Havanese Dog Breed
The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise and Maltese. The Havanese is a good-humored small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so they are good with children. They like to have attention and will do tricks to catch peoples attention. This love for attention means they are not the choice for a working couple. They will often follow owners around the home, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ people”, so they are good 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. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as tug of war with all their strength. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention.
For dog care they are relatively simple. They do not shed much, so they are non-allegenic, they are suitable for a family with an allergic member.
The Havanese have a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.
The Havanese should be groomed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If not a show dog, you can have the fur cut. While 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 bathe them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..
The Havanese now come in many different colors and patterns, but were originally white. The Havanese has a sturdy build relative to most toy dog breeds. They have a weight range of eight to twelve pounds. Its height measured at the withers is about eight to twelve inches. It is an unusual dog in that the rump is higher than the withers.
The Havanese have a sprightly agile movement. They are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming.
They have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are inclined to ear infections, so regularly check their ears and clean them. Every so often they may require their inner hairs to be pulled by tweezers or hand. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained often for search. They are easily trainable so are often found in circus shows.
The Havanese normally live fourteen to sixteen years. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. A wonderful family dog that is well worth considering.
Havanese History - Royalty of the Havanese
Havanese dogs are proud, loyal and royal. Havanese, a member of the Bichon family, means “Little Dog from Havana” although this dog probably originated in the Mediterranean. The Havanese breed 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 Havanese faced extinction during the Cuban Revolution as the majority were left behind when their wealthy owners fled the country. Two families, the Perez and the Fantasio families, did manage to smuggle their Havanese with them and those Havanese dogs were the first of their breed recorded in the United States.
In the 1970’s only 11 dogs brought to the United States were used to help the Havanese make a strong comeback and is now cited as being one of the fastest-growing registrations in the American Kennel Club. Maybe the Havanese breed is just right for you.
The small dog breed will bring a history of royalty into your household. You’ll notice it in the elegant stature and in every “proud” step of its gait. The Havanese dog breed is absolutely adorable.
Small Dog Breeds - Big Benefits
Small dog breeds, like the Havanese breed, offer big returns to the right family. Here are some things to consider when you are choosing a dog. And take note, choosing a dog is not the same as choosing the right dog for you.
Havanese dogs are perfect for those with smaller living space. Living space is a huge factor when picking a dog breed. Of course small dogs require less space than larger dogs. But in case you didn’t know, Havanese dogs are small hypoallergenic dogs. All dogs produce allergens and dog dander. Since Havanese are hypoallergenic dogs, they produce less allergens in your small living space quarters.
A typical full grown Havanese dog weighs in at a whopping 9-11 pounds, so it has less body surface to produce allergens and dog dander. Add in the fact that it is a hypoallergenic dog and you will minimize the risk of dog allergies. You really end up sharing your “air” as well as your “living space” with any dog breed you choose so choose wisely. If you are an apartment dweller, or if you have a small to medium living space, Havanese are one of the small dog breeds that could be perfect for you.
What about the size of the costs associated with choosing a dog? Bigger dog beds, bigger dog collars, bigger travel carriers, more food…bigger everything can only mean bigger costs. Choosing a small dog breed like the Havanese breed may be easier on your wallet. Make sure you have the budget necessary to accommodate your new, permanent family member.
Choosing the best dog for kids requires serious consideration. Havanese dogs have a tolerant and easy going nature. They love being around adults and children. The Havanese would rather be close to you than by themselves. These are cute and cuddly dogs. Havanese dogs are one of the best dogs for kids.
A Havanese puppy or dog is highly trainable. You have to have a plan for the arrival of you new family member. Havanese will fare well when crate training a new puppy as you bring it home. Teaching dog tricks to your Havanese is easy and rewarding. Sometimes I think it’s really the owner who is training. Before bringing your small dog home, learn about dog potty training, what is crate training, dog tricks and teaching dog tricks.
This small dog breed doesn’t need to romp as hard as a larger dog breed to get its daily exercise. You want to learn how to walk a dog the right way so you can avoid problems as you exercise your little dog. Dog walking is great for any dog, and it can’t hurt you either.
So there you have it! Small dog breeds like the Havanese offer big returns. They require less living space, are hypoallergenic, cost less to take care off, they are great with kids, adults, and other animals, and Havanese are highly trainable dogs.
Havanese come in many colors - The rarest being Chocolate
• Chocolate Coat
Chocolate coats can vary from very light Cafe au Lait milk chocolate to a darker Bittersweet chocolate color so there may be Chocolate Sables, Chocolate Brindles, Chocolate/Tan, Chocolate Silver. Chocolate can be tinted golden, reddish or ash and come in many shades, from palest milk chocolate to darkest bittersweet chocolate. Chocolate refers to the pigment color
and not only the coat color.
• Chocolate Pigment
True chocolate dogs must have self-colored liver or brown pigment on the nose, lips, pads and eye rims. Chocolate Havanese will have chocolate or clear nails. Chocolate Havanese dogs could not have anything black. All other colors of Havanese must have dark eyes and black pigment on the nose, eye rims, lips and pads.
• Chocolate Eyes
Chocolate Havanese dogs have lighter colored eyes than non-chocolate Havanese dogs. Their eyes come in very similar colors like human eyes (all shades of brown, hazel and amber). The lighter coloration of the eyes on a chocolate Havanese, combined with its almond shape, creates an intelligent expression that appears nearly human. Just like human babies, chocolate Havanese puppies are born with blue eyes.
Nose and eye color combination is the most reliable indicator of whether a dog is actually chocolate or if it just has poor pigmentation. On a true chocolate dog, in addition to the liver pigment, the eye color will be lighter. If your dog’s eyes are very dark, almost black with a lighter brownish nose, then what you have is poor pigmentation and not a chocolate.
Chocolate color is rare for Havanese. Both Havanese parents must carry a chocolate gene in order to produce chocolate puppies.
- If one Havanese dog is chocolate and the other Havanese dog is not chocolate and he does not carry a chocolate gene, there will be no chocolate Havanese puppies in the litter.
- If one Havanese dog is chocolate and the other Havanese dog is not chocolate but he is a chocolate gene carrier, probability is that half of the Havanese puppies in the litter will be chocolate.
- Two non-chocolate Havanese dogs will not produce any chocolate Havanese puppies if they don’t carry a chocolate gene.
- Two non-chocolate Havanese dogs will not produce any chocolate Havanse puppies if only one of them carries a chocolate gene.
- Two non-chocolate Havanese dogs will usually produce one or two chocolate Havanese puppies in the litter only if they both carry a chocolate gene (25% of puppies in the litter will be chocolate statistically).
- Two chocolate Havanese dogs will always produce all chocolate Havanese puppies.
Havanese Colors & Markings
- Colors
- Black
- Blue
- White
- Cream
- Gold
- Chocolate
- Black & Silver
- Black & Tan
- Fawn
- Red
- Silver
- White
- Sable
- Brindle
- Markings
- White Markings
- Tan Points
- Silver Points
- Parti Colored
- Irish Pied
