Highland Glenn Havanese

04/10/2024

01/10/2024

Dog breeders talk a lot about “enrichment” especially for their litters.

There are actually three forms of enrichment for puppies and dogs: passive (toys), active (problem solving, learning), and exercise. All three are different but they work together in the brain and leverage each other.

Most breeders primarily use passive enrichment by giving their puppies lots of toys and fun things to play with/climb on. Puppy Culture, however, teaches breeders to tap into the power of active enrichment.

What’s so special about active enrichment? Many things! First, it enables the puppy to develop emotional stability, which is the ability to recover easily from fear and stress and to view new things and challenges as opportunities for positive enrichment rather than to be feared or avoided.

Active enrichment also gives puppy a voice of its own in order to communicate with humans, as well as the desire to seek out the company of both dogs and humans as emotionally positive experiences.

What does active enrichment look like? It involves things like daily giving the litter new items/textures, new experiences/challenges/places, new sounds, and so much more. One can really get creative with it since literally everything is new to tiny baby puppies!

The results are worth all the effort.

17/09/2024

Puppies are a lot like toddlers, they get bored with their toys. What to do without buying new toys all the time? Make old toys seem new again by switching them out every few days! In addition, a tired old toy comes to life with you involved in the game.

We avoid plastics as much as possible. There is this amazing company that uses only natural fibers (wool from small US producers, organic cotton and h**p) to make dog toys right here in the USA! Their motto is “If Mother Nature doesn't make it, we don't use it!”… gotta love it. Look up Purrfect Play.

Playtime toys need to be safe. That means no little parts that can come off and become a choking hazard.

Also, Havanese puppies like to pick off and swallow longish fibers, which can upset their tummy, so choose soft toys that are made of non-furry fabrics.

They adore toys with squeakers and crinkly noises. Try making your own with an old pair of cotton denim jeans and an empty chip bag!

Interactive puzzle toys are fantastic for engaging their mind for some quiet playtime! Treat balls or any variety of the burrowing soft toys are great fun.

Sometimes puppies want to chew hard things and sometimes they want to chew soft things. Cotton rope is a favorite! Rope toys compliment raw bones by giving your puppy a softer alternative. They are also great for children while playing with the puppy so as to keep him from biting pant legs or sleeves - the puppy can grab the rope toy instead!

Not just for playing tug with you but also if you tie long ones onto a door k**b or such, your puppy can have fun grabbing and pulling on its own.

Do be careful with rope toys, too. Although mostly safe, it is best to supervise playtime because a blockage can occur if too much of the rope fibers are consumed.
Image by Joseph Hutton

10/09/2024

Puppies need toys for teething!

The West Paw dog toys are favorites at our house. Put a few pieces of dried meat/organs inside for extra pleasure.

Avoid peanut butter though. First of all, it isn’t appropriate for canines and peanuts have heavy chemical residues. It can even be deadly if it contains xylitol. Read labels carefully! If you must, use organic peanut butter.

Believe it or not, cotton dishcloths can be a helpful “toy” during teething. Tie each into a knot, soak in chamomile tea, slightly wring, and then store in a bag in the freezer… refreshing and soothing for puppy!

Another chew toy to skip altogether is Nylabones. Even though some are “edible”, they are made of nylon, a form of plastic, and tend to develop very sharp edges which can injure your puppy’s mouth!
Image by Magda Ehlers

03/09/2024

“What kind of chew toys should I get for my puppy?” is one of the most common questions from new puppy owners. The short answer is it depends!

There are chew toys meant to be consumed and chew toys meant to soothe during teething and chew toys meant for play. Yes, puppies always need something to chew on! 🐶

Puppies of any breed love and actually need to chew; it’s part of normal growth and development. With a variety of chew toys, your puppy is less likely to turn to inappropriate things like shoes and furniture! So have plenty of safe toys on hand.

🦴Edible Chew Toys
First and foremost, we recommend big, raw meaty bones. Why?

Raw bones play a vital role in overall oral health: gnawing on large marrow bones during teething is comforting; consuming smaller edible bones may help baby teeth fall out in a timely manner; circulation for gums is stimulated; bad breath is reduced. The taste of real bones is impossible for a puppy to resist, and the long gnawing time gives wonderful mental satisfaction!

Most puppies like to chew on bark and sticks, but Himalayan Yak cheese chews are safer! They are natural chew treats that most Havanese love. They can cause loose stool if given several days in a row so keep that in mind.

And then there are bully/pizzle sticks. We are pretty picky about them for quality reasons, but Raw Paws makes bully sticks that is low-odor and from grass-fed, free-range beeves in the USA. Please take a bully stick away from your puppy/dog when it gets down to a small piece because it can become a choking hazard at that point.

Offering safe chew toys is vitally important. While antler bone is increasingly popular, more and more dogs are turning up with cracked teeth. Exercise caution.

Save yourself money and worry, and your puppy grief… please skip the rawhide! It is chemically bleached and most often from questionable sources, but more importantly, it is dangerous because it is completely indigestible. They are notorious for causing painful, expensive blockages. Veterinarian offices see many cases every year due to rawhide.

30/08/2024

27/08/2024

We prefer to use a harness for our Havanese, especially puppies, instead of a collar. We do feel there are circumstances when one is to be favored over the other.

For a puppy that is still learning to walk on lead, we only recommend a harness. These little ones encounter many new and potentially scary things while out and about. A frightened puppy will pull backward fiercely to “escape” and if wearing only a collar, could slip out of it and be seriously injured or killed in the process. A properly fitted harness offers both physical and mental security.

Havanese puppies are really small. From about 9 weeks of age to 4 months old, an XXS size fits most (these can be hard to find.) From there, size up. Check and double check with each size to make sure your puppy cannot pull out of it!

Once a youngster is confident in public and reliable walking on lead, it is appropriate to use a collar instead if you desire. Again, make certain it is sized correctly. It’s far better for a collar to be on the snug side, for a limited amount of time, than to experience any tragedy from pulling out of the collar!

Be aware that collars can badly damage the trachea if yanked and je**ed on by either humans or the dog itself. So if in doubt, it’s wise to use a harness.

In any case, get out there with your favorite Havanese!

Photo: Bo and Luke sporting their harnesses like proper little gents.

22/08/2024

Throwback to our first litter of Highland Glenn Havanese! 🐾 💜

That's Catalina, Charlie, and Poppy. XOXOXO

20/08/2024

Why natural care like raw diet and no chemicals for Havanese (or any other breed)?

It ensures that they remain healthy and happy, just as nature intended.

It’s never too late to start! If you’d like guidance, reach out to us, we are always glad to help.

15/08/2024

Feeling grateful for our amazing Highland Glenn Havanese family and all the joy our pups bring to them.

Thank you! 💕

13/08/2024

Keep your Havanese looking fabulous!

Brushing isn’t quite enough for these royal dogs. Regular combing, reaching down to the skin, keeps their coat free of mats and their skin healthy.

A simple metal comb is just the thing. ;)

08/08/2024

With mixed feelings, we announce that we’re taking a break from producing Havanese puppies. So, darling Zinn is our last puppy until who knows when.

Lizzie is retired now and we have yet to find a breeding prospect female puppy that meets our criteria.

Until and if that time comes, we’re living a happy life with our precious Shiloh and Lizzie on the ranch. And we are always here to support our wonderful Highland Glenn Havanese families!

Krystal being co-founder of the Natural Rearing Breeder Connection is very involved in the breeding community and promotion of Natural Rearing. She also continues to offer consultations through her small animal naturopathy practice, Radiant Animal Wellness.