How To Give A Havanese A Hair Cut

Havanese are sweet little members of the Bichon breed variety, and are loosely related to the Bichon Frise. Their toy size makes them ideal for people who live in smaller homes, and their playful spirit makes them perfect for families with children. These adorable little dogs are also quite popular for show, and the AKC has very specific guidelines as to how to give your Havanese a haircut. These specific Havanese grooming tips must be followed exactly if you want to show your Havanese in any major competitions.

A Havanese hair cut needs to be done with either a number 40 blade (in a pair of clipping shears), or a small pair of grooming scissors. Typically the only hair that should be cut is the hair around the paws; and even then, only just enough to give the paws a more circular shape. Depending on the show you are entering, you can also clip the hair around the rump area, and even the hair inside the ears.
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.

All in all, the most important thing to remember when giving your Havanese a hair cut, is that it is important for you to remain as calm as possible through the entire process. It’s relatively common for toy dogs to become over excited during the grooming process, thus making it more difficult to trim evenly. Staying calm, and soothing your Havanese verbally throughout the process will help to ensure a pleasant Havanese grooming experience for you both.

Fiona Kelly is a long time lover of the Havanese breed. This special toy dog captures the heart of all who see it, and this author is no exception. One of the most important parts of owning one of these special little dogs is to maintain a proper Havanese grooming routine, even if your dog is not groomed for show. If you are looking for the very latest in Havanese grooming tips then this article is the one for you.