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Nanu Nanu

5K views 77 replies 15 participants last post by  Steve Cappelson 
#1 ·
Well my wife and I are excited to announce we will be joining the Havanese owners rank and file with our new puppy in two weeks time. My wife has a tradition of using Robin Williams and his characters as inspiration for naming her dogs thus "Nanu Nanu." From what I have learned these little dogs they can be quite the comics. We hope that's what we will end up with cause we could sure use some laughs.
We have been dog owners for ages but for the first time in many years we don't have one. We just had to put down our 14 year old Boston Terrorist. We miss him!
My question for the forum is there anything in particular to the first weeks and months ownership of a Havanese we ought to be aware of? Are there any special needs?

Thanks!
Nanu's Dad
 
#2 ·
:welcome: I am so sorry about the recent loss of your Boston Terrier. I previously had a Bichon and I think the biggest surprise for me with my Havanese was grooming. It takes a lot more combing, brushing, and bathing to keep her coat mat free than I expected. Get your puppy used to being combed and brushed from the start and it will make your life easier down the road.
 
#4 ·
Mine has been kept in a puppy cut also. She gets a full grooming every six weeks at the groomer and I bathe her in between. Your number one grooming tool should be a comb so you can get right down to the skin. If you just brush you will miss the tiny mats near the skin and end up with a real mess on your hands. I have many different types of grooming tools that I use at different times. I have a slicker brush and pin brushes with both metal and wooden tips. My girl is small so I use a feet and face comb a lot, even on her body. I also use a staggered tooth comb which is larger. Many Havanese owners love the buttercombs but it was a little large for my girl. Even with a puppy cut you will need to comb and brush on a weekly basis. Some coats mat easier than others. On my girl, her white fur is more cottony and easier to mat than her black fur. When your puppy blows coat you will need to comb multiple times per day! Getting your puppy used to this grooming at a young age will help. Keep the sessions short at first and give treats! They should be able to stand for you to do this as well as lying down. A wiggly puppy may easiest be groomed in your lap at first.
 
#7 ·
Very sorry to hear about your Boston Terrier.

Welcome to the forum! I love your dog's name! Before opening the thread, I pointed to the subject line and asked DH, "Do you think someone named their dog Mork?"

I wish Shama and Molly could get together . . . We also use a face comb for the whole body!

Post 25 in the following thread shows a great grooming table:

https://www.havaneseforum.com/6-general-discussion/119466-grooming-little-bugger-3.html

Here's Shama's Pupperton pen:

https://www.havaneseforum.com/8-puppy-area/122313-baby-loves-her-ex-pen.html

Great resources:

https://www.havaneseforum.com/8-puppy-area/123097-excellent-puppy-resources.html

Great toy:

https://www.havaneseforum.com/8-puppy-area/122265-your-puppy.html

Ask any question, and people will try to help you. (I use Google to search the forum; I don't use the forum search feature.)
 
#8 ·
Welcome Nanu family! :wave: I'm very sorry to hear that you recently lost your Boston Terrier.
You can expect to do brushing and combing daily.😊 A puppy cut will really helps. I use a slicker brush daily. Chris Christensen's butter combs are the best! I second everything Molly mentioned. I really like the face and feet comb too. My two get groomed every four weeks. Sometimes they need a bath in between. I would buy a grooming table. The puppy will need to learn to stand for the groomer. Looking forward to lot's of Nanu pictures!
 
#9 ·
The way our little one turns out will not suffer from a lack of really good information! I'm grateful for this resources, thank you again!
I do need some more advice this time a lot more personal. I wonder if my wife and I are making a good decision in getting a puppy at all. The breeder has met us. She happens to be a Veterinarian. We have had a chance to meet her and visit her kennel. We had a great time. We met the puppies their parents. It was just beautiful!
My wife suffers from migraines almost daily. I have mobility issues related to a neurological conditions. We are both retired and stay home almost all tgeLike I said the breeder has met us and has reasured me when a we asked if getting a puppy was wise. She said we would be just fine. But still I have doubts and need to run this by the forum. Is it a good idea for us to take take this on?
 
#12 ·
I say ... No! you should NOT get a puppy.

Steve, my husband and I are retired. Over our 50-year-marriage we have had several dogs but after our 17-year-old Poodle died, there was about a 15+year gap before we got our 8-week-old Havanese. We have a second townhome in the mountains where we spend time in the summers and my husband decided he would like to have another dog. Thinking because we'd had experience with dogs I thought getting a puppy would be No Big Deal ... or Much of a Big Deal.

We are both healthy and active 70-year-olds. In addition, we live in a co-generational home that includes our busy working mom daughter, her two boys ages 13 & 16 and her Golden-doodle. Both families have separate living areas in the home and we share a kitchen.

We spent thousands of dollars on setting up our home with ex-pens, crates, other paraphernalia plus the puppy. I spent two years reading and researching on getting a puppy and housebreaking. I thought we were ready.

The experience was not only Stressful but EXHAUSTING!!! for at least six months.:surprise:

There were times even though I had help from other family members - I seriously thought about rehoming Patti but since our daughter lived with US ... I had no one to give her too.:|

We survived and Patti is a Keeper. She is fun, funny, entertaining and lovable.

If I had a DO OVER - I would NOT do it again.

Considering your health issues if you want a dog find a rescue that has been well-trained. Not a recuse that has just been Fostered and someone tells you they're a great dog and housebroken.... but one who has been trained.

BEST TO YOU & YOURS ... WHEN IN DOUBT ... DON'T DO IT
 
#13 ·
I would like to add that even if you survive the puppy stage, there will be many years ahead! My Mia is 11 and is just as energetic as she was when two years old. Sometimes I walk 4 miles per day. And even if you go to the groomer, there is some grooming that must be done in between (eg nail trimming). This may be difficult with neurological issues. My in-laws who are in their 80’s just got a laid back older sweetheart rescue dog that requires no grooming and likes lounging around a lot. I would recommend a dog like that for you! Note that I only have experience with one Havanese who is actually half Papillion and Papillions are supposedly more energetic than Havanese, so please take this advice with a grain of salt and do your own research. A dog is a huge commitment and will be around for a long time. It is good you are taking this decision seriously.
 
#14 ·
I agree. I won't be up to it and I will regret it. My wife and I have been happily married for 8 years now. It's awful recognizing that having a puppy is not good possibility. I am disappointed that the Veterinarian/breeder didn't discourage us! What's that all about?
The wife is asleep with a migraine now and I'm sitting in the middle of a pile of construction material as our Condominium is under renovation (that's been ongoing for 3 months now) thinking that I should have my head examined for even considering a puppy. We are both dog people through and through. With our Boston gone there is a loneliness I didn't expect. I thought not having the pet ownership responsibility anymore wouldn't be such a bad thing. Not true, at least for us. We have been involved with the local Boston Terrier rescue. Boston's are great. Wonderful personalities but maybe a tad too active for me and my wife. We know that foster dogs can be an iffy proposition as we have had some real "head cases" come through our home. I'm guessing we'd be pretty lucky to find a well adjusted adult Havanese. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with my better half after she wakes up from her Migraine nap. 😖😖😖
 
#17 ·
I agree. I won't be up to it and I will regret it. My wife and I have been happily married for 8 years now. It's awful recognizing that having a puppy is not good possibility. I am disappointed that the Veterinarian/breeder didn't discourage us! What's that all about?
The wife is asleep with a migraine now and I'm sitting in the middle of a pile of construction material as our Condominium is under renovation (that's been ongoing for 3 months now) thinking that I should have my head examined for even considering a puppy. We are both dog people through and through. With our Boston gone there is a loneliness I didn't expect. I thought not having the pet ownership responsibility anymore wouldn't be such a bad thing. Not true, at least for us. We have been involved with the local Boston Terrier rescue. Boston's are great. Wonderful personalities but maybe a tad too active for me and my wife. We know that foster dogs can be an iffy proposition as we have had some real "head cases" come through our home. I'm guessing we'd be pretty lucky to find a well adjusted adult Havanese. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with my better half after she wakes up from her Migraine nap. 😖😖😖
I agree that you sound like PERFECT candidates for an adult Havanese from a reputable breeder. NOT a "rescue", but a quality Havanese that is being rehomed after having bred a couple of litters. Many excellent breeders have lovely young ladies 3-4 years old, potty trained, show ring trained, so with lovely leash manners and used to crowded situations and being around other dogs and people, who are now ready for their own "forever" home. That is what most good breeders want for their breeding stock once they have gotten a few good litters from them.

Talk to some breeders, get the word out that you are on the lookout for the perfect ADULT girl or boy. It may not be tomorrow, but the right young adult Havanese of good breeding, conformation and temperament will find his or her way into your loving arms! And because this is a healthy, long-lived breed, you will most likely have many happy years together even if you don't start with a puppy!
 
#15 ·
One thing to consider is getting an adult Havanese from a breeder who is no longer using it for breeding. This was discussed on a recent post. This will avoid the iffy rescue situation which I can definitely understand. Anyway, please do what you think is right in your heart. People provide ideas and experiences but everyone needs to make up their own mind. Best of luck to you!
 
#16 ·
Well, you are posing an interesting question. Me, I did not want to go through the puppy stage. Oh puppies are so dang cute and sometimes I think it would have been fun. But I did not want to have to get up at night for potty and all the training involved and crying in the crate and all the other issues that puppies bring to the table. I'm glad I found Willow. She was 9 months, house trained and crate trained. We've had her almost 5 years and she has always liked to play but she does a lot of sleeping too. I sought an older dog when I was looking for a havanese. I called all the breeders in our area to see if they had an older dog for adoption. I found several that did. Willow was actually referred to me by her breeder. Her original owners needed to rehome her as they were having to board her with her breeder as they were doing a lot of traveling at the time. Willow is energetic but not overly so. She's more of a lap dog than she was when younger. In a way she is "puppy like" when at play but the play does not last terribly long - just long enough to be fun. She requires more grooming than I had realized when I got her. She stays in a puppy cut but still needs almost daily combing. Doesn't take long when in a puppy cut though. Good luck with your decision and let us know what you do.
 
#18 ·
It seems like an adult Havanese from a breeder would be perfect solution you and your wife. Puppies are definitely a lot of work! Think every two hours out to poppy train! I was working 12 hours nights when we got Scout and then Truffles. I was totally exhausted! Then I fractured by wrist and surgery with complications. I wasn't able to use my hand for months. That was a huge problem because they really need to be combed daily. The groomer had to come more frequently. It was a stressful time, but we got through it. Having a dog that was a little older and trained would be so much easier both of you. 😊
 
#19 ·
We've thought about for the past few days and we've decided to go ahead raise Nanu from the beginning. Braced for the worst and grateful for anything better. I've had my disability for 25 yrs and it has never stopped me from being a responsible owner. Gosh, at one point a couple of years ago we managed to keep our 5 elderly blind dogs happy and taken care of. This puppy will be a test but we are up to it. I wouldn't want miss the experience. We hope this community will continue to offer very helpful support.
Thank you!
 
#20 ·
Wow congratulations Steve! You sound like one of the most responsible dog owners on the planet and that you are up to the challenge! For what it is worth, Mia and my yorkie were my first dogs ever and I survived the puppy stage with no help whatsoever...I did not join this forum until four years later. My dogs and I survived unscathed...in spite of my many mistakes. One thing that has surprised me is how active they still are at age 11! I just turned 65 and they help keep me young and fit (I keep telling myself that anyway!)
 
#21 ·
Steve, where do you live? You must get in touch with your local Havanese club! If you lived within two hours of me, I would visit regularly to help you with anything you needed help with. Your puppy will be so lucky to have you, but it certainly wouldn't hurt him to know some other people who could give him some additional socialization, exercise, and training. And do not hesitate to put any questions you have in the forum. Best wishes, and hope to hear from you frequently!
 
#23 ·
We're in Central Florida. Perfect climate for our little guy. We have some great neighbors who have no problem helping getting Nanu socialized. And when he is ready lots of neighbors with small dogs we can hang out with. But I think this Havanese group and the support and information we will get from it will be most important and welcome. So I'm glad your out there!
 
#24 ·
Here's our "Neiko" He was a wonderful friend. He went blind at 2 yrs old. His adjustment to blindness was not easy but he did so well and quickly! He actually was an inspiration. He made it to the ripe old age of 14. Miss him! We have had to say goodbye to 5 dogs over the past 3 years. It so weird not having a dog around! Nanu will be loved no matter what.
 

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#27 ·
Oh boy I bet you are excited! Sounds like you know what you are getting yourself into with a puppy so it won't be any big surprise. I love Boston "Terrorists" and have always wanted one! I was really considering one when we were getting ready to adopt again. I was worried after reading about some of the health issues they can have and since I had just lost a dog with serious health issues, I wanted a dog that had fewer genetic problems. Of course, any dog can have health problems but so far we've been lucky with Willow. Nanu Nanu looks so sweet! When do you get to pick up the pup? Keep us up to date and we love photos!
 
#28 ·
Hi Jackie!
We are super excited! Nanu comes home with us end of November.
Boston's are so smart, adaptable and low maintenance. For a small dog they are strong!!! Neiko could easily beat anyone at tug of war. He was generally healthy except for the blindness his entire life. We were foster parents with Boston Terrier Rescue of Central Florida and saw lots of terrific Terrorists come through our home. They are a super fine dog. We couldn't bare to have another as Neiko was so special.
I think I'll have a better chance at paw wrestling with Nano 😊
 
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