Meet the Breed

Havanese, the only dog breed native to Cuba, are charming little dogs with a spring in their step and a gleam in their big, brown eyes. They make cheerful, devoted companions. Distinctive features of the Havanese include a curled-over tail and a gorgeous silky coat, which comes in a variety of colors. Some owners enjoy cording the coat, in the manner of a Puli, and others clip it short to reduce grooming time. Happily, Havanese are just as cute no matter what hairdo you give them. 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 are smart and trainable extroverts with the comic instincts of a born clown, which makes them natural trick dogs. Havanese are also excellent watchdogs and take the job seriously but will usually keep the barking to a minimum.

Havanese are a great dog for someone who may have allergies with other dogs because they have hair and not fur. Something that I love about them, after 28 years of Aussies, is that they shed VERY LITTLE. They lose hair like us, but you don’t have hair all over your clothes or your furniture. The average weight for these toy dogs is anywhere between 7-20 pounds and their average height is 8.5-11.5 inches at the withers. Havanese make wonderful family pets and have strong social needs; however, they do best in homes where they are not isolated for long periods of time everyday, as they have a great need for attention and affection.

This breed typically lives 12-15 years. Havanese are a healthy breed and the vast majority of Havanese go through life with no major health issues. This is due to diligent health testing by reputable breeders who take seriously their role as stewards and guardians of the breed. They take the time and go to the expense of testing their breeding dogs against known heritable health problems. Make sure at a minimum that your breeder has tested both parents’ hips, patellas and eyes.