Havanese - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin

Havanese is pretty old breed that belongs into the bichon family. Their ancestors – the Bichon Tenerife - came to Cuba with Spanish farmers in the 1500s and they developed into today Havanese dogs. In the 18th century, the european people who were on vacation on Cuba discovered the Havanese and they become pretty popular in Spain, France and Britain.

2) Service dogs

Not many small dogs are known for being good service dogs, but havanese is a great exception. They might be small, but they are intelligent and trainable and they are for example used in britain in the Hearing Ear Program to be trained as a service dog for the hearing impaired.

3) Almost Extinct

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Havanese dog breed was close to extinction. It was the time of the Cuban Revolution. Thankfully, three families who emigrated from Cuba to the USA built the breed back up. The Havanese was recognized by the AKC in the 1999.

4) Shedding

One of the reason why people love Havanese dogs is their very low shedding coat. But on the other hand, maintancing the coat in a good shape can be challanging. Havanese require brushing and combing three or more times a week to ensure a mat-free coat. But they do not need trimming.

5) Watchdog

Havanese will most likely bark when he see something suspicious going on around its house. But dont worry, they are not big barkers and they will not bark for nothing, they always have some reason. This makes them great watchdogs, but because of their small size, they are poor guards.

6) Family dog

Havanese is very social animal that thrives on being with his family all the time. The more time you will spend with your Havanese the happier it will be. But if you will left him alone for long periods of time regularly, they often times suffer from separation anxiety.

7) Size

Havanese is a small dog with body longer than tall. They should be between 9-11 inches tall which is 22-28 cm. Their weight should be between 8-15 pounds which is 4-7 kg.

8) Health

Havanese are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. The most common are hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, deafness, patellar luxation and heart murmur.

9) Celebrities

Many people all around the world fall in love with Havanese dogs, including many celebrities. The list of celebrities who own or owned a Havanese include Venus Williams, Barbara Walters, Queen Annie, Queen Victoria, Ernest Hamingway and Charles Dickens.

10) Other names

Havanese is part of the Bichon dog family and sometimes, they can be called by different breed names, including Havanese Cuban Bichon, Bichon Havanais, Havaneser, and Bichon Habanero.