Havanese: temperament, size, care and health

About the Havanese

The Havanese is a small, sturdy dog with a slightly longer-than-tall body, drop ears, dark eyes and a plumed tail carried over the back. The coat is long, light and silky, with a gentle wave, and it comes in nearly every color and pattern, including cream, chocolate, black, silver and parti-color. A springy, lively gait is characteristic of the breed.

It was developed as a companion, and people keep it for its good humor, trainability and portable size. It is the national dog of Cuba.

Temperament and family life

A Havanese is cheerful, affectionate and highly social. It likes people of all kinds, welcomes visitors and generally gets along with children, other dogs and cats. It is more likely to follow its owner from room to room than to guard anything. Some are called Velcro dogs for this reason.

The breed is easily upset by shouting or tension, and it suffers if left alone for long hours, which can lead to barking, chewing and anxiety. It makes a reasonable alert barker, but not an aggressive one. As with any small dog, small children should be taught to be gentle, and the dog supervised around them.

Exercise and training

A Havanese needs a daily walk and active play, but it adapts well to indoor life. It enjoys games, tricks and short bursts of running, and it is a good performer in obedience, rally and agility. Because the coat is long, outings in rain or mud mean extra cleaning.

The breed is clever and eager to please, and training with rewards and gentle direction goes well. Its performing background means it often learns tricks quickly and enjoys an audience. House training requires a schedule, and some Havanese are slow to become reliable. Early practice at being alone for short periods prevents separation distress.

Grooming and shedding

The coat sheds lightly, but loose hairs often get trapped in the coat and form tangles instead of falling out. A full coat needs brushing and combing down to the skin every other day, and many owners choose a short puppy cut to reduce the work. Bathing about every two to four weeks keeps the coat clean and silky.

Hair at the corners of the eyes and inside the ears should be kept short and clean, as it can cause staining and ear infections. Trim the nails, check the pads and brush the teeth regularly.

Health

The Havanese is generally long-lived. Patellar luxation is the most common orthopedic concern, and some dogs have hip problems or Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Eye conditions, including cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, heart murmurs, a liver condition called portosystemic shunt, skin allergies and hearing loss are also reported.

Responsible breeders test knees, eyes, hearts and hearing and screen hips. This is general information about the Havanese, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The Havanese descends from small white dogs of the bichon family thought to have reached Cuba with Spanish settlers, which then developed in isolation into a distinct type, sometimes called the Blanquito de la Habana. The dogs became favorites of wealthy Cuban families. After the Cuban revolution of 1959 many families emigrated, and a small number of dogs reached the United States, where a few breeders rebuilt the breed from a very small founder group. It later spread across North America and Europe.

Is the Havanese right for you?

A Havanese suits a household that wants a friendly, trainable small dog and can be home much of the day, including first-time owners and families with gentle children. It fits an apartment well and is a low-shedding choice, although grooming takes steady work.

It is a poor choice for those who are away from home for long hours, who want a guard dog or who dislike combing. The Bichon Frise and Coton de Tulear are close relatives with similar sociability, and the Maltese is smaller and often more delicate. The Shih Tzu has a similar long coat and a calmer approach to the day.