United Pet Club

Havanese breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.

Size

Size
MeasureFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
Height at the withers23–27 cm21–29 cmAlternate22.9–26.7 cm21.6–29.2 cmAlternateunder 21.6 cmDisqualifyingover 29.2 cmDisqualifying21.6–26.7 cmunder 21.6 cmDisqualifyingover 26.7 cmDisqualifying23–28 cm23–27 cm21–29 cmAlternateunder 21 cmDisqualifyingover 29 cmDisqualifying
WeightNo rulingNo ruling3.2–6.4 kgunder 3.2 kgDisqualifyingover 6.4 kgDisqualifyingNo rulingNo ruling
Height to length0.8No ruling0.6No rulingNo ruling
Skull to muzzle1No ruling111

Conformation

Conformation
FormFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
BiteScissors biteStandard (“Jaws/Teeth: Scissor bite”)Standard (“A scissors bite is ideal”)Standard (“A scissors bite and normal jaw formation are expected”)Standard (“perfect regular scissor bite”)Standard (“Jaws/teeth: Scissors bite”)
BiteLevel biteNo rulingNo rulingFault (“Fault: Level bite”)No rulingNo ruling
BiteOvershotDisqualifying (“Upper or lower prognathism”)No rulingDisqualifying (“Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite”)No rulingDisqualifying (“DISQUALIFICATIONS ... Overshot or undershot”)
BiteUndershotDisqualifying (“Upper or lower prognathism”)No rulingDisqualifying (“Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite”)No rulingDisqualifying (“DISQUALIFICATIONS ... Overshot or undershot”)
BiteWry mouthNo rulingNo rulingDisqualifying (“Disqualifications: ... wry mouth”)No rulingNo ruling
DentitionFull dentitionStandard (“A complete dentition is desirable”)Standard (“a full complement of incisors is preferred”)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“Complete dentition desirable”)
DentitionMissing teethAlternate (“absence of premolars 1 (PM1) and molars 3 (M3) is tolerated”)No rulingNo rulingNo rulingAlternate (“absence of premolars (PM1) and molars (M3) tolerated”)
Ear carriageDrop (pendant)Standard (“they fall along the cheeks forming a discreet fold”)Standard (“Ears are broad at the base, dropped, and have a distinct fold”)Standard (“have dropped leathers of moderate size, which form a gentle fold”)Standard (“Moderately pointed and dropped”)Standard (“small drop-eared dog”)
Ear setHighStandard (“Set relatively high”)Standard (“They are set high on the skull”)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“set relatively high”)
Eye shapeAlmondStandard (“Quite big, almond shape”)Standard (“Eyes are large, dark brown and almond-shaped”)No rulingStandard (“Dark, large, almond shaped”)Standard (“Quite big, wide set, almond-shaped”)
Eye shapeOvalNo rulingNo rulingStandard (“Rather large and oval shaped, deep set and dark”)No rulingNo ruling
StopModerateStandard (“Stop: Moderately marked”)Standard (“The stop is moderate”)Standard (“with a moderate stop”)Standard (“skull broad, slightly rounded, moderate stop”)Standard (“Stop: Moderate”)
Skull typeMesocephalic (medium)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“intermediate (mesaticephalic) type”)No rulingNo ruling
ToplineSlight arch over the loinStandard (“Topline straight, slightly arched over the loin”)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“level topline, slight rise over loin”)Standard (“Topline is straight, slightly arched over the muscular loin”)
ToplineRising to the rearNo rulingStandard (“The straight topline rises slightly from the withers to the croup”)Standard (“The straight topline is not level, but rises gradually to the rear”)No rulingStandard (“presenting a gentle, gradual rise from withers to rear”)
ToplineLevelNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingStandard (“level topline, slight rise over loin”)No ruling
Tail carriageCurled over the backStandard (“Carried high, either in shape of a crozier or preferably rolled over the back”)Standard (“The tail is high-set and arches forward up over the back”)Standard (“The tail is ... carried over the back”)Standard (“Set high, carried over the back”)Standard (“Loosely curled over the back while gaiting, may drop at rest”)
Tail carriageLow (hanging)No rulingAlternate (“While standing, a dropped tail is permissible”)Fault (“Serious Faults: Straight or dropped tail”)No rulingAlternate (“Loosely curled over the back while gaiting, may drop at rest”)
Tail setHighNo rulingStandard (“The tail is high-set”)No rulingStandard (“Set high, carried over the back”)No ruling
Tail setMediumNo rulingNo rulingStandard (“set smoothly on the body in a moderate position”)No rulingNo ruling
FeetHare footNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingStandard (“Small, tight, hare foot”)No ruling
Neck lengthMediumStandard (“NECK: Of medium length”)Standard (“The neck is slightly arched, of moderate length”)Standard (“The neck is sturdy, of moderate length”)Standard (“Medium length”)Standard (“Medium length”)
ChestDeepNo rulingStandard (“The chest is deep, well developed, and reaches the elbow”)Standard (“The ribs are well sprung, deep and carried well back”)No rulingNo ruling
Tuck-upModerateNo rulingStandard (“There is a moderate tuck-up”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Muzzle shapeTaperedStandard (“Narrowing progressively and slightly towards the nose”)No rulingStandard (“tapering, with flat cheeks”)No rulingStandard (“narrowing slightly towards the nose”)
Muzzle shapeSnipyFault (“SEVERE FAULTS: Truncated or snipey muzzle”)No rulingNo rulingFault (“Muzzle not snipy or blunt”)Fault (“Muzzle truncated or snipey”)
Muzzle shapeBluntNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingFault (“Muzzle not snipy or blunt”)No ruling

Markings

Markings
MarkingFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
Tan pointsAlternate (“Tan markings in all nuances permitted”)No rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo ruling

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
ProcedureFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
Tail dockingNo rulingNot recognized (“The tail may not be docked”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Dewclaw removalNo rulingAlternate (“Dewclaws may be removed”)Alternate (“The front dewclaws may be removed”)No rulingAlternate (“Dewclaws may be removed”)

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

Havanese colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Havanese color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Havanese in Black, White, Blue, Silver, Chocolate, Tan, Red, Gold, Cream, and Fawn. Standard patterns: Solid, Bicolor, Tricolor, Brindle, Piebald, Parti-color, Roan, Sable, Tan point, and Reverse brindle.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlackStandard (“black”)Standard (“Black”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Black”)Standard (“black”)
WhiteStandard (“Rarely completely pure white”)Standard (“White”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“White”)Standard (“Rarely completely pure white”)
BlueNot recognizedStandard (“Blue”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)Not recognized
SilverNot recognizedStandard (“Silver”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)Not recognized
ChocolateStandard (“havana-brown, tobacco colour, reddish-brown”)Standard (“Chocolate”)Standard (“true chocolate-coated dogs”)Standard (“Chocolate”)Standard (“havana-brown, tobacco colour, reddish-brown”)
TanStandard (“Tan markings in all nuances permitted”)Standard (“Black & Tan”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Black & Tan”)Standard (“Tan markings in all nuances permitted”)
RedNot recognizedStandard (“Red”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Red”)Not recognized
GoldNot recognizedStandard (“Gold”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Gold”)Not recognized
CreamNot recognizedStandard (“Cream”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Cream”)Not recognized
FawnStandard (“fawn in its different shades”)Standard (“Fawn”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)Standard (“fawn in its different shades”)
AlbinoNot recognizedNo rulingDisqualifying (“Albinism”)No rulingNot recognized
Patterns
SolidStandard (“Rarely completely pure white, fawn in its different shades”)Standard (“All colors and marking patterns are permissible”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)Standard (“Rarely completely pure white, fawn in its different shades”)
BicolorStandard (“Patches in mentioned colours allowed”)Standard (“All colors and marking patterns are permissible”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Black & White”)Standard (“Patches in mentioned colours allowed”)
TricolorNo rulingStandard (“All colors and marking patterns are permissible”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Tricolour”)No ruling
BrindleNo rulingStandard (“Black Brindle”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)No ruling
PiebaldNo rulingStandard (“Irish Pied”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)No ruling
Parti-colorNo rulingStandard (“Parti-Color”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Particolour”)No ruling
RoanNo rulingStandard (“Parti Belton”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)No ruling
SableStandard (“slight blackened overlay admitted”)Standard (“Gold Sable”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Sable”)Standard (“slight blackened overlay admitted”)
Tan pointStandard (“Tan markings in all nuances permitted”)Standard (“Tan Points”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Black & Tan”)Standard (“Tan markings in all nuances permitted”)
Reverse brindleNo rulingStandard (“Black Brindle”)Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”)Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”)No ruling
MerleNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNot recognized (“except merle which is unacceptable”)No ruling
Double merleNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Eyes: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
Dark brownStandard (“of brown colour as dark as possible”)Standard (“dark brown”)Standard (“dark”)Standard (“Dark”)Standard (“of brown colour, as dark as possible”)
Light brownNo rulingStandard (“Chocolate dogs may have somewhat lighter brown eyes”)No rulingStandard (“In brown shades eyes can be a slightly lighter colour”)No ruling
YellowFault (“Bird of prey eyes”)No rulingNo rulingNo rulingFault (“Bird of prey eyes”)
Nose: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlackStandard (“Black or brown”)Standard (“solid black for all colors except for chocolate dogs”)Standard (“all other coat colors require jet black pigment”)Standard (“Nose and lips solid black”)Standard (“Black or brown”)
LiverStandard (“Black or brown”)Standard (“chocolate dogs which have solid brown pigment”)Standard (“true chocolate-coated dogs, which have dark brown/liver colored pigment”)Standard (“for brown shades the pigment may be brown”)Standard (“Black or brown”)
PinkDisqualifying (“Depigmented nose”)Disqualifying (“Incomplete or total lack of pigmentation of the nose”)Disqualifying (“Less than full, dark pigment on eye rims, nose or lips”)No rulingDisqualifying (“Depigmented nose”)
Patterns
Butterfly noseNo rulingDisqualifying (“Incomplete or total lack of pigmentation of the nose”)Disqualifying (“Less than full, dark pigment on eye rims, nose or lips”)No rulingNo ruling

What the rulings mean

Standard
Described by the club's breed standard.
Fault
Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
Disqualifying
The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized
The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Havanese's colors can change over its life.

  • Blackchanges toRust

    Coat · With body condition · can change back

  • Blackchanges toGray

    Coat · Progressive

  • Blackchanges toBrown

    Coat · In the sun · can change back

  • Whitechanges toRoan

    Coat · With age · from 2 weeks

  • Tan pointchanges toSaddle

    Coat · With age · from 6 to 156 weeks

  • Blackchanges toSnow nose

    Nose · With the season · can change back

  • Blackchanges toPink

    Nose · With the season · can change back

Published standards