Now that winter is almost upon us, it’s time to once again go over preparing our family pets to weather the cold holidays. Do you have the Havanese dog breed? So it’s an advantage to know that the dog’s fluffy fur is good at “sealing in” body heat to keep the dog warm, which is interesting to know since the same fur also keeps the dog cool during the summer. Keep in mind, however, that the coat is generally only good for short, quick trips outdoors. So this time, supplement your Havanese training with some owner grooming tips.

Given the tropical roots of Hav’s breeding history, the fluffy, luxurious coat is actually more of an ideal sunscreen and cooling agent for the dog on hot days. So this is one dog that definitely needs protection from the cold, despite its seemingly winter-ready appearance.

Perhaps largely due to their coats, many like to play in the snow and appreciate the winter experience. But older and much younger Havanese may differ in that they find it more difficult to maintain body heat. The practical solution is protective clothing, such as a dog sweater, jacket, or booties. Snowballs stuck to the dog can and should be removed with a hair dryer.

However, owners should not get carried away with dressing the dog. Clothes, boots, scarf, etc. etc you can end up restricting the dog’s movements, or worse, making him feel “stuck.”

The prairie-bred and bred Havanese may fare a little better, as humidity is a climatic factor. In the prairies, the snow does, in fact, easily remove the fur. But where the winter is milder, the snow falls heavy and wet, soaking and chilling everything it touches to the bone. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye out for weather warnings on your local weather channel. A temperature that is too cold for you means something that is also too cold for your dog. Havanese training comes in here when you limit the dog’s outings to quick potty breaks.

One last piece of advice on the value of keeping antifreeze out of the reach of sweet-craving pets. Antifreeze tastes sweet, which is ironic for something that can kill a cat ingesting even a teaspoon. If you need a pet-safe antifreeze, your local pet supply store may offer it, unless you plan to just add a bittering agent into the chemical.