Looking for a small dog with plenty of energy?
The Havanese is well-known for being a bundle of energy who are generally pretty happy dogs. You’ll find plenty of personality in this breed, as a natural extroverted dog breed they thrive in the spotlight.
You might find it quite surprising, but this little dog has plenty of energy. Although they’re often considered a companion or lapdogs, they are more than happy to get involved in the action too.
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What does a Havanese dog look like?
The Havanese dog breed is classified by the British Kennel Club as being in the ‘Toy’ group. It’s no surprise when you consider that they usually measure 23-28cms in height and weigh 3-6kgs.
Although they were once known as the ‘Blanquito de la Habana’ (little white dog of Havana) they are now seen in many colours. In fact, the British Kennel Club actually recognises 24 breed standard colours. These include:
- Black
- Black & Tan
- Chocolate
- Cream
- Gold Sable
- Red & White
- And White.
They’re easily recognised by their small stature, expressive eyes, and long silky coats. And it’s because of this long silky coat that they have high grooming needs.
Did you know?
They have been owned throughout time by many famous names. Some notable ones include Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, Venus Williams, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
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Grooming your Havanese dog
The choice to take the responsibility of grooming fully upon yourself or take on professional grooming services is up to you. However, please bear in mind that they are fairly high maintenance for grooming requirements.
This includes small grooming daily with plenty of regular brushing. On top of this, they should also have frequent trims and professional grooming if possible.
We’ve put together a handy home dog grooming guide that might be useful for you!
The temperament of a Havanese dog
This breed has plenty of personality and will be more than happy clowning around to keep you entertained. They’re active, smart, and pretty easy to train. This is why they’re often recommended as a dog breed for novice dog owners.
Havanese dogs tend to be very social and happy and thrive in the presence of their family. However, their need for plenty of attention can be quite demanding for owners with busy schedules.
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If you’re a Havanese dog owner and are struggling with the ‘velcro’ personality, then you should check out our guide for dealing with clingy dogs.
Due to their extroverted personalities and need for social interaction, they can be at risk of developing separation anxiety. Therefore, wherever possible don’t leave a Havanese dog alone for long periods of time. It’s always best to work up to longer periods gradually to make sure your dog is comfortable with your absence.
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What dog owners do Havanese suit?
As long as their needs are met, Havanese dogs are generally pretty easygoing. They suit homes from a small studio flat right up to a large mansion.
Havanese dogs are good for first-time owners
They’re often recommended to inexperienced or unconfident dog owners due to their trainability. However, it’s important to make sure that they’re thoroughly socialised so that they grow to be well-adjusted dogs.
If they aren’t fully socialised, they can often become quite withdrawn, timid, and shy around people they don’t know.
Havanese are great watchdogs
They make good watchdogs as they will often bark to alert you to someone coming near the house. However, as they’re such a small breed they’re not really recommended as a guard dog.
Havanese dog breed suits multi-pet households
As long as they’re thoroughly socialised, many Havanese dogs will happily share their home with other pets. Whether that’s a dog or a cat!
The only thing you need to consider with other pets is that due to their size they may accidentally get pushed about a bit by a larger dog breed.
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Havanese breed is great for families
They are generally pretty good with kids or families too. It just means they’ll get to enjoy more attention and social interaction!
However, due to their size, it’s recommended that you only consider this dog breed if your children are a little older as they’re more likely to be careful with your pets.
See more dog breeds that are great for families
Good choice for owners looking for a therapy dog
They absolutely thrive when they get full attention from their owners. They were originally bred to be companion dogs so are often great choices for emotional support animals or even therapy dogs.
Did you know?
Because of their trainability, they’ve actually frequently been chosen as working dogs. Performing jobs like herding chickens and ducks and even sniffing out mould.
The history of a Havanese
They were thought to have originally descended from the Bichon family. This is why many often confuse the Havanese with the Maltese or even Bichon Frise dog breed.
You might have guessed that they originated from Cuba, and you’d be right. They originated working with farmers in the Havana area.
However, they soon were discovered by Europeans holidaying in Havana and experienced a boom in popularity.
They went on to become a hit with Spanish, French and British nobility. They are now a popular breed although seen less often than their Maltese cousins.
Finding your Forever Puppy
It’s important to do your research before buying (or adopting) a new puppy. Not all dog breeds will suit your home, lifestyle, and family. And that’s ok!
We’ve put together many dog breed guides to help make your decision a little easier!
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