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Dogs 101 HAVANESE
Top Dog Facts About the HAVANESE

The Havanese is a dog of Cuban ancestry, belonging to the bichon family. Its ancestor was the Blanquito, or the ‘little white dog’, brought to Cuba around the early 16th century by Spanish traders. Such small dogs had been around in the Mediterranean region for centuries, finding mention even in the works of Aristotle. Brought to Cuba as gifts for the local women and nobility, these dogs became popular in a very short time as companions. It is believed that some lines of the Blanquito mixed with other small dogs like the Poodle to develop the very unique Havanese. The Spanish strictly controlled Cuban trade, and this helped the Havanese develop without any significant outside influence. In subsequent years, some dogs from the breed were taken to Europe and USA, where they thrived as companions as well as circus pets. But the breed was never considered for breeding purposes and its numbers remained minuscule outside Cuba for a long time. Dedicated breeding has made the Havanese fairly well liked in recent years, with its current popularity pegged at the 25th highest.

Time for some Ruff Trivia:
The Havanese belongs to the Bichon family of dogs. What does ‘bichon’ mean?
o A: Small longhaired dog
o B: White dog
o C: Mediumsized companion dog
What do you think, give it your best guess in the comments below before we get to the answer! Hang on tight and we’ll get back to this Ruff Trivia Question toward the end of the video.

An adult Havanese has height between 8.5 and 11.5 inches, and weight between 10 and 16 pounds. Its body is slightly long than tall, and its plumed tail carries up forward over the back. The topline is unique in that it rises slightly as it goes back from the neck. The gait is bouncy, another feature unique to the breed. The coat is silky and light to the touch, and can be double or single coated. Its tropical origins have led to a coat that protects it from harsh sunlight, and acts as a cooling agent. Colors seen can be white, cream, fawn, red, chocolate, beige, silver, blue or black, or combinations of these.

Grooming: Because of the unique nature of its coat, a Havanese does not shed heavily. Its coat does grow very fast, and should be brushed regularly – 2 to 4 times a week – to prevent matting and entangling. Occasional bath can be good, but the breed is not built to bear cold and should be dried quickly and thoroughly. Some owners are known to cord or trim the hair for easy maintenance. Hair growing under the feet needs trimming for the dog to walk freely on floors. Regular nail trimming, ear cleaning and teeth brushing are necessary.

Environment: The Havanese is a playful and affectionate breed, which enjoys being the center of attraction, and is great as a family pet. It also does well with other pets. It can get very attached to its owner, and should never be left alone for long periods. Some dogs of the breed are known to be very vocal, and early training is needed.

Training: The Havanese has been used as a performance dog for a long time because of its easy trainability. It can be house trained with little effort, but requires patience with toilet training. Many dogs of the breed are also used for therapy because of their caring nature. The breed does require daily exercise, but playing in the yard or a short walk on leash can take care of that.

Health: The life expectancy of a Havanese is 10 to 14 years. The breed is a generally healthy one, with no major disease observed. Some minor issues than can occur are kneecap dislocation, cataracts, liver and heart problems, and retinal dysplasia.

A happy, little dog, known to be a natural clown and family pet, the Havanese is ideal for city living. It is also great for people allergic to other dogs with long hair, as it does not shed heavily.

Find out if the Havanese would be a good addition to your home. Now you can visit Brooklyn’s Corner.com to take our quiz and find out which dog would be the best match for you.



Music by Kevin McLeod Royalty Free