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A list of HSDAA breeders in various parts of the country is included at the bottom of this page, but please take a moment to read the material provided here first before contacting any breeders.
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| As much as we may love them, HSDAA breeders all agree that Silks are NOT the perfect dog for every household.
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Above and beyond the health-testing required by the HSDAA prior to breeding, Havana Silk Dogs have been selectively bred for a very distinctive "look" which may or may not appeal to everyone who is considering adding a small dog to their family, and which is perfectly OK.
If you are looking for a "cute" little dog with a fluffy coat, a babydoll face, large, round eyes, and a jaunty high-set tail curled on his back, a Havana Silk dog is probably not going to appeal to you, because that's not what this breed looks like. (Likewise, if you are specifically looking for a chocolate-colored puppy, you will be disappointed. Although Havana Silk Dogs come in many colors, chocolate is not an allowable color in the Havana Silk Dog breed standard and is rarely if ever produced.)
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If, on the other hand, your preference is for a more "elegant" little dog of traditional Cuban type, with a flatter, silkier coat (which the average pet owner can maintain himself); a longer, more refined muzzle; dark, almond-shaped eyes; a longer neck; and a tail carried high and waving like a plume, an HSDAA-registered Havana Silk Dog might be just what you are looking for!
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Aside from the general look of a breed and its overall health, temperament is another important consideration when choosing a breed, and it's important to find a breed that fits your family's lifestyle.
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The Havana Silk Dog is an agile, active, and athletic little breed which excels in Agility, Obedience, Rally, and Tracking.
Many of them display strong herding instincts and will herd puppies, children, rabbits, ducks, chickens, and as some owners have found - even SHEEP!
When faced with a group of any sort, the Havana Silk Dog seems to harbor an inborn need to round them up and make sure that they are altogether in one place.
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Potential owners of Havana Silk Dogs need to understand that these are dogs with a fair amount of energy and a need for regular excercise. They are rarely couch potatoes even in old age - many are still active at 14 and older, and enjoy regular outings.
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These little dogs have extremely strong social needs, are happiest around people, and so are a poor choice for families where no one is home most of the day.
On the other hand, their socialibility and incredibly intuitive character (as well as their relatively hypoallegenic coats and portable size) make them excellentTherapy Dogs , and many Silks eagerly look forward to their weekly visits to hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes.
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Fonder of children than many small breeds, Havana Silks are still quite a small dog and easily injured, and so do better with children of school age. They are not generally appropriate for families with toddlers, and most breeders will be reluctant to place a puppy in a home with pre-schoolers - better to wait until the children are a little older, or to consider a larger breed, which is less likely to feel threatened if accidentally stepped on or squished.
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Although cost should never be a primary factor when choosing a breed, it is probably worth knowing before you contact any breeders that Havana Silk puppies generally cost between $2000 and $2500 at present, depending mostly on geography. (Like pretty much everything else, the price of puppies on the East Coast tends to be a little higher. ) There are no "backyard-bred puppies" in the Havana Silk Dog breed, and quality is uniformly high.
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Locating a Breeder
First off, you need to understand that HSDAA members will not ship puppies. All are in agreement that shipping puppies air cargo is currently an unsafe practice and can endanger the puppy's physical and psychological well-being.
Besides, the breeder wants to meet you!
For this reason, breeders are listed here by geographic area, so that you can hopefully find one in your part of the country. If there are no Havana Silk Dog breeders in your area, you can always fly to the breeders' home and bring the puppy home in an under-seat pet carrier, which works surprisingly well. (For some reason, puppies are actually more likely to sleep on a plane than in a car.)
On the other hand, the odds are you will have to wait for a Havana Silk Dog puppy anyway - there are a lot more Havanese out there than Havana Silk Dogs - so it might be better to wait for a litter from a breeder who is within driving distance, so you can visit, and meet the breeder and the puppy's parents, before you actually pick up your puppy.
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HSDAA Breeders:
The following breeders are all members of HSDAA and have agreed to adhere to the Best Practices of the Association.
It may be helpful to know that some breeders will take advance reservations (and deposits) on pups from planned litters, while others prefer to wait until the puppies are born before taking reservations. (Both methods are equally acceptable to HSDAA.)
Puppies available from HSDAA breeders are generally from two Certified Havana Silk Dog parents. However, a litter will occasionally be produced before one of the parents has completed all the certification requirements. In such cases, the puppies are granted conditional registration until both parents are fully certified, and the breeder will explain the situation to the prospective puppy buyers prior to purchase. Puppies from these litters are invariably sold as pets rather than potential breeding stock, as the parent's failure to pass one or more of the requirements will automatically result in all puppies from that litter being registered as Companions.
Some breeders occasionally have older puppies or retired show dogs available. These may be a better option for some families who would like to own a Silk but may not, for one reason or another, be up to raising a 10 week-old puppy. Scroll down to the end of the Breeders' list for breeders who currently have older dogs available - because there are generally not very many of them, they are not included in the geographic listing.
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Southeast:
North Carolina:
Frank and Helen Conticchio
"Concordia"
HSDAA certified (Excellent) Stud dog
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Pacific Northwest:
Washington State:
Craig and Jennifer Haugland
"Hurricane Ridge"
puppies currently available from January 2009 litter
1 female companion pup available
website: www.hurricaneridgehavanasilks.com
phone: 360.457.7157
Diane Tomasevich
"Ludico"
puppies available occasionally
website: www.ludicohavanasilks.com
phone: 253.639.0500
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The following breeders currently have older puppies and/or adults available for placement:
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