We have found that the decision to give up their Havanese is not an easy one for any of the families with whom we have worked. It's often a process that began long before we were contacted. We do try to help people look for other options, but sometimes an owner sees the best choice as surrender.

Some Havanese come to us because there was not a good match between the owner and the dog. Havanese are very sociable and their need for companionship is more than some families anticipate.

Havanese require regular grooming. Some families find they were not prepared for the time and expense this entails.

Havanese are slow to mature and can take a long while to reliably house train. If a family has irregular or extended hours away from home, this exacerbates the problem.

Sometimes families go through changes such as divorce, death, serious illness of one of the family members or even the sudden arrival of several children that expend the family's resources, including time. The Havanese may not respond well to these situations or the owners may not find themselves able to provide the care they need for themselves and their family as well as their Havanese. These decisions are always difficult for the family involved.

Expenses can also play a part in the decision to give up a dog. Some Havanese require regular medication or medical attention either because of their age or illness.