Tiny, with silky, flowing fur, the Havanese may look delicate, but it is not. Sturdy, curious, and extremely cheerful, the Havanese has a "springy" gait that's unique to the breed. Always busy, this little clown makes an excellent and affectionate family companion and friend to anyone. A member of the Bichon family, it's also the national dog of Cuba, developed from a breed which is now extinct, the Blanquito de la Habana, translated as the "little white dog of Havana."

History
As the national dog of Cuba, the Havanese is the only native breed to come from that country. Its ancestors probably traveled to Cuba on trade ships that sailed from the island of Tenerife, in the early 16th century. For years, Cuban trade was highly controlled by Spain, and Tenerife was one of its only open ports. The Havanese's ancestors found their way into Cuba's aristocratic hearts, and the breed developed in isolation, without much influence because of the trade restrictions.

The evolution of the Havanese was presumably influenced by Cuba's tropical climate, most especially the breed's silky coat. Light, gossamer, and very soft, the coat feels like raw silk which traditionally served the important purpose of protecting these little dogs from Cuba's harsh and sometimes unrelenting days in the sun.

By the mid-18th century, colonial Cuba was prospering as was the Havanese breed, which was becoming more popular. Fashionable in Europe, as well, this little dazzler was often shown in European dog shows. As time went on, the breed became famous as a family pet and watchdog. Interestingly, it also became an excellent herder for poultry flocks kept by families.

With Cuba's revolution, Cuban aristocrats who owned the Havanese fled the country. Some of these dogs made their way to the United States, and by the end of the 1970s, the gene pool for the Havanese breed was being reestablished. Today, the Havanese originates solely from 11 dogs that came with their owners when they fled Cuba, with the exception of the Havanese that still exist behind the "Iron Curtain" and in Cuba. Yet, despite all of the changes that have transpired, the breed itself has remained nearly unchanged in the past century and a half.

Recognized by the AKC since 1996, this dog is a member of the Toy Group and is currently ranked as the 25th most popular dog breed by the AKC.

Appearance
Energetic, gentle, and fun-loving, the Havanese looks like an aristocratic little dog – but really isn't. While the long coat can make your pet look delicate if it's groomed to be soft and silky, the dog is actually very sturdy. As a toy breed, the Havanese stands 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder in adulthood and weighs an average of 7 to 16 pounds. With a whimsical expression and lively, expressive eyes, what's really notable about this breed is its lively, "springy" gait. A dog which literally bounces through life, this trait is a perfect match to its personality, indeed. With long ears, a tail that cheerfully arches up over the back, and a black button nose, "adorable" is a good descriptive word for this dog in any context. Coat colors can be anything, including silver, white, cream, gold, black, or blue, tricolor and particolored. Show colors in North America are all recognized, although many North American breeders prefer black or chocolate. Show dogs that are considered chocolate must have at least a 1 inch patch of chocolate hair. Chocolate dogs have amber or green eyes, while dogs of other coat colors usually have brown eyes.

While a show dog’s fur is generally groomed to be soft and silky, dogs whose fur is untouched usually have coats that are corded in texture. Corded coats are usually curly and grow continuously. Historically, this type of coat protected dogs that functioned as shepherds from pursuit by wolves whose teeth could not pierce through such thick hair. The fur can also be silky or wavy. The double coat is soft both for the outer and undercoat, and grows to 6 to 8 inches with a lustrous sheen. On occasion, puppies can be born with smooth coats as a result of a shorthaired recessive gene that both parents must carry.

Temperament
The perfect companion dog, this little pet is very happy, sweet and gentle. You will find that as soon as you bring your little pet home, it will become very attached to you, and in fact will be a "Velcro" or "shadow" dog. Most owners find this endearing. You may even find your pet wants to follow you into the bathroom!

Cheerful and sociable, this breed never poses any kind of disciplinary problem, since its prime incentive will be to please you all the time. You may have difficulty housebreaking your pet, as is true of many toy breeds. If you need to, you can train your little pet to use a litter box as a cat learns to do.

Active, sensitive, and very lively, this dog loves to play and can be quite rambunctious. Even though the Havanese stores boundless energy, it is small enough to satisfy its need for daily activity indoors. If possible, it is also beneficial to walk your little pet whenever you can, although playing vigorously outside in a safe enclosed space will suffice as well.

Proper environment
The Havanese will readily accept life in an apartment as long as you provide adequate regular exercise. However, you should never adopt this breed if you intend to leave your pet home alone for several hours a day. Havanese establish such a strong, natural bond with their owners that extreme anxiety can result if left alone for any significant period of time. If you allow your pet to be your little shadow, however, the Havanese will be an extremely devoted, loving, and obedient dog, and will never leave your side.

Health
Healthy and quite resilient, this breed has few medical issues, although some dogs may have knee problems with luxating patella, or eye concerns like retinal dysplasia, and cataracts. Occasionally, the Havanese may have allergies which can produce brown tear stains under the eyes, especially noticeable on light-colored or white coats. Your vet can recommend suitable treatments if present.

Your pet should live a long time, 14 to 16 years on average. The Havanese of America organization monitors genetic issues within the breed to help prevent their spread.

Grooming
The coat needs to be thoroughly combed at least twice a week. If your pet's coat is particularly curly or dense, it may be more prone to mats and tangles. Comb more frequently, daily or every other day if needed, to prevent tangles. If you're not planning to show your pet, you can trim your pet's fur to 1 to 2 inches in length for easier maintenance. The Havanese grows hair between its paw pads on the bottoms of its feet which will need trimming to make sure your pet will have enough traction on smooth floors. When you bathe your pet, make sure you comb hair out so that it doesn't mat while still wet. You can blow dry it on a low setting if you wish since a higher setting may burn sensitive skin and should be avoided.

References
Adopt a Havanese.
http://www.petfinder.com/dog-breeds/Havanese
Retrieved July 20, 2013.

AKC Meet the Breeds®: References Get to know the Havanese.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/havanese/index.cfm
Retrieved July 20, 2013.

Havanese.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havanese
Retrieved July 20, 2013.

Havanese (Bichon Havanais) (Havana Silk Dog) (Bichon Havanese).
Retrieved July 20, 2013