Havanese is a rather small breed of dog. And small dog breeds are often said to be barkers. Especially if you are thinking about keeping a Havanese in an apartment, frequent barking could become a problem. But do Havanese bark that much at all?
Havanese usually don’t bark very much. While they are very watchful dogs, they can also be trained very well. However, without the necessary training, Havanese can become barkers. Therefore, it is important that you train your Havanese properly from puppyhood.
So Havanese generally don’t bark that much but can become yappers if you let them. So let’s take another look at whether Havanese bark a lot and in what situations they bark a lot.
We will also look at how to teach your Havanese not to bark so much and how to interrupt a barking situation in your Havanese.
Do Havanese Bark A Lot?
Havanese are no dogs that bark a lot. However, there are definitely situations that can tempt a Havanese to bark.
Before you get a Havanese, you should know that this breed needs a relatively large amount of activity. Havanese are very active and playful dogs and are quite affectionate toward their owners.
Think about whether you and your family can spend the time to care for a Havanese sufficiently. If you have children, this can be an advantage. Havanese are very fond of children and are happy to have active and lively playmates as well.
The most important thing with Havanese and barking is training. Havanese are relatively easy to train as they are very intelligent and inquisitive dogs. Learning simple commands is not a problem for Havanese puppies.
But it is also important to know in which situations Havanese sometimes bark. So you can adjust to it and actively prevent these situations.
In addition to training, it is also important to know ways to stop your Havanese’s barking if he ever has a barking attack. In addition to entertainment and exercise, distraction is an important tool here.
Which Situations Cause Havanese To Bark A Lot?
There are several situations in which Havanese may be prone to uncontrolled barking. But the good news is that you can control, prevent or interrupt these situations.
To do this, however, it is first important to know these situations. Only then will you know the trigger of a barking attack and be able to react accordingly.
Havanese are particularly prone to barking in the following situations:
- Boredom: A bored Havanese is a barking Havanese. Havanese are real little whirlwinds. They are extremely playful and lively. However, when they are bored, they may start barking.
- Frustration: Barking is a way for Havanese to communicate. If they want something, but it is not available for them, they can make themselves known by barking. Whether it’s a toy they can’t reach or the lunch they think is overdue.
- Anxiety or stress: When a Havanese feels stress, he will bark to relieve the tension. And also when a Havanese feels anxious, it is his natural reaction to bark.
- Lack of attention: Havanese are very affectionate dogs that want to interact a lot with their owners. If they don’t get the attention they want, they can make themselves known by barking intensely. It can also happen that your Havanese jumps on you.
- People: Havanese are very alert dogs despite their small size and cute appearance. They will warn you by barking if there is an intruder in your house. However, they can also start barking when the mailman comes or just your visitor is at the door.
These are all good reasons to bark. At least from your Havanese’s point of view. For you as the owner, it can still be frustrating if your Havanese barks too often.
Fortunately, however, you are not helpless in the face of this. You can do something about the barking.
However, we must distinguish between short-term and long-term measures. Short-term measures serve to interrupt the current barking.
Long-term measures are intended to fundamentally change the barking behavior of your Havanese. The only long-term measure that makes sense is training.
Training, in this case, is not a two-hour evening course, after which the problem is solved for all time. To train your Havanese to stop barking means to guide him again and again in the right direction by positive reinforcement in the situations in which he barks.
We will take a closer look at what we mean by this now.
How To Teach Your Havanese Not To Bark
There are Havanese dogs that tend to bark. If your Havanese is always barking at the neighbors, for example, at the fence, this is not the circumstance in which you should confirm him for it.
Take a favorite toy of your Havanese and play hilariously with it without involving your Havanese. Entice him with it without the Havanese getting the toy.
Most Havanese dogs will bark out of frustration within a short time. Acknowledge the Havanese immediately and preferably with the toy, because that is what your Havanese wants most at the moment. While doing this, say the command “Speak!”.
Alternatively, take a treat and let your Havanese dog sit. The Havanese dog will also do a good “Sit” and of course, thinks that the food is actually due to him now.
However, you do not give it to the Havanese, but tell him “Speak!” several times in a row. Drive him really crazy. Eventually, the Havanese dog will bark and immediately get his treat.
If the Havanese still doesn’t understand what to do, ask a helper to ring the front doorbell. If the Havanese dog barks now tell him “Speak!” several times in a row. Then he immediately gets his treat.
While doing this, keep the dog on a leash! Do not rush to the front door, stay nicely where you are.
If this works at some point, you have successfully taught your Havanese the command “Speak!”. He will now bark on command.
In order not to train your Havanese to be a barker, you must stop any unwanted barking.
Making the Havanese understand that we expect him to stop barking can sometimes be done by teaching the Havanese to bark on command. This may sound surprising, but it makes sense.
If you practice this, after a few days already the signal word “Speak!” will be enough to make the Havanese bark.
Next, teach your Havanese the command “Quiet!”. Have the Havanese sit in front of you so that he has the treat in your hand in front of his nose. Tell him “Quiet!”
The Havanese will try to please you by barking. Just repeat calmly and persistently, “No! Quiet!”. Sometimes it helps if you whisper while doing this.
Your Havanese dog will soon start whimpering softly, simply to ask you “What do you want me to do?”. Great! Give him the treat right away.
Practice this diligently for a few days to solidify it. When your Havanese is already barking on command and then has mastered the “Quiet!” command, you can move on to the third step.
Here you use a combination of the commands your Havanese already knows. Tell him “Sit! Good boy… Speak!” Now your Havanese should bark, but doesn’t get a treat yet.
Now tell him “Quiet!” Give your Havanese the treat when he has done everything correctly. Now you only hear his smacking. Your Havanese learns that he can’t bark and eat treats at the same time. So he is quiet.
And now you have to keep practicing, practicing, and practicing! Practice until your Havanese finally understands what the command “Quiet!” means.
How To Calm Down Your Havanese In A Barking Situation
Even if you put a lot of effort into training your Havanese, there may still be situations when he barks. However, there are some methods you can use to stop barking in such situations.
In addition, there are also general behaviors that will help you prevent your Havanese from becoming a yapper. So how can you stop your Havanese from barking?
- Provide toys: Since the Havanese is a playful dog breed, introducing toys will get his attention. When your Havanese barks, you can quickly and easily distract him with his favorite toy.
- Introduce calming treats: Using Havanese dog food with some calming nutrients will help you control the dog’s barking. For example, NaturVet Quiet Moments* will make your Havanese less tense and more controllable. It will help your Havanese to calm down.
- Provide a cozy resting place: Just like us humans, Havanese love a warm and cozy place to rest. If your Havanese refuses to calm down, take him to his comfortable padded bed. You will see how he calms down.
- Use natural oils: When or after you bathe your Havanese, apply natural oils to him. Oils like lavender essential oil* will reduce your Havanese’s stress level. Just as you would love to smell good and apply calming oils to your body, so it is with your Havanese.
- Use training: We have already talked in detail about training. But since this is such an important point, it should not be missing from this list. Training is the key to a well-mannered and obedient Havanese. Be sure to teach him the commands “Sit!”, “Bark!” and “Quiet!”.
- Take your Havanese for a walk: Take your Havanese out for a walk early in the morning and in the evening. Walks generally help to dissipate your Havanese’s energy, making him tired and craving sleep or rest. They are also important to provide exercise for your Havanese.
- Stimulate your Havanese mentally: Since Havanese dogs are quite intelligent and mentally active, they need mental stimulation. For stimulation, you can take them for a walk where they can observe things along the way and refresh their minds. Another useful option is to spend a reasonable amount of time playing with your Havanese. This will calm his nerves and give him enough time to regenerate, so he won’t bark anymore.
Final Thoughts
Havanese is not a dog breed that barks a lot. At least as long as you train your Havanese puppy properly.
Havanese are very intelligent and learn new commands easily. You will not find it difficult to teach your Havanese when to bark and when not to bark.
Also, make sure that you avoid, if possible, situations where Havanese usually tend to bark. If possible, your Havanese should not be bored or experience frustrating or stressful situations.
It is also important that you socialize your Havanese well. This will help him learn to get along with strange people or other pets.
If you take the tips in this article to heart, you will have a well-behaved and decent Havanese that will bring you a lot of joy.