Havanese - Cuba's National Dog

The Havenese belongs to the Bichon family of dogs. This means there is no shedding to worry about with these dogs and getting on their cute dog clothes. These are sturdily-built small dogs with coats that are silky in texture. The coats come in many colors. As small as these dogs are, they do not given an impression of being fragile.  They are friendly by nature.

History of the Breed

Tha Havenese originated in Cuba during the 19^th century. This dog was a pet in many homes across the country. When the Cuban revolution happened many Cubans moved to the United States, some of these new arrivals bringing these dogs along with them.

A breeder in the United States managed to come up with 11 Havanese to work with. She literally saved this breed from dwindling down to extinction. This breed was then registered by the AKC in 1996 in the Toy Group. They are still a very rare breed but popular to own.

Temperament for the Havanese

This breed has a playful spirit and is quite friendly. The Havanese loves attention and is smart enough to do tricks to get it. They will even go running through the house if need be. Havanese love to be around people and will often follow after their owners from room to room.

They love kids and are more durable around them than other toy breeds. The Havenese will take the unpredictable behavior of children better than most of the toy breeds. These dogs love to play with their owners.

The intelligence of this breed makes the Havanese easy to train. Caution needs to be taken when training them not to use a harsh tone of voice. Gentle methods of training work very well with the Havanese. They also get along well with other dogs the owner has.

Health Issues for the Havanese

This breed is basically a healthy one. There are a few health issues caused by genetics that can happen to them. The main health issues these dogs can suffer with are heart disease, retinal dysplasia, cataracts, and liver disease. These are genetic in cause for the most part.

Grooming for the Havanese

When the coat is kept at the normal length it should be combed and brushed about two times a week. Some owners have their Havanese clipped in a puppy cut that is easier to take care of. The extra hair on the pads on the feet also should be trimmed. Since this dog does almost no shedding brushing is necessary to get the dead hairs. A Havanese with regular length hair should look a bit wind-blown and casual.

Watch the ears for signs of infection. The teeth should be brushed on a weekly basis. Havanese need their nails clipped too to prevent them over growing. 

Now if the Havanese is being shown in shows it will need more rigorous grooming according to the show standards. But for just having one as a pet the above instructions for grooming are just fine. Remember the real purpose of grooming is to keep the coat healthy and have them wear a fancy dog collar.