How Often Should I Bathe My Havanese?
The Havanese breed is one that is easily recognizable by its bright, intelligent eyes and long, silky coat. Due to this coat, the Havanese requires more grooming than other breeds to keep it happy, healthy and looking its best.
Read on to learn more about the Havanese breed and its unique grooming and maintenance requirements.
How Often Should I Bathe My Havanese?
Frequent bathing is important for the Havanese breed, especially due to their long-haired coat. This requires more maintenance than other breeds that have shorter hair, as mentioned above.
You can either take your Havanese to the groomer, or you can bathe them yourself–which is certainly the more cost-effective option for a breed that needs frequent baths! It is recommended that you bathe your Havanese dog weekly.
You should be sure to brush your pet before its bath to remove any mats and be careful not to get soap or water in its eyes, mouth, or nose. In fact, it is suggested that you place cotton balls in your pet’s ears to avoid this, and never spray the water directly in your dog’s face, as this can cause injury or distress.
Havanese Breed History
The Havanese is descended from the Blanquito–or Havana Silk Dog–and other dogs of the Bichon family, such as the poodle. It is the only breed of dog to have originated in Cuba, and it is the country’s national dog to this day.
Havanese dogs were bred to be companion dogs for the wealthy families of Cuba, and did not make their way out of the country very much until the Cuban Revolution. This is when many of the wealthy or aristocratic families of Cuba fled the country for America, some with their Havanese dogs in tow.
American breeders were intrigued by the new breed and began a breeding program with the Havanese that had been brought over from Cuba. This can be attributed to the breed standard we have today, as well as the breed’s popularity. They were then recognized by the AKC in 1996.
Havanese Appearance
The Havanese usually grows to be about 7 to 13 pounds in weight and is typically around 8 to 12 inches tall, on average.
The body of a Havanese is longer than it is tall.
By the age of 1, a Havanese dog is fully grown. It has a long, thick coat that is adored for its silky look, and comes in several different colors and color combinations.
Also Read – How fast does Havanese Hair Grow?
They also have drop ears and a tail that curves back over its body. All of these traits made them beloved companions of the wealthy and aristocratic in Cuba when they were first bred.
Havanese Maintenance
Every breed of dog has its own special maintenance requirements, for both mind and body. The Havanese has very specific requirements, especially because of its long, silky coat–this requires more maintenance than a short-haired dog would, for instance.
A Havanese dog should be brushed a few times a week so that its coat is healthy and free of mats. It is also important to ensure that your dog’s nails are trimmed regularly and its teeth brushed at least once a week to avoid disease.
While brushing your Havanese, you should also clean their ears and check their ears for dirt and grime, as the long hair of a Havanese can easily collect debris that can end up hurting your pet!
Also Read – Best Crate For Havanese
How Often Should I Bathe My Havanese?
Frequent bathing is important for the Havanese breed, especially due to their long-haired coat. This requires more maintenance than other breeds that have shorter hair, as mentioned above.
You can either take your Havanese to the groomer, or you can bathe them yourself–which is certainly the more cost-effective option for a breed that needs frequent baths! It is recommended that you bathe your Havanese dog weekly.
You should be sure to brush your pet before its bath to remove any mats and be careful not to get soap or water in its eyes, mouth, or nose. In fact, it is suggested that you place cotton balls in your pet’s ears to avoid this, and never spray the water directly in your dog’s face, as this can cause injury or distress.
Also Read – Best Shampoo for Havanese
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you give a Havanese a bath?
Sometimes, you may not want to bring your pet to the groomer and may want to just bathe them at home instead. To bathe your Havanese, you will want to place the dog in a dry sink and put cotton balls in their ears to avoid any ear infections.
Wet your dog down and then lather them with shampoo and conditioner.
Then you can rinse and pat your dog dry.
Do not rub their coat because this can create mats.
Also Read – Havanese Grooming Guide
How do you wash a Havanese face?
When you are washing the face of your Havanese–or any other dog–there are some tricks that you can implement. You will want to be careful around their face so that you do not get any soap or water in their ears, eyes, or mouth.
Put cotton balls in their ears to protect the ears, and a drop of mineral oil in each eye can help to protect their eyes from soap or water.
Spray water over your dog’s head and allow it to trickle down to rinse the face, but never spray the water directly in your pup’s face.
Why do Havanese dogs lick so much?
If you have noticed your Havanese dog licking itself a lot, you have likely deemed it to be a cause for concern. This is, unfortunately, due to a skin allergy that is known as atopy.
Many breeds of dogs suffer from this condition, and the Havanese is a breed that often experiences atopy. Usually, the areas of the body that are affected by this skin allergy are the belly, feet, folds of the skin, and ears. Licking the affected skin can serve as a limited form of relief, which is likely why your Havanese has been licking itself so much.
This is a condition that does typically worsen with age.
How long can Havanese dogs be left alone?
The Havanese is a companion breed. This means that it is a dog that wants nothing more than to be with its owners, and is often referred to as a Velcro dog because it is always by your side or following you around the house. Due to this, it is not a dog that does well if left alone at home for long amounts of time.
Of course, you cannot be home all the time, though–it is recommended that you do not leave your Havanese alone for longer than 3 hours a day. Otherwise, your dog can develop separation anxiety and exhibit destructive habits.