The Legendary Lapdog
You might know a lot about dog breeds in general, but have you ever met, or even heard of the Havanese breed? They are a one of a kind species, and can fit in almost perfectly with any family. When my mom let me choose a dog for the family, I went straight to the Havanese as a contender (and the Western Terrier, but that’s beside the point). When I first saw the Havanese dog, I knew they were something special. Right off the bat, they are non – shedding (cute) fur balls, small lap dogs, and have an outgoing, silly yet smart personality. My Havanese, named Scout, is a small little dog, with a big personality, and a bigger heart. Something really special about the Havanese is that they can feel for you. They know when you need a cuddle, a laugh, or just some time alone. You will learn to love the Havanese as much as I love the Havanese. If you’re looking for a dog after you have learned about this amazing breed, I am almost certain that you’re going to consider having the Havanese as your pet.
A Havanese is always ready to play, sleep, cuddle, and more! They do whatever they think fits the mood best. Failed a test? They’ll kindly stare at you. When excited, they’re excited. When you’re in bed, they’re laying down in cute positions. You can always count on your Havanese to cheer you up, get you active, or just be a good stress reliever. No matter the problem, your trusty Havanese can put up with the task! The Havanese is an outgoing, cute, and (very) lovable dog. They love being with humans, and sometimes even act like one! They’ll do cute things to make you laugh, play, and cuddle with them! The Havanese loves all people, and is able to easily get along with everyone, including toddlers, babies, and children.
Anyone who chooses a dog wants one that’s friendly. Not many people want a dog that growls and barks at another dog that’s passing by. If you have several animals at home, you most likely want a dog that can get along with all those animals. A Havanese is usually able to get along with other animals. That doesn’t mean that some could possibly be aggressive, and you should definitely still assess the dog to make sure they fit your expectations and needs.
Bigger dogs need bigger space. They eat more food, sleep in bigger kennels, take up more space on the couch, and more. For those who live in small houses, condos, or apartments, it could be really convenient to have a smaller dog. It also will help save money. If you have any kids, you should really consider getting a smaller dog. It could help the kids walk the dog. If you have a bigger dog, the dog could walk the kids! The kids wouldn’t be able to carry a larger dog. They could weigh 70 – 150 pounds! A Havanese weighs about 12 pounds on average. Some smaller, some larger, but they surely don’t take much space on the couch! Most Havanese grows to about 11 inches tall. That’s not much compared to larger dogs, like golden retrievers, mastiffs or big Dobermans!
Because the Havanese has hair (like humans) rather than fur, they require more grooming. You need to brush them more than dogs that have regular fur, and you also need to cut their hair if they start getting (big impossible-to-untie) knots. After you cut your Havanese’s hair; they usually have a very soft coat. It feels very silky and fluffy. As for many other dogs, you should brush his or her teeth on a regular daily basis. Washing your Havanese every week or so is required. Bringing your dog to the groomer every so often is usually nice, because they clip, brush, wash, comb, and cut your dog’s fur. That is possible to do by yourself too.
The Havanese is titled and known for being a hypoallergenic dog. Though that IS a big word, it has a simple meaning. It just means that the Havanese has hair instead of fur, so it doesn’t shed much at all. It is unlikely that anyone would have allergies to the Havanese, but it is possible. If someone were allergic to the Havanese, they would be allergic to either the Havanese’s saliva or its dander, which is skin flakes in an animal’s (including human) hair. Luckily, the Havanese does not drool much, and does not have much dander compared to some other dogs.
The Havanese has a silky, fluffy, and soft coat. The Havanese grows hair quite quickly, and it appears slightly wavy. While the Havanese grows up, they should start getting a little bit of a firmer coat. His or her hair is still going to be silky and fluffy, but not as much as when they were puppies. Depending on the dog’s parents, fur colors can vary. Most dogs have random spots or splotches of color, a bold, plain color, and others might have a streak of a certain color on a different background.
The Havanese has many joints in its hindquarters. Its paw pads (or as I like to call them, “toe beans”) and nails can come as any color, usually a darker color, with a little bit of red or pink near the inside. The Havanese’s hocks (the jutting joint a little lower than the middle of the dog’s legs) are let down fairly low. His or her dewclaws (the part where, when the Havanese runs, the leg bends… not all Havanese have them) can be removed, and are not necessary. The croup, found near the Havanese’s rear end, is usually higher than the withers (found where the neck breaks). His or her hind legs should be muscular with a non- extreme angle, generally around 45 degrees.
The Havanese
has kind, wise, and (kind of) sappy eyes. Its expression is a little mischievous, but at the same time, very mindful. Havanese usually have brown eyes, and it is quite rare to have any other color of eyes. The Havanese has folded ears that don’t perk all the way up when excited. Instead, they will perk, but always stay folded. The ears are planted at around the same area as the occiput, (the back of the head or skull, which has no particular function) and are just directly above the zygomatic arch (located just under the eye sockets and back of skull).
The Havanese’s neck is held high. The neck bends smoothly because of where of the shoulder blades rest. Sometimes, the Havanese will stick its head forwards, but usually, they will keep their heads high and perked up. His or her front legs are shorter, and less meaty than the hind legs. The Havanese has elbows tucked tight in, so that all legs are straight, and face forward. Then there are the pasterns – a small jutting joint that is barely visible, located very low in the foot, just above where the fold to the dog’s paw is. Pasterns help bare weight of the dog’s body, and work with the dog’s paws to sense different things, and give the Havanese flexibility when running, walking, or even going down stairs. Pasterns are short, yet both strong, delicate, and flexible.
The breed of the Havanese was discovered a very long time ago. Someone named Mr. Cowley brought a group of Havanese to Queen Anne (1665-1714), who loved the dogs! That led to them being famous. In the time, the names of the Havanese were changed, and different every time. Just a few of the Havanese’s names: the Blanquito Cubano, the Bichon Havanais, Bichon of Cuba, Havana Silk Dog, and many more.
The Havanese is the only dog native to Cuba but this is also disputed. As a toy dog, the Havanese looks like many crosses of other toy dogs. The Havanese comes from the Bichón Tenerife. It is said that some other dogs may have been crossbred to develop the modern Havanese. That is a possible answer for why the Havanese looks like so many other breeds of dog. The Havanese was descended from the Blanquito de la Habana, which is now extinct. The Blanquito de la Habana’s small size and ear fold was very similar to the modern Havanese.
The Havanese dog originated from both Cuba and from the Mediterranean areas of Western Europe.
The Havanese also is said to come from Mediterranean areas along Spain, France, and Italy. Because the Havanese has its brown tobacco color, and with Cuba’s history with tobacco, people began to use the term for the Havanese color: ‘tobacco-colored’. But it seems now that political events have led to the disappearance of the Havanese’s bloodlines.
There are many theories and legends of how the Havanese was developed. One of the most well know theories and most believed from Cubans, is that the Havanese was sometimes smuggled to Cuba, (Yes, I did mean “smuggled”, as in sometimes illegally being brought to Cuba, because of their unstable relationship with America) or being raised on ships as young (sailor) pups. Later, they would sometimes be sold or traded for more wanted goods. (Not saying they’re anything better than a cute small fluffy fur ball!)
