🐕 The Havanese is the only dog breed that can legitimately claim Cuban citizenship. Bred as companions for the aristocracy of Havana, they spent centuries warming laps in silk-lined palaces before landing in apartments across the Midwest. They are small, friendly, and covered in a coat that looks like it should come with its own wind machine. That flowing, silky mane is what most people notice first. What they do not notice is the work it takes to keep it from becoming a felted mess.
This post covers what Havanese owners actually need to know about grooming — not the show-ring fantasy, but the weekly reality of living with a tiny dog that grows hair faster than most teenagers.
🪮 The Havanese Coat: Long, Silky, and Not Hypoallergenic
Havanese have a double coat — a soft undercoat beneath that long, silky outer layer. The hair is light and fine, which means it tangles easily and mats fast if you skip more than a day or two of brushing. Some Havanese are kept in a “corded” coat (think Komondor in miniature), but the vast majority of pet Havanese live in a long, flowing natural style or a practical puppy cut.
They are often marketed as “hypoallergenic.” Here is the truth: no dog is truly hypoallergenic. Havanese shed very little, which helps some allergy sufferers, but they still produce dander and saliva proteins that trigger reactions. If allergies are a concern in your home, talk to your groomer about bathing frequency and coat length — shorter usually means less dander trapped in the hair. I should know — I am allergic to dogs myself!
📅 How Often Does a Havanese Need Professional Grooming?
For a pet Havanese kept in a medium-to-long coat, a full professional groom every 6 to 8 weeks is the standard. If you keep the coat longer or show-style, tighten that to every 4 to 6 weeks. The coat grows continuously — there is no seasonal “off switch.”
Between grooms, you need to brush every single day with a pin brush and a metal comb. The hair behind the ears, under the collar, and in the “pants” area mats first and mats hardest. A five-minute daily brush-out prevents a two-hour dematting session. Trust me on this one.
💙 What a Full Groom Includes — and What It Costs
A typical Havanese weighs somewhere between 7 and 13 pounds. That puts them squarely in our Long and Fluffy — Small category, which covers dogs up to 70 pounds with long, continuously growing coats.
At Vroom Grooms LLC, every Full Groom includes:
- 🛁 Deep-cleaning bath and hand blow-dry
- ✂️ Full body haircut styled to your preference (tidy trim, teddy bear, or show style)
- 🐾 Nail trim and filing
- 👂 Ear cleaning and inspection
- 🦷 Teeth brushing and dental spray
- 🍑 Anal gland expression (if needed)
- 🧼 Sanitary trim and paw-pad tidy
Full Groom for a pet Havanese: $90 to $100 (see full pricing details)
The price depends on coat condition and style complexity. A Havanese that gets brushed daily and comes in every six weeks is a straightforward job. A Havanese that has not been brushed in two months and has formed pelted mats behind the ears and under the legs is a different story — the base price jumps to the next weight bracket, and a $50 matted-dog fee applies. If the dog is difficult or uncooperative during the session, a $50 behavioral fee applies. And if the appointment runs over two hours due to excessive matting or difficult behavior, an additional $50 is charged for every extra 20 to 30 minutes.
That sounds like a lot of fees. It is — but I tell you every single one before I start. At Vroom Grooms, we believe in Humanity over Vanity. No surprises. No bait-and-switch. Just an honest quote you can look at and decide on before I touch a single clipper.
⚠️ Havanese-Specific Grooming Problems to Watch For
🧶 Mats and Pelting: The Havanese Specialty
Mats are the number-one reason Havanese end up at the groomer for a corrective shave. The soft, fine hair felts against itself when moisture, friction, and missed brushing combine. The danger zones are behind the ears, under the collar, the “armpits,” the “pants” around the rear legs, and between the back toes. A small tangle left for a week becomes a pelted mat in three. Brushing five minutes a day beats a two-hour dematting session every single time.
👁️ Eye Issues and Tear Staining
Havanese are prone to cataracts and cherry eye. The long hair around the face also wicks tears directly onto the muzzle, creating that brown or rust-colored stain so many owners fight. Daily face-wiping with a damp cloth helps. A groomer should trim the hair around the eyes short enough to stop it from poking the cornea but long enough to keep the breed’s soft expression.
👂 Ear Infections and Hair in the Canal
Drop ears plus hair that grows inside the ear canal equals a recipe for trapped moisture and yeast. Havanese need the hair inside their ears plucked or trimmed regularly. A professional groomer will check and clean the ears during every appointment. If the ears are red, inflamed, or smell bad, that is a vet issue — not a grooming issue — and I will tell you before I proceed.
🦷 Dental Disease
Like most toy breeds, Havanese have small mouths with crowded teeth. Tartar builds up fast. Professional teeth brushing during grooming helps, but it is not a substitute for daily brushing at home and regular veterinary dental cleanings. If your Havanese has significant tartar or red gums, I will note it and recommend a vet visit.
🦵 Patellar Luxation and Joint Sensitivity
Many small breeds, including Havanese, are prone to loose kneecaps. A groomer needs to handle the legs gently and avoid forcing the dog into positions that stress the joints. If your Havanese has been diagnosed with luxating patellas, tell me before the groom. I will adjust my handling to keep them comfortable.
💬 What to Tell Your Groomer About Your Havanese
Before I start any Havanese, here is what I want to know:
- ❓ What coat length do you want — long and natural, medium tidy, or short puppy cut?
- ❓ Any history of eye infections, cherry eye, or cataracts?
- ❓ Do they have hair growing in their ear canals that has been plucked before?
- ❓ Any joint issues, knee problems, or arthritis?
- ❓ Are they good with standing on a grooming table, or do they prefer sitting?
- ❓ Any mats or tangles you have found, and how long since their last brush?
Havanese are generally cooperative and people-oriented, but some are wiggly on the table. A good groomer works with a squirmy dog, not against it. I take breaks when the dog needs them, and I never force a position that causes pain or panic.
🚐 Why Mobile Grooming Works for Havanese
Havanese are small, sensitive dogs that bond tightly with their homes and their people. Taking them to a busy salon with barking dogs, clanging dryers, and unfamiliar smells can turn a routine groom into a traumatic experience. Some Havanese also get carsick.
Mobile grooming eliminates all of that. I pull up to your driveway. Your dog walks from your living room to my van. There are no other dogs, no crate time, no car rides. The environment is quiet, controlled, and familiar. For a toy breed that thrives on routine and familiar surroundings, this is the least stressful way to get professionally groomed.
🎀 Final Thoughts
Havanese are wonderful dogs — friendly, funny, and genuinely attached to their people. But that beautiful coat does not stay beautiful by accident. It takes daily attention, regular professional care, and a groomer who understands the breed’s specific health sensitivities. The investment in maintenance pays off in a healthy, comfortable dog that looks as good as they feel — and who actually wants to be near you, instead of running from the brush.
If your Havanese needs regular grooming, the best way to get started is through the New Client Form. Use the note section for special notes — tell me about health conditions, behavioral quirks, coat preferences, or anything else I should know before I pull into your driveway.
If you are already a current client and there there is new information about your dog, you can text it to me directly. Any new information that may affect the time or the grooming session needs to be turned in as soon as possible, or at least 48 hours before your appointment, in case I need to adjust my schedule or reschedule.
New to Vroom Grooms? Fill out the New Client Form to get started. No phone calls, no confusion, no stress — everything is handled in writing so we both know exactly what was said and what is planned.
Ask me in person during your next appointment, or pop into my live stream on Twitch.tv/DogGroomerNIcole.
About the Author
Nicole is the owner and certified groomer behind Vroom Grooms LLC, a mobile dog grooming service serving Northwest Ohio. She specializes in double-coated breeds, anxious dogs, and clients who want honest, transparent grooming without the salon chaos. You can catch her live on Twitch at DogGroomerNIcole, where she streams real grooms and talks shop about the grooming world.
This post was drafted with help from Nagini 🐍, her digital assistant, who keeps the blog running, handles the tech side of the website, and makes sure Nicole spends more time with dogs and less time wrestling with WordPress.