Is the Havanese a Good Choice?
The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a lively 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 requirement for notice means they are not the choice for a working couple. They will often follow owners around the house, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ people”, so are good with other dogs, pets and other animals. 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 gusto. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.
For dog care they are relatively simple. 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 have a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a heavier undercoat.
The Havanese should ideally be groomed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have fur, they do suffer in extreme cold, 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 four to six Kgs ( normally 12 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. They 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 prone to infections and diseases of the ear, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. Sometimes they may need inner hairs to be plucked by tweezers or hand. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have very sensitive noses and are trained often for search. The Havanese are easily trained so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.
The Havanese generally live fourteen to sixteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a few genetically-linked disorders. 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, this is more obvious on the lighter coloured dogs.
The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Cuba by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a relatively recent breed, rapidly growing in the 1970s from only 11 dogs in the US. They were common in Cuba, prior to the revolution, but suffered afterwards. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. For this reason it may be difficult to acquire one, so the best of luck on finding one.
A wonderful family dog that should be considered.
