GROOMING BASICS
If you are planning on purchasing this wonderful breed, you must be aware that
you will need to spend some time each week grooming your Havanese. That means
brushing or combing two to four times per week. The hair on a mature dog can be
as long as 6-8 inches and that requires more brushing to keep from matting and
tangling. Of course the shorter the cut, the less brushing is needed. Grooming
does not start and end with just the brushing and combing. There are the eyes,
ears, teeth and nails that must be cared for. The following will help you
address each are of grooming your Havanese. Remember that you can create an
atmosphere that is not fearful for your puppy. This requires having some things
in place like a calming voice, a rubber mat or towel on table to keep the pup or
mature dog from slipping, and giving gentle praise as the Havanese is quiet and
calm. Scratching your dog under his ears or gently petting him at times is
soothing for the dog. Also give a treat at end of the session to reward the dog
for such good behavior. (hopefully)
hair
BRUSHING AND GROOMING: It may be helpful if the dog is lying down when you brush the hair. It
should be done in layers and start from the skin out. You may need to spray the
coat with a conditioner or diluted cream rinse. This helps with loosening the
matting build-up or any prevents dryness. It also can create a shine on the
coat. There are many different kinds of brushes to use but in all instances,
brushing should be done gently but carried through to completion. When brushing
out the hair, do it in layers. That is part a section and comb below the part
from the skin out. Then proceed to the next layer. When combing the legs, it is
best to lay the dog on its side and line brush as described above. To reach the
belly and chest, you may find it easier to lay the dog in your lap, all the
while sweet talking them through it and gently brush the under side. As for the
face, you may want to put on a combination of a liquid coat polish and tangle
remover to soften up the soiled hair. Use a gentle brush for the face area and
let the hair fall naturally. If it is not cut, some like to use a clip to hold
up the hair, so the adorable face can be seen clearly. Of course a professional
groomer can take care of all grooming particulars, but you must expect to pay a
hefty price. It may be a small dog, but grooming a Havanese is no small job!
eyes and
ears
The hair around the eyes of your Havanese can irritate and cause them to tear.
Many light-colored Havanese have discolored hair under the eyes and around the
mouth. Keeping those areas cleaned on a daily basis will control the staining.
Your local vet probably has a soothing eye lotion that will help with the
tearing and staining. Distilled water can also help. If your dog’s irritation
worsens, do not hesitate to see your veterinarian. The bathing of the eye area
should be done very gently. This is not an area that your Havanese may
particularly like you touching. But a light cotton swab or small wash rag
should be used. The ears should be cleaned with a cotton ball and should not be
probed too deeply. Some of the hairs just inside the ear can be cut. Use clean
cotton balls for each of the eyes and ears. If there is a foul odor coming from
the ear or excessive scratching in the ear area, you should see a veterinarian
because this is usually a sign of infection.
TEETH CLEANING
Cleaning
your dog’s teeth should start at a young age. You can do this by getting them
use to the cleaning by initially taking your finger and rubbing it on the inside
of their gums and teeth. Then you can start with a soft toothbrush. NEVER use
human toothpaste since it will upset their stomachs if swallowed. Your vet may
have available a canine toothpaste that comes in various flavors. It is
imperative to keep your dog’s teeth clean. If the tartar (formed if plaque is
not removed by brushing) is allowed to adhere to the dog’s teeth, it causes
inflammation called gingivitis. You can see it by the reddening of the gums
between the teeth. It builds up under the gums and separates the gums from the
teeth and forms pockets which encourage bacteria to grow. It is then
irreversible and this can lead to loose teeth, bone loss, and infections. This
infection could then go into the bloodstream and affect such areas as the heart,
kidneys and liver. So do not take this grooming practice lightly. It is very
important.
NAILS
This
grooming can be a bit uneasy for you as well as your pet. Possibly, it might be
a good idea to see your veterinarian and have them show you exactly where to cut
the nails or of course if you use a groomer, that eliminates any hesitation
about cutting. One tip is to start early with your pet. Start by touching your
pup’s paws and toenails. Do not forget the nail called the dew nail. It is
often forgotten since it is further up the paw and since the breed is
long-haired, you may not see it. Start using dog clippers and cut just a small
bit. On light nails, you can see the quick and it is easier to clip but on black
nails, it is impossible to see that. So cutting small bits is better. Use a
calming voice with the dog as you cut. You might want to consider having some
with you to hold the dog. Keep a styptic pen handy just in case you clip the
quick. There may be rough edges from clipping. You can try and file or just by
walking your dog on a hard surface can help with smoothing out the nails. More
than likely, your pet will be ready to get away from this somewhat uncomfortable
but very necessary grooming procedure. So filing may not be first on your and
your dog’s list of fun things to do!
BATHING YOUR
HAVANESE
Bathing your Havanese is
really determined by you as the owner. Some recommend as much as twice a week
(that is for a full-coated Havanese) and others say once per month. I say, if
she or he looks rather scruffy and has rolled in some rather unpleasant smells
(which they so love….why is that?) then give them a bath, by all means.
The kitchen sink
is good for toy breeds and makes it easy to bathe them. Since they are such
easy-going pets, they usually are not bothered by the bath at all. Place the
Havanese into the sink, wetting the body entirely with warm water. You may
want to ask your breeder what shampoo to use. The shampoo will normally have you
dilute with water. Do not put the concentrated shampoo on the dog. Try to put
the shampoo on the hair and not the skin. After the body is washed, apply the
same process to the head. You can then apply a cream rinse if desired or spritz
the hair with a conditioner. Remove the Havanese from the tub, remove as much
water as possible with a squeezing action, and further dry with a towel. Move
the hair in the direction of the lay of the coat. You'll now have a clean but
damp dog on your hands (or if you're not careful, running crazily about the
house). Place your Havanese on a secure surface such as a grooming table and
finish the drying process with a hair dryer being careful not to use too hot a
temperature. It is advisable not to use a people hair dryer. It can damage the
dog’s coat. Do not brush the coat while wet.
If you are not showing your
dog, you might want to consider easy to maintain clips. One popular
cut is the puppy cut. It leaves about one inch of hair on the dog and is easy
to care for and the Havanese puppy cut look is adorable. There are many
variations of cuts with many different facial looks as well. It is a personal
preference. Anyway you cut it, the Havanese will make you smile.
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