Buyer Beware The Havanese breed is becoming more popular, and the reputable breeders are having a difficult time filling the growing demand for these wonderful dogs. Unfortunately it is not unusual for individuals to get frustrated at the wait required to obtain a Havanese, which can be as long as two years...or with the costs which can be as much as $2000.00 or more for a quality health tested pet. This frustration among buyers is opening the door for the unsavory humans of the world to make a fast buck on a high priced puppy.  This is the ideal situation for a puppy mill to flourish, and unfortunately means buyers need to be even more wary in their puppy search. Please be careful when buying your dog. Do research on the breed. Know the health problems that exist. Don't just take a breeder's word for it that their dogs are health tested. Go to the testing sites and check in the databases. We have provided links to the databases in our website's health section to aid you.   If the dogs you are researching have been tested and their results made public, they will be there. If they do not show up, be VERY leery.   Also make sure the results in the databases are exactly what you were told. It has happened that breeders did not disclose all relevant information found during testing. Health problems can happen with the most carefully planned litters. A little careful research can go a long way in helping you obtain a healthy puppy...or at least one with a legitimate health guarantee. Make certain the dog is registered with the registry you are told. Ask to see the litter registration papers. A number of buyers have been fooled by fake registries, or by registries with copycat initials. Don't be duped!!  There are also individuals currently advertising they have Champion parents, while leading buyers to assume they are AKC Champions when in fact they are not. Do not buy from pet stores or puppy brokers, which can be the front for puppy mills.   Please do not reward these people for treating puppies like livestock. Their only intent is to raise puppies for profit. They do not care about you, or the health and well being of your puppy.  Some tips for  recognizing a mill/broker are: 1. If they have or can get puppies immediately.  Reputable Havanese breeders frequently have waiting lists. It pays to wait. 2. If they try to rush you to buy.  The last thing a reputable breeder wants to do is place a puppy with an individual who hasn't thought out the pros and cons of ownership. 3.  If they raise more than two or three breeds they are quite likely a puppy mill.  While some reputable show breeders will breed two, or more rarely three breeds that are complimentary to each other,  consider it a heads up, and do your research to make sure you are not in contact with a mill. 4. Question their breeding practises.  If they are breeding the same bitch every season...they are most likely a puppy mill. 5. Reputable breeders do NOT place their puppies through pet stores or brokers. period. 6. If they are offering you a "great" deal, they are most likely a mill.   Remember, you get what you pay for!!! For more information about puppy mills and brokers, go to:  www.nopuppymills.com For information on Havanese Rescue go to:  They're all keepers Quality breeding and health testing is not cheap.  Many reputable Havanese breeders are working diligently to protect the Havanese breed through testing and research. These costs begin to accrue at puppyhood or even prior to it.  I am providing the costs my local Colorado vets charge, to give you an idea of the actual out of pocket expense involved in raising a litter: Please Note: These costs are pro-rated, based on a litter of 4. Stud fee: $500.00 Dew claw removal: $10.50 2 sets of shots and well check: $57.00 Deworming: $6.00 BAER testing: $100.00 Spaying/neutering: $125.00 Micro-chipping: $40.00 That is over $800.00 per puppy IF everything goes well and you have a litter of 4.  It does NOT include the showing costs or health testing costs that have been done on the parents. Those two "little" things combined, can be well into the thousands.  And then there are the incidentals like shipping the female to be bred, radiographs on the pregnant female, food, dishes, toys, litter pans, pooch pads, crates, exercise pens, and the list goes on and on and on.  NOW add in what 10-12 weeks of love, socialization, attention, early training & sleepless nights. are worth and you can see why a puppy from a reputable breeder costs what it does.  The breeder you select should be someone you can trust and work well with. You will need them to answer questions as your puppy grows. If they are reputable they will WANT to be there for you!! Please Be Careful!