Socializing and ObedienceChewingToys Introduction to Your Other Pets Dog Parks 
ChewingDogs and puppies like to chew. It is natural and satisfying to your pet. Accept that reality, but learn how to control the instinct. Chewing is actually good for puppies as it lessens the pain of teething. There are now some toys at pet stores that can be wet and frozen, that help the pup's teething process. As the pup grows into adulthood your goal is to encourage the dog to chew on proper toys and not your furniture or your new pair of shoes. Toys can help, and I address that in the toy section. One tool to have on hand is the "bitter" products that can be found at pet stores. There are at least a couple of products that when sprayed on items have a bitter taste to dogs. Puppies and dogs with proper attention and exercise are often less prone to chewing episodes. Yet you must do your part to protect your pet from items that can hurt the puppy or dog. Look around the environment that the puppy will be exposed to. Do not allow the puppy to have access to electrical cords. They can be a natural attraction and can be fatal. You certainly should be aware that chewing and eating other items like stones, plastic, pen parts, etc., can be life threatening. Remember I said your dog's environment. It is unwise to give a puppy free reign of the house. Know what areas the puppy will be in. Supervise the pup and protect him from dangers. There are similarities in puppy-proofing the environment much like you would do for a child. Look around for items that can be pulled over and those that can be a chew target. This may sound a bit silly, but I have told my puppy owners to get on the floor at puppy eye height. You may be surprised to find items that are in natural view of the puppy that are great chew targets that need removal or bitter treatment. If your puppy starts to chew on something that is off limits correct him at once. If you find something chewed and it is after the fact, you are wasting your time trying to correct the dog if he is not caught in the act. As your puppy moves into adulthood you will define where he can go. You will need to determine when he is trustworthy for the environment you provide for him. |
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ToysChewingChewing and toys are part of a puppy and adult dog's world. Toys also stimulate a puppy's senses. My advice is to buy toys that are made for dogs. They should be large enough that they are not prone to swallowing. Havanese will tend to shred toys that are made of vinyl. Latex toys tend to be better. But you need to be advised that Havanese have been known to dislodge the squeakers of poorly made toys. Squeakers are a potential choking hazard and can cause blockage if ingested. RawhideRawhide is a great chew, but it is controversial. The main problem with rawhide is when the puppy or dog chews large pieces of the rawhide that can choke or cause digestive blockages. Thus I always recommend that rawhide become an owner's choice under supervision. Throw away rawhide when it becomes small. Also many pet owners remove rawhide toys when they are not there to supervise. Nylabones are an option other than rawhide. Toys don't last forever. Keep toys clean. Examine the toys periodically and when they become worn, torn, broken, get sharp edges, etc., then throw them out. Remember it is fun to get a new toy, so get rid of the ones that wear out. Too Many ToysUnfortunately there is the reality of too many toys, especially at one time. Too many toys can create the impression that anything is fair game to chew on. Training your puppy and dog to know what is fair game to chew on often means limiting the number of choices at any given time. Praise your puppy when he is chewing and playing with the right toys. I do not recommend cooked bones of any kind as they can chip and fragment. Stuffed toys with foam inside can be torn apart and the stuffing ingested. |
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Introduction to Your Other PetsHavanese are very smart and normally make great adjustments to other pet members in your home. Often they end up ruling the roost no matter how big their new brother or sister may be. One of the most successful ways to introduce pets to one another is to do it in a controlled way. It is important you supervise the first meeting. Attempt to arrange the first meeting when things are calm. You need to stay calm when they have their first meeting. Your Havanese puppy may be submissive at its first meeting. One of the most common "tricks" is to make sure that your current pet knows that he or she is not suddenly becoming a second-class citizen. It is important to make sure that the senior pet is fed first and that you ensure that proper attention is given the "senior." Dog ParksHere is a listing of dog parks provided by Dog Fun Directory: |
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