With their long, silky hair, cuddly size, and expressive eyes, the Havanese dog breed has won many admirers. The Cuban aristocracy used them as companion dogs in the 1800s, earning them the nickname “Velcro dogs” because they adhered closely to their owners.
It’s not just a lapdog; the Havanese is trainable, energetic, and has excelled in canine sports and careers, from circus performers to assisting people with disabilities. It is difficult for them to stay alone for long periods at home because they love their humans. Keep your pooch company, and you’ll have an eager, intelligent furry family member.
Famous owners:
Venus Williams, celebrity couple Seal and Heidi Klum, Robert Verdi, and Barbara Walters owned Havanese and helped the breed’s popularity in the U.S. In 2006, she claimed her Havanese ‘Cha-Cha’ talked to her.
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History
As soon as Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain in 1492, Spanish settlers began arriving on the island. They brought their small companion dogs – the ancestors of the Bichon breed today.
These dogs developed into the Havanese we know today through interbreeding and later by Spain’s trade restrictions imposed on Cuba. Their thick and silky coat helped insulate them from the tropical sun (the coat is like raw silk floss, dense but light and soft, and protects them from the tropical sun in the same way that the silk sari protects Indian women).
Several aristocratic Cuban families owned Havanese by the early 1800s. English, Spanish, and French travellers became enamoured with the breed. In the mid-1800s, the breed became popular in Europe, and Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens were among its fans.
As with most breed trends, this one petered out. Even in Cuba, the Havanese almost went extinct at one point. With the Cuban Revolution of 1959, 11 Havanese were brought to the U.S. by Cuban families.
Many Havanese outside of Cuba today are descended from these canine refugees.
A few descendants of the 11 dogs brought from Cuba led to the breed’s renaissance in the 1970s. They began tracking down other Havanese to reestablish the breed due to their intelligence and affectionate nature.
As most Havanese outside of Cuba can trace their ancestry to just 11 dogs, breeders are expanding the gene pool of American-bred Havanese.
1995 marked the official recognition of the breed by the American Kennel Club.
Traits
A Havanese’s affectionate personality shines on everyone, including strangers, children, other dogs, and even cats. The lion’s share of his love will go to his family; given a choice, he’ll stay by his owner’s side. Despite all this devotion, the Havanese can become anxious when left alone. A Havanese left alone and away from his family is not a happy dog.
Since he was bred to keep the wealthy families of his native island of Cuba company, his Velcro personality isn’t so surprising. The Havanese has proven that he’s more than just a lap warmer since then. Despite their clownish antics, Havanese dogs are pretty trainable, and they have served as assistance and therapy dogs, sniffed out mould and termites, and performed in shows.
Havanese are also surprisingly energetic for their size and are happy to take on agility, freestyle, obedience, and flyball for families that want to compete.
Havanese owners often overindulge their dogs, as is familiar with many small dogs. Bad habits, like eating only human food, can form very quickly. Your Havanese may train you rather than the other way around since this breed is a sharp con artist.
Havanese dogs have a long, silky coat that needs regular brushing and care. It’s common for dog owners to clip their hair short, but if you wish to show your dog, you’ll need to let it grow long and invest time and money in grooming. It keeps your dog cool in warm climates if you keep it long.
From apartments to homes with large yards, the Havanese do well in all housing types. When a Havanese hears a strange noise or sees someone passing by, he might bark. It’s good to know that he barks for no reason other than listening to his voice.
Watching the day pass by from the back of sofas and tables is a favourite pastime of the Havanese.
A Havanese’s favourite toy is paper; this clever little breed will go to great lengths to find it, even sniffing through guests’ jackets. He enjoys shredding toilet paper, which can give him hours of enjoyment. Give him a roll, and your house will look like it’s been pranked by Halloween pranksters in no time.
It is a beautiful and versatile pet despite its quirks, or maybe even because of them.
Health
This breed is typically healthy, but like all breeds, they may experience specific health conditions. Not every dog of this breed will get these diseases, but it’s essential to be aware of them. Some common health problems include:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Chondrodysplasia
- Legg-Perthes Disease
- Cataracts
- Deafness
- Patellar Luxation
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Heart Murmurs
- Mitral Valve Insufficiency
Regardless of how healthy your dog is, a pet’s health insurance plan can help you stay prepared for any of your dog’s medical needs.