The Havanese is a diminutive yet affectionate and social breed, with height ranging from 8.5 to 11.5 inches and between 7 and 13 pounds in size. They have a life expectancy between 14 and 16 years. While the breed is hundreds of years old, its origin is traced to Cuba, where it symbolized wealth among royals and aristocrats. It was named after the country's capital of Havana.
Small lapdogs like the Havanese have served as symbols of extravagance to separate social classes for centuries. Believed to be ancestors of the Maltese and Bichon Frise, the Havanese was supposedly first brought to Cuba by Spanish colonizers or Italian sea captains during the 1600s. The breed was refined over the next few centuries and cross-bred with the Poodle to create what Cubans called the Blanquito de la Habana (Havana Silk Dog). It is the only breed native to Cuba.
The breed was restricted mainly to Cuba until Fidel Castro's Communist takeover of Cuba in 1959. At this point, many Cubans fled the country and brought their Havanese dogs to the United States. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Havanese as an official breed in 1996. It was the 142nd breed recognized by the club and, as of 2018, was its 24th most popular breed.
The Havanese Club of America, launched in 1979, is the breed's official AKC Parent Club. The club has more than 400 members dedicated to promoting quality breeding practices and encouraging sportsmanlike behavior at dog shows and other competitions.
The Havanese are known for their big brown eyes, silky fur coat, and curled over the tail, among other distinctive features. Their coat looks as though it might contribute to overheating in warm weather but actually serves as protection from the sun. The breed is easily trained and great with children. They are also generally good with strangers and other dogs.
The Havanese are ideal companion dogs. They enjoy being around their owner instead of roaming free or being in a kennel and serving as a watchdog. They are energetic at times but also comfortable lounging on the couch on their own. They require between 20 and 40 minutes of exercise or playtime per day. They do, however, have relatively high grooming needs and should be brushed at least three times per week to avoid excessive shedding.
Regarding nutrition, the Havanese should be fed age-appropriate, high-quality dog food. Treats are fine in moderation and can assist with training, but too many can lead to obesity. It's best to avoid giving them table scraps, especially foods with a high amount of fat, for this reason.
Although they have a relatively long life span, the Havanese can be susceptible to eye disorders, heart murmurs, patellar luxation, and deafness, among other conditions. In addition to an annual eye exam, the breed should undergo a hearing test, patella evaluation, and hip x-ray.
The Havanese has also been mixed with Cavaliers, while other common hybrids include the Hava-Apso (Havanese plus Lhasa Apso) and Havachon (Havanese plus Bichon Frise). Popular past owners of the breed were writers, Ernest Hemingway and Charles Dickens.
Small lapdogs like the Havanese have served as symbols of extravagance to separate social classes for centuries. Believed to be ancestors of the Maltese and Bichon Frise, the Havanese was supposedly first brought to Cuba by Spanish colonizers or Italian sea captains during the 1600s. The breed was refined over the next few centuries and cross-bred with the Poodle to create what Cubans called the Blanquito de la Habana (Havana Silk Dog). It is the only breed native to Cuba.
The breed was restricted mainly to Cuba until Fidel Castro's Communist takeover of Cuba in 1959. At this point, many Cubans fled the country and brought their Havanese dogs to the United States. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Havanese as an official breed in 1996. It was the 142nd breed recognized by the club and, as of 2018, was its 24th most popular breed.
The Havanese Club of America, launched in 1979, is the breed's official AKC Parent Club. The club has more than 400 members dedicated to promoting quality breeding practices and encouraging sportsmanlike behavior at dog shows and other competitions.
The Havanese are known for their big brown eyes, silky fur coat, and curled over the tail, among other distinctive features. Their coat looks as though it might contribute to overheating in warm weather but actually serves as protection from the sun. The breed is easily trained and great with children. They are also generally good with strangers and other dogs.
The Havanese are ideal companion dogs. They enjoy being around their owner instead of roaming free or being in a kennel and serving as a watchdog. They are energetic at times but also comfortable lounging on the couch on their own. They require between 20 and 40 minutes of exercise or playtime per day. They do, however, have relatively high grooming needs and should be brushed at least three times per week to avoid excessive shedding.
Regarding nutrition, the Havanese should be fed age-appropriate, high-quality dog food. Treats are fine in moderation and can assist with training, but too many can lead to obesity. It's best to avoid giving them table scraps, especially foods with a high amount of fat, for this reason.
Although they have a relatively long life span, the Havanese can be susceptible to eye disorders, heart murmurs, patellar luxation, and deafness, among other conditions. In addition to an annual eye exam, the breed should undergo a hearing test, patella evaluation, and hip x-ray.
The Havanese has also been mixed with Cavaliers, while other common hybrids include the Hava-Apso (Havanese plus Lhasa Apso) and Havachon (Havanese plus Bichon Frise). Popular past owners of the breed were writers, Ernest Hemingway and Charles Dickens.
