• History

  After Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain in 1492, Spanish settlers began arriving on the island. With them came their small companion dogs — the ancestors of what's now the Bichon family of dogs.

  These dogs interbred and — isolated from other dogs by island life, and later, by trade restrictions imposed on Cuba by Spain — they began to develop into the Havanese we know today. Their signature coat was thick and silky, which helped insulate the dog from the tropical sun (the coat is like raw silk floss, profuse, but extremely light and soft, and insulates against the tropical rays in much the same way that yards of silk sari protect the women of India).

  By the early 1800s, Havanese were gracing the laps of many aristocratic families in Cuba. European travelers who became enamored with the breed brought dogs back to England, Spain, and France. The breed became trendy in Europe in the mid-1800s, and Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens were among his well-known fans at the time.

  Like most breed trends, this one petered out. At one point the Havanese became almost extinct, even in his native Cuba. A few Cuban families still bred and kept the dogs, however, and with the Cuban Revolution in 1959, 11 Havanese were brought to the U.S. in the arms of their owners.

  These canine refugees are the ancestors of most of the Havanese outside of Cuba today.

  The renaissance of the breed began in the 1970s,when an American couple who bred dogs found a few descendents of the 11 dogs who were brought from Cuba. Charmed by their intelligence and affectionate nature, they began tracking down other Havanese and working to reestablish the breed.

  Because most Havanese outside of Cuba today can trace their ancestry to just 11 dogs, breeders are working to widen the gene pools of the American-bred Havanese.

  The American Kennel Club officially recognized the breed in 1995.

Havanese Care & Grooming:

The Havanese sheds very little hair and is good for allergy sufferers. Its long wavy coat needs extensive grooming. Almost daily brushing is required to maintain a healthy looking coat. The hair on the head should either be trimmed or tied up in a knot to keep them away from the eyes. Its long coat tends to accumulate dust, so need to be bathed regularly but must be dried properly after each bath. Its eyes, ears and teeth should be cleaned properly to avoid any infection. The hair around its eyes, ears and paws, and nails should be trimmed regularly. Some dry food or bone should be given to the dog to chew, in order to keep its teeth strong and clean. 

Being a toy breed, it needs moderate amount of exercise. A daily walk is essential for emotional needs of the dog. A romp in an open area every now and then or play is sufficient to take care of its developmental needs. Lack of exercise may create behavioral problem in the dog and can also make it overweight.

DOG BREED GROUP

Companion dog

HEIGHT

General: 8 inches to 11 inches tall at the shoulder ( 20-28 cm. )

WEIGHT

General: 7 to 13 pounds ( 3-6 kg. )

LIFE SPAN

12 to 15 years

CKC = Canadian Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel Club
KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
NKC = National Kennel Club
CKC = Continental Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc.