All about Havenese
The distinctive features of the Havanese include a curled-over tail and a gorgeous silky coat, which comes in a variety of colors. Their small but sturdy bodies, adaptable nature, and social skills make Havanese an ideal city dog, but they are content to be anywhere that they can command the attention of admirers young and old alike. Havanese, smart and trainable extroverts with the comic instincts of a born clown. They are natural trick dogs. Havanese are also excellent watchdogs and take the job seriously, but will usually keep the barking to a minimum.
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole”
Roger Caras -
History
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Havanese is the national dog of Cuba, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana. The Blanquito descended from the also now-extinct Bichón Tenerife. Originally, Tenerife dogs came to Cuba with Spanish farmers and noblemen in the early 1500s. In Havana, the breed became a family pet. By the 18th century, Europeans vacationing in Havana discovered the Havanese. The little dog quickly became a hit among Spanish, French and British nobility. With Castro’s revolution, some Cubans who fled to the United States brought their Havanese with them. These 11 dogs became the foundation stock for the Havanese of today.
Grooming
Havanese is not a wash and wear dog as they do require routine grooming. A full brush out 2 to 3 times a week is best with baths every 1 to 2 weeks depending on the amount of coat. Never brush a dry coat, always lightly mist with a hydrating spray. If the Havanese is kept in a shorter trim, weekly brush outs are still preferred. Routine baths ranging between 1 to 3 weeks are desirable. This is a breed that requires their caring owner to stay on top of routine maintenance.
Size
Havanese are small dogs weighing seven to 13 pounds. The height ranges from 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches at the shoulder. The body is longer than tall; they have drop ears and a tail that curls over the back. Havanese generally mature at 1 year of age, although they reach their full size around 6 to 8 months.