HAVANESE Breed Standards
The Havanese originates from the ancient Bichon family of dogs, which includes the Bichon Frise, Bichon Bolognese, Bichon Maltaise and Bichon Havanais, or Havanese. The Havanese was introduced to Cuba during the 16th century by Spanish traders, who made gifts of the little dogs as a means of smoothing trade between the two countries. The Cuban climate is believed to have affected the development of the dog’s coat, making it better suited to protecting the dog from the sun and keeping it cool. Beginning around 1700, the Havanese became an increasingly popular pet in the homes of wealthy Cuban families.
However, the advent of the Cuban Revolution would cause the Havanese's popularity to plummet to such a degree that the dog almost went extinct during the 20th century. The wealthy classes that tended to keep the little dogs left the country, and those who remained had little user for the Havanese. During the 1970s, eleven Havanese were brought to the US, and it is from these dogs that virtually all Havanese outside the former Soviet block descend. These days, the Havanese is more plentiful in the US than in its original homeland of Cuba.
SKILLS: Bred to be companions and pets, the Havanese, soon found favour with wealthy Cubans and became a status symbol among the upper classes of Havana. Although still considered a rare breed, their fun-loving personalities are making them increasingly popular in the US.
SIZE: The Havanese stands up to 11 1/2 inches high at the shoulder.
COAT: He has large dark eyes and a long, soft, wavy coat that comes in a great variety of colors including cream, white, blue, champagne, gold, sable, black, and chocolate, or any combination of these.
CARE REQUIRED: Surprisingly, this little dog doesn't shed but does need regular brushing to keep his abundant coat tangle-free.
CHARACTER: This sweet little dog is agile, affectionate and very sociable. A happy, friendly, and outgoing creature, his temperament is ideally suited to be a pet. The little clowns are nevertheless somewhat wary of strangers and make good watchdogs.
EXERCISE: They require moderate exercise - a daily romp or long walks.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: The Havanese loves human companionship and has the energy and playfulness to keep up with active children. Because of his people-loving nature, this breed will not be happy if it spends a lot of time alone.
TRAINING: The intelligent Havanese is a small, muscular dog with great stamina whose love of people and desire to please make him an excellent candidate for obedience training
