Havanese dogs can make lovely family pets. They are loyal and friendly, and their small size makes them easy to handle. When you find a litter of Havanese puppies for sale, you'll likely be excited to go pick one out and bring it home. But there are a few questions you should ask first to ensure this puppy is, indeed, the right one for your family.
Is the puppy being sold with a health guarantee?
Although Havanese puppies are generally pretty healthy, there are a few genetic disorders that run in certain bloodlines. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which leads to hip problems and deafness, is one of these. Many breeders will test the puppies' parents to ensure they do not carry any of these diseases, and then they'll sell the puppies with a health guarantee. This ensures they'll take the puppy back or pay for the expenses if the puppy does turn out to have any of these health problems. Understand the health concerns associated when buying a Havanese puppy without a health guarantee or proof of genetic testing in the parents.
Have the puppies been socialized?
Havanese dogs can be really friendly, outgoing, and personable with other dogs and people, but they do need to be socialized early to develop these skills. Breeders will often socialize their puppies with various people and other dogs. They should be able to explain to you what socialization exercises have been done and how the puppy has responded.
Are the puppies registered with the AKC?
The AKC, or American Kennel Club, does register Havanese puppies as a pure breed. If you want to show or compete with your Havanese puppy, you want to make sure it is registered. If you simply plan on keeping the puppy as a pet, then registration is not quite as important and you may actually save some money if you opt for a pup who hasn't been registered. (Breeders have to pay a fee to register their Havanese puppies, and this fee adds to the price.) Some puppies cannot be registered because they do not meet the coat color requirements, but they still have lovely personalities, cute features, and can make loving family pets.
In addition to asking these questions, spend some time interacting and playing with the puppies. Havanese are quite active when they are young, so you want to look for a puppy who gets engaged and always looks entertained. For more information, contact a company that has Havanese puppies for sale.
