Breed Description

The Havanese is a little sturdy dog that is a native of Cuba. This small rugged dog has a height that ranges from 8-11 inches, and weighs between 7-13 pounds.

Coat

The Havanese has a long, soft, and flat fur that tufts towards the extremities. They are double-coated with long and soft topcoat, and may even cover the eyes. They come in white, champagne, cream, silver, black, blue, gold, black and tan, parti-color, tri-colored, and chocolate.

Activity

The Havanese is naturally playful, and requires an average amount of exercise. They require a long walk daily, a swim, and a couple of play sessions every day.

Temperament

The Havanese is generally friendly and responsive. Loyal, intelligent and devoted, this little dog is more than willing to defend, but is not the ideal guard dogs. Their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs, though. They are aloof and shy around strangers, but affectionate with their masters. Naturally comical, they can be calm and serious at times. They are quiet, gentle, and attentive, yet still with the passion for games. They get along great with almost everyone, children and other animals included.

Overview

Also referred to as Bichon Havaise, Havana Silk Dog, or Havaneser, the Havanese is a playful toy dog that is friendly, yet hardworking.

Care

The Havanese requires grooming 2-4 times weekly. Their coats must be combed or brushed in layers starting from the skin outward. During extreme climates, a coat dressing or light oil may be needed to prevent split hairs and static build up.

Their coats should be free of tangling and mats before bathing. Combing and moistening their coats with oil and rub them using the fingers until they separate. Their coats should be shampooed liberally, and rinsed thoroughly before applying the coat conditioner.

Training

The Havanese is eager to please and is highly intelligent, making them somewhat easy to train. They are willing to perform tricks to entertain, and once they have been taught the basics of training, they will be enthusiastic to learn some entertaining tricks. They are known to never eat alone due to the fact that they want to be in the same room as their owners at all times.

The Havanese is also known to be easy to housebreak, as they are able to quickly understand the displeasure of using the indoors as bathroom. In training the Havanese puppy, owners should always use firm tone of voice for commands and reprimand is imperative, as they will be responsive to the firmness of the said words. It is also important to remember that trainers should never be too harsh in handling the Havanese, as this will result to frightened and anxious dog.

Character

The Havanese is a delightfully silly little dog that is playful, intelligent, and inquisitive. They thrive on human companionship, and has a naturally loves children. This breed is alert, making them great watch dogs. They will always seek for their family's assurance prior to accepting strangers.