The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese They are a lively little dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They like to have peoples notice and will do tricks to catch peoples attention. This love for attention means they are not the choice for a working couple. They love following owners around the home, however they are not possessive of their “ people”, so are good with other animals and dogs. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “ true dog”, playing games such as football with gusto. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.
For dog care they are straightforward. They do not shed much, so whilst not strictly non-allegenic, they may be suitable for a family with an allergic member.
The Havanese have a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.
The Havanese should ideally be groomed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.
It is advisable to dry them after a bath with towels, rather than a hair drier, which can make their skin too dry and prone to infections. It is a breed that the kennel clubs, prefer and dictate a natural look, avoiding the bows and preferring the hair over the eyes, that protected their eyes from the Cuban sun.
The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
They have a stocky appearance compared to most toy dog breeds. The Havanese weight ranges from four to six Kgs ( around twelve lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm( normally ten). It is an unusual dog in that the rump is higher than the shoulders.
They move with an agile springy gait. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but be prudent when near water if there is something for them to chase.
The Havanese have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. They are prone to infections and diseases of the ear, so routinely check their ears and clean them. Every so often they may need inner hairs to be pulled by tweezers or hand. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. They have very sensitive noses and are trained often for search. They are easily trained so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.
They routinely live roughly fourteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a few genetically-linked disorders. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( blots on the retina). It is recommended only to buy Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.
The dog was bred from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the 1970s from only ten animals in the US. They were common in Cuba, prior to the revolution, but suffered afterwards. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.
A superb family dog that should be considered.
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