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
| Measure | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height at the withers | 23–27 cm21–29 cmAlternate | 22.9–26.7 cm21.6–29.2 cmAlternateunder 21.6 cmDisqualifyingover 29.2 cmDisqualifying | 21.6–26.7 cmunder 21.6 cmDisqualifyingover 26.7 cmDisqualifying | 23–28 cm | 23–27 cm21–29 cmAlternateunder 21 cmDisqualifyingover 29 cmDisqualifying |
| Weight | No ruling | No ruling | 3.2–6.4 kgunder 3.2 kgDisqualifyingover 6.4 kgDisqualifying | No ruling | No ruling |
| Height to length | 0.8 | No ruling | 0.6 | No ruling | No ruling |
| Skull to muzzle | 1 | No ruling | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Conformation
| Form | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BiteScissors bite | Standard (“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 bite | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Fault: Level bite”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| BiteOvershot | Disqualifying (“Upper or lower prognathism”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“DISQUALIFICATIONS ... Overshot or undershot”) |
| BiteUndershot | Disqualifying (“Upper or lower prognathism”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“DISQUALIFICATIONS ... Overshot or undershot”) |
| BiteWry mouth | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: ... wry mouth”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| DentitionFull dentition | Standard (“A complete dentition is desirable”) | Standard (“a full complement of incisors is preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Complete dentition desirable”) |
| DentitionMissing teeth | Alternate (“absence of premolars 1 (PM1) and molars 3 (M3) is tolerated”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Alternate (“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 setHigh | Standard (“Set relatively high”) | Standard (“They are set high on the skull”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“set relatively high”) |
| Eye shapeAlmond | Standard (“Quite big, almond shape”) | Standard (“Eyes are large, dark brown and almond-shaped”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark, large, almond shaped”) | Standard (“Quite big, wide set, almond-shaped”) |
| Eye shapeOval | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Rather large and oval shaped, deep set and dark”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| StopModerate | Standard (“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 ruling | No ruling | Standard (“intermediate (mesaticephalic) type”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| ToplineSlight arch over the loin | Standard (“Topline straight, slightly arched over the loin”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“level topline, slight rise over loin”) | Standard (“Topline is straight, slightly arched over the muscular loin”) |
| ToplineRising to the rear | No ruling | Standard (“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 ruling | Standard (“presenting a gentle, gradual rise from withers to rear”) |
| ToplineLevel | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“level topline, slight rise over loin”) | No ruling |
| Tail carriageCurled over the back | Standard (“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 ruling | Alternate (“While standing, a dropped tail is permissible”) | Fault (“Serious Faults: Straight or dropped tail”) | No ruling | Alternate (“Loosely curled over the back while gaiting, may drop at rest”) |
| Tail setHigh | No ruling | Standard (“The tail is high-set”) | No ruling | Standard (“Set high, carried over the back”) | No ruling |
| Tail setMedium | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“set smoothly on the body in a moderate position”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| FeetHare foot | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Small, tight, hare foot”) | No ruling |
| Neck lengthMedium | Standard (“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”) |
| ChestDeep | No ruling | Standard (“The chest is deep, well developed, and reaches the elbow”) | Standard (“The ribs are well sprung, deep and carried well back”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Tuck-upModerate | No ruling | Standard (“There is a moderate tuck-up”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Muzzle shapeTapered | Standard (“Narrowing progressively and slightly towards the nose”) | No ruling | Standard (“tapering, with flat cheeks”) | No ruling | Standard (“narrowing slightly towards the nose”) |
| Muzzle shapeSnipy | Fault (“SEVERE FAULTS: Truncated or snipey muzzle”) | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Muzzle not snipy or blunt”) | Fault (“Muzzle truncated or snipey”) |
| Muzzle shapeBlunt | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Muzzle not snipy or blunt”) | No ruling |
Markings
| Marking | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tan points | Alternate (“Tan markings in all nuances permitted”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
Cropping, docking and other procedures
| Procedure | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tail docking | No ruling | Not recognized (“The tail may not be docked”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Dewclaw removal | No ruling | Alternate (“Dewclaws may be removed”) | Alternate (“The front dewclaws may be removed”) | No ruling | Alternate (“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.
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“Black”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Black”) | Standard (“black”) |
| White | Standard (“Rarely completely pure white”) | Standard (“White”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“White”) | Standard (“Rarely completely pure white”) |
| Blue | Not recognized | Standard (“Blue”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | Not recognized |
| Silver | Not recognized | Standard (“Silver”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | Not recognized |
| Chocolate | Standard (“havana-brown, tobacco colour, reddish-brown”) | Standard (“Chocolate”) | Standard (“true chocolate-coated dogs”) | Standard (“Chocolate”) | Standard (“havana-brown, tobacco colour, reddish-brown”) |
| Tan | Standard (“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”) |
| Red | Not recognized | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Red”) | Not recognized |
| Gold | Not recognized | Standard (“Gold”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Gold”) | Not recognized |
| Cream | Not recognized | Standard (“Cream”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Cream”) | Not recognized |
| Fawn | Standard (“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”) |
| Albino | Not recognized | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Albinism”) | No ruling | Not recognized |
| Patterns | |||||
| Solid | Standard (“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”) |
| Bicolor | Standard (“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”) |
| Tricolor | No ruling | Standard (“All colors and marking patterns are permissible”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Tricolour”) | No ruling |
| Brindle | No ruling | Standard (“Black Brindle”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | No ruling |
| Piebald | No ruling | Standard (“Irish Pied”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | No ruling |
| Parti-color | No ruling | Standard (“Parti-Color”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Particolour”) | No ruling |
| Roan | No ruling | Standard (“Parti Belton”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | No ruling |
| Sable | Standard (“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 point | Standard (“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 brindle | No ruling | Standard (“Black Brindle”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable; singly or in any combination”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | No ruling |
| Merle | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Not recognized (“except merle which is unacceptable”) | No ruling |
| Double merle | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark brown | Standard (“of brown colour as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“of brown colour, as dark as possible”) |
| Light brown | No ruling | Standard (“Chocolate dogs may have somewhat lighter brown eyes”) | No ruling | Standard (“In brown shades eyes can be a slightly lighter colour”) | No ruling |
| Yellow | Fault (“Bird of prey eyes”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Bird of prey eyes”) |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“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”) |
| Liver | Standard (“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”) |
| Pink | Disqualifying (“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 ruling | Disqualifying (“Depigmented nose”) |
| Patterns | |||||
| Butterfly nose | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Incomplete or total lack of pigmentation of the nose”) | Disqualifying (“Less than full, dark pigment on eye rims, nose or lips”) | No ruling | No 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
Sources
Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.