Petsmu

Whether you are adopting an adult dog or buying a puppy there are important factors you need to take into consideration when choosing a breed.

First and foremost, keep in mind that most breeds are the result of literally hundreds of generations of breeding for certain attributes. For example, retrievers need to retrieve and most terriers need to chase small animals. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a terrier breed such as a Cairn and expect it to cohabitate happily with your child’s pet hamsters. The point here is that a dog’s temperament and personality are largely set at birth and it’s important to understand the breed’s traits when choosing a dog.

The Eight questions you should ask yourself before choosing a breed

1. How will the dog fit in with your lifestyle? Do you want a small dog can take with you almost everywhere or a large dog that will spend most of its life out of doors? Are you a hunter? If so, you will want to choose a breed such as a Lab, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, or a German Wirehaired Pointer.

2. How much time and money you want to spend keeping the dog trimmed? If the answer is not much then you should choose a short-haired breed such as a Beagle or a Boston Terrier. On the other hand, if you don’t mind spending the money to have the dog clipped every other month or so, you can choose a longer-haired breed.

3. Do you want a family pet or a show dog? If your goal is to have a friendly, family pet, choose a breed that is even-tempered and laid back such as a Cocker Spaniel or a Dalmatian. On the other hand, if you wish to have a show dog, you may need to accept a dog that is more nervous and high strung.

4. How much time and attention you devote to the dog? Some breeds are happy to spend most of their time alone and require very little from you. However, there are other breeds that are very affectionate – such as Fox Terriers -that may want more of your attention.

5. Do you want a guard dog? If so, choose a breed such as a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler, a Doberman Pinscher or some other breed that has been bred over the generations to be great guardians.

6. Do you want a dog that will listen to you and follow your commands? There are breeds that are very amenable to training and others that are more hard-headed. For example, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are considered easy to train while Welsh Terriers can be more difficult.

7. Do you want an adult dog or would you like to raise a puppy?. There are plusses and minuses to both alternatives. A puppy requires lots of time and training – including the need to housebreak it – while an adult don’t usually doesn’t.. However, when you adopt an adult dog you are sort of getting a pig in a poke as there is no way to know its background or why it ended up in a shelter.

8. How much time will the dog spend outdoors. If the answer is “a lot,” make sure you choose a long-haired breed that can withstand bad weather, such as Husky or a Samoyed. more…

The good news about training a Havanese puppy is that they are eager to please and willing to learn. Because they are willing to please their owners, once they understand who is in charge in the home, they can be willing partners in a training program. There are very few Havanese problem behaviors that cannot be overcome with patience and a dedicated training schedule, but like newborn babies, they need to be in a daily routine in order to understand what is expected of them.

While Havanese puppies love attention, they thoroughly enjoy being the center of attention and if performing some tricks for their owner provides that attention, then they are willing to learn them. They are highly intelligent animals and quick to remember simple commands such as sit, stay and down and with the correct reinforcement of commands are more than willing to go along with directions. Once the chain of command has been established, Havanese training should be quick and painless.

Early training is important with Havanese dogs as they have a tendency to learn quicker when they are young. One of the characteristics of the Havanese breed that many folks find attractive is their small size. However, a small dog will also have a small bladder and can present one of the most Havanese problem behaviors that take time to overcome. They may be quite capable of understanding commands, but they have trouble holding in their need to go to the bathroom. It can take up to a year of steady working with the puppy to housebreak them.

Many Havanese owners believe that using cat litter in a box will help train the animal not to use the floor, but the puppy can become ill if they eat the litter. Most veterinarians and dog trainers recommend the use of paper pellets in a box that can attract a young Havanese pup, helping it to learn where to do his business. Although daily walks and running are needed for it to receive adequate exercise, it may not always do what comes naturally while outside. Training a new Havanese puppy can be exasperating at times as they may seem more interested in playing than in learning, but when they realize that their owner is happier with each new trick they learn, they become a more willing student. Havanese pups when left alone too long may start to entertain themselves, and that is not always a good thing as these frisky critters can have a destructive nature in their playing. more…