Socialization is Key

I know I have said this before but socialize, socialize and then socialize again. You do it with safe dogs but the more you do it, the more comfort your Havanese will have with other dawgs.

You probably do not know it but they learn a great deal from other dogs. Just because you simply see play, there is a whole slew of things going on that they learn from.

It is important that you and your Havanese learns what the other dawgs are saying.

They do play growl and it sounds like they are killing themselves but they are playing. You need to learn what is play and what isn't and how to deal with it.

We often get Havanese we board and we do daycare as well and a number of them are hesitant. Many dawgs can be a tad overwhelming but by the time they go home, they have made great strides, formed relationships and learned a thing or two from the pack. We know that once a connection is made with one dawg in the pack, the rest comes. Sometimes at a slower pace - sometimes quick but we create situations to help them gain their comfort level. Without human parents in the equations, they learn to get coping skills and that's a GOOD thing.

Okay, so you socialized for an unbelievable degree when they were pups and then you stopped. Maybe there was something that stopped you from doing dawg things and your Havanese suddenly is acting hesitant as if it wasn't socialized crazily. Well, socialization NEVER stops with people or with other dawgs.

I can't say it enough that you are the glue that holds it all together. Your Havanese will either be wonderful due to you or not. Coddling when they are nervous only validates the reaction and it's too easy to do this when you love them but it actually hinders them vs. help. You hug and kiss and hold them when they are reacting in a positive way.

Sure, there are some dawgs that need extra help and didn't have a good start before they came to you and some are genetically inclined to be shy but don't allow it. Look at our Shoshi. It took us years, the pack etc. but she sits on everyone's laps these days and plays up a storm with all the visitors. It does my heart good. Now if we had given up on her and said - well she's just like that and coddled her and did not saturate her with safe socialization moments, she would still be hiding under the chair and barking at humans out of nerves and not playing with other dogs.

I love my dawgs deeper than anything other than my hubby and family who I adore but I love them so much that I am willing to do the work to get them to be all they can be and anyone who graces our door, we do the same.

I am not sure what I would ever do without the dawgs in my life. They are our everything and the people who get our dawgs - well we strive to do the very best we possibly can with what we know at the moment and continue to grow, learn and use what we know with the next crew and share with all of you that read my ramblings in hopes that another Havanese becomes balanced and happy.

To see today's photos, visit us at http://talemakerhavanese.com/