My Nursery
Our home is my kennel. My puppies are born in the laundry room of our home away from the hubbub of family life. Just like family members gather for the birth of a human baby, my family and close friends come for the birth of my furbabies. Usually everyone takes shifts keeping me company and the coffee pot full. We have plenty of time to catch up on gossip and talk dogs. This is a special time for all of us.
All of my furbabies are bred from parents who are: CERF’d yearly and registered with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF); BAER tested and registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA); hips, elbows, and patella x-rayed and registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Additionally all other health testing recommended by HCA and HEARTbreeders is conducted. The health of my personal furballs and future Signature Havanese furbabies is of the utmost importance.
My Havanese are pets first and foremost then show dogs. I will never win the title for the most champions bred and/or finished in a year or lifetime! The quality and welfare of the breed is paramount NOT quantity. That’s why my motto is “Breeding Healthy Havanese with Exceptional Type and Temperament.”
Newborn puppies depend upon their mother for everything- nourishment, warmth, and elimination. From day 3 to 16, I perform neo-natal stimulation exercises. According to articles published by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, the U.S. Military developed a program called “Super Dogs” which showed that “early neurological stimulation exercises have important and lasting effects” on puppies. Per Dr. Battaglia, these benefits are:
- Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate)
- Stronger heart beats
- Stronger adrenal glands
- More tolerance to stress and
- Greater resistance to disease.
At 3 - 4 weeks the babies are moved to my kitchen where they become a part of our daily lives. They remain there until they go to their forever homes. They live in a 3’ x 3’ ex pen which houses their litter box and sleeping quarters (a plastic crate). The momma can come and go at will but the babies cannot.
When the puppies are about 6 weeks of age, I have a “Meet the Puppies Party.” This is a great opportunity to socialize the puppies with a wide variety of people from all ages. My neighbors especially enjoy “the party” and always come by for puppy visits even before their “coming out.”
At eight weeks the temperament and show potential of my furbabies is evaluated.
I like to give my babies temporary names. When a puppy is placed, I begin using the call name selected by the adopting family.
Sorry, we have currently no puppies available.
Past Litters:
[June 10, 2006] - Signature Cream Soda Float & Noblegold Bongo are pleased to announce the birth of their eight beautiful furbabies- 6 boys and 2 girls. (Large pictures below were taken at six weeks.)
[August 8, 2006] - All puppies have found a new home.
Tubby Teddy is a chocolate male parti Havanese. He was originally named Tubby, because my brother called from Tubby's restaurant in Savannah, GA when he was being born. (Teddy is now owned and loved by the Wilson family.)
Ocho Domino is a black male with four white feet and white blaze on his face. He was the eighth puppy born. (He is now owned and loved by the Rogers family.)
Bubba Koda is a sable male parti Havanese. He was named Bubba, because it took approximately three hours to whelp him and we knew he must be a big boy. He weighed an ounce more than anyone else. However, he is no longer the biggest one and will be an average size adult. (Koda is now owned and loved by the Van Den Elzen family.)
Onyx Cooper is a black male Havanese with four white feet, white muzzle, and eyebrows. My son named him for his color. (He is now owned and loved by the Robinson family.)
Whitman is a rare chocolate sable Irish pied male Havanese. He looks like his mother, Soda, except for the chocolate nose and eyes. So we call him Whitman after the chocolate manufacturer with the “sable” box. I think he is my smartest puppy, because he consistently uses the litter box! (He is now owned and loved by the Kegley family.)
Nick Mario is a black male Havanese with four white feet and a white tip on his tail. He was the first puppy born. My son originally named him Nick after the Nickelodeon channel (his favorite TV channel). (He is now owned and loved by the Skees family.) [Click here to visit Mario's new home]
Daisy is a tri parti female Havanese. My son named her Daisy, because he loves to pick flowers. Daisies just happen to be one of our favorite flowers. (She is now owned and loved by the Edwards family who already have a Signature furball named Sophie.)
Godiva Tallulah is a chocolate female Havanese with four white feet and a white tip on her tail. (She is now owned and loved by the Huckabee family.)
What I expect from their new home.
- Lots and lots of pictures
- Any and all furbaby stories
- Home filled with lots of TLC
- Regular vet visits
- Monthly heart worm & flea prevention