Is a Havanese the Right Dog For Me?
The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese They are a playful small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They like to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This need for attention does not make them an ideal choice for a working couple. They love following owners around the house, however they are not possessive of their “ family”, so are superb with other animals and dogs. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “ true dog”, playing games such as football with all their strength. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional Dog Walkers such as London Dog Walking, if doing grouped walks will pair them with similar dogs, rather than big energetic dogs.
For dog care they are straightforward. They do not shed much, so whilst not strictly non-allegenic, they may be suitable for a family with an allergic member.
The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is light and soft, with a heavier undercoat.
The Havanese must be brushed every day, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If not a show dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.
It is advisable to dry them after a bath with towels, rather than a hair drier, which can make their skin too dry and prone to infections. It is a breed that the kennel clubs, prefer and dictate a natural look, avoiding the bows and preferring the hair over the eyes, that protected their eyes from the Cuban sun.
The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
They have a robust appearance relative to other toy dog breeds. The Havanese weight ranges from 4-6 Kgs (ten to fifteen lbs). Its height measured at the withers is around two hundred and fifty mm( 9-11 inches). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.
The Havanese move with an agile springy gait. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but be prudent when near waterparticularly if there are birds for them to chase.
They have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. They are inclined to infections and diseases of the ear, so regularly check their ears and clean them. From time to time they may require their inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained often for search. They are easily trainable so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.
The Havanese routinely live fourteen to sixteen years. The Havanese being breed from a limited gene pool suffer from some genetic diseases. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( blots on the retina). It is advisable only to buy Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese sometimes develop brown tear stains, this is more obvious on the lighter coloured dogs.
The dog was bred from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the 1970s from only 10 animals in the states. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. For this reason it may be difficult to acquire one, so the best of luck on finding one.
A superb family dog that is well worth considering.
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