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Havanese are sweet little members of the Bichon breed variety, and are loosely related to the Bichon Frise. Their toy size makes them ideal for people who live in smaller homes, and their playful spirit makes them perfect for families with children. These adorable little dogs are also quite popular for show, and the AKC has very specific guidelines as to how to give your Havanese a haircut. These specific Havanese grooming tips must be followed exactly if you want to show your Havanese in any major competitions.

A Havanese hair cut needs to be done with either a number 40 blade (in a pair of clipping shears), or a small pair of grooming scissors. Typically the only hair that should be cut is the hair around the paws; and even then, only just enough to give the paws a more circular shape. Depending on the show you are entering, you can also clip the hair around the rump area, and even the hair inside the ears.

Before giving your Havanese a hair cut, there are some specific Havanese grooming tips you should follow in order to make certain that your pup looks its best after the grooming process is complete. The first of which is to make certain that your Havanese receives a daily brushing. Havanese by their very nature do not shed, so brushing them daily is important to keeping their coats free of any loose or damaged hair. Brushing daily as a part of your Havanese grooming routine will also help to keep their coats nice and shiny.

Also, before giving your Havanese a hair cut, you should make a point to oil the fur and skin. This is accomplished with a fairly loose-toothed metal comb, being sure to carefully apply the oil first, and then running the comb carefully through. Oiling is generally done the day before a bath, and is typically only done for dogs prone to dry hair and skin. If you aren't sure as to whether or not your Havanese requires oiling as a part of their grooming routine, ask your vet or local breeder to be sure.

If you have no plans for showing your Havanese, then giving your Havanese a hair cut really isn't that big a deal, as far as guidelines go. You should remember that the Havanese are generally supposed to look as natural as possible so topknots, and docked tails and ears should be avoided as much as possible. Really, though, you are the only one who can decide just how short you want your dog's fur to be. If they spend most of their time outdoors, you may want to consider trimming the hair on their feet and face more often than if they are an inside dog.

All in all, the most important thing to remember when giving your Havanese a hair cut, is that it is important for you to remain as calm as possible through the entire process. It's relatively common for toy dogs to become over excited during the grooming process, thus making it more difficult to trim evenly. Staying calm, and soothing your Havanese verbally throughout the process will help to ensure a pleasant Havanese grooming experience for you both.