Havanese

Temperament:

Gentle, Playful, Companionable
Size: Small
Height: 23-27 cm
Weight: 4,5-7,3 kg
Lifespan: 13-15 years
Coat: Longhair
Colors: Black, White, Havana Brown, Deer Color, Tobacco Colors, Mahogany Colors
FCI Group: Companion and Toy Dogs

This outgoing and playful dog has developed into a very popular breed in Germany. Due to its small size and uncomplicated nature, the Havanese is an ideal companion dog for everyone and is easy to care for. This dog breed is very open-minded and trusting towards other people. Due to its nature, it is often used as a therapy or sniffer dog.

Havanese
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Characteristics

The Havanese belongs to the small dog breeds and is classified by the FCI in group 9. With a height at the withers of approx. 23 - 27 cm and an average body weight of 5 - 7 kg, this breed is rather small, but extremely energetic, active and eager to move.

The drooping ears of the four-legged friends are particularly striking. They sit high on the head and are covered with long strands of hair. Overall, the animals have a slightly rectangular build with a low center of gravity. A very special feature of the breed is the long, silky, shiny coat, which comes in a wide variety of colors and shades. The basic color of the coat is always white, which is interspersed with various shades.

The top coat can become very long and is usually pleasantly soft. The hair texture can be straight, slightly wavy or curly and is therefore as individual as the animal itself.

In general, the Havanese is a very balanced and sociable dog. They have an amiable nature and are very docile and cheerful. These animals particularly enjoy learning new tricks and stunts, which is why they often perform in front of an audience as so-called "show dogs". They are very active and have a lot of energy.

As these dogs love to romp and play and have an enormous urge to move, it is important that the Havanese gets enough exercise. Long walks and games where the little ones can run around a lot are an advantage here. Even if they like to cuddle and snuggle, they are by no means to be regarded as pure lap dogs, but need just as much exercise as large dog breeds.

Havanese develop a close and intense bond with their owners and families and are often very affectionate towards them. Some are prone to pronounced separation anxiety and want to be with you everywhere and at all times. They do not feel comfortable when they are alone in the house and should therefore not be left completely alone if possible. If leaving them alone cannot be avoided, it makes sense to prepare the Havanese for this as a puppy so that separation anxiety does not arise in the first place.

Like all dogs, the Havanese needs attention and care, but can also occupy itself for short periods of time. Despite their small size, Havanese have a strong protective instinct and will do anything to defend their owners. Havanese are very intelligent dogs with a quick mind.

They are very fixated on us humans and dependent on us, which means that they can learn a lot from us if we allow and encourage them accordingly. It makes sense to train your Havanese from an early age, preferably as a puppy of course, and to teach them as much as possible.

This breed is always open-minded towards strangers, strange dogs and other living creatures. Their calm, self-confident and completely non-aggressive nature makes them a pleasant companion. Problems in dealing with new and unfamiliar situations rarely occur with these small, lively four-legged friends.

Their curiosity and urge to learn new things also make them ideal therapy dogs. Havanese are particularly popular for helping people with disabilities or impairments. The animals take great pleasure in their occupation and can do something good at the same time. It is not uncommon for Havanese to be trained for tracking.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

The Havanese has a relatively long life expectancy of 10 to 13 years on average. To achieve this, a healthy and balanced diet is of great importance.

Therefore, when choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role here. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.

Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.

Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.

Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Health & Care

The Havanese requires special attention when it comes to grooming. The long top coat must be regularly brushed, groomed and clipped if necessary. Dirt and grime easily settle on the coat, so it needs to be cleaned and protected from matting. If the dirt cannot be brushed out, it can be bathed with a mild dog shampoo.

Care should also be taken to ensure that the hair on the dog's face is tied up at full length so that it does not restrict the animal's field of vision. The eye area should also be cleaned daily or trimmed if necessary to prevent eye inflammation.

In summer, the risk of ticks, which can hide in dogs' long hair, is very high. The annoying parasites are barely visible at first glance, so the coat should be checked regularly.

The Havanese does not change its coat between the seasons. The coat keeps the animals warm in winter and protects them from overheating in summer. This positive characteristic is due to the Cuban origin of the dogs. In general, the Havanese sheds very little dog hair, making this breed suitable for allergy sufferers who normally react to shedding dog hair.

The Havanese is one of the healthy dog breeds that have not yet been overbred and therefore do not suffer from any typical breed diseases. Nevertheless, every dog can fall ill at some point. Regular check-ups at the vet and compliance with all relevant vaccinations are therefore mandatory.

Suitable accessories

The Havanese loves to romp and play, which is why dog owners should definitely purchase toys. The animals also like to take part in agility training or enjoy games of skill. Play meetings with other dogs are also a good way to keep the little fur noses busy.

The Havanese loves to have everything in view, which is why it likes to choose elevated places. These can be sofa backrests or chairs, for example. As the world is difficult to see from their perspective, they often want to be high up, so don't be surprised if your Havanese repeatedly chooses elevated places to sleep or rest.

The basic equipment for your Havanese includes a collar or harness with lead, dog basket or dog mat as a place to retreat, water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, brush and comb, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. Ask your vet what belongs in the first aid kit.

Havanese history

Origin & History

As the name suggests, the Havanese originally comes from Cuba. The first ancestors of today's breed are said to have existed there as early as the 15th century. Even back then, the Havanese was considered a loyal companion and was often kept by aristocrats and the wealthy.

As a popular pedigree dog, it then reached Europe, especially Spain, France and England, where the breed reached a real peak in breeding and popularity, particularly in the middle of the 19th century. In the meantime, however, this "hype" has died down again, which has the advantage for future Havanese owners that these animals are not overbred.