Because they have a dense double-coat with a very fine, soft undercoat hair, you will need to brush down to the skin. (And their hair is hair, not fur like the majority of other dog breeds.)
Brushing to the skin is just as it sounds. ("Line Brushing" as the professionals call it.) Basically, you begin by brushing them out in sections - where you part the hair (line by line) so that you can see their skin - and then brush that section out carefully so that you know there are no mats and no knots starting next to the skin - keeping sight of the skin as you move thru each section. (If you can't see the skin as you work along you are not brushing deep enough down into the coat. However, keep in mind that you are only brushing to the skin, not brushing the skin.) Keep your strokes soft - brushing gently up and away from the body so as not to scrape and irritate their flesh. Then, start again with the next section. I find that working from the back of the dog to the front works best for me - finishing with their face, which them seem to like the least. Be extremely careful around the eyes - in fact I find a flea comb works well here.
One of the things that makes these guys so irresistibly cute is all of that hair! But, with all of that hair comes the need for proper grooming. Getting your puppy used to being handled at an early age will make this process much easier on both of you. They say practice makes perfect - so practice making your enjoy the grooming experience now and you will find that in time it becomes a quiet and relaxing experience for you both. (Mine love the attention - and two of them hop up on to the grooming table insisting that they be next.) Baths are a critical part of the grooming process so make sure that you bath your puppy often enough to keep them familiar with the routine. The tub and the blow drier can both be a little scary at first, but if you talk them thru it and reassure them that they are fine, they soon learn that they will live thru it. Patience is a virtue - you may have to remind yourself of that from time to time - but keeping them calm and feeling secure is essential to making them think they are having fun. Being firm is necessary, but in a kind and loving manner, because the more excited they get, the more calm you need to remain.. The one thing I find that scares a puppy most about having a bath is slipping - so I always put down a rubber mat or a towel for them to stand on, and then they will have sure footing. Keeping a puppy groomed is not nearly the work that it takes to maintain a mature dog in a show coat, but if you don't teach them what you expect from them as a puppy, trying to groom a bigger dog later on is not going to be much fun at all.
Having a dog that looks shaggy and one that is shaggy can be entirely different all together so ... at the first sign of a knot or a mat - get out the brush and comb!
Keeping some of the professional grooming products and tools on hand will be helpful - as a lot of them are designed not only preserve and protect the coat, but to make the process easier for the groomer as well!
Other essential grooming topics include - keeping their nails trimmed, their teeth clean, and their ear canals free of hair, moisture and bacteria, - and more - each of them worthy as a separate subject in their own right.
Grooming your Havanese...
I find that there several different yet essential grooming tools: a pin brush, a slicker (brush), a greyhound comb and a boar bristle brush, a small/mini comb, a nail trimmer.a spray mister, and a grooming table. All of the grooming books I have ever read say to never brush a coat when it is completely dry - so use a spray mist of water and conditioning product when starting on a dry coat.
All of this I find much easier accomplished on a grooming table - another worthwhile investment. An unstable or shaky surface will only serve to frighten your dog and ruin the experience. (And nobody really wins when it becomes a battle of the wills).
THE BEST ADVICE I CAN SHARE WITH YOU...
Make it seem fun! Because you know what, they're just like kids, and if they think its supposed to be fun they'll do it much more willingly than if it seem like it's a chore. And praise!!!Lots of praise! (They go for the dramatics and they just love to be told how amazing they are!)
So break out the tub toys - and the treats for the grooming table - and it will all be just another happy routine in no time at all!
