The Pet Report

The Havanese is one of the Bichon type breeds, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a lively little dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They like to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This need for notice does not make them an ideal choice for a busy working couple. They will often follow owners around the flat, however they are not possessive of their “ family”, so are great 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. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.

For dog care they are relatively simple. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is light and soft, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should be groomed daily, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If not a show dog, you can have the coat trimmed. Whilst they have a good coat, they do suffer in extreme cold, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..

The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
They have a robust look compared to most toy dog breeds. They have a weight range of normally 5 Kgs ( about twelve lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm(around ten). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

They have a sprightly agile movement. The Havanese are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but be prudent when near waterparticularly if there are birds for them to chase.

The Havanese have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. They are inclined to ear infections, so regularly check their ears and clean them. Sometimes they may require their inner hairs to be pulled by tweezers or hand. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have very sensitive noses and are trained in some countries for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

The Havanese generally live fourteen to sixteen years. They being breed from a limited gene pool suffer from some genetic diseases. The most common being liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia (dots and streak on the retina). It is recommended only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese sometimes develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the 1970s from only ten animals in the US. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. For this reason it may be difficult to acquire one, so the best of luck on finding one.

A great family dog that should be considered.

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