Ah, the world of colors...

Perhaps some of you have noticed the big difference in Milo's colors. I love to be up front and honest with all of my puppy buyers and I want you to know the truth about Havanese colors. Many Havanese carry the fading gene. My Havanese have all faded and their puppies are expected to do the same. The fading gene is not due to old age. This happens as young as six months old and the dog can completely change color by one year old. Once again, it has nothing to do with old age, and usually begins early on. Can I guarantee you a brown and white parti color pup? No. Can I guarantee you a chocolate and tan pup? No. Will your puppy's color change or not? I do not know. But most likely it will. All those who have sent me pictures of their chocolate pups grown up, have proved this - they have faded just like Daddy Milo. There it is. The truth and nothing but the truth. Smile. I wish someone had told me this when I got my first Havanese because my search for such and such a color really wouldn't have mattered that much if I knew they all faded and changed anyways!

You may be the very rare one that will have a puppy that stays the same color his whole life. (I haven't seen this yet in any of my Havanese!) So just remember that your puppy will probably completely change color which is quite common in Havanese. A good guide is to look at the color of Mama and Papa and try to see how they have changed. Milo changed quite a bit. Hazelnut has lightened a lot too, but still is a light brown and white dog. Maybe your puppy will fade a lot and carries even more of the fading gene from Daddy Milo. Oh, and here it gets even more complicated -- maybe your puppy carries grandpa and grandma's color genes! As you can see the possibilities are endless and that is why a breeder is wise to not guarantee a color ever in certain breeds. This is common in other breeds too. A few breeds that color change for example are: Havanese, Shih Tzu, and Poodles.

Milo was a chocolate and tan but now he is a silver mocha color with lighter tan points (eyebrows, other facial highlights, and feet, etc as shown in the picture.) Hazel, on the other hand, lightened alot but is still a brown and white parti color. Sasha is still quite dark, but Gracie has faded from a black to a charcoal gray. This is the fun part about Havanese. You never know exactly what shade they will turn since genes have such a complex history. Yet, I like everyone to simply assume that their Havanese will lighten. That way there are no surprises! The one thing you will know, no matter what happens, is that you will adore your new best friend!