Waiting for Trixie/Radar pups 7-9 May! Very excited!
More Wag, Less Bark. Dedicated to Preserving the Havanese Standard
About Us
OUR HAPPY, HEALTHY, HOME RAISED HAVANESE
WELCOME TO FORWEST HAVANESE, WHERE WE DO OUR BEST TO BREED HAPPY, HEALTHY, HOME-RAISED PUPPIES!
WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU DETERMINE IF A HAVANESE IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND LIFESTYLE. FORWEST HAVANESE TAKES PRIDE IN BREEDING HIGH-QUALITY, HEALTHY, PURE BRED (AND WELL BRED) PUPPIES.
YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT HAVANESE AND HOW WE CAME TO START BREEDING THESE WONDERFUL LITTLE DOGS. YOU WILL ALSO FIND SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS PUPPIES PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER INFORMATION, SUCH AS OUR HEALTH TESTING ON ORTHOPEDIC FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS, AKC CHAMPIONSHIP, ETC.
WE REQUIRE A QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF PUPPIES, AS WELL AS, A HOME VISIT. A GREAT DEAL OF LOVE AND CARE GOES INTO RAISING OUR DOGS AND THEIR PUPPIES AND WE WANT TO BE SURE, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, THAT EACH PUPPY GOES TO A SAFE AND LOVING PERMANENT HOME.
We ARE Experienced Breeders and a AKC and HCA Breeder of Merit
Welcome, Havanese fanciers, people just looking for the right dog for themselves or their families.
I do my best to breed quality, healthy, happy Havanese for either show or pets. My dogs are family members first. Additionally, they have been shown to their AKC Championships, currently all are Grand Champions, and fully health tested IAW the Havanese Club of America requirements. After our 2 "petshop" Maltese passed, our search for a small sturdy haired dog landed on Havanese. We visited many breeders and eventually found our first two in Maryland. We brought home Mojo and Lexi. We happily let them grow. We moved to Texas and our venture and mentoring in showing, breeding and raising Havanese puppies began. I have great mentors who have coached us through both showing, breeding, and the importance of belonging to Havanese clubs, and working with other Havanese breeders. I found that I love to show dogs, maybe not always the politics, but am still having fun and learning. Kevin watches the remaining dogs when I travel, and as he says, "scoops the poop and brings the wallet." We have a limited number of dogs in our home...as it works best for our sanity, marital harmony, and appropriate attention needed for our very social furkids.
The Breed and Importance of a Happy, Healthy Bloodline
The Havanese breed is the official dog of Cuba. It is small and sturdy dog from the Bichon family. Their coat is soft, silky and light and comes in a variety of colors. They are a great dog for someone who may have allergies with other dogs because they have hair and not fur. The average weight for these toy dogs is anywhere between 7-20 lbs and average 8.5-11.5" tall depending on height and bone structure.
These spirited little dogs have a very loving but curious disposition. They make wonderful family pets and have strong social needs. The Havanese thrive best in homes where they are not isolated for long periods of time everyday. They have a great need for attention and affection, are easy to train and are very willing to please their owners.
Havanese dogs do require maintenance. If you decide to keep them in a long coat, you will need to brush everyday to prevent matting or tangling. As well as bathing on a regular basis. I keep all dogs not currently being shown in my dogs in a "puppy cut" just because it is much easier to maintain. Their coats are lightweight and fine and act as a great sunshade in warmer climates but it doesn't keep them very warm in colder weather. They do require extra protection from the cold. Their ears also need to be checked and kept clean on a regular basis. Bacteria can get trapped in the ears of any breed of dog where the ears fold over (such as the Havanese breed) and can cause an infection.
This breed typically lives 14-16 years. Some health concerns can arise such as luxating patella, liver disease, heart disease, and retinal dysplasia. Some Havanese tear and cause a brownish stain near or under the corners of the eyes. This is more noticeable on white coats and is not a cause for concern. The Havanese Club of America monitors genetic issues to prevent propagation within the breed. As a responsible breeder, I personally have testing done on the adult dogs that I use for breeding to try preventing passing on genetic disorders. The tests that my dogs must pass in order to breed are as follows: Eye Disease (CERF), Patella Luxation, Cardiac Disease, Hip Dysplasia, and Elbow Dysplasia. These testing results and records are available upon request.
Photo Gallery
Puppies through the last 15 years.
Exploring their surroundings.
Their show careers.