Havanese Forum banner

Chances of Finding A Shorthair Havanese (Shavanese)

18K views 70 replies 23 participants last post by  KMAX 
#1 ·
Hi everyone! This is my first post and it took me months to find this site. I figured there had to be a Hav site somewhere on the net. I kept searching and somehow didn't find it quickly until I stumbled on this place one day and I don't even remember how I got here.:eek:

Anyway, I've decided to get a Hav but I would really like to get a shorthaired Havanese, also known to some as a Shavanese. Here are some pics:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/havanesephotos7.htm

My question is I wonder how hard it will be to find one (puppy or young adult)? I live in the northeastern US and at this point my search area is the confined to the northeast. I have contacted some breeders and no luck.
I know breeders don't breed shorthairs and I think they are probably less than 5% of the total Havs born. I'm starting to think I'm looking for a needle in a haystack. Does anyone think a search for one is unrealistic? I'm not in a rush and I'm willing to search, join Havanese clubs, go to shows and ask breeders.

Thanks in advance.
Kmax
 
#35 ·
Well, you can usually tell a Havanese by the coat early on. They dont look like that normally. Plus the petfinder people says its a shorthair & they wouldnt do that unless they were sure. The 'Shavanese' are a Havanese but the only difference is in the coat (which do shed!).:)
 
#36 ·
Julia, you can identify a short-haired Havanese very young - around 6 weeks old (I've heard even as early as 5 weeks). For me, the face makes it the most obvious. I've only seen them in photos, not in person, but if you go to the link I posted above, you can see the differences even in the very young ones.
 
#37 ·
Thanks Kimberly,

I just went to the link you mentioned and I agree, that it takes an experienced breeder to really tell a shavanese puppy apart from a havanese. I could see a little difference in the fur on the paws, but only because I was looking really hard. ;) Adults on the other hand look really different!!
 
#39 ·
KMAX,

I keep both of my girls in puppy cuts because its more practical for me. I LOVE the long hair but found that at least one of my girls mats easily. The added bonus is it makes camping with them easier!

I get them groomed every 2-3 weeks (bath, brush, nails etc) and every 6 weeks or so they get haircuts. I spend some time each evening brushing them which takes no time at all when they are in puppy cuts. I mostly do it to keep them used to it.

You can have them cut any length you want. We once had to practically skin McKenna. The only fluffy part left was her tail! Poor thing. Wouldn't you know, that weekend we had a play date scheduled at a dog show. We arrived and happened upon our breeder who was talking to some prospective puppy buyers. She was saying that most definitely they could be in puppy cuts. At that point, out pops practically hairless McKenna, and then she chuckles and says, "okay, I don't recommend quite THAT short" :)

Susan
 
#40 ·
You guys are great! Thanks for all the ideas. It looks like I was incorrect in thinking that I would need to spend 2+ hours per week grooming and if I don't need to spend alot of time grooming then I may be better off with a Havanese. I'll certainly have more Havanese than Shavanese to choose from and that is important because if I limit myself to only Shavese I'm more likely going to have make concessions in what I want as far as temperament goes.
 
#41 ·
Welcome KMAX. I keep Houston in a puppy cut and it probably only takes us 30 mintues for bath and blow dry. I don't know who told you two hours but that is long.... maybe they were painting its nails too. LOL.

I looked into the Cavalier before I decided on a Hav. The fact that people on that forum were saying you have to get health insurance because of mitral valve disease scared me. I went through a lot the last year and having a sick dog would not help.

Houston is healthy and happy. I have no regrets about getting a Hav. He is wonderful!!!!!!!!!

Good luck.

P.S. Page 29 of the Havanese does mention that it is a Hav "with an atypical coat" It also says that they should never be sold at inflated prices as a "Rare shorthaired Hav."
 
#42 ·
Thanks Rita. As with many things in life it is best to get opinions from many sources. In Klumbs book on page 126 under the heading Brushing 101 it talks about a 10 or 15 minute daily brushing sessions. That plus a weekly bath and it all adds to 2+ hours of grooming per week.
But from what you and others have said here this does not seem to be the norm.
 
#46 ·
Well, yes, I do agree that it will take 2 or more hours per WEEK, but that's divided by 7 days! Let's say we assume it might take 150 minutes/week to comb and/or wash your Havanese...... that's only 20 mins. a day! In my opinion, that isn't very much. Most days, you'll only need 10-20 mins. for a good combing, then once every 2, 3 or even 4 weeks, you'll need 1 hour +/- for a good bath, trimming of nails and brushing. That isn't much at all for me. Of course we all have different lifestyles, but you have to understand that almost any dog will require some time commitment each day, whether it's for walks, play time or for brushing of coat. Many brush their Havs while watching t.v. so you get to kill two birds with one stone! lol

I just thought I'd break it down for you because it would be misleading to say that there is hardly any time needed for maintaining a Hav's coat, shaved, cut or left long. Obviously, the longer the coat, the more time is needed to keep it healthy.
 
#43 ·
That is one thing i always read (including Diane Klumbs Havanese book) before i decided to get a Hav was that if you dont like to brush your dog & commit to doing it, then maybe look into getting another breed of dog. You could shave them (i personally dont like doing that) but their hair is such a unique part of them.
Because they can mat very quickly, they must be brushed frequently. The better hair care products, i have noticed, really makes a difference in keeping the tangles down & easier to get them out. I have one Hav that will mat very easily & the other wont mat hardly at all.
 
#44 ·
One thing about shaving that I wonder about is does shaving ruin the coat. I've read about dogs coats being permanently ruined by shaving them down short. However I can't remember what breed it was that I read that about.
My thinking now is that the grooming that I expected would be needed will be less than I expected and I'm leaning towards getting a Hav and keeping him in a puppy cut.
 
#45 ·
The coats wont be ruined but if you get a Hav like mine, that has black tipping (black hair just on the tips of the hair-just beautiful) then that color will never grow back. But most dogs wont have that color.
I thought of a puppy cut, but after getting my dogs i just love their hair & could not imagine cutting it off. But it is easier to maintain when shorter.
 
#48 ·
I spend at least 2 hours a week on grooming. But I enjoy brushing and probably brush more than necessary. I am one of those who put the grooming table in front of the TV, brush and watch, I find it very relaxing. Sam loves it too. I do show Sam so I can't trim him. :)
 
#49 ·
Not trying to be rude or anything,but if a person really doesn't have 10-20 minutes per day to spend with a pet,then why have one?If you are playing,grooming,etc,it doesn't matter.A havanese really needs alot of attention....They actually really NEED the attention.It really wouldn't matter if it was a hav or a shav,or any breed,they are going to need your attention.I had bassetts before,and believe it or not,I spent more time grooming and bathing them then I do my hav.They would stink to high heaven and shed like crazy!I still loved them,but they were alot of work!
 
#53 ·
there is no such thing as a mini havanese.....please look for a thread on this site,or look under members...find Pennylite.Click on all posts by Pennylite and take the time to read them...she got Darby her dog from someone selling "mini havanese".......it is a tragic story
 
#54 ·
Oh, PLEASE reconsider a "mini-Havanese". There is NO such breed. Some unethical breeders have tried to get a smaller dog and sell these dogs at enormous prices. They have serious health problems, especially liver shunts. As a matter of fact, when a puppy is born very small in a regular litter, one should be suspicious of a possible liver shunt. Tea-cup or mini-havanese could bring you much heartbreak. Plus don't patronize these breeders. They really are no better than puppy mills and put out puppies that will most likely cost their owners alot of money in future medical bills, assuming that the puppy survives. I don't mean to scare you, but please do some research on this. When you start tampering with a breed of dog to get a "teacup" or "mini" you're sure to buy yourself alot of trouble. Please check with a reputable Havanese breeder before making this decision and learn the facts.
 
#56 ·
If you research the Havanese breed and the standard for a Havanese, no where does it say anything about "mini". A mini Hav is just a very small dog that someone is trying to sell for more $$$ by calling it a "mini". A legitimate Hav breeder will not breed mini's, because they have made sure they are breeding the best traits so these things do not happen. Please do more research on the breed before buying a "mini".
 
#57 ·
Reece I had to laugh when you said,"they would be in a very short puppy cut if the grooming was his job". Lets face it, men are probably not going to be interested in grooming a dog. You could get me to bathe the dog but I'm not going to want to spend a lot of time grooming him.
If I keep him in a puppy cut I think I'll be able to handle the baths and brushing.:)
 
#58 ·
Even though my girls are in puppy cuts I enjoy the evening brushing sessions. It gives me one on one time with each of them. Since there is less matting, McKenna enjoys the time too whereas normally she hates being brushed. The puppy cuts are not terribly short so they still have the Havanese "look".

When we had to shave McKenna down a couple of years ago (due to an inaccurate diagnosis of ringworm when it was actually a reaction to her rabies shot) her hair grew back fairly quickly and it grew in just as soft and silky as before. It did not ruin her coat.
 
#59 ·
Some of the puppy clips are short and really would require little more then a quick comb through like a man's short hair cut.I think it is great Kmax to consider all aspects of the hav breed,including the grooming-something I think anyone who gets any dog ought to consider along with time,exercise etc.I just think you are afraid of the grooming requirements,and rightly so if you dislike grooming that much.The good news is there is a way around it,and that is the puppy clip-as short or as long as you like.If you look under members and find pictures of people's dogs here,a few have the really short puppy clips and they are just as cute as can be.Perhaps pm one of those members about specifics of keeping there dog's coats up would put you more at ease.Good luck in your decision!:)
 
#60 ·
Not all Havs require alot of grooming - Ollies hair is medium length and pretty wavy - however I need only bruch him maybe twice a week. His hair is so silky soft and thick that it rarely mats - even when I bathe him i let it dry ala naturale and brush him a few days later so his curls dpn't get brushed out! Talk to your breeder...find out the texture of the coats of the parents - may help you decide what forever baby you might want!

Here is a pix!

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w267/catherinenorris/IMG_0009.jpg

Olliesmom
 
#61 ·
That's a nice picture Olliesmom and yes I've read that different hair types require different grooming needs. Yes Julie you are right I am trying to look at all the aspects of owning a Hav. I'm not concerned about the grooming anymore. Mckennasedona, it's good to know that McKennas hair grew back. Maybe I read about the coat being ruined on a Coton De Tulear, not sure.:confused:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top