sure to keep her in her routine while I'm tied up.

I am just so excited; I bet I don't sleep a wink!
 
#23 ·
Thank you all for being so supportive! I will definitely take her around to meet the neighbors and their Roscoe and their chickens after she's old enough for that! And my parents have 2 baby Chihuahuas, so we can make lots of friends.

In some ways, I worry about separation anxiety even more because I am home all the time. When I have my surgeries and go on vacation, it will be a big change for her, and I am a bit nervous about it. But I have a pom and a pug to keep her company, and my daughter (age 23) will be sure to keep her in her routine while I'm tied up.

I am just so excited; I bet I don't sleep a wink!
I'm so happy for you! You will certainly enjoy your Havanese puppy. While the others are nice breeds too, I really do prefer our Havvies!

Your puppy will be old enough to visit with other known, well mannered, healthy dogs from the day she comes home. In fact it is IMPERATIVE that you start safe, positive social experiences as young as possible. The AVMA has written a position paper stating that lack of early socialization is a much bigger risk to the life of the puppy than possible diseases they could pick up.

As far as separation anxiety is concerned, I've said it before and I'll say it again. While there are certainly dogs who have pathological separation anxiety, and those need the intervention of a veterinary behaviorist as fas as possible, MOST of what people CALL "separation anxiety" in Havanese is lack of appropriate training. I have three, from two different breeders. I have LOTS of friends with Havanese. Not ONE of them has a dog with separation anxiety, because they were slowly and gently exposed to SHORT, calm, quiet, separations as soon as they came home.

I think the reason Havanese have gotten the reputation for having separation "problems" is that they are highly intelligent "people" dogs, who pick up on their owners emotions REALLY easily. So if the new owner can't control THEIR anxiety about leaving the puppy for a few minutes, even if they carry on a bit, the puppy senses that anxiety, and they become anxious too.

If you remain calm and stick to your guns, your puppy will learn very quickly that you WILL come back, and that the sky doesn't fall when you leave. :)
 
#24 ·
Seconding what Karen said regarding socialization. We were fussing about how safe we had to be when getting Nino, but our breeder reminded us that so many people know less than we do regarding safety and illnesses when they get their puppy and most of those never have an issue. Put us right at ease. Just be smart about it; only well-adjusted dogs you know personally, no parks or stores, etc.
 
#25 ·
She is 12 weeks, and the breeder said she was current on vaccinations, so is she old enough to go to Petsmart and visiting my friends with small dogs? I am too nervous to go to a dog park personally. I'd have to get my sister to go along for support, lol.

Also, I know there is a thread for immediate grooming needs (I've read about the Chris Christensen brushes and butter combs and will read as much more as I can) but will the CC Day to Day System Kit and the Tiny Tot wooden pin brush with a good fine stainless steel comb work for the first week, until I can read more?
 
#28 ·
I would steer WAY clear of Setsmart and other big box stores as well as dog parks for a LONG time. There are WAY too many clueless people there, who don't control their dogs, and who think that their big dog "bowling" the little puppy is "just playing". While it is SUPER important to socialize your puppy A LOT, it is EQUALLY important to make sure that those experiences are QUALITY experiences.

As far as your friend with small dogs its concerned, that can be great... or not. Depends on the small dogs. Some are lovely, well mannered dogs who enjoy spending time with puppies. But some small breeds are little tyrants and NOT a good socialization opportunity. So you need to ask your friend whether her dogs are good with other dogs, especially puppies, and even then, you need to watch the interactions very carefully in the beginning. Now, remember, dogs can"play rough" and be having a marvelous time, so don't jump on them just because you hear some scary noises, or because the puppy is on her back. If it looks like the other dog isn't letting your puppy up, calm go and separate them for a moment or two, you stroke your puppy and have your friend do the same with her dog. Then let them go again. If the puppy goes right back at it, it as all in fun. If the puppy takes that opportunity of a little "help" to try to get away from the other dog when they are released, the older dog may be a little too much for her right now. That doesn't mean that they an never be friends, but your puppy may need to be a little more mature, or the encounters might need to be morse structured (like leash walks together) for a while.
 
#26 ·
Visiting friends with dogs is great. I would hold off on Petsmart for awhile. Your breeder should have provided you with vaccination records so your vet and you can determine what additional shots are needed. You will be fine with basic grooming tools with a puppy. The buttercombs are large and will come in handy when your puppy grows larger.
 
#27 ·
Ditto to what Diane said. You never know what kind of dogs are brought into pet stores, and there are times accidents are gone unnoticed. At places with self cleanup stations, it often doesn't get disinfected properly. While current, she isn't fully vaccinated and doesn't have the ability to fight diseases like parvo. The breeder should give you vaccination records, but usually puppy immunizations are finished up at 16 weeks. After that, take your pup as many places as possible.
 
#30 ·
I have no idea! I need to meet her and love on her and see what she's like.

Tonight we're doing a BBQ at my sister's house, and I will take the puppy there. That way she can socialize with lots of people but not have to worry about dogs. My sister has 2 lab mixes, but they will be put away.

It's funny. When you're a kid and you're getting a puppy, all you can think about is names and toys and tricks, but as an adult, most of my thoughts right now are about poop.
 
#31 ·
Just remember that she might be a little overwhelmed, just leaving her mom and only place she's known before. But then again, I've known puppies that just jump right into their new situation as a fun adventure. My Lola was slow to accept people, but fortunately bonded with my other dog immediately so felt a little secure.
 
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