Because Havanese are a longer coated breed they do require regular brushing to keep them free of mats. An half hour once or twice a week should suffice for most dogs. The exception would be youngsters at the in-between coat stage when puppy coat is giving way to the beginnings of an adult coat, and the whole thing seems to take on the consistency of cotton candy! At this stage it seems like as soon as you finish brushing them they start to mat again. Eventually they do get past this stage!  Be sure to mist the coat lightly with water before you begin. If a shorter coat is desired that can be done by a professional clipping the coat  every two months.

Before bathing your Havanese be sure to comb out the coat completely. If there happens to be a mat and you do not comb it out first the bathing will just make any mats worse.  Be sure to use a good "dog" shampoo as (dogs have a different PH balance then we humans). In the event that soap should get into your dogs eyes I suggest using a "puppy no tear" shampoo. This is also suggested to use  on puppy coats. Put a swab of cotton in the ears to stop water from entering the ear canal.

Even though a young puppy has a short coat, it's important to start out with regular grooming sessions from day 1 to get the pup used to it and enjoying it. Grooming can be a pleasant experience for both owner and dog if approached the right way. Waiting to do the first grooming session until the pup is 6 or 7 months old and has developed some mats and tangles will result in a battle as the now considerably larger, untrained pup balks and fusses at not only being restrained but at the unpleasant feeling of hair being pulled as tangles are removed! Grooming is not an optional thing with a Havanese, it is simply something that will HAVE to be done many times throughout its life.

Understand this before you decide to get a Havanese.

Start out right by introducing the puppy to being handled all over. A grooming table is a valuable asset as the pup will be much calmer and easier to handle on a table. Put the pup on the table frequently, run a brush over his body, handle his paws, open his mouth, lift up his ears. Make it fun - praise, give treats, make a big fuss over what a good pup he is! Nail clipping should also be introduced to the pup from the start. From the time of birth to the time they go to their new homes most pups will have had their nails clipped many times, so it's definitely not some new traumatic experience for the pup, but no doubt they will still be fussy about it. Don't fight with the pup about it, or get angry with him. If you hold his paw and he pulls back, holding it tighter will only cause him to get more distressed and pull back harder. Let go and pick it up again. With initial nail clipping sessions, if the thought of clipping all the pups nails seems ominous, break it down into smaller sessions. Decide, for instance, that today you'll clip all the nails on one foot, or two nails on each foot, and tomorrow you'll do some more. Decide ahead of time so you know when you're finished, rather than giving up when the pup gets too rowdy, and in effect letting him win that session. Regular nail clipping will keep the quick (the blood supply to the nail) short and will make it easier to keep the nails short.

Grooming Supplies

Just about everyone who owns a Havanese has their own favourite tools for grooming, but here are some basics that most agree on: A pin brush is a good basic grooming brush similar to a human hairbrush. The pin brush is used for everyday grooming in a method called line brushing. Line brushing refers to lifting up sections of the coat and brushing one layer at a time, being sure to get down to the skin (look for that line of skin as the section of coat is lifted). It is easiest if the dog is trained to lie on its side while you do this. If you neglect to get right down to the skin and simply do 'surface grooming', the dog may appear groomed but under that top layer will be a mess of matted coat.

A soft slicker brush, which consists of very short, bent metal pins set in a cushioned backing, is useful for helping to remove tangles, and is also good for getting the puppy fluff out when it is being shed and the adult coat starts to come in. Not all slicker brushes are created equal, and many have pins that are too hard and are set in a rigid backing. These can very easily scratch the dog's skin and cause pain. Try them on your arm - if they scratch you, then you surely don't want to use them on your dog (however they are good for picking up hair from the carpet!).

A 'regular' comb should be used sparingly as it will pull out way too much coat. Where it is beneficial is for areas such as behind the ears where little mats tend to form, or for checking other areas for mats after brushing them with the pin or slicker brush. A medium tooth comb is best for this.

The type of nail clippers one uses depends on personal preference. The two main types are the scissors type and the guillotine type. I prefer the scissors type as I find they allow for more control of the dog when I clip nails.

Other tools such as mat combs or undercoat rakes can be useful in some situations. If you are interested in showing your Havanese, however, or just like the look of the full coat, then be very cautious with their use as they are designed to rip and cut the hair, or remove just about all the undercoat, which can leave the dog looking less than spectacular.

When brushing the Havanese it is beneficial to use a spray bottle to mist the coat lightly, thus eliminating static that can cause the hair to break. There are many different sprays available and everyone has their own preference, but plain water will work fine. If the skin seems a tad dry, some Keri-Lotion can be added to the water.

In owning a Havanese (or any other breed for that matter), the coat will need brushing, nails will need clipping; ears and teeth will need cleaning. To avoid these chores because the pup or dog 'doesn't like having it done' is to neglect the responsibilities of dog ownership and leaves the dog open to developing health problems in the future.

Regular grooming is beneficial in many ways - it keeps the dog in good healthy condition, it is an opportunity to detect any health problems or concerns early, and it reinforces your position as being in control.