Havanese

The Havanese is a toy breed that originated in Cuba, where it grew into the country's national dog and a familiar presence in Cuban homes. A fully grown Havanese is small, typically weighing between 7 and 13 lb, and carries a long, soft double coat. The breed was bred for companionship rather than any working role, so most of its history has played out indoors, close to people.

Temperament sets the Havanese apart. These dogs are sociable and people oriented, generally described as friendly, affectionate, playful and clever. They form close attachments to their household and will often trail family members from room to room. That closeness makes them attentive companions, but it also means they cope poorly with being left on their own for long periods.

The coat is eye catching, though it needs consistent upkeep. Owners either commit to brushing the full coat regularly or have it kept in a shorter clip. With a typical lifespan of 14 to 16 years, taking on a Havanese is a long-term commitment for any household.

Who suits a Havanese

The Havanese suits people who want a small, social dog and who can offer it daily company. It settles well in both flats and houses, and gets on with children and other pets once properly introduced. The breed is not a good match for households that are out most of the day, since it is prone to distress when left alone. Anyone thinking of getting one should also budget time for the grooming the coat demands.

The origins of the Havanese lie with small companion dogs of the bichon family, brought to Cuba during the era of European settlement and trade. These dogs travelled with settlers and traders from the Mediterranean, and over generations on the island they developed into a distinct type, shaped by the local climate and by life as a household companion.

The breed's name comes from Havana, Cuba's capital city. By the 1800s, small white and cream dogs of this type were established in Cuban homes, particularly among wealthier families, and the breed became closely tied to the island's identity. In time it came to be regarded as Cuba's national dog.

Political upheaval in Cuba during the mid twentieth century led many families to leave the country, and some took their dogs with them. A small number of Havanese reached the United States in this period, and breeders there used them to rebuild the breed outside Cuba. These dogs form the foundation of most of the breed as it exists today.

From that small founding group, the Havanese spread through North America and Europe as a companion breed and gained recognition from major kennel registries in the later twentieth century. In South Africa, the breed is registered with the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA), the country's governing body for pedigree dogs. Interest in the Havanese has grown steadily since, though it remains first and foremost a household companion rather than a working dog.

The Havanese is small but solidly built, slightly longer than it is tall. Its long, soft double coat and plumed tail, carried arched over the back, give it a distinctive silhouette. The expression is alert and friendly, with dark eyes and drop ears hidden beneath hair. Movement is springy and lively, a bouncy gait that breed enthusiasts often point to as characteristic.

Coat and colours

The coat is the breed's most distinctive feature: double layered, soft to the touch, and ranging from wavy to slightly curled. Left untrimmed, it grows long and flowing, though many owners choose a shorter clip for easier upkeep instead. The breed standard permits all colours and combinations, so coats turn up in white, cream, gold, black, silver, sable, and various parti-coloured and marked patterns. Colour can shift as a puppy grows, and an adult dog's coat may end up a different shade from the one it was born with.

Clubs set their own figures for the Havanese. These come from each club's published standard: AKC, CKC, FCI, KC, UKC.

Size

• Height at the withers: AKC 22.9-26.7 cm; CKC 23-27 cm; FCI 23-27 cm; KC 23-28 cm; UKC 21.6-26.7 cm
• Weight: UKC 3.2-6.3 kg
• Height to length: FCI 0.8; UKC 0.6
• Skull to muzzle: CKC 1; FCI 1; KC 1; UKC 1

Sizes that count against it

• Height at the withers: Disqualifying: AKC over 29.2 cm, AKC under 21.6 cm, CKC over 29 cm, CKC under 21 cm, UKC over 26.7 cm, UKC under 21.6 cm
• Weight: Disqualifying: UKC over 6.3 kg, UKC under 3.2 kg

Build and forms

At least one club accepts each of these:

• Skull type: Mesocephalic (medium)
• Stop: Moderate
• Muzzle shape: Tapered
• Bite: Scissors bite
• Dentition: Full dentition, Missing teeth
• Eye shape: Almond, Oval
• Ear carriage: Drop (pendant)
• Ear set: High
• Neck length: Medium
• Topline: Slight arch over the loin, Rising to the rear, Level

Forms the clubs penalise

A fault or a disqualification is a judgment under a show standard. It can affect placings and, at some clubs, registration.

• Disqualifying: Bite: Overshot (CKC, FCI, UKC); Bite: Undershot (CKC, FCI, UKC); Bite: Wry mouth (UKC)
• Fault: Muzzle shape: Snipy (CKC, FCI, KC); Muzzle shape: Blunt (KC); Bite: Level bite (UKC); Tail carriage: Low (hanging) (UKC)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

• Tail docking: Not recognised (AKC)
• Dewclaw removal: Alternate (AKC, CKC, UKC)

This is each club's stance in the show ring, not the law. The law on these procedures differs by country.

Markings

Each club's ruling on the breed's named marks:

• Tan points: Alternate (FCI)

See every point side by side: compare the clubs.

Rulings come from each club's published breed standard, and clubs revise their standards. Before a show or a registration, check the current text with the club.

On the Havanese, every club we track agrees on Black, White, Chocolate, Tan, Fawn. Clubs compared: AKC, FCI, KC, KUSA, UKC.

Patterns listed as standard for the Havanese: Solid, Bicolour, Tricolour, Brindle, Piebald, Parti-colour.

Where the clubs split

At least one club accepts each of these, and at least one other penalises or refuses it.

• Blue: Standard (AKC, KC, UKC); Not recognised (FCI, KUSA)
• Silver: Standard (AKC, KC, UKC); Not recognised (FCI, KUSA)
• Red: Standard (AKC, KC, UKC); Not recognised (FCI, KUSA)
• Gold: Standard (AKC, KC, UKC); Not recognised (FCI, KUSA)
• Cream: Standard (AKC, KC, UKC); Not recognised (FCI, KUSA)

Colours penalised in the show ring

A fault or a disqualification is a judgment under a show standard. It can affect placings and, at some clubs, registration.

• Disqualifying: Albino (UKC)

Beyond the main colour

Standards rule on more than the main colour. These are listed as standard:

• Eyes: Dark brown, Light brown
• Nose: Black, Liver

Rulings come from each club's published breed standard, and clubs revise their standards. Before a show or a registration, check the current text with the club.

The Havanese is a companion breed through and through, and its personality reflects that purpose. Dogs of this breed are affectionate and people focused, forming strong bonds with their household and often staying near family members throughout the day. They stay playful well into adulthood and enjoy games and attention.

Around family, the Havanese is warm and steady, and it usually does well with children who handle it gently. Rather than being wary of strangers, the breed tends to greet visitors with interest. It also generally gets along with other dogs and with cats, particularly when socialised from an early age.

The cost of this closeness is sensitivity to being left alone. A Havanese isolated for long stretches can grow anxious and may bark or turn destructive. The breed can be vocal, alerting to activity around the home, though it is not typically aggressive. Early socialisation and steady company bring out the breed's friendly side.

Grooming

• Brush the full coat several times a week, or daily if it is kept long, to stop mats and tangles forming
• Consider a shorter clip if a full coat proves hard to keep up; many owners go this route
• Bathe as needed, generally every few weeks, and dry the coat thoroughly afterwards
• Check and gently clean the ears, which hang down and trap moisture
• Trim nails regularly and keep the hair around the eyes and paws neat

Exercise

• Provide moderate daily activity, such as a walk or two plus play indoors
• About 30 minutes of activity a day suits most adults
• Use play and short training games to keep the dog mentally engaged
• Avoid overexertion in hot weather, given the dog's small size and coat

Environment

The Havanese settles well into flats and small homes and does not need a garden. What matters more is company. The breed thrives on time spent with its people and struggles when left alone for long stretches. A household where someone is around for much of the day suits it better.

Most of what a Havanese needs from grooming follows from its coat.

• Coat layers: Single coat
• Coat texture: Silky, Wavy
• Coat length: Long
• Shedding: Low shedding

What this coat asks of you

• A single coat has no dense undercoat, so there is less to brush out and less insulation against the cold.
• A silky coat tangles where it rubs, so comb it through in layers instead of brushing over the top.
• A wavy coat tangles more than it looks. Comb through the waves, not just over them.
• Long hair mats from the base up. Work through it in sections and keep the areas around the eyes and the rear clean.
• Low shedding does not mean low upkeep. Hair that stays in the coat can still tangle unless it is brushed out.

What to tell a groomer

Mention these when you book. The coat notes on this page explain each one.

• Needs regular clipping
• Mats easily

A groomer who knows the breed can adapt all of this to the individual animal. Sore skin, mats pressed against the skin or a sudden change in the coat are worth showing to a vet.

A Havanese does well on a complete, balanced dog food suited to its size and life stage. Small and toy breed formulas, with appropriately sized kibble and calorie density matched to the dog's needs, work best. Because the breed is small, portions are modest, and even small feeding errors can lead to weight gain over time. Measure meals rather than leaving food out, and adjust the amount to the individual dog's activity level and body condition.

Treats and supplements

Use treats sparingly, ideally for training, and count them towards the daily calorie total. Fresh water should be available at all times. A dog on a complete commercial diet usually does not need supplements; introduce any only on a vet's advice, since they can confirm whether a particular dog genuinely needs one.

The Havanese is on the whole a healthy breed and one of the longer-lived, with a typical lifespan of 14 to 16 years. As with all purebred dogs, a handful of conditions crop up more often than average. Responsible breeders screen breeding stock for known heritable problems, which lowers the risk without removing it entirely.

Preventive care

• Keep up with routine vet check-ups and core vaccinations
• Maintain dental hygiene through brushing and professional cleaning as advised
• Keep the dog at a healthy weight to protect the joints
• Clean and check ears regularly to catch infections early
• Use tick and parasite prevention suited to South Africa's climate: ticks can transmit biliary (canine babesiosis), a well-known regional risk for dogs that spend time outdoors
• Choose puppies from breeders who screen for eye and joint conditions

The Havanese is intelligent and tuned in to its people, which makes it a willing learner. The breed responds best to reward-based methods and short, upbeat sessions. It is sensitive, so harsh corrections tend to backfire and can make a dog shut down. Early socialisation to people, places and other animals builds the confident, friendly adult the breed is known for. House training can take patience, a trait shared by many small breeds, so a consistent routine helps.

Basics

1. Start socialisation and gentle handling in puppyhood
2. Set up a fixed house-training routine, with frequent outings and praise for success
3. Teach foundation cues such as sit, come and stay using food and play rewards
4. Build up time alone gradually to prevent separation distress
5. Practise in short, frequent sessions and end on a success
6. Keep up training and enrichment through adulthood to keep the mind engaged

Breeding a Havanese calls for planning and health screening well ahead of any mating. Females should be physically mature before being bred, generally not before the second season and ideally around one to two years old, by which point health clearances can be completed. Responsible breeders screen for the breed's known eye and joint conditions before pairing dogs.

Gestation in dogs runs to about 63 days from conception. Havanese litters tend to be small, often between one and nine puppies, with smaller litters typical of a toy breed. Whelping should be monitored closely, and a vet consulted at the first sign of trouble.

Newborn puppies rely entirely on the mother for warmth and nutrition in the early weeks. Weaning usually starts around three to four weeks, and puppies stay with the mother and littermates until roughly eight weeks old, a period that matters for early socialisation. Gentle handling from the start lays the foundation for the breed's sociable temperament.

Havanese registration and microchips in South Africa

When a Havanese lands at an SPCA branch, the scanner comes out first, and everything then rides on what the number returns. Make sure it returns you. Register your dog free with United Pet Club and the profile answers every scan with your name and number, from now until the end of his days.

The chip is a number; the registry entry is the story behind it. Capture your Havanese's 15-digit number in a free United Pet Club account and the story reads: this dog has a home. Every brand is accepted, updates never cost a cent, and the record stays searchable here and abroad. Microchip registration plus a free account does it.