The small, champion purebred dog, the Havanese, has an interesting history. Hailing from Havana, a city on the northern shore of Cuba, the Havanese dog breed escaped communism along with its brave, freedom-loving owners. The entire stock of Havanese dogs in the U.S. that we have today is thanks to those Cuban dog owners who […]
The small, champion purebred dog, the Havanese, has an interesting history. Hailing from Havana, a city on the northern shore of Cuba, the Havanese dog breed escaped communism along with its brave, freedom-loving owners. The entire stock of Havanese dogs in the U.S. that we have today is thanks to those Cuban dog owners who did not leave their pooches behind when they fled Cuba.
In the U.S., this purebred dog is categorized as a “toy” size breed, which means that it’s smaller than “small.” The males are slightly larger than the females, but regardless of gender, the average Havanese weighs less than 14 lbs and stands at about 10 inches tall. This breed is known as a true companion dog, and enjoys being with its owner all day long. So, this dog will not do well emotionally when left alone for hours at a time.
Let’s take a look at what makes the Havanese a great dog breed that you’ll love forever.
Havanese dogs are best known for their long, silky hair. They have a double-coat that comes in many different colors, ranging from white, black, silver, brindle, fawn, and every shade in-between. Their body is longer than their height, and their tails curl upward and lay on their lower backs. They have drooping ears and a perky snout, giving them a cheerful, happy appearance. Havanese are loosely related to the Bichon dog breed, which you might be familiar with thanks to the popular Bichon Frise. This beautiful purebred dog shares some characteristics with its Bichon ancestor, namely it’s happy smile, big dark eyes, and small stature. All told, the Havanese has a look that tells you this dog enjoys being pampered, cuddled, and loved.
Affectionate, friendly, and optimistic, the Havanese is sometimes referred to as the “velcro dog,” because it “sticks” to its owner as much as possible. Your Havanese will claim the prime real estate of your lap whenever you are seated, and will follow you around the house. This is truly a companion dog who is happy when you’re happy and will empathize with you when you feel down. If you want a dog that’s truly “one” with you, you can’t ask for a better furry friend than the Havanese. This dog breed is also playful, friendly and patient with children, outgoing with strangers, and funny at times. This dog will rarely bark, but when it does, simply acknowledging your Havanese and discovering the reason it wants your attention is all it will take for your loyal Havanese to quiet down again. This breed enjoys being outside, whether basking in the sun with you or playing. But it isn’t an outdoor dog and should never be left alone outside.
Since Havaneses have long, double-coat hair, they need to be brushed daily in order to stay free of tangles and matted fur. Their hair is soft and silky, but certain Havaneses have “frizzy” hair that is prone to naturally “coil” into “cords.” These cords, sometimes referred to as “doggy dreadlocks,” can look beautiful, but require their own degree of grooming and maintenance to stay tidy.
Never shave this breed. Due to this breed’s double-coat and long hair, Havaneses that are shaved are not able to regrow their hair properly because the undercoat grows much faster. This causes the fur to have a patchy, diseased look that is extremely challenging to remedy. Only a lot of time will correct the mistake of shaving a Havanese. Rather than shaving this dog, professional groomers are accustomed to trimming the long hair into what is referred to as a “puppy cut.” This keeps the hair trim and tidy, making it easier for the owner to brush and groom their Havanese at home. Another daily grooming requirement is cleaning your Havanese’ eyes and the fur around its eyes from discharge.
The Havanese dog breed is highly sensitive and lives to love. For this reason, training your puppy must be done with a gentle demeanor and positive reinforcements and encouragement. Your Havanese will not respond well to a harsh tone of voice and scolding. This breed is naturally intelligent, and pleasing its owner is at the very top of its priority list. In fact, some might say that for the Havanese, pleasing its owner is the very meaning of life. Keep your training sessions with your puppy short, to roughly 5 minutes, and shower your puppy with tons of love, affection, and kindly-spoken words of affirmation, as well as a treat, when he correctly executes a command. Properly socializing your Havanese will also help in the training process. Introduce your puppy to new people, places, and experiences, but be mindful to be sensitive to your Havanese and prevent him from feeling intimidated.
Are you ready to take home a puppy? Petland Texas has Havanese puppies for sale in Houston. Come to any of our Petland Texas locations to meet our available puppies! We have a wide range of purebred and hybrid family dogs. You will always find Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Texas, Australian Shepherd puppies for sale in Texas, Dachshund puppies for sale in Texas, and Goldendoodle puppies for sale in Texas at our Petland Texas pet stores!
