Hello everyone,

I have been lurking and finally decided to join this forum.

I just finished researching breeds and have decided that the Havanese is for me. They are perfect in every way! I now have to do research on breeders. I am looking for a responsible breeder who health tests and breeds to promote and improve the standard. I am interested in a puppy or older dog. I will be patient.

I am in love with the breed and can't wait to own one. Everyone of you are so lucky!

Wish me luck in my search. Please help educate me, I am open to suggestions!!

Cathy

Hi Cathy!

You will love having a Hav! There is never a dull moment around here!

Look for a breeder like mine, who breeds companion dogs, not show dogs; whose puppies live in the home with her from day 1, are properly socialized like mine was, who have been playing outside and with other dogs of different sizes, and who can give you many solid references from previous buyers who were thrilled with their dogs.

Are we allowed to recommend breeders here?... because I would surely love to.

Welcome Cathy! Good luck in find the best breeder for you and your family. I'm a little curious as to why you, Mojo'smom, would say not to get a puppy from a breeder that breeds for show. Did you have a bad experience with one?

A good breeder always wants to breed to the perfection of the standard of the breed which usually means trying to produce puppies that have show potential. I'm not saying that only show dogs are the best - goodness knows mine aren't show dogs! lol Not all litters produce show-quality dogs either and it doesn't mean they aren't great Havanese.

I think, more importantly, look for a breeder that health tests (CERF, BAER, hips ... ) and posts the results at offa.org If the breeder doesn't have these tests done and/or has "reasons" for not having them posted, I'd question it. Personally, in spite of all the other great criteria mentioned, not testing and showing results would turn me off.

I think PM'ing recommendations might be best.

Wait a minute......what's wrong with breeding show dogs? Not every dog in the litter is a show dog and there are ones we wouldn't put in a ring in the litter for one reason or another.
You've seen where my dogs sleep.....on our pillows and they share them with us. They're treated like our kids.
Try going to havanese.org and click on the breeder referral link.

Just a lil help too..look at the shelters like petfinder.com. I got Taylor as a rescue pup and she's better behaved than Capote who I paid my right leg for..lol. I figured out quickly I'd never show Capote so adopting seemed like a good idea and there's soo many purebreds that need loving homes; some more so than champion blood line pups.

Taylor has been a sheer joy. She's loving and shy and sweet..never barks. Came housebroken (which was a shock) and a lil bumbly. She lets you snuggle her when you're upset and doesn't throw a fuss..just lets you nuzzle and be sad, and when your happy she's the first to wag her tail without jumping all over you..

....all these features I listed are not at all characteristic of Capote whom I paid for.. though his rambunctiousness and hyperactivity is loved just as much, he's entirely too smart and conniving for his own good..lol. Sometimes Taylors clumsiness and silliness is a welcome relief..

Either way; shelter, or home bred, you'll love having a Hav..they're wonderful dogs.

We got Scooter from a breeder and Murphy from Petfinder. You can even call your local shelters and tell them what breed you're looking for and ask them to call you if they receive one. Have you looked at Havanese Rescue? There are no guarantees of how a dog will work out with your family no matter where you obtain him/her so I'd be open to all possibilities. We're completely in love with both of our guys and they couldn't be more different! Best of luck to you in your search!

As they mentioned, Petfinder is a great way to get a rescue dog, and there are so many that need help. Also, if you spend some time on this forum, you'll get to know many of the great breeders who are on this forum.
Gina

A responsible show breeder sounds like he/she is exactly what you are trying to find. Good breeders know that all dogs are companion dogs first, and like Jan said, not every puppy in a litter is going to be a show dog. In fact, of all my litters, I think I've only let four go into the show ring.

A breeder that breeds to the standard is one that is going to be the best option for getting the correct Havanese temperament (very important!) and the look of a Hav. That's the whole purpose of showing and evaluating your dogs (by yourself and others).

Have you checked out the HCA Breeder Referral list? Read the HCA site about what things you should ask and look for in a breeder and their breeding dogs. Then, look around several breeder web sites and read the information they have on their sites as well. I have a page called "Buyer Beware" that touches on a few things you might want to know, especially the health testing.

The more breeders you talk to, the more you will know and will be able to weed through the options out there for you.

Best wishes! I still remember my search for my first Havanese. It took a couple of years back then.

I know there are wonderful, responsible breeders on this site that undoubtedly produce wonderful pets and also breed for show; I also know there are terrible breeders who push their litters as top quality "show" dogs in order to attract buyers, and who could not be trusted to provide a healthy puppy with good temperament.

I know my opinion is not one shared by many. But there is no question that breeding that emphasizes conformation over all other factors, and confining breeding to limited breed lines, as has been done with many breeds, has led to a host of inherited health problems and behavioral issues. Just look what happened to the cocker spaniel, for one. I wish the show ring would disappear and dogs would be bred for temperament and health first, while maintaining general breed characteristics.

Look at the difference between Labrador retrievers who are bred for conformation, and those bred for field trial work. Often, field trial dogs are way outside the "breed standard" for conformation, but they are expert at the real work that the breed originally existed to do. They are "real" labs, in my opinion...strong, solid, healthy and functional, as well as wonderful pets.

I haven't had any good or bad experiences with breeders that breed show dogs, but apparently there are some, some of which have been shared on this forum.

My breeder couldn't have done a better job, and she breeds companion dogs for temperament, health and conformation...but she does NOT breed for show, and does not sell her pups as show dogs, although I'm sure some of her pups could be shown well. I found her by recommendation, which is the best way to find any professional. I found the right match for me, which is not necessarily the right match for anyone else...it depends what you are looking for. What mattered to me most was the health and temperament of the breed lines and the environment in which my puppy would spend the first 8 weeks of his life. On those counts, I couldn't have done better.

My other thought on this is don't be reluctant to travel far to find the right breeder for you. I flew from Florida to Pennsylvania to bring my puppy home.