Havanese Dog Temperaments and Care

Havanese: About the Breed

You may not have heard of the Havanese or Havanese Silk Dog, but this breed has a long history that dates back to the 1500s. When Spanish colonists claimed what is now Cuba as a colony, they brought their dogs with them, called Bichons. Over the centuries, these toy dogs came to be known as Havanese, named after the city of Havana. They developed their own characteristics and became the national dog of Cuba.

The Luxury Dog

Their fur became long and silky and wavy or curly with two layers. Some shorthaired Havanese do appear, but they are not considered show-worthy. The eye rims, nose, and lips are always black. They were considered luxury dogs of the upper class. When the Cuban Revolution took place in the 1950s, the upper class fled to America and Europe and brought their dogs along.

The National Dog of Cuba, the Havanese, which took centuries to develop, were nearly wiped out during the mid-20th century. This is only part of the story behind Havanese dogs, which today live mostly in the U.S.

Because of the specific breeding that Havanese dogs have undergone, understanding the history of the Havanese may help you work better with your pet. Although some of the history is a bit hard to trace, there is plenty of good information out there about the Havanese standard to give you a good understanding of your dog.

Today the Havanese is still considered a rare breed, but it is steadily growing in numbers and popularity. As well as show dogs, Havanese are popular pets for apartment dwellers. They are long-lived and healthy in comparison to some other toy breeds, though some are prone to dry skin and luxating patella. Their long, silky coats can be clipped for easier grooming. They don’t need a yard, but they will insist that you play with them indoors at least once a day.

Havanese Temperament

With their almond-shaped eyes, small smile, and fine coat of long hair, Havanese standards seem more mischievous than cute. Their temperaments, however, are fun-loving and caring, making this breed one of the best for children and older adults. Bred into aristocracy in Cuba, the Havanese have gone through many career changes over the years, from companion to royalty to working poultry farms.

Because the Havanese breed is playful and alert, they are extremely trainable with a cooperative disposition. Typically, they will present little feistiness during training, and the Havanese standard shows them to be very docile friendly animals.

While small in stature—typically standing between 8 1/2 inches to 11 inches tall at the withers—the physical size of this toy dog breed belies its strength and muscular build. It can work as a guard dog. It will only bark if it thinks it is being approached by a stranger and will quickly stop the vocal warning upon learning that its owner acknowledges the approaching person.

Havanese Showdog Requirements

In the show ring, the coats of the Havanese should appear brushed and clean. Any trimming of the coat, other than around the extreme bottom of the feet, will lose the dog points in competition. When judging the Havanese standards, its typical height will be between 8 1/2 to 11 inches. Ideally, the animal should measure between 9 and 10 1/2 inches, measured at the withers.

The profile of the dog should slope up slightly from the withers to the rump and the tail. It should be coated with hair to match the rest of the animal that curls downwards around its rump. The back, other than the slight rise, should be straight with no small arch in the middle. The tail should create a feather-like appearance with the hair falling either straight or to the side.

Coat types, according to Havanese standards, will be one of three types: smooth, curly, or wavy, with the most sought-after being soft and wavy. Some adults may have short hair. A short, tight curly coat can cost points in the Havanese standard competition.

The intelligent expression on a Havanese dog’s face will draw focus to the eyes. The eye pigment is solid black around the rims, except on chocolate dogs whose eyes are rimmed in chocolate colors. A Havanese without black eye rims, except the chocolate, will not meet the Havanese standards for judging. The leather of their medium-length ears should reach halfway to the nose and be set high on the head.

The ears, when the dog is on alert, will rise from their widest point on the skull to form a slight arch.

Recommended

Apartment Building's Security Dachshund Escorts Woman Home After a Night Out & It's Perfect

Dec 1, 2024 12:05 PM EST

Havanese Care and Training

The Havanese dog is a very popular breed today, especially in the United States, where these puppies can sell for a premium price. This is good news for a breed that suffered a crisis in the 20th century and has now come back with a vengeance.

One of the reasons that the Havanese dog was able to regain its popularity so effectively is the fact that this dog makes a great companion or family pet for many. He can get along well with children and other pets in many cases, and despite his toy stature, he makes a pretty fierce and vocal watchdog.

This breed is always on the hunt for someone to play with, and he needs plenty of quality time with his family and playtime to burn off his abundant energy. A Havanese will remain playful and generally happy throughout his life, unlike some breeds that tend to get grumpier as they age. Havanese pups are fiercely loyal to their families and have plenty of love to offer.

The Havanese dog is characterized by a submissive temperament that is intelligent and eager to please his master. Unfortunately for Havanese owners, this doesn’t always mean that these dogs housebreak quickly and easily. In fact, the opposite is often true, and Havanese tend to take longer to get through the process than other breeds.

To assist in the process, some breeders are now recommending the use of a litter box that contains a hard, cylindrical paper pellet. This pellet can attract the dog to the box, encouraging the pup to use the box earlier and more often. This has become a popular method of housebreaking a number of toy breeds, including the Havanese.

Because this dog has a lot of energy, a fenced backyard will allow him a safe place to run and play. He will also want to spend plenty of time with his family, in play and cuddle time, so make sure you have the time to give him. A Havanese that does not receive sufficient attention from their family may become destructive.

Due to his fierce loyalty and courage, you may also find that your tiny Havanese pup will be an effective watchdog as well. While his size might keep him from looking too intimidating, his noise can be an effective deterrent to intruders. If you are interested in finding a Havanese puppy for your next family pet, make sure that you purchase your pup from a reputable breeder. This helps to ensure that you get a puppy that is healthy and well-bred.

Comments

KEITH on November 30, 2019:

WHERE DO I FIND PICTURES OF STANDARD PURE HAVENESE I LOVE HAVAPOOS BUT IM LOOKING FOR PUR HAVENESE. PICTURES WITH STANDARD HAIR CUTS

sara on August 25, 2019:

I have a havanese, he is 6 and I love him so much!! Awesome dog! I want another one!!!

Sydney G Patten on July 12, 2019:

We are CRAZY about Patapouf, our Havanese who is one and a half.

She is loving, obedient, a good watchdog AND she is super smart. I've been working with her and she now has an extensive vocabulary of about 50 words and commands. She knows all her toys by name and will fetch the one I ask for. She has transformed our lives. She is so easy to have. She does not shed a bit. We are in love.

EMMESS on February 24, 2019:

This is for Terri123...I never heard that a Havi has to be crated at all times. If your dog is properly trained and there are no dangers in the home leave the poor dog out of the crate. If you want to leave the crate door open do so. For example..go to the supermarket or somewhere for 1/2 hour and tell him you will be right back. Upon returning see if he damaged anything, if not trust your instincts and please don't imprison that beautiful soul.

Baldy715 on February 21, 2019:

We have a 2 year old Havanese his name is Vito we love him very energetic with a high pitch voice who loves playing with our 8 year old dachshund Mario and stealing his treats!They are very intelligent dogs who loves to cuddle and having attention.

Melody on November 04, 2018:

I have a 6 month old puppy who is a pure golden havanese naimed Ginger, Everyone who mets him says he's cute. Ginger is potty trained, knows how to sit, come, stay, go down, roll over and walk on his hind legs...

Kathy on November 03, 2018:

I have a 4.5 year old havanese called tootsie, she is the love of my life, so cute, cuddly and affectionate with grandkids, best loving dog ever, my best friend

Josie on October 14, 2018:

We bought our Ryder 8 months ago and after owning a Terripoddle for 19 years and a Maltese for 23 years - this Havenese is amazing! Everything I’ve read is spot on! Our only concern right now is the pee training and the barking at the door ( Ryder growls:()!

We are really working on both ! He is adorable and so loyal ! We did pay $2300 and he is worth every penny! You get what you pay for and honestly - he really doesn’t shed! We have white carpet and he’s auburn - we would notice! Love this breed so far!

Mary on October 06, 2018:

My husband & I who are retired & have a 6 month old Havanese little girl weighs 7 lbs now. When have had her since she was 8 wks old . We love her to death but the one issue is she barks the entire time she is alone at home. We know she is barking as we have a web cam on her.

This is our 6 th dog during our 54 yrs of marriage and never had a dog that barked when home alone. We crated her right from the beginning, but she went crazy in the crate when we left for even a short time. She loves her crate to sleep all night. We have left her in loose to roam in our living room kitchen area, but she still barks the whole time. We can leave her in the house if we’re working in the yard where she can see us. We had given stuffed Kong, special treats on leave, sneak out, lots of toys, TV on. Nothing works. We are not very keen on using the barking collar giving her a static shock. Does anyone have a suggestion as whatwill stop her from being so anxious when we are out.

Thank you if you can...... we are not sure what else to try.

Nathalie C on September 20, 2018:

Claudia,

We have a 2 year old Havanese who gets car sick on longer car rides. We give her Cerenia. It's a Rx we get from our vet. It doesn't make her drowsy and she doesn't get car sick anymore. It is a great!. Talk to your vet.

Claudia on September 02, 2018:

Does anyone have issues with Havanese who get car sick?

Melodie J on August 05, 2018:

Terri,

I have 2 Havanese girls, one is 3 years old and the other 2 years. They are both crate trained and i don't close their doors anymore. My girls automatically go to their crates at night when it's bedtime or they want a nap. They feel safe there so your girl would probably do the same. If your girl is completely house trained I see no reason to close her door at night. I also have them in my room so I can let them out at night if they need to go outside.

Terri123 on July 30, 2018:

I have a small Havanese (velcro dog) that I understand needs to be crated when we all leave but I am being told she always needs to be crated at night too. she is potty trained, does last all night without accidents (she is a year old) I want to take her out of the crate at night but others in the house says no they need to be always crated as that is what they do where we got her from. that doesn't seem nice. I think she deserves freedom. She doesn't complain either way. I'd keep the kennel in the room btw so she can go in/out when she wants.

Nathalie C on June 22, 2018:

Unfortunately, I have allergies and am not able to take someone's word at a rescue that a dog is purebred. On both occasions that we purchased a Havanese, my husband and I visited the breeder and the adult dogs and puppies in the home. Spent 2-3 hours to make sure my allergies weren't affected. We had made contact with a third breeder via email, but did not like the way they were being very pushy about taking a puppy and not insisting we visited in person. We 'interviewed' the breeders we chose to deal with as much as they interviewed us.

Joany on June 10, 2018:

I have a Havanese that was rescued from a puppy mill. She was only one and had already had a litter! She was traumatized and terrified but we’ve bonded and she’s practically perfect now. Took just weeks to housebreak.

Go to a shelter and rescue a dog. Don’t go to a “breeder” because you are making this problem worse!

Best $100 I ever spent.

Nathalie C on May 24, 2018:

As for price, when we got Charli, we paid $2500. Worth EVERY penny!!! Now, I believe they are up to $3000. Still worth every penny!

Nathalie C on May 24, 2018: