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Havanese

The Havanese is The Cuban National Dog

The history of the Havanese goes back centuries, to Spain and the Canary Islands. The Tenerife was the ancestor of all the Bichon breeds and of the Havanese. These breeds were brought to Cuba by Spanish immigrants in the sixteenth century, where it became the National Dog of Cuba. The role of the Havanese developed from being merely a lap-dog to a family companion, a herder and a watchdog.  

Prior to the Cuban Revolution in 1959, export of this breed was not permitted and it was not until 1997 that the first official export was made, to the Netherlands. However, a small number of Havanese were brought to the United States by Cubans escaping from that country. 

The Havanese was admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1995. His AKC popularity was 31st out of 157 breeds in 2010.

The Havanese is in the Toy Dogs category, standing about eleven inches tall at the shoulder and weighing about eleven or twelve pounds.

Grooming The Havanese. 

The Havanese has a profuse, wavy, silky coat, which is extremely light. Having originated in hot climates, like Spain and Cuba, the luxurious coat is not to keep the dog warm but exactly the opposite. to insulate and protect him from the tropical heat experienced in those countries. His coat, which comes in all colors, should remain untrimmed.

Unless the dog is being shown competitively, his coat is more manageable if it is clipped quite short when necessary. Because he virtually does not shed, he only needs to be brushed and combed occasionally. because a short pet coat won't matt or tangle. A show coat will need much more attention, certainly on a daily basis. This need not necessarily be a chore, being quite pleasurable for dog and owner.

Exercise For The Havanese. 

The Havanese is very active and playful inside the house and being small, gets most of the exercise he needs while indoors. However, he enjoys the change of scenery and stimulation he gets from a daily walk on the leash, or a romp in any enclosed area.

Training The Havanese. 

The Havanese is an intelligent dog, which makes him easy to train, because he is also responsive and obedient. He is sensitive and is best taught with gentle persistence. He can be difficult to housebreak. He ranks well, at joint 47th, for intelligence and obedience, being officially described as of "Average Working/Obedience Intelligence and Understanding of New Commands".

Visit Training Your Havanese for lots of Free information and expert help. 

The Temperament of The Havanese. 

With a very long history as a companion dog, the Havanese has a sweet nature and is happy and affectionate. He loves to be involved in everything that is going on and to be the centre of attention. He gets on well with other dogs and is very playful and loving with children. He needs human companionship and is not happy to be left alone for long periods.  

There is a strange behavior that can be quite alarming when it is first witnessed. It has been nick-named "run-like-hell". It is a primeval manic attack where, after a walk, or play time, they will start to growl and hiss and make other gutteral sounds, and then start racing to-n-fro, stop, growl and bare their teeth at their owner. Just as suddenly as it appears, it ends and the dog quickly returns to its friendly character.

Need To Learn More?
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