Havanese Hairstyles

Havanese dogs have soft double coats that are silky or fluffy to the touch. Dogs of the Havanese breed shed very little, making them ideal pets for allergy sufferers. When choosing a hairstyle for your Havanese, consider the amount of upkeep and work you want to put into your dog’s coat. As long as you take care of the fur, just about any traditional hairstyle will look adorable on a pet Havanese.

Corded coats contain long locks of hair that look like dreadlocks or ropes. You can cord the Havanese coat by separating sections of hair and encouraging it to grow together. This is a time-consuming process. It usually takes two years for the coat to become fully corded. Corded coats require bathing but should never be brushed. At bath time, lather and rinse each cord. Squeeze out the excess water and thoroughly dry the coat to avoid mildew.

If left to grow long, the Havanese coat will reach 6 to 8 inches in length. Since the hair is soft, mats form easily. Daily brushing is critical to keep the coat in good condition. Fill a squirt bottle with water and a teaspoon of conditioner. Spray the coat, after shaking the bottle well each time, before brushing to avoid breaking or damaging the hair. Most mats form close to the skin and can be easily missed if you brush only the topcoat. Be sure to brush all the way down to the skin. Bathe your long-haired Havanese once a week to keep the coat free from dirt and debris.

A short clip is the easiest way to manage the voluminous Havanese coat. If you don’t have the time to keep your dog’s hair brushed and have no interest in painstakingly caring for cords, the puppy clip may be your hairstyle of choice. If you want the coat cut short, ask your groomer to use a #4 or #5 blade when trimming. The face should be left fluffy. The Havanese coat grows rapidly and will need to be trimmed every six to eight weeks and bathed every two weeks. If you are uncomfortable using clippers to trim your dog, take him to a professional groomer to avoid any injuries. A properly trimmed Havanese will look like a cuddly stuffed teddy bear.

Braiding the hair on the top of your dog’s head is one means of keeping excess fur out of his eyes. After bathing and drying your Havanese, part the hair down the middle of the head and braid the two sections. Place a band on the top and the base of the braid to keep it from unraveling. You can otherwise create a single braid down the middle of your dog’s face. Redo braids daily. An alternative to braiding is the topknot. Gather the hair on your dog’s head into a large bunch and use a rubber band to pull it into a ponytail. Make sure the topknot is not so tight that it pulls the eyes upward.