Havanese Dog Breed Information
The Havanese originates from Cuba, and is known as the national dog. While it’s difficult to determine when and how Havanese dogs were exported from Cuba, we do know “Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens” shared their home with this darling breed (Havanese Club of America, 2016). It’s uncertain when the Havanese arrived in the US, but the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted this dog breed into their club in 1996. Another interesting fact about this breed is the Havanese name serves as both the singular and plural form. 🙂
General Characteristics
For the most part, Havanese are between 8½–11½ inches tall at the shoulder and their weight varies by height. This dog breed’s coat color can come in red brindle, sable brindle, white, gold or any variation in between. Havanese have a longer coat with a bit of texture. It’s believed that Havanese are related to Bichon Frises. This long coat protects Havanese from heat and sunrays because their coats are “extremely light and soft, and insulating against the tropical rays” in Cuba (Havanese Club Of America, 2016).
It’s easy to confuse Havanese with Shih Tzus and Maltese, but if you look closely, you can certainly tell the differences right away. Havanese have a longer muzzle than Shih Tzus and have wider bone structure than Maltese. While Havanese’s coat colors may resemble other breeds, look closely at the texture and you can easily distinguish between the dog breeds.
Health
Havanese are a healthy dog breed, but they’re prone to inherited diseases like most other dogs. Common health issues with this breed include:
- Eye abnormalities
- Heart abnormalities
- Hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation (moving kneecap)
- Elbow dysplasia
- Legg-Calve-Perthes (abnormal femur head)
Reputable dog breeders will test all dogs for inherited diseases before breeding them. If health screenings and tests show an adult Havanese is afflicted with any of these inherited issues, they will be spayed and neutered immediately. If someone claims their dogs have no inherited health issues, they’re lying.
Grooming Havanese
As with all long-coated dogs, Havanese need daily brushings and weekly baths. If you choose to keep your Havanese coat’s clipped short, you should maintain it every 6-7 weeks. Of course, you should also keep your dog’s nails trimmed to an acceptable length (i.e. nails shouldn’t touch the floor) and brush his or her teeth daily.
Exercise & Dog Training Needs
Even though they’re small dogs, they do need daily exercise. Plan to walk your Havanese at least 30 minutes per day, and provide mental stimulation games and puzzles during mealtime. Havanese puppies should be enrolled in a Puppy group class between 10-16 weeks of age and a Basic Manners group class between 4-6 months of age. As with all dogs, Havanese do best with positive reinforcement dog training methods.
Where to Find Havanese
Of course, adopting a Havanese from a rescue is always best because you’re saving a life. If you decide to purchase a puppy or dog, please choose a reputable Havanese breeder. It’s important to note that reputable breeders charge the same amount or less for a puppy unlike unethical breeders. Plus, responsible breeders will guarantee your dog’s health for his or her entire life and will take your puppy or adult dog. To find out more about this dog breed, please visit the Havanese Club of America. This website is packed with invaluable information about this happy little breed.
