Short History of the Havanese

Following the French, Cuban and Russian revolutions, the Havanese were almost extinct. Now rare in Cuba, the breed has been facing a crisis through the 1900s, but is presently on the rise in popularity, having some dedicated believers in the breed who are actively campaigning for its preservation in the USA. This dog belongs to the family of dogs called Bichons. The French word Bichon Frise means “fleecy dog” or “curly lap dog.” “Bichon” refers to the bearded appearance of the breed, as the word “barbichon” means little beard, while the word “Frise” means curly. The Bichon Havanese originated in Cuba from an earlier breed known as Blanquito de la Habana (also called Havanese Silk Dog—a now extinct breed). The Bichon Havanese adorned and enlivened the homes of aristocratic Cubans during the 18th and 19th centuries. Bichon lapdogs were being brought to Cuba in 17th century from Europe; they adapted to climate and customs of Cuba. Eventually, these conditions gave birth to a different dog, smaller than its predecessors, with a completely white coat of a silkier texture. This dog was the Blanquito de la Habana. In the 19th century, the Cubans took to liking the French and German Poodles, which were crossed with the existing Blanquito to create today’s Bichon Havanese. In the development of the Havanese, the Blanquito was much more dominant than the Poodle. The Bichon Havanese originated in the 19th century (1800-11899). It was continually bred in Cuba all through the 20th century (1900-1999) and was the preferred pet/dog of Cuban families. Breeding the Havanese in the USA only started in the 1970s. In the 1960s many Cubans migrated to USA. Most Cuban refugees settled in Florida and some brought their pets (Havanese). A U.S. breeder, Mrs. Goodale saved the breed from extinction. She advertised in a Florida paper, and found two or three immigrant families who had brought their Havanese from Cuba with papers. From them, Mrs. Goodale got 6 Bichon Havanese with pedigrees: a female with 4 female pups, and a young unrelated male. Later she was able to get 5 more males from Costa Rica. As an experienced breeder, Mrs. Goodale began working with the 11 dogs. Her first lines appeared in 1974. The UKC recognized them in 1991. The AKC recognized them in 1996. The CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) recognized them in 2001. Around 1980, several German breeders started finding odd-coated puppies in litters with regular Havanese. As these pups matured they did not grow full coats like their other littermates. They had feathering on the skirts, tail, legs, chest and ears—the rest of the body hair was close lying. They oddly enough grew up to have smooth coats. Breeders got together and found that this was happening in other litters of Havanese and was not a chance genetic mutation in one single litter, but something carried in a lot of Havanese as a recessive gene. These dogs were called smooth-coated Havanese, but have picked up the name Shavanese somewhere along the line. The short-coated Havanese are not showable or breedable, however they are perfectly healthy.

Temperament

The Havanese has earned his place on the list of favorite family pets for a wealth of reasons. They are incredibly friendly and thrive on human companionship and affection. They love to be part of the family and love children. Famous for their animated face and endearing head tip, they make great listeners. They are intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please. They love to perform tricks. They are incredibly playful, and if you don’t have a game ready, they will invent one, which often includes tearing around the house in circles as fast as they can. They love to roughhouse. They also love paper. They will help you use up your toilet paper at a rapid clip. Speaking of toilet paper, they will follow you into the bathroom, and anywhere else you go. They are energetic little guys but don’t need a great deal of exercise and will get most of it just tearing around the house. They are usually not problem barkers, but will alert you when someone is at the door. They are rarely shy or nervous around new people and seem to get along with everyone, including other pets. While they will be hopelessly in love with you, they are also willing to share you with other pets and people. They also like to pretend that they are cats and sleep on the back of the sofa. They’ve also been known to nap on the top of the kitchen table. The sweet, easygoing Havanese is clever, active, cuddly, gentle and fun and makes an ideal family pet.

Grooming & Bathing

The coat of the Havanese may be clipped or kept long. Show dogs must have long hair, but family dogs can be trimmed short for no-fuss grooming. Long-haired Havanese require daily brushing to remove tangles and prevent mats. They also require frequent bathing to keep the coat clean. It’s not uncommon for a Havanese to get a weekly bath. Tear stains are common on the face of a Havanese, and the face should be wiped daily with a damp rag.

Teeth should be brushed several times per week. Small dogs are prone to dental problems, and regular brushing can help prevent bad teeth later in life. Trim nails monthly and check the ears regularly for signs of wax buildup, irritation or infection. Clean the ear with a cotton ball and a veterinarian-approved cleanser.

Exercise & Training

Being a toy breed, it needs moderate amount of exercise. A daily walk is essential for emotional needs of the dog. A romp in an open area every now and then or play is sufficient to take care of its developmental needs. Lack of exercise may create behavioral problem in the dog and can also make it overweight. The Havanese is eager to please, but positive reinforcement works best. They are particularly sensitive to the tone of your voice. It was not uncommon for a time for Havanese dogs to appear in circus acts. This is attributed to their eagerness to please as well as their high level of intelligence.