Good Qualities of Havanese as A Pet

Did you know that the Havanese breed is the only native breed to Cuba? This small affectionate breed with a long silky coat and adorable prance ranks as one of the foremost luxury breeds winning many dog show titles.

But do Havanese make good pets? The good news: they do. The Havanese Club, the parent club of the American Kennel Club for the Havanese dog breed, describes this pup as outgoing, intelligent, and funny, which makes them ideal family pets and performing dogs.

In this handy guide, we break down all the information you need to know about these adorable little dogs. We cover their temperament, care, nutrition, health conditions, and other essential parenting tips to ensure you have a healthy dog.

What Are Havanese Dogs?

The Havanese is a small toy dog with a long coat of silky hair that falls gently around the face. This adorable small dog has a “poof” on its tail that curls back over the body, small beady eyes, and a small button nose that gives them that unmistakable “cute” look. It stands out as one of the most popular luxury dog breeds in the world.

These Cuban dogs weigh no more than 15 pounds and stand 8.5 to 11.5 inches tall. They make excellent house pets due to their small size, especially if you live in city condominiums and apartments. And with their affectionate personality and high intelligence, these friendly dogs offer pet parents many delightful bonding experiences.

The Origin of the Havana Silk Dog

Havanese dogs are the only breed native to Cuba. As an old breed, they came over with Spanish aristocracy from Tenerife in the 1500s and functioned primarily as a family pet.

The Havanese descends from the now-defunct white dog Blanquito de la Habana, meaning “little white one from Havana.” It belongs to the Bichon Frise family of dogs and certainly carries many Bichon family characteristics, including energy, affection, and overall jovial temperament.

This adorable little dog made its way into the U.S. with Cubans who fled the Castro regime. Their dogs are the ancestors of all the Havanese dogs in the U.S. today.

What To Know Before Owning a Havanese

Owning a Havanese is not particularly difficult. However, you need to know a few essential tips to ensure this adorable furry friend gets all the proper care they need to grow well.

Nutrition

Your adult dog will need 22% protein and 8% fat to remain healthy due to its high metabolism. Feed your Havanese puppy four times daily and adults thrice daily. Experts recommend feeding the Havanese dog breed kibble high in nutrients but easy on their small tummies to avoid excessive weight gain.

Grooming

The long and silky Havanese coat is beautiful but does require a lot of work to remain that way. Most owners keep the coat short, but if you are showing your pup, consistent brushing of this breed’s coat should prevent matting and other unpleasant consequences, keeping your fur baby cool in hot weather.

A slicker brush on the coat daily should be enough to remove extra hair, dirt, and any accumulated debris. Also, don’t forget to take them to a professional groomer for hygiene cuts around the belly and genital area and expression of the anal glands to keep your Havanese clean and healthy.

Health Issues

Several health problems affect this small breed, and you must look out for them early enough. Some common health issues include:

• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease: This painful and progressive condition causes dogs to limp on their affected leg and lose mobility altogether.
• Deafness: Havanese are prone to unilateral and bilateral deafness. With the former, your pup can still compensate for the lack of hearing in one ear.
• Eye Problems: Cataracts are the primary eye condition affecting Havanese and can lead to blindness if not treated with surgery.
• Heart Failure: This is the leading cause of death in older Havanese, brought on by a weakening and deformation of a heart valve. This affects blood flow and puts an enormous strain on the heart.
• Hypothyroidism: This condition affects Havanese disproportionately and occurs when the body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Common symptoms are hair loss, dry skin, dry coat, weight gain, and behavioral changes.

Temperament

These high-energy dogs are famous for their gentle, loving, loyal, and affectionate temperament. They prefer spending time with their owners, which makes them terrible kennel dogs.

As extremely active dogs, they make excellent training partners and are especially tolerant of children. Give them enough socialization early enough to prevent them from being timid later in life.

Exercise

Due to their small size, Havanese dogs have moderate exercise needs. A brisk walk 30 minutes daily should do the trick, coupled with some brisk playtime in the backyard. Much of the time, this is an indoor dog preferring to curl up somewhere near their pet owners instead of bounding about outside.

Training Havanese Puppies

The Havanese is eager to please and, as a puppy, responds well to encouragement and praise during training and dog sports. They easily pick up phrases and their associated actions, so training them to live inside your home without accidents should be relatively easy.

One thing potential pet parents should note is that the Havanese dog has high separation anxiety. If you won’t be home to spend time with them and ensure consistent training, this probably isn’t the best breed for you. When away from your pup, leave the TV on, place a piece of your clothing and litter box near him, or install a doggy camera to communicate with your dog frequently, preventing anxiety attacks and possible depression.

Havanese: Key Breed Points

• Personality: Intelligent, Affectionate, Energetic, Adorable
• Special Breed Characteristics: Family Pet
• Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
• Weight: 7-13 pounds
• Height: 8.5-11.5 inches
• Price: $1000 to $2,500

Final Word

The Havanese is an affectionate and gentle small dog that loves its human family. However, small dogs must get the proper socialization early enough to avoid bossy and obstinate tendencies later in life. Otherwise, the Havanese is a well-rounded dog with manageable health issues (provided it receives the proper care and diet) that will provide your family with many happy days.

At Family Affair Puppies, we are professional and certified dog breeders well-versed in the care and breeding of the Havanese. We can answer any of your questions if you are considering getting this unique dog breed from us or a reputable Havanese rescue.

Call us at 260-350-4840 today to speak to our experienced Havanese breeders and let us give you all the information you need to decide if this dog is the right breed for you.