The Havanese Dog, The National Dog of Cuba Why This Breeds Makes for Great Companions

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Havanese dog photo
Small Breed X-Small Breed Patella Luxation Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) Cataract Havanese

Is The Havanese Right For You?

  • 1 Havanese dogs are well known for their cheerful and gentle nature.
  • 2 Havanese dogs enjoy the company of children and make great family pets.
  • 3 Havanese puppies are easy to train and only need gentle encouragement.

HISTORY

Belonging to the Bichon family of dog, the Havanese breed originated in Cuba from the Havanese Silk Dog. Originating in the 19th century, they were the favored family dog of Cuba. At one point, they were almost extinct, but an American breeder, Mrs. Goodale, found a couple of families from Cuba who came over with their pedigree Havanese (complete with papers), and bred them back into sustainable numbers. The Havanese was recognized by the AKC in 1996.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Toy/Small

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    Lifespan

    14-15 years

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    Hair Length

    Medium, Short

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    Male Height

    8 1/2 -11 1/2 inches tall

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    Male Weight

    7 -13 pounds

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    Female Height

    8 1/2 -11 1/2 inches tall

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    Female Weight

    7 - 13 pounds

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    Litter Size

    1-9 puppies - the average is 4

Personality

Excellent family dogs, the Havanese is a natural companion and an instant friend to any child or adult. They are smart and love to play, even with animals of other species, and are easy to train. They are very perceptive of tonal changes, making it unnecessary to ever raise your voice at them, and possibly detrimental to their well being. They are naturally curious dogs and love to be where the action is. They love attention and getting the approval of people, making them an excellent breed to attempt competitive obedience..

Color

The Havanese can be any color, including gold, cream, white, silver, blue, and black.

Health Concerns

Some of the health concerns in Havanese are:

Appearance

A tiny, fluffy breed with wavy hair all over, the Havanese has a silky coat, a cotton ball tail, short legs, and a wide nose. Their ears are moderately long, but because of the length of the fur on their head, they are practically indistinguishable from the rest of their head. Some variations (the Corded Havanese) have hair so curly that it actually ends up looking like dreadlocks.

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