The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese They are a playful 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 attention does not make them an ideal choice for a working couple. They love following owners around the home, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ family”, so are superb with other animals and dogs. 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, which can be messy. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as football with all their strength. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional Dog Walkers such as London Dog Walking, if doing grouped walks will pair them with similar dogs, rather than big energetic dogs.

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 must be groomed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If not a show dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst 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 bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. 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 colours and patterns, but were originally white.
Whilst the Havanese is a toy dog, it is solid and sturdy. They have a weight range of 4-6 Kgs ( around twelve lbs). Its height measured at the withers is around 250mm( normally 10). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

The Havanese have a sprightly agile movement. The Havanese are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but careful close to water  if there is something for them to chase.

They have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are more likely than most breeds to ear infections, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may need inner hairs to be pulled by tweezers or hand. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained often for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often found in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

  They normally live fourteen to sixteen years. The Havanese being breed from a limited gene pool suffer from some genetic diseases. The most common being liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( streaks and dots on the retina). It is recommended only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

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 seventies from only 11 animals in the US. They were common in Cuba, prior to the revolution, but suffered afterwards. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.

A great family dog that should be considered.

1. Frequent Diseases in Dachshunds
2. Proper Dog Care
3. Dog Breeds