Windy City Havanese Club

History of the Havanese

The Havanese breed shares ancestry with the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Coton de Tulear and Bolognese. The ancestors of the Havanese can be traced back to Greco-Roman times and it is believed that these dogs originated on the island of Teneriffe, although the modern version of the breed dates to the 18th century.

Early traders who travelled from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean often carried live animals to use as barter or, in the case of small dogs, as entree into the homes of the wealthy Island planters. These little dogs were often given as gifts to the women of the house in the hopes that the husbands and fathers would then look favorably on the wares offered for trade.

The Spanish aristocracy often sent second sons to the Island of Cuba to seek their fortunes in that rich and fertile soil. These sons of Spanish "grandees" became, in turn, wealthy in their own right and vast plantations were carved out of the island soil. The rich planters wives were offered little dogs as gifts by the traders who landed on Cuba and it is from these ancestors that the Havanese was developed. Thought to be bred from the now-extinct Blanquito de la Habana or Little White Dog of Havana, this little dog was also known as the Havana Silk Dog. Bred with the Poodle and other dogs found on the Island of Cuba, by the 18th century the Havanese type had been set and the Bichon Havanese had found its way into the hearts, not only of the Cubans, but of many residents of Europe. It is said that Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens owned Havanese and in the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway was said to be a fancier of the breed.

In the mid 20th century the political climate in Cuba changed and many of the wealthy residents left the Island. Most, believing that they would return soon, left their dogs behind in the care of friends,relatives or employees. Some of the refugees, however, fled with their dogs. In the United States, Mrs. Dorothy Goodale, a resident of Colorado, had become interested in the breed and was able to initially acquire 6 Cuban Havanese with FCI pedigrees. Subsequently she was able to obtain another 5 FCI pedigreed Cuban Havanese and it is from these 11 dogs that all Havanese in the United States are descended. In 1991 the United Kennel Club in the United States recognized the Havanese and accepted, for registration in its stud, any dogs bred by the Goodales under the Havana Doll House kennel name. The American Kennel Club recognized the Havanese in 1996 and the Havanese Club of America (www.havanese.org) was recognized as the Parent Club for the American Kennel Club-registered Havanese. The American Kennel Club admitted the Havanese to the Toy Group in 1999.

The little refugee from Cuba has now found its way into the hearts and homes of many fanciers in the United States as well as around the world. This little dog comes in all colors and color combinations. The topline of the Havanese is distinctive, being straight but rising slightly from withers to rump rather than being level. The outline of the Havanese is also distinctive, calling for a dog that is slightly longer than tall, carrying its head high and tail carried arched over the back. It's silky, profuse, double coat can grow to a length of 9 inches or more if left untrimmed. The size ranges from 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches at the withers. This is a sturdy little dog who delights in being part of a family. Always ready for a romp in the yard or a snuggle on a lap, the Havanese is equally at home in an apartment as well as the country or suburbs. Intelligent, friendly, happy, curious and outgoing, the Havanese thrives in most situations but will not tolerate being left alone for prolonged periods or being ignored.

Are there any drawbacks to owning a Havanese? Anyone contemplating adding a Havanese to the family must understand that this is a breed that needs and DEMANDS human attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most behavior problems can be traced to the dog not getting the attention it needs from its owners.

In addition to its "velcro" temperament, the Havanese coat requires a great deal of care, even if kept trimmed. Because the undercoat is so soft and does not shed, it mats easily even when kept short and a daily session of brushing is necessary to keep the dog looking neat and well-kept. The problem of matting is especially difficult during the transition from puppy coat to adult coat and it is possible, during that time, that the owner will have to brush the dog more often than just once per day to keep the mats under control.

There are some who report that their Havanese puppies are difficult to housebreak. I maintain this is because the puppies are very small and therefore need to be taken outside more frequently than larger-breed puppies. If the new owner is committed to giving the Havanese puppy the time and attention it needs to teach it proper house manners, I do not believe that most Havanese puppies are any more difficult to housetrain than any other breed or mix of breeds. But yes, they do require more time since due to their small size, they have much less 'storage capacity' and therefore do require very frequent trips outside, at least in the first 3-4 months.

The Havanese CAN be the perfect breed for the right family, but anyone who is thinking of adding a Havanese to the household should first take the time to properly research this breed to determine if it will be a good 'fit' for your circumstances. The breed is far from "perfect" for all situations and it is up to you, if you are thinking of adding a puppy to the family, to become an educated consumer BEFORE you buy!

Interested in joining the

Windy City Havanese Club?

Please contact Sue Magan, Membership Committee Chair person at sjmagan@aol.com, for an application.

windycityhavaneseclub@yahoo.com