We want you to understand the health issues facing the Havanese breed.  While our breed doesn't have more problems than other breeds, as responsible breeders we want to "shoot you straight." 

If you've read this far, we want you to PAY ATTENTION!  These dogs cost a lot of money and it's far easier for someone to breed two pretty dogs together without any regard to the health issues they are passing on.  Just because a dog has Champion before it's name doesn't mean you are safe from these diseases. 

Also, if a breeder doesn't test for a particular health problem because "they don't have that problem in their dogs," run away fast!  There's no way they could know unless they do the testing.

Health Testing

• CERF
   
• Patellas
   
• Hips
   
• BAER
   
• Blood Panels
   
• Cardiac
   

More Information

Always start with the Havanese Club of America.

Havanese HEART website is a wonderful place to learn more about these issues.

Bydand Havanese's website is another place to learn more about these issues.

ERAS Havanese's website has a good description and pictures of Havanese health issues

How can I be sure?

It's hard, that's for sure.  You can start by demanding copies of the following from your breeder:

• CERF (for the Sire & Dam)
   
• Patellas (for the Sire & Dam)
   
• Hips (for the Sire & Dam)
   
• BAER (for the Sire & Dam)
   
• Soaped pictures of the front & side  (for the Sire & Dam)

If they can't or won't give you these, keep looking.  There are many breeders out there who take these health issues seriously and go to great pains to ensure their breeding stock are free of these problems.