The Havanese or Havanese is an adorable small dog with long, soft hair. The origins of the breed are located between Spain and Italy, the Mediterranean basin, but the breed was finally developed in Cuba where it lived with the aristocracy of the 19th century. It is a jovial, active and cheerful dog, perfect for very different families looking for a loving companion.
In this tab on our site we will share with you some details about the character and care required by the Havanese, an excellent companion dog. If you are thinking of adopting this dog, you cannot miss this complete file in which you will discover whether or not it is the perfect companion for you:
History of the Havanese
This breed shares its origin with all other bichons, which are descended from barbet crosses (an ancient dog now extinct) and dogs laps of the Mediterranean basin. Other breeds that descend from the same line are: the Bichon Frize, the M altese Bichon, the Bolognese Bichon and, a little further phylogenetically, the Poodle.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Spanish sailors took some of these bichons to Cuba, where they won the preference of the Cuban aristocracy of that era. At the time, these bichons were known as "blanquitos de la Habana" because they were exclusively white dogs.
It was only in the 19th century that the modern Havanese appeared, thanks to the blood supply of German poodles and poodles. However, the breed fell out of favor in the early 20th century and all of the original Cuban lines disappeared, leaving the Havanese virtually extinct. Fortunately for dog lovers, the breed was rescued in the United States by Cuban breeders who had emigrated to that country with some of their dogs.
According to the International Cinological Federation (FCI), the name of the Havanese does not come from the development of the breed in Havana, but because the predominant color in the modern breed is the Havana color. Today the Havanese is a rare dog, but it is not on the brink of extinction.
Havanese Bichon Characteristics
This dog's body is small and slightly longer than it is tall. The topline is straight, but it is slightly arched on the back and the croup is sloping. The lower line has a well tucked belly.
The Havanese Bichon's head is broad with a flattened or slightly convex top. The stop is moderately marked and the nose is black or brown. The eyes, with a friendly expression, are large, almond-shaped and dark brown. The ears of this dog are set high and fall to the sides of the cheeks. Its end forms a slightly marked point.
Tail is shaped like a pastoral staff (distal end curved) or preferably coiled over back. She has a characteristic fringe of long silky hairs.
As with other Bichons, the Havanese's coat is one-mantled or has a very poorly developed undercoat. The covering coat is very long, between 12 and 18 centimeters, smooth, straight or wavy, and can form curly streaks. According to the International Cinological Federation (FCI) standard, the following coat colors are accepted: pure white, fawn in its different shades, black, brown tan, tobacco color, reddish brown. Stains in listed colors are also allowed. The FCI standard does not indicate an ideal weight for the breed, but the height at the withers ranges from 23 to 27 centimeters.
Havanese Character
In general, these dogs are very playful, active, lively and even a bit clownish. Being so cheerful and sociable, they need a lot of company and a lot of mental stimulation.
Havanese Bichons tend to be social with people, dogs and other animals. Also, and despite their small size, they are usually very friendly with children. However, they can be aggressive or shy when their socialization has been poor. Therefore, it is important to socialize them from puppies.
They are also very intelligent and easy to train dogs, which is why they were once widely used in circuses. Currently they are not used for any speci alty of dog training, and fortunately not in circuses either, but they can practice competitive obedience, canine freestyle and agility, as well as stand out as excellent pets. The training style used should be based on positive reinforcement, such as clicker training.
Among the most frequent behavior problems in the Havanese are excessive barking, separation anxiety and destruction of things. Of course, those problems mostly occur when dogs don't get the companionship, physical exercise, and mental stimulation they need.
However, in most cases these behavior problems do not occur and Havanese make excellent pets, either for families with children or without children. They also make great pets for first-time owners.
Havanese Bichon Care
This dog's hair tends to tangle easily, so it is necessary to brush and comb it at least every other day. However, and unlike many breeds of long-haired dogs, the Havanese does not need a dog groomer. Bathing should be done only when the dog is dirty and try to avoid frequent bathing (no more than once a month). An advantage of this dog's coat is that it does not lose hair, so this bichon is a hypoallergenic dog.
Compared to other dog breeds, the Havanese has a low need for exercise. Moderate exercise is usually sufficient, which can consist of daily walks, light games and obedience training. The love that these dogs have for swimming is also notorious, so it does not hurt to give them the opportunity to swim in a safe place, whenever possible.
In any case, because of their size, Havanese Bichons can get much of the exercise they need indoors. They adapt very well to apartment life and to living in densely populated cities.
On the other hand, his needs for company are very high. These dogs need to be accompanied almost all the time and should not live isolated in a patio or garden. They are also not suitable dogs to be left alone all day while your family is at work.
Havanese Bichon Education
As happens with all dogs, in its puppy stage the Havanese will need to follow the usual socialization process that allows it to learn to relatewith other dogs, pets, children, adults and objects. The purpose of socialization is basically to avoid the appearance of future behavior problems due to fear. It is understandable that if the Havanese does not know an urban environment he feels insecurities and fear
Later, we are going to teach him the basic obedience commands to achieve good communication between the two. We must know that the natural predisposition of the Havanese Bichon will give us the opportunity to teach him very different tricks in which both we and he will enjoy. All his education should be based on the positive reinforcement of the dog, something that will allow us good results and will strengthen the relationship with the dog.
Havanese He alth
The Havanese tends to be a he althy breed, but can get some canine diseases with some frequency. Patellar luxation is perhaps the most frequent disease in the breed. Other common diseases, although not as frequent as the previous one, are progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and external otitis.
