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Welcome to Gilwood

We are Robin Gillespie and Buddy Wood.

We're located west of Gainesville, Florida

We breed AKC havanese for showing, therapy work, obedience, agility and rally but most importantly, for wonderful companions. We use the AKC havanese breed standard as our guide so our dogs look and act like those havanese you've fallen in love with.  

In 2000 we got our first havanese and fell head over heels in love. Now there's no turning back. 

When looking for our first havanese we were asked if we wanted to show and breed....something that had never crossed our minds before. We thought about it (not fully understanding all the implications) and our addiction started. 

Bella was that havanese. She stole our hearts. She was our alpha dog, she ruled our roost for all 14.5 years of her life. 

Little did we know that we'd eventually be making plans to have many more fill our home with love and lots of laughter and joy.

It's been one hell of a learning experience. What we originally thought would be simple has been nothing but amazing.

We honestly did not see this coming. They have become our passion.

A 1992 Cuban postage stamp celebrating that country's only purebred dog, the Bichon Habanero, known in the US as the Havanese. The above dog is the first Cuban Champion Havanese "Puppy".

Please keep in mind that even though we happen to think the havanese breed is spectacular, they aren't the perfect dog for every person or lifestyle. Yes, they are truly wonderful companions but they do require more than the average amount of attention and grooming. These little characters don't do well if left alone for extended periods of time and need to be an integral part of the family in order to thrive. (Separation anxiety is not unheard of in this breed.) 

They are very intelligent and can charm the hardest of hearts.

Also... please do your research on the havanese breed, their characteristics and other issues (such as health issues) that can a do affect them before you bring that adorable bundle of fluff home. Don't hesitate to ask questions of breeders. It's better to be forearmed with knowledge than be sorry after the fact.

2002-2017

Dory was the foundation of Gilwood Havanese. She brought love and joy to our home for more than 14 years.

We were so fortunate to have her grace our lives.

Her kids, grand kids, great and great-great grandkids are continuing to bring her glorious coat and elegant look to the havanese world.

In 2001 we became members of the Havanese Club of America.

We are an AKC Breeder of Merit.

****WE WILL NOT SHIP PUPPIES****

You can email Robin at gilwood@bellsouth.net or

call Buddy at 352-474-0993. He loves to talk about our dogs.

*****While we encourage potentials families to visit we ask that you do not come if you have just visited a pet store or another breeder's home. Our puppies have yet to be vaccinated and for that reason we are unwilling to expose them to any potential risk.

Your cooperation is truly appreciated.****


We will not ship puppies.


We have a Gilwood Havanese Facebook Page for all of our puppy families so we can all post pictures.


******* SCAMS. PLEASE READ******* There were a lot of puppy scams on the internet during the pandemic and I'm sure they are still out there. People, please, use caution when dealing with people who claim to have puppies. Recently we were notified via a Facebook page of an internet scam 'selling' puppies that belong to other breeders. The parent dogs and the puppy pictures belong to other people. The parent dogs are actually two male dogs. This person was out $600. Please. Use caution. I know these puppies are adorable and unscrupulous people will play on your emotions. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.



All AKC puppies are sold on either a full or limited registration.


The State of Florida requires a valid Veterinary Health Certificate accompany any puppy sold in the state.


With very few exceptions, all of our puppies are sold on an AKC Limited Registration.

That means that the puppies can not be shown in AKC conformation events (dog

shows), and if bred, the offspring can not be registered with the AKC.

Limited registration dogs can be and are shown in AKC obedience, agility, and rally trials, and they also make

wonderful therapy dogs.


Our puppies that are sold on a Limited Registration will be required to be spayed or neutered at an

appropriate age. We ask that these puppies be allowed to mature before neutering or spaying. A spay/neuter clause is part of our contract. These puppies are wonderful havanese, make wonderful companions and are loved as treasured pets.


Dogs sold on AKC Full Registration are able to be shown in AKC conformation events and if bred, their offspring are

able to be registered with AKC. These puppies are looked at as "show potential". The contract for AKC full

registration includes (minimally) attaining an AKC championship AND completing, passing and registered specific

health tests.


Because it is not obvious at birth which puppies will be show potential the whole litter is constantly observed for

temperament, traits, and conformation qualities. At about 7 - 8 weeks of age the puppies are temperament tested

and examined and evaluated for structure (conformation) using the havanese breed standard as a guide. Those

puppies that evaluate closest to the havanese breed standard are considered "show potential"

Keep in mind there is no such thing as a perfect dog, ALL dogs have faults. We breed each litter always with the

idea of keeping the best.


Our ultimate goal is to produce puppies that closely adhere to the AKC Havanese Breed Standard, so that in theory,

they would all be wonderful representation of the breed no matter what registration they are sold under.

It is for the above reasons puppies in a litter will not be assigned to anyone until a minimum of 7 - 8 weeks of age.

By that time we are able to offer you a better description of each puppy's temperament and personality so we can

assist in finding that perfect match for you and your puppy.


Feel free to contact either Buddy (by phone) or Robin (via email) with questions regarding havanese. We love to talk "Havanese" and if we

don't know the answer we will try to find it.


Nothing on this website is for reproduction without express, written, permission from Robin Gillespie




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