The Havanese Grooming Guide: Coat Care & What to Expect

The Havanese is one of the loveliest little dogs to groom, but that gorgeous flowing coat comes with a warning: it mats fast if you let it. If you own one, the single biggest thing that decides whether grooming is a joy or a battle is how often you brush at home. This is my practical, honest guide to keeping a Havanese coat in good order, written from having plenty of these charming characters on my table here in York.

Havanese are small, affectionate companion dogs and the national dog of Cuba, part of the Bichon family. The Havanese is bright, people-loving and happy to be handled, which is a real bonus when there is this much coat to look after.

The Havanese coat: long, silky and deceptively high-maintenance

A Havanese has a long, soft double coat with a lovely wavy, silky texture. It comes in almost every colour going. Unlike a heavy-shedding breed, a Havanese does not drop much fur around the house, and that is exactly the catch: the loose hair does not fall out, it stays trapped in the coat. Combine that with the fine, wavy texture and you have a coat that mats and tangles very readily if it is not brushed through regularly.

Mats are not just untidy. Left in place they tighten against the skin, pull, trap damp and dirt, and can cause real soreness. Our post on what causes matting in dogs explains exactly how it happens. So with this breed, brushing is not a nice-to-have, it is the whole job.

Brushing: little and often is everything

The good news is that a well-maintained Havanese coat is quick and pleasant to brush. If you want to get your home routine right, our guide to the importance of brushing your dog is well worth a read. It is the neglected ones that turn into a two-hour de-matting session that no dog enjoys.

• Slicker brush: works through the coat and lifts loose, tangled hair. Brush in sections down to the skin.
• Metal comb: your matting check. Follow the slicker with a comb, and if it snags you know there is a tangle forming to work out gently.
• Line brushing: part the coat and brush one layer at a time, working up the body. On a full coat this is the only way to reach the base.

Aim to brush a full-coated Havanese daily, or every couple of days at the very least. Focus on the friction points where mats start: behind and under the ears, the armpits, the chest, the collar area and the back legs.

Groomer's tip: Brush before a bath, never a matted dog straight into water. Water tightens mats into solid felt that then has to be clipped out. If your Havanese is looking knotted, brush it through first, or bring it to me and I will sort it out properly before any bathing.

Full coat versus puppy cut

There are two honest routes with a Havanese, and both are perfectly good. It comes down to how much daily brushing you can realistically commit to.

• Full coat: the long, flowing show-style coat is stunning, but it demands daily brushing and regular salon visits to stay mat-free. If you love the look and enjoy the grooming routine, go for it.
• Puppy cut (or a shorter trim): a shorter, even scissor cut all over keeps a Havanese looking tidy and adorable while cutting the home-grooming workload right down. This is what most pet owners choose, and there is absolutely no shame in it. A shorter coat is easier to keep comfortable, clean and mat-free.

Because the Havanese is a hair breed rather than a heavy shedder, clipping the coat shorter does not carry the same coat-damage risk you get with a double-coated spitz, so a puppy cut is a genuinely sensible, kind option for a busy household.

Eye and ear care: don't skip these

The long coat around the face means eyes and ears need particular attention.

• Eyes: hair falling into the eyes causes irritation and tear staining, and can lead to weepy eyes and a stained face. Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed or tied back, and wipe away tear staining gently. If eyes look red or sore, see your vet.
• Ears: Havanese have drop ears with hair in the canal, which traps moisture and reduces airflow, a recipe for ear problems. Check ears weekly for wax, smell or redness, keep them dry after baths, and have any hair in the canal managed gently. See your vet at the first sign of an ear infection.

Nails, feet and the finishing touches

• Nails: small dogs often do not wear their nails down, so regular trimming keeps them comfortable and standing correctly.
• Feet: hair grows between the pads and can pick up debris and cause slipping, so it needs keeping tidy.
• Sanitary areas: a light tidy underneath keeps things clean and comfortable.

How often should a Havanese be groomed?

Most Havanese do well with a professional groom every 4 to 6 weeks, whether you keep them in full coat or a puppy cut, with brushing at home in between. You can see what a full groom includes on our grooming prices and packages page. Full-coat dogs sit at the more frequent end and need the most home brushing; puppy-cut dogs can often stretch a little longer. If you have a new puppy, getting them used to gentle handling and the salon early makes life far easier later. Our puppy grooming sessions are built exactly for that.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I brush a Havanese? Daily for a full coat, and every couple of days at the very least for a shorter trim. Because the loose hair stays in the coat rather than shedding out, regular brushing right down to the skin is the only thing that keeps a Havanese mat-free.

Do Havanese shed a lot? No, they shed very little, which is part of their appeal. The trade-off is that the loose hair gets trapped in the coat and mats instead of falling out, so they actually need more grooming, not less.

Should I keep my Havanese in full coat or a puppy cut? Whichever suits your lifestyle. A full coat is beautiful but needs daily brushing and frequent grooms. A puppy cut keeps them tidy and comfortable with far less work, and it is a perfectly good choice for a pet.

Why does my Havanese have weepy, stained eyes? Often it is hair falling into the eyes causing irritation, so keeping the face hair trimmed or tied back helps a lot. Wipe staining away gently, and if the eyes look red or sore, have your vet check them.

Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. Whether you love the full coat or fancy a smart puppy cut, we will keep your Havanese comfortable and mat-free. Book your Havanese's groom.