A Perfectly Accurate Description

[shipperx]

Fell down a link blackhole on AOL (you know, you click a link that leads to another link and so-on), eventually ending on a site that describes dog breeds.  Have got to say, they are pretty spot-on regarding the personality of a my dog's breed:  Havanese

Often mischievous, occasionally naughty — shredding paper is a favorite pastime — the little dogs from Cuba will fly across your furniture, take over the couch and bed, alert you to visitors or intruders {...} [The Havanese] has a sense of humor and loves the attention he gets when he does funny things. He is a clown and performs all the time. {...} A wonderfully happy breed, the Havanese has a unique gait, referred to as springy, that announces his cheerful temperament. He springs along and makes you laugh. {...}. Watching Havanese play is a giggle. They like to tear around the house or yard and will play for hours with anyone who has the patience and stamina to keep up with them. Even though they’re small in stature, they’re very sturdy and agile. They are also happy to settle on a lap — anything is fine with a Havanese as long as it involves attention.

I swear you can see her laughing as she makes you chase her around the living room before she'll consent to her harness for her walk.

She doesn't resist a harness. It's not that. It's that she clearly and obviously enjoys making you chase her for a few minutes before rolling over, exposing her tummy, and then dutifully standing still for the harness. Clearly, it's just about the fun.

"Flying across your furniture" is perfectly accurate as well.

Comments

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Had to look up what they said about my former dogs.

Training him — well, it’s been said that the term “obedient Dachshund” is an oxymoron. Nevertheless, a Dachshund who will work for you instead of against you can become a heck of a competitor in obedience trials, rally and other dog sports. It’s just a matter of finding what motivates him. Usually food works, but Dachshunds have their own way of thinking and no matter how good the treats are, sometimes their desires just won’t coincide with what you’re asking them to do. Training a Dachshund calls for patience, consistency and a great sense of humor.

...And now I remember that time I spent an hour in the rain outside a rabbit burrow waiting for the dachshund who understood that I wanted her to come out into the wet and cold, but just couldn't see how that was any of her business.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Hee. Doggies do tend to have ideas all their own. :)

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

As a longtime doxie owner....YES

That said, I keep getting them (and doxie mixes), so I must be drawn to this adorable intransigence!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

They are adorable.

I've never had one, though, so I don't know their personalities up close very well.

Up until I adopted my Havanese, my family had only ever owned poodles. We always had good experiences with poodles (and I wasn't against one when I was looking to adopt. But these days, other than the standard size, they seem more difficult to find without being cross-bred with other breeds, and what they are charging for Goldendoodles is NUTS!)

I've been quite happy with my Havy. She's as smart as the poodle, only more bouncy and soft-tempered (she's more shy than my experience with poodles and doesn't react well to harsh voices.)

She does have a stubborn streak though. If you are walking her and she doesn't want to go that direction she just sits her tushy down and refuses to go. Have to not laugh when she does it because she's quite cute while doing it, but she's quite stubborn about it. (I know it's weird to say soft-tempered AND stubborn, but she manages to be both).

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

You're lucky you didn't get a goldendoodle. From everything I've heard, and every one I've encountered, they're cute and sweet, but possibly the dumbest dogs on the planet and difficult to train because of that. It isn't stubbornness, they just don't get it!

I understand! Catie's that way. She's dainty and sweet and definitely our most submissive pup, but when she doesn't want to do something, she does the same thing, and then gives me a "you MUST be kidding!" look. SO hard not to laugh!

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

That's why terrier and dachshunds have short little tough tails, so you can pull them out of holes when they won't leave. With Luna, I know her breed was designed to be eaten and be a guard dog....against everything. Espically to her bicycles, motorcycles and little girls riding their scooters down the block. I don't know how many times I have to put down the shade to get her to stop, or how many times she has fallen off the window ledge or the back of the couch because she gets so involved in her barking and growling that she doesn't watch where her feet are. She has been a joy over the seven months we had her and has gone from being too skinny my icon picture of her to a fat 14 pounds. Chihuahua's though can drive you mad.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

a guard dog....against everything. Espically to her bicycles, motorcycles and little girls riding their scooters down the block.

I hear you. Zoe's is "any dog walking on 'her' sidewalk" but very most especially any dog that she does not recognize. If it's a dog that (in her mind) does not belong in the neighborhood, there is a markedly more vocal reaction.

And then... there is Barkley.

Zoe is just flat-out in love with Barkley (a small white terrier down the street). It's both bizarre and pronounced. She absolutely loves this dog.

She enjoys visiting other neighbors' dogs: Barney, Annie, Izzie, Stella, Tiger. She tolerates Willie (the young golden retriever who, like her, is quite bouncy but who is also large and it intimidates her. She's okay with him if he's calm though). She cannot stand Butch and Hank Williams (both of whom are totally docile hounds who have done nothing wrong, but who are also large and thus she becomes intimidated, and when she's intimidated she barks to seem more intimidating in her own right than she actually is).

She even gets along famously with my Mom's huge grouchy black cat.

But Barkley? I swear you can see cartoon hearts popping up over her eyes. She practically molests the old pup.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

How cute is that??

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Both the 'flying over furniture' and the 'tearing around the house' are hilariously giggle worthy. She's also totally sweet-forever. She'll cuddle with you for virtually forever.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Dogs are just wonderful, seriously. So much joy!