Are Havanese Easy to Housebreak?
Luckily, the Havanese breed is one that is highly intelligent! That means they pick up on training and expectations quickly, including when you are trying to potty train them as puppies. Of course, housebreaking your dog will still take time, and you should expect to be patient and gentle with your puppy throughout the process.
Small breeds, like the Havanese, will also need to go outside to go to the bathroom more frequently because they have smaller bladders. Generally, you can expect your Havanese to be potty trained and fairly consistent by the time that they are 4 months old.
Are Havanese Easy to Housebreak?
If you are getting a puppy, there are many things that you will have to prepare for that you would not have to do for an adult dog.
However, if you get a puppy instead of an adult dog, you also get to enjoy the adorable puppy stage. You should be prepared to train your puppy and make clear what is expected of them in your home. This includes your general obedience training, of course, but another very important part of training is housebreaking your dog.
This can be frustrating, but it requires patience and a level head as your puppy learns.
Read on to learn more about housebreaking your Havanese dog, as well as some general information on this increasingly popular breed of canine!
What Is a Havanese Dog?
The Havanese breed is one that is well-known and well-loved for both its personality and appearance. The breed is easily identified by its long, silky coat and dark, almond-shaped eyes.
It is also a smaller breed of dog, typically weighing in at between 7 and 13 pounds, and only growing to be between 8 ½ to 11 ½ inches high at the shoulder.
They also have drop ears and a tail that curves over the back of the dog. Havanese are also popular due to their affectionate and cuddly personalities. They were bred to be companion dogs, so they are a breed that love to be right by their humans at all times!
Havanese Breed History
The Havanese breed as we know it today first originated from Cuba. In fact, the Havanese is still the national dog of Cuba to this day! The breeds that the Havanese were bred from were brought over to Cuba by Spanish settlers.
Then, Cubans began to breed the Blanquito dog with members of the Bichon family to create the Havanese breed. The Blanquito is now an extinct breed of dog, but we still have the Havanese!
Breeders combined the desirable traits of both the Blanquito and the Bichon family dogs in order to create this new breed with everything that was liked about the parent breeds!
Once the Havanese became an established breed in Cuba, they became popular with wealthy and aristocratic Cuban families. This is, in part, due to the breed’s purpose as companion dogs. They were bred to keep their owners company, rather than to be working dogs.
During the Cuban Revolution, many of these wealthy families fled the country with their Havanese in tow.
When they reached America, American breeders were fascinated by this new breed of dog, and they worked quickly to set up a breeding program for Havanese. This helped the breed catapult to the worldwide popularity it enjoys today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to potty train a Havanese?
Potty training your pet is never easy, but there are some breeds that may pick it up quicker than others! The Havanese is a breed that is known to be highly intelligent, as well as eager to please their owners.
This can make them easier to train, and can make potty training a bit easier, too. You should always remember that potty training your dog does take time, and you should be gentle and patient while you are training. Also, smaller dogs like the Havanese may need to go outside more often than bigger dogs would, due to the smaller size of their bladder.
How long does it take to toilet train a Havanese?
Havanese dogs are smart, and they usually pick up on training and what is expected of them fairly quickly. It also helps that Havanese were bred to be companion dogs, and they are typically eager to please their humans!
If you are consistent with potty training your Havanese, as well as gentle and patient in training, you can expect your puppy to be potty trained, or at least fairly consistent, by the time they are 4 months old.
If you are still experiencing lots of accidents at this point, it could mean there was an issue in training.
What is the best way to potty train a Havanese puppy?
When you are potty training your Havanese puppy, you should always be patient and gentle. Of course, it is important that you are also firm and consistent with them.
Use potty pads or paper around the house and in your dog’s crate. When you are taking your puppy outside, take the pad or paper with you and place it in the area where you want your puppy to go to the bathroom. Then encourage them to do so. When your puppy does what you want, use lots of praise, as they respond well to positive reinforcement.
Can Havanese be left alone for 8 hours?
There are a few reasons why you should not leave your Havanese alone for 8 hours. One of these reasons is that the breed has a small bladder and could easily have accidents during that time period. Havanese are also companion dogs, so to be left alone for that long is distressing to them.
They can easily end up developing separation anxiety. If this happens, your dog can then begin to exhibit destructive behavior. This type of behavior includes chewing, excessive barking, or having frequent accidents in the house. These behavioral issues can be difficult to deal with!