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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
 
#2 ·
I didn't know that anyone intentionally bred them. They are just an outcrop every once in a while. We've never had any. I understand that they also shed and have dog odor so we'll just stick to doing puppy cuts. Breeders that I've heard of having them had a hard time placeing them. Of course, there is probably somebody out there somewhere selling them for a premium price since they are "rare".
 
#3 ·
Actually I've felt as though a couple of breeders I spoke to weren't happy that I brought up the idea of a shorthair. I then thought that they may not like the idea of having one show up in their litter. Harder to sell, can't show them at conformation. I wouldn't mind the odor and the shedding, I'm just not interested in the grooming.
I've read that they some try to sell them as rare, but I won't fall for that.
 
#7 ·
This has become a fascination of mine only today because I am starting to think that maybe Sammy is a short hair Havanese! I can only find a handful of pictures of one on the Net and though Sammy's body hair is just slightly longer than what I've seen, his head/face looks like he could be a 'shavanese'. His hair isn't as close to the body as those I've checked out, so who knows!

Does anyone know where I can see more pics? I've already checked the top 10 or so sites that dont' have a whole bunch of pics of them but I am hoping to see more. Thanks!
 
#9 ·
This has become a fascination of mine only today because I am starting to think that maybe Sammy is a short hair Havanese! I can only find a handful of pictures of one on the Net and though Sammy's body hair is just slightly longer than what I've seen, his head/face looks like he could be a 'shavanese'. His hair isn't as close to the body as those I've checked out, so who knows!

Does anyone know where I can see more pics? I've already checked the top 10 or so sites that dont' have a whole bunch of pics of them but I am hoping to see more. Thanks!
Marj, have you been to ERAS Havanese? Margie, the owner, has some photos of Short Hair Havanese there. I don't think they look anything like other Havanese. They look more like a small retriever to me: ERAS page on Short Hair Havanese link with photos
 
#11 ·
Thanks, Kimberly! Yes, I had found that site. It's the best on the Shavanese I think. Looking at those pics, I don't think Sammy is one, though the head looks very similar. Sammy has longer hair than that though, although shorter than the usual Havanese.

The mystery continues......... lol :)
 
#13 ·
Kmax,
I don't understand why you would want a shavanese.You could get a havanese from a quality breeder,and keep it in a puppy clip-no mess,no fuss.This would give you the personality of the hav,with no odor,no shedding etc.If it is the look you like,it would be much more cost effective to adopt from an animal shelter.
 
#14 ·
Maybe I've been given incorrect info but wouldn't a Havanese need a weekly bath? Along with 1+hours of blow drying after the bath. Brushing is about 1+ hours per week. These are the major reasons. Not sure how often he or she would need a haircut to stay in the easier to manage puppy cut. As a middle aged man I'm not very interested in all the hair maintenance needed.:)
Additionally, with either a Hav or Shav there will be ear cleaning and teeth cleaning weekly. This I must do. If I'm incorrect about the time to maintain the hair then please correct me.

However Julie I think you bring up a good point and one that I'm starting to think about. If the dogs of quality breeders are least likely to give birth to a Shav then how good is the health of a Shav? We read that the Shavanese isthe same to the Havanese in every other way except for the coat. But if the lesser quality breeders dogs are the more likely to produce a Shavanese then how can they be as healthy as a Havanese from a quality breeder?
I'm pondering this one.:confused:

I'm open to getting a dog from a shelter or rescue or better breeder. I'm currently visiting shelters a few times a week although I wonder why I do this because it's sad to see the dogs there and I doubt I'm going to find what I want. I will not under any conditions buy from a puppy mill or a broker. I would very much want to see the living conditions and parent dog before buying from a breeder.
 
#15 ·
KMAX - that picture just makes me laugh every time I see it!!
I have three Havs, full coat. My two older ones get groomed in a puppy cut every 5 - 6 weeks. VERY rarely do I ever bath them in between. Sometimes I need to just wash their bumm, or feet due to mud, but I hardly ever give them a bath in between. I dont think it would be as bad as you think. Keep in mind (if I read correctly) that the Shav sheds & is not odorless - so you would probably have to wash it more often if not as much as a regular havanese. My little guy is only 6 months old so he has not been groomed yet, but he will before the summer time.
Laurie
 
#16 ·
Hi again,

My Bugsy has a puppy cut that has grown out somewhat and is getting another puppy cut, but longer one this time. The time it takes to groom a longer coated Hav depends on how thick and curly/wavy the hair is. Bugsy's coat is very silky and though there is a lot, it's pretty fine. He is easy to brush/comb even now that he is longer and is starting to blow his coat (at least I think he is cause he is matting more). It never takes me longer than 10 minutes to brush/comb him out. The ears and eye cleaning doesn't take long either. If you keep your pup in reletive short puppy cut, the brushing time is minimal. I bathe Bugsy myself about every two weeks and the whole ordeal (washing, brushing and drying never takes me longer than 30 to 45 minutes). I guess I am not a very good groomer. lol
 
#18 ·
Kmax, welcome to the forum. Just curious, have you looked into the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They have a sweet disposition alot less grooming. I don't mean to talk you out of a Hav, but in my search for the perfect little dog for my family, the Cavalier was number 2.:)
 
#19 ·
Thanks dboudreau ............
and yes the Cavalier was my original choice mainly because I had doggiesat an English Cocker Spaniel and he was terrific. Affectionate and merry just like they should be. I started researching Cav's and found about their health problems which can be severe.
http://www.cavalierhealth.org/
With this breed it extremely important to find a breeder who tests the potential parents before breeding them. One breeder told me that if a Cav has a slight heart problem at age 5 then the owner is relieved.
This all lowered my enthusiasm. I then saw them at a comformation event and I thought they kind of looked unbalanced. As if maybe their heads were too big for their bodies.

By this time I was becoming more interested in the Havanese and when I saw them at the show I thought they were great. I loved the way they walked with their heads raised and the spring in their step. Their mouths were opened, apparently smiling and they were happy and lively looking.

My second choice now is a Tibetan Spaniel, they are a healthy breed. An interestingly note is the belief that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a descendant of the Tibetan Spaniel.
 
#21 ·
Welcome to the forum KMAX,
I think you would be pleasantly surprised by the amount of work a Hav's coat is. I have Coopers coat cut every 8-10 weeks and do some light grooming at home in between.

I bathe him easily in the kitchen sink and quickly blow him dry if it's cold on the kitchen counter.

Combing and brushing with a good set of tools is not a horrible chore. I purchased some "Evolution" rotating pin tools and they work fantastic and were not at all expensive.
If you've never had a dog that doesn't shed and is oderless, it's awfully nice.

Dark hair I've heard matts less than lighter hair. I'm not sure if this is always true, but Cooper is dark and I rarely have any matting problems with him.

Just some things to consider!

Beverly
 
#22 ·
Kmax,
I tried to paste an article here,but without success about the "shavanese".It is a recessive gene in the breed.If a quality breeder got a short hair hav,the responsible thing to do would be to not breed it,and try to find it a home(spayed or neutered).This short haired hav is highly UNDESIRABLE.They can not be shown,bred,etc.and in fact the article said they don't even have the havanese characteristics-if it doesn't look like a hav or act like a hav,then why would you want one?It closely resembles a tibetan,or cavalier,or even in some ways a long haired chihauhua,or papillon.If it isn't a havanese's personality and temperment you are attracted to then I think you would be better off looking at an entire different breed.Of course you should do what is best for your family etc.but a hav's temperament is the real reason people love this breed,of course they are cute too......but so are alot of dogs with much cheaper price tags!I think from the other posts and people here on the forum,the commitment of time isn't alot to a puppy coat with minimal grooming.This is my first dog that is non-shedding and non-dog smell stinky--something that for me is a huge bonus!My dog has never had a hair cut and is almost a year old.I do bathe him once a week,but I could go 2 weeks easily.I spend 1 1/2 hours on bath day (bath,combing,drying).....every day I comb him,which takes me approx.15-25 minutes.I would waste that amount of time everyday watching tv or something anyway!Good luck!
 
#23 ·
I guess I don't know much about shavanese and the genetics that comes along with short coat. Is there a link to another other health problems with the short hair? I have seen a few pictures float by and I couldn't believe how different they looked than most of the havanese I see in puppy coats or shaved.

Amanda
 
#24 ·
Amanda, at this time, I believe there is no known connection between short-haired Havanese and health problems.

I have heard of some short-haired breeds (think Dobermans, Rottweilers, etc.) that occasionally have a long-haired puppy born. It is a rare fluke that pops up once in a while, but isn't how any breeder should intentionally be trying to breed to create.
 
#25 ·
Julie, can you post a link to the article? I'd be interested to read it. And yes my main reason for wanting a Hav is temperament.

About the grooming, I suppose I would be looking at somewhere around 2 hours grooming every week by looking at the wide array of times people have given. Don't you all shoot me for this question:D but would it be a good idea to cut the hair down low to something like the length of a Beagles coat? Maybe this can be done and I'm not aware of it.
 
#26 ·
Even the dogs we are showing don't take 2 hours a week. All who are done in the ring get a puppy cut and are maybe brushed and bathed every 2 or 3 weeks which might take 45 minutes each. The real advantage of an odorless dog is that they don't smell unless they are really dirty and then they still don't smell like dogs. We have 12 and sometimes more living in our house and even people who come over who aren't dog people can't believe that it smells like a normal house.
 
#27 ·
Hi,
Interesting discussion-- I love dog breed chat.
Some thoughts... I remember reading that the Shavanese was NO different in any way except for coat, so maybe I can find that for you.
It seems to me that you could easily settle these questions (traits and frequency of occurrence in quality litters) by contacting the breeder at the ERAS site who posted the pix or Diana Klumb, the breeder who wrote what is widely considered THE book on the Havanese:http://www.bydandhavanese.com/

Having said all that, I agree with you about the Cavalier King Charles. I really looked into getting one and the heart issue is daunting and you have to pay top dollar to get a really well bred one and still no assurance on the heart issue

I met a totally adorable Papillon and her puppy in the park the other day. I think those dogs can really vary-- I know a very yappy odd one. But these two in the park were wonderful. Very laid back and friendly and athletic. The mom had the typical ears but the pup was a variant with hang down ears (forget what they are called) and did look a lot like a shavanese.
 
#28 ·
Kmax, You can have a dog clipped to what ever length you want. To keep the hair short you would probably have to clip every 4 weeks or so.

Sky, the drop eared version of the Papillon is called the Phalene, and I agree they look very much like a shavanese. That might be another breed to look into.:)
 
#30 ·
Thanks again Tom, I guess there's a new ray of hope starting for me getting a Havanese.
Sky I do have the book The Havanese by Diane Klumb. That is where I read about a Shavanese
requiring less grooming time. The book does say that there isn't any differences between the two except for the coats.
No mention of frequency that I remember reading. I'll have to look into the Papillons with the dropdown ears.
 
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