Sonrisas Havanese
  • Home


    • A healthy Havanese can live well into their teens so you may be living with this animal for many years. I think you may find it worthwhile to spend time to make sure that you will have a good relationship and happy experience with your pet.

    Here is a pretty good definition of a good breeder :

    Good breeder definition

    Questions to ask your potential breeder are:

    • Is the Havanese breed the right one for you?
    • Is all the health testing in place? An unhealthy pet will not bring you the years of joy that you hope to get from a dog. Ask for copies of the results of each test which should include heart certification by a cardiologist, hips/elbows certification, LCP, BAER testing for hearing, liver panels, wellness panels and yearly eye examines called CERFs.


    • Are the puppies health tested before they leave the breeders? At Sonrisas, they receive liver and hearing tests at the University of Guelph plus eye examines from a Ophthalmologist as well as an examination at our local vets. Are the puppies microchiped and registered with CKC?


    • Is the breeder a member of the various professional groups such as CKC, the Havanese Fanciers of Canada, and the Havanese Club of America?


    • Are you comfortable with the breeder? Will you be able to call this person for help with all the doggy issues that might crop up?


    • Are these puppies raised in a home where they will receive all the necessary stimulation and interaction to make the best possible pet for you and your family? Dogs are very similar to humans in that without human contact in those important first few weeks of life they do not grow up to be as sociable and attentive as they could be. It has been proven that certain exercises done from day three to sixteen helps the puppy to respond to, learn from, and interact with humans at a much higher level than dogs that have no interaction until eight or nine weeks of age. If there are multiple litters all over the place can the breeder properly care for each and every one of the puppies?


    • Is the doggy area clean? Do all the dogs, not just the litter, look well cared for and socialized?


    • Frequently the sire lives off the breeder's premises but can you meet the mother and the other dogs the breeder owns? Are they outgoing and confident? Do they meet you with enthusiasm?


    • Do you get the feeling that this breeder will stand behind the puppy if something should go wrong? Even the most conscientious breeder may have a problem every once in a while but if all the health testing is done on the breeding animals then the probability is cut way down.


    • Can you see a contract before committing to a puppy? Are the guarantees meaningful? A contract may say that a replacement puppy will be given in the event of a health problem. Are you really willing to give up your puppy if a genetic or health problem should occur? This can cost you thousands of dollars in vet bills. What will your breeder do for you?


    • Does the breeder have a non-breeding clause in the contract. Not having this clause may indicate that the breeder does not care what happens to the puppies after they leave the breeder's home.


    • Can you meet the parents of the puppies? Is the puppy's mother a good one - calm and appropriately concerned for her puppies. Visiting a kennel and meeting the breeder's dogs is one of the most important ways that you can ensure you are working with a good breeder. If anything doesn't seem right then try to clarify what is bothering you but go with your instincts. It will save you many head(heart)aches and money in the long run.


    • Has the breeder asked you questions and demanded to know that you can properly care for that puppy?


    • Are the pedigree papers in order. If the puppy is not properly registered with the Canadian Kennel Club or the AKC then the puppy is NOT considered a purebred no matter what it looks like. Please be aware that dogs called names like Lassapoo or Cockapoo are not purebred dogs and cannot be registered with the CKC. Without a CKC registration then there is no backup should something go wrong.


    • So what about the designer dogs? Are they better or healthier because they are of mixed heritage? No, they will simply bring the problems of each breed to every litter. The only way to eliminate health problems is through health testing and having good quality breeders working together. A breeder must know his or her lines, they must be familiar with health issues, the basic principles of genetics and plan carefully to ensure that the dog is the best that it can be.