Havanese board and train

Havanese board and train near Gloucester, MA: gentle, fear-free 1 or 2 week stays for house training, barking and a small dog’s confidence. Free evaluation.

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A small shaggy dog in a pink harness sits in grass and looks up at a hand holding a treat, the kind of small-dog reward training this page describes.

A companion dog through and through

The Havanese is Cuba’s national dog, a member of the Bichon family of small companion breeds, and was a favorite of Cuban households for generations. After the Cuban revolution the breed nearly disappeared, and the modern Havanese in the United States descends largely from a small number of dogs brought out by families who emigrated.

Bred for company rather than for a working task, the Havanese tends to be cheerful, clever and very attached to its people. Many are quick learners who enjoy tricks and games. The flip side of that attachment is a dog that can bark at the door, follow you everywhere and fret when left.

Why is my Havanese so hard to house train?

Small breeds are commonly slower to house train than big ones, and the Havanese is no exception. A tiny bladder, a small accident that is easy for people to miss, and a dog that dislikes rain or cold all add up. The solution is a tighter routine, not frustration.

During a stay the basics are put in place: regular trips outside on a schedule, rewarding the right spot immediately, a crate or pen that the dog is comfortable resting in, and supervision that prevents accidents rather than reacting to them. At the go-home lesson you learn the same routine so it carries on in your house. Our house training page goes through the method step by step.

Take your dog out after sleeping, eating, playing and drinking
Reward within a second or two of finishing outside
Clean accidents with an enzyme cleaner, without scolding
Shrink freedom indoors until the routine holds

Barking: alert dog or worried dog?

Many Havanese bark to announce visitors, delivery trucks and the neighbor’s cat. That alert barking can be shaped with a go-to-your-bed routine when the doorbell rings and rewards for quiet. Barking that comes from worry, such as barking at people on walks or when left alone, needs a different plan that builds confidence rather than just asking for silence.

Gabby looks at the why behind barking at the assessment. The barking page explains the different types and which ones respond fastest to training.

Building confidence in a small, social dog

Little dogs live in a world of giant feet, loud vacuums and big dogs. A Havanese that gets scooped up every time something new appears never learns to cope on its own four feet. Part of training is giving a small dog the chance to investigate safely and succeed, with plenty of rewards and the option to retreat.

Daycare integration at Dogtown happens only when the free evaluation shows a dog is ready, in a small group of 7–10 dogs matched by size and temperament. For a Havanese that means play with dogs its own size and style, not a free-for-all. The small dogs page has more on why matching matters.

Foundation or Advanced for your Havanese

Most Havanese families are best served by the one-week Foundation program. It covers house training support, crate comfort, a sit and down, walking nicely on leash, waiting at doors, greetings without jumping, and household manners, and ends with one go-home lesson.

The two-week Advanced program suits a Havanese who already has the basics but is noisy, nervous or over-excited in public. The second week adds distraction proofing, real-world outings, confidence building and structured socialization. If your dog is truly fearful or panics when alone, Gabby may suggest a different path, such as a behavior-modification program, at the assessment.

Coat care and handling

The Havanese has a long, soft coat that mats easily if it is not brushed regularly, and some owners keep it in a shorter trim for ease. Either way, the dog will be brushed, bathed and trimmed for life, so comfort with handling pays off every week.

Short, positive handling practice during the stay helps: touching paws, lifting ears, a brush stroke followed by a reward. If you would like your dog groomed before coming home, ask about board and train with grooming.

The program for this

1 week · Puppies, young dogs & foundational manners Foundation Board & Train A one-week stay for puppies, young dogs and dogs missing the basics: obedience, leash skills, place, stay, recall, impulse control and household manners, with daily updates and a go-home lesson. Read about Foundation

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