Havanese Dog Breed Profile

by Luke Blaise

AKC Group: Toy Group

The Havanese dog is Cuba's National dog. Similar to Bichons, this dog has a mostly white fluffy coat and appears to hop rather then run around. With its very playful personality, this toy dog is a great contrast to other toy breed dogs with choosy personalities.

History

A vintage dog, the Havanese is a descendent of dogs taken from Spain to Cuba and is also associated with the Tenerife, a predecessor of whole Bichon family. Was once called the Spanish Silk Poodle and havana Silk Dog, the Havanese started out its life as an adorned lap-dog to the nobility, and is now a family pet and a good. It is also great with children and can actually herd poultry.

Physical Features

The dog is a compact, strong dog with a good temperament. His silky, wavy coat is profuse, but stays very light, protecting and insulating the breed towards harsh temperate heat. His coating, which is available in all shades, should stay untrimmed.

The height vary from 8 to 11 inches, with the best being between nine and ten inches.

The dog is of solid bodily sound and type constitution. The Havanese provides a rugged impact of a small dog, it is strong, and while a little dog, it is neither overdone nor fragile.

Personality

Havaneses are good companion dogs: responsive and gentle. They get very attached to their households and are great with kids. Very caring and fun with a high level of intelligence. These happy dogs are sociable and will be friends with everyone such as people, cats, dogs and other animals. They're sensitive to a dark tone of one's voice and won't listen if they sense that they're better minded than their master, nonetheless they won't also react well to unpleasant discipline.

Common Health Problems

A very healthy and balanced long-lived breed, nevertheless, all long-lived dogs at some point have health issues. Some are susceptible to Chonrdodyplasia, hip dysplasia, Juvenile heritable cataracts, luxating patellas, poodle eye, PRA, Patellar Luxation, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease, bilateral deafness and unilateral and dry skin.

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