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Havanese Dog Breed Introduction
Havanese is a bichon type of toy breed originally from Cuba popular for its springy gait. These dogs are considered ideal companion dogs and family pets since they are highly adaptable to any environment. Although, they are affected by separation anxiety if they are left alone for several hours each day. Havanese dogs like to follow the household members everywhere. This is also a tropical breed that must be protected from the cold even if the coat is abundant and appears warm. Leaving the coat longer during winter is essential.
Havanese History | Origin
The progenitors of the Bichon Types were brought to Cuba by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century. These small companions dogs developed from the now extinct little white dog of Havana(Blanquito de la Habana). It is believed that the little white dog of Havana was eventually crossed with other Bichon Types including the poodle to create the Havanese. By the early 19th century, the Havanese dogs were gracing the laps of many families in the island.
Enamored with the Havanese, European travelers brought these dogs to England, France, and Spain. This dog became very popular in Europe in the mid-19th century. It was kept as a pet by Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria. However, the pivotal end of the Havanese came in 1959 following the Fidel Castro Revolution. Many upper-class families fled Cuba to the United States together with their Havanese dogs. The Cuban refugees were able to preserve and perpetuate their native breed with the help of the American Fanciers. The Havanese breed was officially recognized by AKC in 1996.
Havanese Lifespan
A Havanese has a lifespan of 14 to 16 years. However, some live into their late teens. The Oldest Havanese had a lifespan of 18.2 years according to the 2004 study conducted by United Kingdom Kennel Club.
Havanese Grooming | Grooming Needs
A Havanese dog needs daily grooming to have a healthy coat that has no tangles and mats. If not daily, the Havanese coat should be brushed at least twice a week. This is the most important part of the grooming that keeps the coat free of mats or tangles. Never brush a dry coat since it easily breaks. Before brushing, lightly spray one side of the coat with water mixed with a small amount of conditioner. After spraying an area, start brushing using a comb or good quality pin brush that has rounded ends to the pins. Brush you way down to the skin since tangles and mats form near the skin. Remember to hold the brush flat while grooming the coat. If you hold the brush at an angle, it will scratch the skin and rip the coat of your pooch.
A Havanese may bath once after a week or two. Remember to brush the coat before a bath to remove dirt and ensure it is tangle-free. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner. A Conditioner nourishes each individual strand of hair. Thoroughly rinse off the coat with warm water to remove the residue of grooming products that may cause skin irritation. Remember to comb the hair so that it doesn’t dry in mats. While drying the coat using a dryer, use a low heat and high air to protect the sensitive skin. When bathing a Havanese place cotton balls just inside each ear before bathing to prevent excess water from getting in.
After a bath, pluck a few hairs inside the dog’s ears since it may be moist to allow air flow. As with any dog breed that has floppy ears, the ears must be cleaned once a week using cotton balls soaked in an ear cleanser solution. Trim the hairs that grow on the bottom of the feet between the paws using a blunt ended scissors to allow traction on smooth surfaces.
Clean the eye stains using an eye cleaner solution and cotton balls. Avoid using soapy water to wash the face of your pet since it will irritate the eyes. To keep the long hair from the eyes, tie it to a top knot. Remember to brush Havanese teeth twice a week using a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush to remove excess tartar buildup. Clip the nails twice a month using nail clippers. Overly grown nails make running and walking painful for your pet.
Havanese Grooming Tools
To properly groom Havanese dogs you will need to utilize various grooming tools including; a quality pin brush or comb, eye cleaner solution, ear cleanser solution, cotton balls, finger toothbrush, canine toothpaste, nail clippers, a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner, and cotton balls.
Havanese Haircuts | Grooming Styles
A Havanese dog that participate in a conformation show must have a show cut. However, if not showing the dog, the hair can be trimmed shorter to reduce the number of brushings per weak. Many pet parents clip the hair 1 to 2 inches all over the body for easy maintenance achieving a puppy cut. Other grooming styles for Havanese dogs include:
Cording – This is where a pet parent let the coat go natural and develop cords which look like dreadlocks hanging on the dog. Commitment is required since it takes up to 2 years to achieve this haircut. For this grooming style, bathing twice a week and twisting the fur into locks is a must. This helps to transform the matted fur into fluffy spirals.
Teddy Bear Cut – The hair around the body is cut 2 to 3 inches while leaving a little more on the head where it is fluffy and cut into a rounded shape.
Natural Coat | Show Cut – The coat is left to naturally grow attaining a length of 6 to 8 inches. However, slight trimming is done around the feet. The hair on the head is held into small braids tied with plastic bands.
Kennel Cut – This is a typical shave down while leaving 1/2 to 1 inch of hair on the body. To maintain this grooming style, regular trimming is required since the hair grows rather quickly.
Havanese Shedding | Do Havanese Shed
It is a low shedding breed that sheds at minimal levels all year round. The loose hair doesn’t fall off. A pet parent notices the shed hair while brushing the coat.
Havanese Hair | Coat | Coat Type
Havanese dogs have a double coat that is silky, soft, long, and lightweight. The coat is also undulating, profuse, and slightly wavy. However, the top coat is neither dense nor coarse. At times the undercoat may be completely absent. The hair on the coat should be very soft like unrefined silk. Some Havanese dogs may have a cottony, or too harsh coats giving a frizzy appearance.
Havanese Hypoallergenic
A Havanese is considered a nearly hypoallergenic breed. This is because it sheds at minimal levels, drools less, and produces little dander. A Hypoallergenic dog breed is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction in people who suffer from dog allergies. However, this doesn’t imply that it will never cause an allergic inflammation.
Havanese Training Secrets | Training
This is an intelligent toy breed that is eager to please the owner which makes training a bit easier. To raise a well-mannered, well-adjusted, sociable, and friendly dog, start socialization training that has a window period of 3 to 16 weeks. To socialize your dog, expose it to a wide variety of places, people, situations, sights, smell, surfaces, and sounds like whistles, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, sirens, and lawn mowers. Always ensure the experiences are positive and not intimidating. Enrolling your pet in a puppy class will also be a form of socialization. These classes empower pet parents to identify and correct bad habits like growling when someone approaches the food bowl.
Havanese dogs respond well to positive reinforcement methods such as use of treats, praise, playtime, and toys. However, they are sensitive and harsh corrections methods such as yelling, kicking, shoving, punching, and beating should not be used. Remember to consider the duration of training sessions depending on the age of the pooch. A Havanese pup will concentrate for a span of 2 to 3 minutes while an older dog may train for even a span of 20 minutes.
Teach the basic command words like sit, come, lie down, leave it, stop, and Wait one at a time to avoid confusion. Once the dog understands a command word, only utter it once without repeating so that it may understand that command words are not to be ignored. It is considered difficult to housebreak a Havanese dog. Therefore, crate training is recommended in order to monitor for signs of elimination such as whining, squatting, and circling. Naturally, dogs avoid soiling where they sleep. Crate training also helps to teach a Havanese to stay alone for sometime.
These dogs are highly sociable and easily suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time. A crate will teach it stay alone for a while. Make the device appealing by positioning treats, toys, and praising your dog once it gets in the crate. While in the house, always leave the crate door open so that your pet may understand that a crate is not a coerced experience. This is a safe place that a pooch should retreat to. Avoid leaving a Havanese dog in the crate for long hours. At no time should this device be used as a form of punishment. Make a crate comfortable by lining it with a blanket. Creating a feeding schedule also goes a long way in easing housebreaking.
Are Havanese Hard To Potty Train | Havanese Potty Training | Are Havanese Easy To Potty Train
Housebreaking toy breeds like Havanese at times is considered difficult. Especially when the bladder size is not taken into consideration during potty training. Making potty training sessions longer also make housebreaking difficult. Havanese dogs tend to maintain their puppyish grin as compared other larger breeds. Therefore, they have a short attention span. A Havanese is also susceptible to separation anxiety when left alone for long hours which may be a recipe for disaster when it comes to potty training. Generally, an 8-week-old puppy is able to hold for at least 2 hours before eliminating.
Although, this may not be the case with Havanese since they are toy breeds which have smaller bladders. Therefore, they are likely to eliminate after every 20 to 30 minutes until the bladder and bowel muscles matures to hold for at least 3 to 6 hours. Using a litter box or puppy pads while training will help with housebreaking. A Havanese is intelligent and can be housetrained faster than most of the toy dogs. Indoor potty training is also recommended for pet parents that reside in an apartment and have a hard time accessing a yard or street. Although, outdoor training is also possible by first crate training a Havanese.
For effective housebreaking, take your pet in the designated potty area immediately it wakes up, after naps, before bedtime, every 20 to 30 minutes (especially for young puppies), following an exciting activity like car ride and playtime, and 20 minutes after meals. For outdoor potty training, ensure that the toilet area is far from the patio deck, BBQ area, and it is easily washable. Once you get to the designated elimination area, give the command word, Toilet or Potty to give your pooch the cue to eliminate. At no time should the command words be used interchangeably to avoid confusion.
While in the toilet spot, remain there for a period of 15 minutes to ensure that the bladder and bowel muscles relax for a pee or poo. Once the dog eliminates, give a treat, praise, or show it affection. This will help it to associate the designated spot with elimination. If the dog fails to eliminate, return it to the toilet spot after a period of 15 minutes. Remember to scoop the excreted faeces since Havanese pups may eat the waste.
Before a pet is fully housebroken, it is likely to have accidents in the house. Avoid yelling at the dog, but instead utter a firm no and take it to the toilet spot. Remember to clean the mess using an enzymatic detergent or an iodine solution to get rid of the odor. Failure to remove the odor will encourage future accidents once the dog sniffs.
Watch out for signs that your Havanese wants to eliminate including circling, whining, squatting, or lifting a leg against the furniture. Before the age of 16 weeks, set an alarm to take your fur baby to the designated toilet spot once or twice during the night. While potty training, always take your dog to the toilet spot using a leash. Avoid carrying the pet. This creates confusion whether it should walk or be lifted to the elimination area.
Havanese Temperament | Traits
- Affectionate.
- Lively.
- Loyal.
- Friendly.
- Sociable.
- Intelligent.
- Trainable.
- Comic.
- Adaptable.
Havanese Barking
Although a Havanese is not a yappy dog, it will bark to alert the owner when people are approaching. If the owner acknowledges he/her has heard the alert, the dog ceases barking.
Havanese Exercise
Havanese dogs have moderate physical needs that can be meet through a fun playtime with the owner in the backyard or even a daily brisk walk. Playing inside the home will also do. If this breed is struggling to keep up and panting, then it is the cue to stop exercising. A Havanese of any age doesn’t require vigorous exercise.
Havanese Height
A Havanese dog has a height of 8.5 to 11.5 inches ( approx. 22 to 29 cm). However, the ideal height is 9 to 10.5 inches ( approx. 23 to 27cm ).
Havanese Weight
The average weight range of Havanese dogs is 7 to 13 pounds ( approx. 3 to 6 kg ) according to AKC. Although, majority have a weight range of 10 to 16 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 7.3 kg ).
Havanese Size
A Havanese is a toy-sized dog breed. It has a weight of 10 to 16 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 7.3 kg) and a height of 9 to 10.5 inches ( approx. 23 to 27cm ).
Havanese Separation Anxiety
These dogs are well known as sociable dogs that have very strong attachment issues with their owners. If left alone, they suffer from separation anxiety. These dogs are not recommended for pet parents that will not be around the home for hours. Although, pet parents may take the initiative of crate training which helps the dog to be confident in staying alone for a few hours. Some of the pet parents try to prevent separation anxiety by exercising the pet before leaving, ensuring there is background noise of television or radio, recording tapes of their voices to calm the dog, and leaving the house quietly.
Havanese Aggression
Naturally, Havanese dogs are sociable and non-aggressive. Even though, this may vary by an individual dog. A Havanese may be aggressive if it was not properly socialized or due to past traumatic experiences.
Havanese Biting
Biting is rampant with Havanese puppies as they play, explore their environment, and while teething due to discomfort. Puppy biting may seem adorable but not anymore after it becomes a serious behavior. Pet parents should curb it before it develops into a habit through redirection and bite inhibition training.
Havanese Ear Infection
A Havanese has naturally drop ears that protect the ear canal against dirt or debris. Floppy ears create a dark environment for bacteria to thrive if they are not cleaned on a weekly basis. There is also profuse hair growth in the ears of a Havanese that traps moisture if not plucked. Cause of ear infection in dogs include endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism, yeast imbalance, ear mites, moisture, excess wax, debris, or dirt, injury to the ear canal, excessive cleaning, and allergies.
There are three types of ear infections that affect a Havanese; externa, media, and interna otitis respectively. Externa otitis is far more common and causes inflammation to the cells located in the external ear canal. If left unattended, the infection spreads to the middle and inner ear canal. Media and interna otitis refer to the inflammation to the cells located in the middle and internal ear canal respectively.
These infections cause vestibular signs such as disorientation, blurred vision, and dizziness, deafness, and facial paralysis. Signs of ear infections in Havanese dogs include walking in circles, rubbing the ears against the surface, odor, pain, scratching at the affected ear, head shaking, redness, and dark discharge.
Havanese Eye Problems
A Havanese is affected by several eye problems including:
Cataracts – This is an eye issue that results in a moist and cloudy lens of the eye that leads to decreased vision.
Excessive tearing and staining – this is an eye problem that is more noticeable in white and light coated Havanese dogs. Excessive tearing maybe a result of blocked tear ducts. Wiping the eyes may temporarily removes the tear stains which will recur if the underlying issue is not addressed.
Cherry eye – Although rare, a Havanese may also suffer from a cherry eye. This is a prolapsed gland of the third eyelid where the gland protrudes.
Havanese Eye Discharge
Eye discharge in dogs is medically referred to as eye gunk or eye boogers. Normal eye discharge in dogs is clear with a water consistency or whitish-grey. This discharge may be more noticeable in a light-coated Havanese. Other possible causes of eye discharge include eye infection, dry eye disease, and allergies. Eye infections results to a thick yellowish green discharge if it is caused by a bacteria.
Havanese Health Issues
A Havanese is generally healthy with relatively few health issues. However, they suffer from various health issues including eye disorders like cataracts, retinal dysplasia, heart disease, allergies, liver disease, and luxating patella.
Havanese Dog Names
After getting a Havanese pup from a responsible breeder, the next best thing is getting a name for the fur baby. The name may be inspired by the coat color, Cuban origin, personality, food, movies, celebrities, historical figures, nature, and songs.
Regardless of where a pet parent gets the inspiration, the name should easily roll off the tongue and will not be a source of embarrassment if uttered out loud. Havanese and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. If you settle with a long name, be sure to find your pet a nick name. Names that rhyme with command words will likely cause confusion. If a pet shares a name with a family member or guest who frequent your home, it may create confusion.
Havanese Names Female
- Coco.
- Bella.
- Zoe.
- Mia.
- Ginger.
- Maddie.
- Ella.
- Daisy.
- Penny.
- Winnie.
- Annie, etc.
Havanese Seizures
Seizures (fits or convulsions ) also affects Havanese. This is the disturbance of the normal functioning of the brain that is normally accompanied with uncontrollable muscle activity. The causes of seizures are categorized into three; primary, secondary, and reactive seizures. Primary seizures are hereditary although the cause is unknown. Therefore, they are referred to as idiopathic epilepsy. Secondary seizures are caused by brain tumor, trauma to the head, or stroke.
Reactive seizures occur after the brain detects a problem with metabolism including toxins, low blood sugar, and organ failure. A seizure may last for a period of 1 to 3 minutes. For the safety of the pet, put nothing in its mouth while it is experiencing seizure. Common symptoms exhibited by a Havanese that is experiencing seizure include urination or defecation, loss of consciousness, stiffening of the muscle, foaming mouth, hiding after an episode, staring, and disorientation.
Havanese Names Male
- Benji.
- Oliver.
- Luna.
- Winston.
- Murphy.
- Leo.
- Buddy.
- Bear.
- Rascal.
- Tucker.
- Gus.
- Max, etc.
Havanese Heat Cycle | Mating
The heat cycle of a Havanese lasts for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. This process recurs after every 6 months. A Female Havanese may experience the first heat cycle at the age of 6 to 10 months. Although, early bloomers experience the heat cycle at the age of 4 months. After the one-year mark, it is recommended to take your dam to the Vet for examination if it has not yet experienced a heat cycle. It is possible for a Havanese to get pregnant in its teens if it is intact.
Common symptoms exhibited by a dog that is on the heat cycle include a swollen vulva, increased urination, tail flagging, bloody discharge, change of behaviors around dogs, licking the genital area, and change in eating habits.
Before mating a dam and a sire, ensure they are both screened for elbow dysplasia, cardiac disease, congenital deafness, eye disease, patellar luxation, hip joint disorder, and hip dysplasia. It is highly recommended to breed a dam after it attains the age of 2 years old to reduce dystocia and the probability of the dog rejecting puppies.
Havanese Litter Size
It has been reported that a Havanese dam may have an average litter size of 4 puppies with a range of 1 to 9 puppies since these dogs are sturdy and capable of carrying more than compared with other toy-sized breeds.
Havanese Harness
There is no consensus from Havanese parents on whether to use a collar or harness. Some prefer using a harness since toy-sized breeds are prone to tracheal collapse. Others use a collar while taking the dog to eliminate outside. There is also an argument that both a harness and a collar will increase the chances of matting. A collar is preferred for a dog that walks on leash without pulling. It also holds the ID and Rabies tag. A dog that has a tendency of pulling while on leash should walk in a harness.
Apart from Havanese, other breeds of dogs include:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Pug.
Havanese Feeding Guide
The amount of food that a Havanese feeds on depends on the age, metabolism, activity level, size, and build. Havanese puppies start weaning from the age of 4 weeks. From the age of 8 to 12 weeks a Havanese should feed four times in a day. Between the age of 12 weeks to 6 months feed a pup three times a day. As from the age of 6 months Havanese dogs are fed twice a day. The amount of food that you feed your dog depends on its weight. Consult with the vet.
Havanese Dog Food
It is recommended to feed a Havanese pup the food that it was introduced to by the breeder until the age of 6 months. These dogs have a sensitive digestive system. Place the food in the same location every other time for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. If the dog has not finished the food, pick the bowl up. Leaving the bowl out all day make a pooch susceptible to obesity.
Depending on the time and budget of Havanese parents, they may feed their dogs with dry kibble, wet commercial food, raw food, or homemade food. Regardless of the type of food, ensure that all the nutritional requirements are met. For the commercial dog food, ensure it has no preservatives, additives, and chemicals since they cause food intolerance in this breed.
Havanese Neck Size
A Havanese has a neck size of 8 to 14 inches ( approx. 20 to 30 cm).
Havanese Colors
According to the breed’s standard, all Havanese dogs are acceptable in all patterns and coat colors. Regardless of the coat color, all dogs should have a black pigment around the eyes, and a black nose except chocolate or brown coated dogs which may have a dark brown nose. Some of the Havanese colors include beige, white, red, fawn, cream, black, blue, silver, gold, Mahogany, etc.
Havanese Types
There is only one type of pure bred Havanese. However, their are designer dogs for this breed when crossed with Poodle, Bichon Frise, and Lhasa Apso to produce Havapoo, Havachon, and Hava-Apso respectively.
Havanese Allergies
The Havanese dogs are susceptible to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin Allergies – This inflammation is caused by food, contact, and environmental allergies. True food allergies result to skin issues symptoms such as hives, hot spots, lesions, dermatitis, facial swelling and pruritus. Whereas, environmental allergies result in atopic dermatitis a condition that is caused by inhaling or ingesting something that the dog is sensitive to.
Contact allergies – This is the inflammation that results in an allergic reaction if the skin of a Havanese comes in contact with an allergen. Some of the environmental allergies that cause inflammation include plastics, grooming products like shampoos and conditioner, carpet cleaning detergents, bed lines, lawn chemicals, latex, medication, etc. Commonly affected body parts include paws and around the muzzle.
Food Allergies – A Havanese is prone to food allergies and food intolerance. However, the latter is far more common. It occurs as a response to a gradual offending ingredient in the diet and snacks of a pet.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergies that affect a Havanese include Flea’s saliva. It causes Flea allergy dermatitis that causes itchiness and excessive scratching until the skin around the bite area is raw. Other allergens include dust and dust mites, house molds, ragweed, pollen, grass, trees, and even mosquitoes. Signs of environmental allergies include congestion, nasal discharge, swelling around the eyes, and itchiness on various body parts including underarms, groin, muzzle, paws, feet, and belly sides. If left untreated, environmental allergies may result in secondary skin infections.
Havanese Food Allergies
A Havanese may also suffer from a true food allergy although it is rare as compared to food intolerance. A true canine food allergy results in an immune response that is usually accompanied by a wide range of symptoms including skin conditions signs and digestive issues. Some of the skin conditions symptoms include hives, facial swelling, crusting lesions, hot spots, rashes, dermatitis, and pruritus. On the other hand digestive symptoms (gastrointestinal stress) include acute vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Food intolerance occurs as a result of a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet or snacks of the pooch. Some of the ingredients that are likely to cause food sensitivities include lamb, chicken, beef, turkey, fish, preservatives, chemicals, additives, soy, corn, eggs, milk, wheat, etc.
Signs of food intolerance in a Havanese include poor skin and coat, foot infections, vomiting, loss of appetite, ear infections, and itchiness. Pet parents should work along with the Vet to manage the symptoms while also finding the offending ingredient through elimination method.
Havanese Eyes
A Havanese has large, dark brown, and almond-shaped eyes.
Havanese Ears
Havanese dogs have dropped shaped ears that are broad at the base. They form a distinct fold and are set high on the skull. When alert, the ears remain folded but lift up at the base.
Havanese Tail
A Havanese has a high-set tail that arches forward over the back. It is plumed a with long silky hair. The tail may fall to either side of the body or straight forward. A dropped tail is allowed when a Havanese is standing. However, a docked tail is not permitted by AKC.
Havanese Teeth
A Havanese pup is born with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth start coming in at the age of 2 or 3 weeks until the pooch has a total of 28 milk teeth at the age of 6 or 8 weeks. However, at the age of 12 weeks, the puppy teeth start falling out as the permanent teeth sprouts. At the age of 6 months, a Havanese pup will have a total of 42 permanent teeth. Brush the teeth at least twice a week using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to prevent periodontal disease.
Are Havanese Hypoallergenic
Yes. A Havanese is considered nearly hypoallergenic breed since it sheds at minimal levels all-year round, produces less dander, and drools less. However, the term hypoallergenic refers to a dog that is unlikely to trigger allergic reactions in people. Although, it doesn’t mean that it will never trigger an allergic reaction.
Are Havanese Dogs Aggressive
No. They are non-aggressive and sociable dogs. However, this varies by individual dogs depending on how it was bred and socialized.
Are Havanese Smart
Yes. These dogs are considered intelligent and eager to please the pet parents which makes training easier.
Havanese Quick Facts
- A Havanese has a distinct springy gait that makes it unique from all other dog breeds.
- They are tropical dogs that should be protected from cold by keeping the coat longer during winter.
- When left alone for long period, they suffer from separation anxiety.
