Havanese – a Wonderful Dog.
The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a good-humoured small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They love to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This love for notice does not make them an ideal choice for a working couple. They love following owners around the house, however they are not possessive of their “ people”, so are superb with other animals and dogs. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as football with gusto. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.
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 has a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a heavier undercoat.
The Havanese should be groomed daily, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can have the coat trimmed. Whilst they have fur, 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.
It is advisable to dry them after a bath with towels, rather than a hair drier, which can make their skin too dry and prone to infections. 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 original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
Whilst the Havanese is a toy dog, it is solid and sturdy. They have a weight range of four to six Kgs ( normally 12 lbs). Its height measured at the withers is roughly two hundred and fifty mm( 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. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but careful when near waterparticularly if there are birds for them to run after.
They have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are disposed to ear infections, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may require their inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained in some countries for search. They are easily trainable so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.
The Havanese routinely live fourteen to sixteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a few genetically-linked disorders. The most common being liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia (dots and streak on the retina). It is advisable only to buy 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 original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the 1970s from only 10 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 great family dog that is well worth considering.
