Havanese Adoption in Vancouver

Check the major Lower Mainland rescues: BC SPCA Vancouver Branch, Loved at Last Dog Rescue, Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), Heart and Soul Dog and Cat Rescue, Taco Dog Rescue Society, and Furever Freed Dog Rescue, plus small-breed rescues. Purebred Havanese are less common, but they and Havanese mixes turn up periodically, so alerts help. Browse currently available Havanese at LocalPetFinder's Havanese breed page. The foster notes on coat condition, any eye, ear, or dental issues, and temperament are worth reading. The Havanese Fanciers of Canada Rescue is a national breed-specific resource.

Yes, Havanese are excellent family and apartment dogs, one of the best companion breeds for city and apartment living. The national dog of Cuba, the Havanese is affectionate, playful, friendly, intelligent, and intensely people-oriented, a true velcro dog that bonds closely and wants to be with its family constantly. Typically great with children and good with other pets, their small size, moderate energy, adaptable nature, and low-shedding coat suit apartments and smaller homes, ideal for many Vancouver dwellers, and popular with families, seniors, and singles. They are also quite trainable (intelligent and eager to please, excelling at tricks and dog sports) and generally not excessively barky.

Havanese are one of the breeds most often described as hypoallergenic and low-shedding, and there is real truth to this. Their long, silky, low-shedding coat catches its shed hair rather than dropping it into the environment (part of why grooming is essential to prevent matting), so they are genuinely low-shedding and often recommended for people who want a dog that does not leave hair everywhere. This also makes them a popular choice for some allergy sufferers, as they release less dander and hair, and the Havanese is frequently listed among breeds that may suit allergy sufferers.

Vancouver's mild, temperate climate suits a Havanese well, with the main consideration being coat care in the damp. Despite originating in tropical Cuba, the Havanese's coat provides reasonable protection and they adapt well to cooler climates, handling Vancouver's cool weather comfortably (a small dog with a fine coat, especially in a shorter clip, appreciates a coat on very cold, wet days). The bigger consideration is coat and skin care in the wet: the long, silky coat is prone to matting (especially since shed hair stays in the coat), and moisture makes it worse, so drying thoroughly after wet, muddy walks and keeping up regular brushing and grooming is important.

Havanese end up in rescue less often than some breeds (cherished companion dogs), but they do for a mix of reasons, largely related to the grooming commitment and life circumstances rather than temperament problems. Common causes: owners underestimating the grooming commitment (the long, silky coat needs regular professional grooming and diligent home brushing, and neglected coats mat badly); the breed's potential health issues (eye and other conditions) and costs; the separation-anxiety tendency (a velcro dog left alone too much can develop anxiety); and general life changes (moves, finances, illness, and, given the breed's popularity with seniors, situations where an elderly owner can no longer care for the dog).

Vancouver Havanese rescue adoption fees typically range $350 to $700, well under the $1,800 to $3,500-plus a breeder charges. Fees include spay or neuter, vaccines, microchip, and a vet check. Ongoing costs for a small dog are otherwise modest, but grooming is the main recurring expense: regular professional grooming (every 4 to 8 weeks for the long, silky coat, unless kept in a shorter clip) is a real ongoing cost unless you DIY, and one of the defining ongoing costs. On health, Havanese are generally fairly healthy and long-lived but can be prone to eye conditions (cataracts, PRA), patellar luxation, hip issues (Legg-Calve-Perthes), heart conditions, deafness in some lines, and dental issues, so a vet fund and insurance are sensible.