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The Havanese is a member of the Bichon family of dogs, which also includes the Bichon Frise, the Bichon Bolognese, Maltese, Coton De Tulear, Tsvetnaya Bolonka, Franzuskaya Bolonka and possibly the Löwchen breeds. These dogs were developed from the now extinct Mediterranean Bichon Tenerife, which was introduced to the Canary Islands by the Spanish and later to other islands and colonies of Spain by sailors.
Appearance: The Havanese, while a toy dog and always a
companion, is also a hearty and sturdy dog for such a size,
and should never give the appearance of fragility or of being
overly delicate. The height range is from 8˝ to 11˝ inches
(216 to 292 mm), with the ideal being between 9 and 10˝
inches (229 and 267 mm), measured at the withers, and is
slightly less than the length from point of shoulder to point
of buttocks, which should give the dog the appearance of being
slightly more long than tall.
A unique aspect of the breed is the topline, which rises
slightly from withers to rump, and the gait, which is flashy
but not too reaching, and gives the Havanese a spritely, agile
appearance on the move.
The expression of the face, with its almond eyes, is one of
mischievousness rather than being cute, like the Bolognese,
and the ears, which are medium in length and well feathered,
always hang down. The tail should curve over the back at rest,
and like the rest of the dog, is covered in long fur.
The key word for the Havanese is 'natural', and the breed
standards note that except for slight clipping around the feet
to allow for a circular foot appearance, they are to be shown
unclipped; any further trimming, back-combing, or other
fussing is against type and will cause a dog to be
disqualified.
That includes undocked tails, uncropped ears, and even a
standard that forbids the use of topknots and bows in
presentation. The AKC standard notes "his character is
essentially playful rather than decorative" and the
Havanese, when shown, should reflect that, generally looking
like a toy in size only, but more at home with playing with
children or doing silly tricks than being pampered and groomed
on a silk pillow.
Colour: Though there is some argument on whether the
original Havanese were all white or of different colours,
modern Havanese are acceptable in all coat colours and
patterns, with allowances made in every breed standard for
their unique colourful nature. The only restrictions is that
every Havanese must have a black nose and eyerims, except in
chocolate coloured dogs, where brown colouration is allowed.
Popular colours include fawn, white, and black, and
parti-coloured Havanese are as well regarded as solids.
Coat: Havanese, like other Bichons and related dogs
like Poodles, have a coat that doesn't readily shed. Rather,
it catches hair and dander internally, and needs to be
regularly brushed out. Many people consider the Havanese to be
nonallergenic or hypoallergenic, but they do still release
dander, which can aggravate allergies. It's best to be exposed
to the Havanese before deciding to choose one as a dog for a
house with allergies.
Havanese have three coat types, the smooth, which is
similar to the Maltese, the curly, which is not unlike a
Bichon Frise coat, and the wavy, which is the preferred coat
type and the type most uniquely Havanese. The hair is long,
soft, and abundant, and should have no coarseness. A short
coat mutation shows up occasionally in otherwise normal
litters, but these are not showable Havanese and go so far
against standard that even novelty breeding of them is
discouraged.
Because of the tropical nature of the Havanese, the thick
coat is light and designed to act as a sunshade and cooling
agent for the little dog on hot days. This means, though, that
the fluffy Havanese needs protection against cold winter days,
in spite of the warm wooly look of their fur.
The coat can be shown naturally brushed out, or corded, a
technique which turns the long coat into 'cords' of fur, and
which is hard to start but easy to care for when completed.
Temperament: The Havanese has a playful, friendly
temperament which is unlike many other toy dog breeds. It is
at home with well behaved children and most other pets, and is
rarely shy or nervous around new people. Clever and active,
they will often solicit attention by performing tricks.
The Havanese is a very people oriented dog, and does not do
well with long periods of separation from their family.
Because of that, they are not suitable for people who work
long hours or take frequent trips. They often have a habit of
following their humans around the house, even to the bathroom,
but do not tend to be overly possessive of their people, and
do not usually suffer aggression or jealousy towards other
dogs, other pets or other humans.
The Havanese's love of children stems back to the days when
it was often the playmate of the small children of the
households to which it belonged. Unlike most toy dogs, who are
too delicate and sometimes too nervous or aggressive to
tolerate the often clumsy play of children, the Havanese, with
care, is a cheerful companion to even younger children, and
this is no small part of its growing popularity around the
world.
Health: Though the Havanese may seem to suffer from
a large complement of ailments, very few Havanese from
reputable breeders will have these problems, and the wide list
is more a testament to highly proactive clubs and breeder
organizations.
Havanese clubs like the Havanese Club of America have
worked hard for many years to try and search out and eradicate
the health problems these dogs may suffer from. In spite of
these uncommon ailments, Havanese are generally considered
healthy and sturdy dogs, and live between 12–16 years.
Among these ailments are:
Cataracts
Patellar luxation
Hip dysplasia
Chondrodysplasia (stunted leg growth, often resulting in
bowed, dwarfed legs)
Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome (inheritable condition
which causes femur malformation)
Liver shunts
Heart murmurs
Deafness
Havanese, even ones not to be bred, should go through
several tests, including a one-time BAER hearing test, a CERF
eye test annually, and a Patellar Palpation and Hip
Evaluation. Soaping has also become a popular way for breeders
to test health. It involves soaping up the dog to flatten the
coat to its body and reveal the structure of the legs.
Crooked, bowed or over short legs are a symptom related to
many Havanese health issues, and dogs suffering from them
should not be bred.
Because of the small genetic pool from which the Havanese
were revived, Havanese organizations around the world are
always on the lookout for new health and genetic issues that
may come to the fore in this otherwise wonderful and healthy
breed.
History: The Havanese itself developed uniquely in
Cuba, either as the result of said Spanish sailors, or as is
often believed by native Cubans, as gifts from Italian traders
to open the doors of wealthy houses to their goods. The
"Little Dog from Havana" even traveled back to
Europe where it found brief favour in the late 19th century as
a circus and trick dog and a court companion.
As part of the Cuban Revolution, many trappings of
aristocracy were culled, including the pretty but useless
fluffy family dogs of the wealthy land owners of Cuba! Even
though many upper class Cubans fled to the United States, few
were able to bring their dogs, nor did they have the
inclination to breed them. Indeed, when Americans became
interested in this rare and charming dog in the 1970s, the
gene pool available in the US was only 11 animals.
With dedicated breeding, as well as the acquisition of some
new dogs of type internationally, the Havanese has made a huge
comeback, with recognition by many major kennel clubs and one
of the fastest growing registration of new dogs in the AKC
(+42% in 2004). They have also suffered from a certain level
of trendiness due to rarity, good temperament, and publicity
by such famous owners as Barbara Walters.
Havanese at work: Because of the cheerful and
readily trained nature of the Havanese, they are increasingly
a dog utilized for a variety of jobs, especially those
involving the public. Havanese have been utilized for:
Therapy dogs
Assistance dogs, such as signal dogs for the hearing
impaired.
Performing dogs
Mold and termite detection
Tracking
Havanese also compete in a variety of dog sports, such as
Dog agility
Flyball
Musical Freestyle
Obedience
Care: Havanese have several specific considerations
for their care that a prospective owner should keep in mind.
The Havanese has difficulty in housebreaking and can take a
year or longer to consistently train. This is due to a smaller
bladder than many other dog breeds. Crate training or litter
box training are two options to help aid in this difficulty.
The Havanese has a profuse coat that requires daily
grooming. If one does not intend to show their dog, it can be
trimmed shorter so as to require less brushing.
The Havanese, with their drop ears, need to have their ears
cleaned to help prevent ear infections. Though they are not a
dog that requires long walks, Havanese are active and require
at least a large, well-enclosed yard to run around in a few
times a day. They will also use up energy tearing around and
getting underfoot.
The Havanese is not a naturally yappy dog, but may alert
its owners to approaching people. Usually acknowledging that
you have heard their alert is enough to make them cease.
Buyer beware: The Havanese is an expensive and rare
dog, and the cost of getting a dog from a breeder who takes
the time to put them through the right health tests can drive
the price to $2000 or more. Beware of anyone who is selling a
Havanese through a pet store. There is a lot of time and
money invested into a healthy puppy, and a responsible breeder
should want to meet you, often a few times, before selling you
a puppy.
Many people sadly use the Havanese's rarity to sell them
for a fast profit. Increasingly, some people will attempt to
pass off a crossbred 'poodog' as the more desirable Havanese.
If you must look for an inexpensive dog, try a Havanese rescue
group first.
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