How To Give A Havanese A Hair Cut

Closely related to the Bichon Frise, the Havanese are a beautiful and playful little dog of the toy variety. These dogs have quickly gained in popularity at dog shows and competitions since the 1970's, and the AKC has responded with a very specific set of guidelines relating to the way owners give their Havanese a hair cut. Not only do these guidelines cover which hair should and should not be cut on your Havanese, but also how long the hair should be, as well as to what should be used to cut it with.

If you are planning to enter your Havanese into any such shows or competitions, then these guidelines are an absolute must for you to know and adhere to. Not doing so can result in immediate disqualification. And if you are disqualified for shearing your Havanese too short, or in the wrong places, you may have to wait several months for it to all grow back in and before you are able to enter your dog into any other shows.

If you are entering your dog for show, and you do decide to give your Havanese a hair cut, it is important that first and foremost, you use only a number 40 blade in your clipping shears. This will help to ensure that you do not clip the dog's hair too closely, or run the risk of trimming too much off.

The AKC only allows for a small amount of grooming when it comes to the Havanese, preferring that the dog retain as much of its natural look as possible.

The one thing that you are absolutely allowed to trim when giving your Havanese a haircut is the fur around the paws. Not too much, though, just enough to give them a rounder look. Also, you are invited to trim the hair on the rump and groin area with a small pair of trimming shears, but only as long as you adhere to length guidelines which can be found at the AKC official website.

If you have no plans for showing your Havanese, then giving your Havanese a hair cut really isn't that big a deal, as far as guidelines go. You should remember that the Havanese are generally supposed to look as natural as possible so topknots, and docked tails and ears should be avoided as much as possible. Really, though, you are the only one who can decide just how short you want your dog's fur to be. If they spend most of their time outdoors, you may want to consider trimming the hair on their feet and face more often than if they are an inside dog.

Even if you do not plan to enter your Havanese into any shows or competitions, you will still want to keep their fur trim and neat. Daily brushings for all Havanese are required to help keep their long hair from matting.

Staying calm, and soothing your Havanese verbally throughout the process will help to ensure a pleasant Havanese grooming experience for you both.

About the Author

Fiona Kelly is a passionate lover of the Havanese and has a popular website that can show you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Havanese. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Havanese Cuts plus a whole lot more.

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