Little Pawz -- Havanese -- Havanese Dog -- Small Dogs -- Small Dog Breed Information -- Toy Dogs -- Miniature Dogs -- Dog Breeds

The Havanese is always cheerful and in a good mood. Aggresiveness toward humans and other dogs is aliento its friendly, but unobtrusive manner of behaviour. The head of the Havanese is characterized by its flat, broad upper part, drop ears, large dark eyes, and prominent muzzle. The body is longer that the Havanese is tall. The tail, which is covered with long, soft hair, is carried over the back in the form of a bishop's staff. The Havanese, although small, are very robust dogs.

Size
Height: 14 inches (36 cm) at the withers
Weight: 13 lbs (6 kg)

Coat and Colour
Hair: undercoat woolly and not very developed; it is often totally absent. The topcoat is very long (12-18cm in adult dog), soft, flat or wavy and may form curly strands. The usage of scissors to even out the length of the coat and all trimming is forbidden. Exception: tidying up the hair on the feet is permitted, the hair on the forehead may be slightly shortened so that it does not cover the eyes and the hair on the muzzle may be slightly tidied up, but it is preferable to leave it in natural length. Colour: there are two varieties of colour. Rarely completely pure white; fawn in its different shades of light fawn to havana-brown (tobacco colour, reddish brown); patches in those colours of coat; slight blackened overlay admitted. Permissible colours and patches (white, light fawn to havana-brown) with black markings. Black coat.

Exercise
The Havanese can be kept in an apartment if it is allowed to indulge its unmistakable desire to be in motion by taking lengthy walks every day.

Grooming
The hair has to be regularly brushed the wrong way; when the Havanese shakes itself after being brushed, the hair will fall back into the desired position and produce the typical outward image.

Feeding
Recommended would be 1/2 can (13.3 oz 376 g size) name-brand dog food with a biscuit, or 1 – 1 1/2 cups of a dry dog food. Always provide an ample supply of fresh water for your Havanese.

Origin and History
The Havanese belongs to the bichon group. The first bichons probably came from the Mediterranean area to the Caribbean on merchant vessels. They continued to be bred on the island of Cuba. Over the centuries, they developed into a separate breed. The Havanese was given official recognition in 1963.