Havanese Breed Description

Introduction

The Havanese is a small dog related to the same ancestor as that of the Bichon Frise. It originated in the Mediterranean and was brought from there to Cuba. It was named after the city of Havana and was very popular. The Havanese is a small but sturdy dog. It is very friendly, happy, and has an adorable personality. They are outgoing and train easily. Havanese dogs love people and find children entertaining and great playmates. They require low to moderate exercise and can often get the amount of needed daily exercise by playing around indoors within the home. Their coat is wavy, and has a slight curl to it. It is soft and comes in a combination of colors. Daily brushing is needed to avoid tangling. They stand at 8 to 11 inches at the withers and weigh an average of 7 to 13 lbs. Due to their high trainability and outgoing personality, they do well as therapy dogs, and as obedience and agility competitors. Prized family members, these are truly wonderful canine companions.

History

The Havanese breed originated from a different breed called Blanquito dela Habana as well as the German poodle which the Cubans had great preference to. This blend of pedigree brought about the Havanese, which was mostly reared by the Aristocratic class in Cuba. They continued to be bred through the 20th century and began to spread to other countries. Breeding of these dogs in America began in the sixties and seventies when there was an influx of immigrants from Cuba. The breed was at some point about to become extinct, however, a US breeder known as Dorothy Goodale made sure that the breed did not die out completely.

General Description

This dog gives the impression of a typical fragile toy dog; however it is quite sturdy for a dog of its size. The breed has a unique quality of having a topline that rises a little bit from the withers to the rump. They have a gait that is flashy however; it is not very reaching and gives the dogs’ agile movement. If their coats are not clipped or primped, the Havanese may have a scruffy look. Their dark eyes and lengthy tail is usually covered by the silky hair which is varied in colors. The dogs have a double coat as well as an undercoat. Several dogs may have short hair as a result of a recessive gene. They have strong legs that enable easy and quick movement.

Temperament

This breed is naturally a good companion and is very responsive. They often get close to their owners and interact well with children. These cheerful dogs have high intelligence and are sociable with humans as well as other animals. Their intelligence allows them to be easily trained and respond in the desired manner. Havanese dogs are quite curious and are inquisitive about things within their environment hence they are always observing what is going on in their surrounding. Havanese dogs are very sensitive to the different tones of voice and it can tell when a person is using harsh language and this tends to agitate them. When given instructions, they respond better to a firm and authoritative voice rather than a harsh tone. They are not fond of barking and for them to effectively maintain this trait; they should be conditioned from an early age. If not socialized well from an early age, the dogs may exhibit shyness when around strangers. Havaneses are very alert which makes them good for guard duty.

Health and Care

This particular breed is normally healthy but there are some diseases that may pose a threat to the breed and they include cataracts, poodle eye, dry skin, and Luxating Patellas. These ailments are mostly genetically linked and the reason for their susceptibility is their small gene pool.

Other Information

As a result of their cheerful nature and ability to be trained easily, Havanese have several uses including guiding, therapy, tracking termite detection, and performance among many other uses. They are also participants of many spots activities such as flyball and dog agility.
 

Colors

any color, including gold, cream, white, silver, blue and black

Living Area

The Havanese is well suited to living indoors.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, APRI, ACR

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