The national dog of Cuba was once known as theBlanquito de la Habana(“little white dog of Havana " ) or the Havana Silk Dog for his flaccid , flowing ringlet . Now known simply as the Havanese , this toy breed is wise , lovesome , and do it to antic around . The Havanese does n’t want much space and he does n’t command a lot of exercise ; he ’s a portable lapdog that fits well into the life-time of people living in metropolis and apartments .
" The Havanese is very democratic , " says Scott Neabore , DVM , who ownsNeabore Veterinary Clinicin Haddonfield , N.J. " I often see Havanese conflate with other things , like poodles andCavaliers . It ’s a dainty picayune small - breed dog . " Common Havanese hybrids include the Havachon ( Havanese plusbichon frise ) , Hava - Apso ( Havanese plusLhasa apso),Havapoo(poodleplus Havanese ) , and many others .
Appearance
Theirlong , flossy coatstend to obliterate just how small Havanese pawl — and Havanese puppy — are . Under that luxurious head of hair , the stock stands at just 8.5–11 inches high at the shoulder joint and consider 7–13 pound . His eubstance is a bit longer than it is tall , and the poop is set mellow and arches over his back . The soft , wavelike coat , which comes in many unlike colors , is sometimes " corded , " or formed into dreadlock .
A Havanese ’s large , dreary browned eye seem to peek with a hint of mischief , clew passersby into his playful , intelligent nature . The walk of life of the Havanese is distinctive in its bounciness ; that spring in the footstep first manifests in puppy and does n’t disappear with age .
Havanese puppies tend to transfer colors , with their coat darkening , whitening , or changing hue entirely around 1 class old . Because of that , it ’s not always possible to auspicate what a puppy might look like as an grownup .
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Temperament
Charming is an understatement when it comes to the Havanese . This smart , sweet , eager - to - please , andeasy - to - geartrain dogis a born extrovert who eff entertaining .
He ’s anexcellent summation to a familyandgets along well with childrenand pets of all sizes , let in kinsfolk cats . This dog ’s loving nature also makes himpopular as a therapy dogand emotional funding fauna .
Despite his petite size of it , aHavanese has a convinced barkand often alert his family to anything he deem scary — including the mailman . Socializing a Havanese puppyearly , plus lots ofpositive reinforcement training , will help him be comfortable around young hoi polloi , animals , andnew post .
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Living Needs
Havanese dogs will behappy in a studio flat , a straggle mansion , or anywhere in between . They do n’t care so much aboutwherethey know — mostly , these sociable animals want to have others by their side and prefer being in a lap to reasonably much any other place .
If leave alone for recollective periods , a Havanese pup can get blase and barking can become an egress . ( Although , Neabore says this stock does tend to skin less than many othersmall dog breeds ) . The stock is an fantabulous choice for seniors , category , and anyone looking for a unremitting fellow traveler .
While the Havanese is gumptious , he ’s not specially participating — he by and large fetch the workout he demand just by bouncing around the house . Owners looking for canine camaraderie whilehiking , backpacking , camping , and other outdoor endeavors may want to conceive other pick . But these pups will wish to stretch their leg on adaily 30 - second walkor playtimein a wall - in yard .
Care
Dailygroomingis critical when it comes to the Havanese — that flow coat is n’t extend to sweep itself ! He should bebrushed a few times a weekso his pelt stop destitute of mat and tangles . To economize time and effort , some Havanese owners opt to get the hair trimmed or cord . Though his coat is high - maintenance , Havanesesheddingis low , so you wo n’t have to worry about flying pelt .
Along with caring for his retentive lock , Havanese proprietor need totrim his nailsregularly , give himoccasional baths , check andclean his ears , and wipe his eyes to prevent tear staining .
Havanese dogs respond well totraining . It ’s an exculpation to pass clip with — and please — their owners , and positive reenforcement ( with treats , head rap , and an enthusiastic " good boy ! " ) works well with this sensible breed . But Neabore warns not to exaggerate it with treats . With small dogs , a little indulgence goes a long way , and as such a Havanese caneasily become obese . " People lean to feed them a great deal of dainty , and they do n’t realize that giving a 12 - pound dog a murphy silicon chip is like you eating a whole purse of Irish potato chips , " he says . " They tend to get overweight more easily than … alarge - breed dog . "
Neabore adds that smaller stock are of course more tenuous ; if a Havanese dog is stepped on or dropped , injury may easily occur . So owners need to be specially heedful when handle them and even when walk around the house . If a Havanese lives with modest kiddos , always supervise their playtime andteach children to properly interact with pet .
Health
When you adopt this sprightly puppy , you’re able to expect him to be around for a long time — theHavanese lifespan is a lengthy14–16 years . While this breed isknown to be fairly respectable , they are prone to a few diseases , includingdeafness , eye disorder , heart disease , and bone and joint yield includinghip dysplasia , according to theHavanese Club of America ( HCA ) . Havanese owners should talk to their veterinarians about potential consequence and how to minimize risks .
Before bring home a Havanese pup , your breeder should conduct allhealth tests recommended by the OFA .
In increase , as a small stock , Havanese can be susceptible to dental issues , says Neabore , and regularteeth clean at the veteran ’s office — orbrushing tooth at home — can help oneself . " These modest - breed dog have the same phone number of teeth as any other dog , including those elephantine strain , but they ’re all smooshed into a diminutive little lip . They get a lot of plaque and tartar between the teeth , so they get dental disease really easily , " Neabore tell . " That ’s something hoi polloi need to pay really penny-pinching attending to . "
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History
Named for the capital city of Cuba — Havana — the Havanese bounder was once commonly find in the lap of Cuban aristocrats and wealthy residents .
It ’s recollect that this small-scale , entertaining strain was make for to Cuba by Spanish seafarers , according to the HCA . Ancestors of the Havanese hail from the Bichon family ( he ’s potential a cousin to the whitebichon frise ) , while the Havanese itself has been further rectify thanks to centuries of doting by the Cuban elite group .
Many Havanese arrived in the U.S. in the late 1950s , under the arms of those fleeing the Cuban Revolution . In fact , allot to the HCA , all Havanese dogs today ( aside from the 1 still in Cuba ) can line their lineage back to 11 pup who emigrate with their owners . The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996 .
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