Characteristics of the Havanese
The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese They are a good-humoured small 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 love for attention does not make them an ideal choice for a busy working couple. They love following owners around the flat, however they are not possessive of their “friends”, so are superb with other dogs, pets and other animals. This seeking for attention often shows when eating, as they like someone present, so if you leave the room, they will often follow, eating as they go, which can be messy. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as tug of war with all their strength. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional Dog Walkers such as London Dog Walking, if doing grouped walks will pair them with similar dogs, rather than big energetic dogs.
For dog care they are straightforward. 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 have a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.
The Havanese should ideally be brushed every day, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, 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 the kennel clubs, prefer and dictate a natural look, avoiding the bows and preferring the hair over the eyes, that protected their eyes from the Cuban sun.
The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
The Havanese has a solid appearance compared to most toy dog breeds. The Havanese weight ranges from four to six Kgs ( around 12 lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm( 9-11 inches). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.
The Havanese move with an agile springy gait. The Havanese are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but be prudent close to waterparticularly if there are birds for them to chase.
They have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are susceptible to infections and diseases of the ear, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may need inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have very sensitive noses and are trained often for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often found in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.
The Havanese routinely live normally fifteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a few genetically-linked disorders. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( streaks and dots on the retina). It is advisable only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, this is more obvious on the lighter coloured dogs.
The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Cuba by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the seventies from only ten dogs in the United States. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.
A superb family dog that is well worth considering.
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