The Day has Finally Come to Pick Up Your New Havanese Family Member !
What should you expect to get from the breeder at delivery: What You Should Receive From The Breeder Before Paying The Full Purchase Price On your New Puppy. No Documents. No Money.
Both Parents' have a recorded pedigree. In order to be registered through AKC the family tree has to be on record. The pedigree is read from left to right. Sires information listed first then Dams listed second. You should receive a copy of both parent's pedigree.
You Should Receive A Copy of the CERF Information on Both Parents. Each of your puppy's parents should have had their eyes examined by a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. This should be done every year until the age of 7 years to 8 years old. The Ophthalmologist is looking for defects in the eyes of the dog's he or she examines. This examination and its findings are recorded on a form. The Ophthalmologist keeps a copy for their records and sends a copy to CERF in Indiana. The owner of the dogs that were examined gets a copy. The copy the owner's get has a form on the back of it. That form is filled out and also mailed to CERF in Indiana. Once it is received it is matched up with the copy from the Ophthalmologist office and a number is assigned to register this information with CERF. A document is then sent back to the dog's owner with this information on it. If there were a problem with a dog's eyes CERF looks at the problem and decides if this problem can be passed to future offspring of a dog. If they determine it can be passed on to its offspring then CERF will not send the owner a document that the dog has cleared CERFs approval to be bred. This is why it is so important to get a copy of the document that the breeder received from CERF with the registered CERF Number on it. You should get one on both parents'. The test results are only good for one year from the date of the last test.
You should receive a list of vaccinations your pup received and the brand names. The list should include how many times the pup was wormed and what wormer was used. It should have any medical records or medical history recorded about your puppy. If you are traveling by plane with your puppy you will need a Health Certificate from the puppy's Vet. The puppy cannot be younger than 8 weeks to travel and the health certificate cannot be older than 1 week from examination of the puppy. The breeder should have gotten that and give it to you when you are taking your new puppy home.
If you have not already done so you need to get a copy of the signed contract. Look it over to make sure everything looks the same before taking the puppy home with you. If you are not happy this is the time to take care of it. Not later when you have paid for the puppy and the breeder will not take your calls.
In order to register your new puppy into your name you will need the puppy's registration papers from your breeder. If you are buying a pet these papers' will probably be marked Limited. Limited means this puppy's offspring can never be registered and this puppy cannot compete in a confirmation (breed) ring. It means this puppy was not sold to breed. The breeder may want to withhold the papers until the puppy is spayed or neutered. If so you must have this clause written in your contract. Always cover the bases. You may never get the registration papers' for your new puppy if you do not walk away with them on the day of the final sale. Then you will need to contact The American Kennel Club and perhaps find an attorney to help you in this matter. If you are buying a Show and or Breeding puppy the registration papers' will be marked Full. The breeder may want to have the puppy registered in your name as the Owner and also registered in their name as a Co-owner. Once the contractual agreements on this puppy are completed the breeder will usually sign off as a co-owner and you will be the sole owner of the puppy. This is why the contract is so important. DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT YOU CANNOT OR ARE UNWILLING TO FULLFILL. You must be made aware that for any reason the breeder loses their AKC privileges and is suspended from AKC all of the dogs' they are named as a co-owner of will also lose their registration and show privileges. This site can supply you with more information on registrations.
It would be nice if the breeder were to include a copy of the Havanese Breed Standard for you to read and see how well your dog conforms to it. You can obtain the breed standard from the HCA website.
Most breeders' will give you some of the food your puppy is eating and instruct you where to purchase the food to continue your puppy on the same diet. A sudden change in diet may render your puppy very ill.
Your breeder may supply you with information on The Havanese Club of America.
Here are a few more resources that will interest you and help you in the future with your new puppy. The American Kennel Club, CERF Foundation, and Havanese Placement and Rescue Services.
Here are some email groups you can join and enjoy speaking to other Havanese Owners just like you.
Hugs and Kisses
Ok, now you have just brought your new puppy home. The world has definitely grown bigger for him and everything is brand new. Hopefully, you have remembered to take a toy to the breeders or a blanket and rubbed that toy on his mom and littermates.
He needs to be introduced to a new living space. This space should be just one room. Hopefully, you have chosen a room without carpeting. Choose a room, which will have easy access to the outside. Pick a room that your family spends a great deal of time in. It is a good idea if your puppy comes paper trained to place the newspapers as close as possible to the door in which later, he or she will be going out to make his or her potty. Remember when puppies are young they do require a lot of sleep. It really is not good to make a habit out of waking a sleeping puppy. You will learn this early on and learn to appreciate every sleeping minute so you can manage to get something done. Do not allow children to wake the puppy to play when they are sleeping. Explain to them that they need their rest.
Your new havanese puppy is not going to be happy when left alone. He or she will want you every waking minute and expect you to be there. In his mind you are their new companions and he will make that very clear to you. When left alone be prepared to hear him tell you that.
Be prepared for all those loving kisses that are the best part. But also be prepared to give up almost all of your time, which you have spent on other things. This is very important in the beginning. The first weeks in your home is when the bonding between you and your new puppy happen. Talk to your puppy, have long conversations so he can learn the sound of your voice. A havanese will listen intently, cocking heads and paying strict attention. So talk to them, sing to them.
Playtime is very important. If you take the time to play with your pup, the bonding between you will be greater. When these little guys are awake they are just filled with energy and let’s just say, “Ready to roll”. They are a very high-energy breed and love to play and run and do badness. Remember you are working with a breed that possesses the shredder gene. Tissues, toilet paper, newspapers fill their hearts with glee while they tear them to shreds.
The best advice I can give is to enjoy your puppy to the fullest while they are young. He will reward you with many years of companionship and love.
You are full of excitement and expectations. This new baby will bring you years of companionship. I cannot promise there may not be a few surprises and ups and downs along the way. If you have done your homework and picked a good breeder then they should have done everything in their power to assure that this puppy's parents have been tested and found free of hereditary problems that we are aware of in this breed. There may be hidden recessive genes that have not surfaced, but to date they should know they are both healthy and genetically sound both physically and temperamentally.
The fundamental goal of Kindergarten Puppy Training (KPT) is to get your dog off to the best possible start in life. The first six months of a puppy's life are the most important months of his life. They are critical to his social development and future well-being. This is the age when the most rapid learning takes place. Everything your pup experiences makes a greater impression on him now than ever will again. You want to capitalize on this critically important time and set the right patterns. At five weeks a puppy's brain is fully developed and he is ready to process what you want him to learn.
What Will Your Pup Learn?
In Kindergarten Puppy Training your pup will learn that learning is FUN. You will establish an unbreakable, life-long bond with your puppy. You will learn how to prevent many of the common training errors that most people make, and how to prevent unintentional (and sometimes undesirable) learning on the part of your puppy. You will lay a solid foundation in manners, management and obedience. Your puppy will be eager to learn and you will enjoy living with him.
Choose your Kindergarten Puppy training class carefully. Ideally, the teacher is experienced in positive, no force; rewards based training methods that use treats, praise and toys as rewards. Some teachers are accredited and are members of the American Association of Pet Dog Trainers (AAPDT). Many training programs have a course outline that your teacher should be able to discuss with you. An 8-week course outline may include the following:
· Bite Inhibition Worked on gradually week after
· Taking Treats gently
· Handing Exercises (to familiarize your dog with being touched everywhere)
· Sit"
· Release
· How to "settle"
· "Come"
· Loose leash walking
· "Leave-it"
· Home issues: housetraining, socialization, table manners, grooming and health care, adolescence, continuing education
Typical classes include exercises in game format, and plenty of time for supervised socialization where energy levels of pups are matched up for periods of free-play.
Advantages of Early Training
Your pup comes to you a blank slate, eager to learn and please. This cooperative attitude makes him easier to teach. Your pup has no established behavior patterns that must be broken. This is the most wonderful time to teach routines and establish a foundation for further training. At 6-8 months your dog will enter a period of development known as the "teens." This has been described as one of the most independent, self-centered, challenging phases of a dog's life. You can see why it is not an ideal time to begin to train. Take advantage of your young pup's agreeable nature and train, train, train! Early socialization helps familiarize your dog with many people and dogs of different size, age, and sex. This develops confidence and will nurture a dog that is comfortable in a variety of social settings.
Beware the "cuteness factor." Though your pup is simply adorable in your eyes and in the eyes of everyone with whom he comes into contact, there is nothing more difficult to live with than a poorly behaved dog. Many owners make the mistake of forgiving small dogs behaviors they would not tolerate in a large dog. Establishing good routines early will help you in your daily life with your dog and together you will enjoy the close partnership brought about by early training.
Keep on Training! Once your pup graduates from Kindergarten Puppy Training Classes keep up the training. Keep it fun; remember to reward your dog for positive behaviors. (After all, you wouldn't keep going to work if you did not get a "pay check.") Continue to socialize your dog around a variety of dogs and people. Consider continuing training your dog in agility, novice obedience, or therapy dog work.
CONTRACTS
Before signing a contract makes sure that you are willing to fulfill all obligations. A contact should be available for your reading from your breeder even before you send a deposit. Read the contract. Understand what you are signing.
PET CONTRACT
Pet contracts are usually simple. You are generally asked to send or leave a deposit on your dog or puppy. The deposit guarantees that you will actually receive a puppy. It also guarantees to the breeder that you are serious in purchasing the puppy.
Pets are normally sold on a spay/neuter contract. Many breeders will hold on to the registration papers, and this is common. This is acceptable under AKC rules as long as it is stated in the contract. You should certainly receive a copy of the sales contract including the registered name and AKC numbers of the parents before you leave, as this is also an AKC rule. Normally when the breeder receives a copy of the neuter or spay certificate, they are very happy to send you the original AKC papers. You can then register your pup. If spaying or neutering is not included in your contract, you are probably not dealing with a responsible breeder. Pets are normally sold on a limited registration. Their offspring cannot be registered with AKC. They cannot be shown in Conformation but may participate in other AKC events. Again if this is not mentioned in the contract you are not dealing with a responsible breeder.
Most breeders will offer a health guarantee on your puppy. Each breeder's guarantees are different. They are responsible for selling you a healthy puppy. There should be a time line for you to take your pup to your vet to have it checked for a clean bill of health. If you are not satisfied with the health of your pup, then you should return your pup to the breeder immediately for a full refund. This should be stated in your contract. A breeder cannot be responsible for things they have no control over. Once your puppy leaves their home it is your responsibility to keep the puppy from being harmed in any way. Most contagious illnesses have an incubation period of 10 days. After 10 days if your puppy has remained healthy chances are if in the future your puppy were to become ill the exposure to this illness did not happen when the puppy was at the breeders. It could have been picked up from the floor of the Vets Office, Pet Shops, training classes, and parks and brought in on the shoes and clothes of others who have been in contact with other dogs or where other dogs are walked. Diet, vaccinations, shampoos, flea infestation or flea and tick products can cause allergies. Environment, inhalants, wool carpets and carpet shampoos and deodorant powders can bring them on. This is out of a breeder's control. For these and many more reasons most breeders' only offer a guarantee against inheritable life threatening illnesses. Note for the life of the dog can also be taken to mean for the longevity of the breeder.
There should also be requests from your breeder for you to be a responsible pet owner. This should include any future health testing which the breeder feels necessary be performed on the dog. If you are unwilling to agree to these terms, then do not sign and do not buy a puppy.
It is very important to remember this. This puppy is your responsibility once you have purchased it. This puppy's long-term health is in your hands now. The environment your puppy is raised in, the nutrition you provide for your puppy and activities you allow your puppy to engage in as well as the vaccinations you allow your Vet to give play a huge role in the health and longevity of your puppy.
You need to select a Veterinarian. The one you choose could mean the difference between life and death for your dog. Your Veterinarian should be willing to work with you and listen to your desires. Should they be dictators and insist on their way or the highway. Pick the Highway. The only vaccination your dog is required to have by law is the Rabies Shot. If you would like to have your Vet give vaccinations of your choosing and not give certain vaccinations at all they should be open to discussion with you about this. You need to pick a Vet as carefully as you would pick a Pediatrician. You should be allowed to have choices and options when it comes to your dog’s health care. The office should be clean. The receptionist should be helpful and not treat you like a number. You can ask for a tour of the facilities but please remember that the Vets are busy and you are not the only client they have. You can ask if they have any other Havanese as clients. You can ask other Havanese owners or pet owners you know in your area what Vet they use. Find out if they handle emergencies. If not, where is the closest emergency vet in your area? Ask what fields they specialize in? You may want a holistic vet. Do not be afraid to be a little aggressive about picking a Vet that is going to be the best one for your dog’s needs. More Information on Puppy Health