To help produce healthy puppies without congenital health issues, we fully health test all of the parent dogs used in our breeding program before they are bred. If just one health test is bad and abnormal, that dog is spayed/neutered and excluded from our breeding program. Our dogs mean a lot to us. At the same time, our reputation is very important.
All of these tests results are filed on record through the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of Animals) website at: http://ofa.org. Prior to breeding, each potential mother is examined and evaluated by a vet for breeding health.
Specialty Veterinarians Our Dogs Visit Before Joining Our Breeding Program
Each of our breeding dogs visits an eye specialist yearly for 7 years to have an OFA eye exam performed. For this test, the veterinary ophthalmologist examines the eye, particularly the lens and retinal area for disorders and disease. Juvenile cataracts are one of the common Havanese diseases, but with this exam it is visible in a dog under 1 year of age. Cataracts are normal and expected in a senior dog over the age of 7 years old. The Neurologist will perform a BAER hearing test using a machine that measures electrical signals traveling on the nerve paths to the dog’s brain. The Cardiologist will check the dog’s heart for murmurs or valve disorders. Our primary vet will check the liver, kidneys, and thyroid functions through blood work. They will also perform hips, knees, and elbows x-rays to evaluate for hip and elbow dysplasia and other joint problems such as the blood flow to the joints (LCP test). Those x-rays are evaluated by three independent radiologists for joint soundness.
When choosing a reputable breeder, if the person you are interviewing says they don’t believe in health testing, that should be a BIG RED FLAG. Why would you NOT want to health test, if you are trying to produce better puppies with each litter, known as “bettering the breed?” Some may say they do tests, but don’t file the results. Why would you do the tests and not file the results? Others only pick and choose which health tests they perform according to what they feel is needed or necessary. Some say they offer a health guarantee with absolutely no health testing. It’s not about the guarantee, it’s about trying to produce healthier puppies through health screenings, DNA testing and congenital tests. Why would you want to run the risk of producing a puppy that will only live for a short time and pass away prematurely?
The Havanese Club of America (HCA), the AKC parent club for Havanese, proactively specifies the health tests that should be performed on dogs that are used in a breeding program. Once all the recommended tests have been performed for the Havanese, each dog is issued a CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) number. That number does not indicate that all the tests are normal, it just means that the dog has had the recommended tests performed to evaluate for congenital disorders and that the result has been filed with the OFA health registry.
The HCA Health Committee has compiled a flier with health test recommendations for the breeding of quality, purebred Havanese.
On the left is a sample of a CHIC certificate. Just because a dog receives a CHIC number, does not mean the results are normal. It just means the tests have been performed and registered with OFA. What do all the abbreviations stand for?
A LOT of time and money goes into helping ensure quality adults are used. Our puppies purchased for pet purposes are only offered with a limited registration. With a limited registration, that means that the puppy is required to be spayed/neutered between 6-10 months old. With a limited registration, there are many wonderful dog bonding events and activities available. There is flyball, agility, rally, pet therapy, obedience, barn hunting, FAST-CAT, Lure coursing and tracking and fielding competitions. You can visit the http://AKC.org website for more information about events and a training location near where you live.
An altered puppy cannot compete in conformation shows. If you desire to compete in conformation, a full AKC registration and a separate FaustHouse contract with specific show stipulations are required. We have a showing contract and a separate breeding contract. When purchasing a puppy from me, you will not be allowed to breed that puppy unless there is a showing and breeding contract.
Once a litter is born, each puppy is examined for quality, personality, and standards. Some puppies will be offered for limited registration only, whereas a litter mate may be offered for full registration with the intention of being shown or bred. For full registration, FaustHouse will co-own the puppy until it has completed its conformation championship, has been fully health tested and all contract requirements have been fulfilled. Once those are completed, ownership will be signed over to the co-owner with no further restrictions from FaustHouse Havanese. Our prices for puppies start at $3500.
We do offer mentoring skills and suggestions for those interested in learning how to show in conformation or breed. For those locally, there is a specialty club that meets every other month at local dog shows. It’s called the Central Carolina Havanese Club (CCHC). It is a local chapter of our parent club, which I currently am the president. As one of my services, I provide local families with a year’s subscription to the CCHC, if interested. If interested in becoming a member of the Havanese Club of America, I am willing to mentor you to work towards a membership.
