THE HISTORY OF THE HAVANESE
Some of the Names of Havanese
Bichon Habanero, Havana Silk Dog, Bichon of Cuba, Little Silk Dog, Bichon Tenerife (Extinct), Silk Dogs, Blanquito Cubano (white Cuban), Spanish Silk Poodle, Habanero (from Havana), Havanese Cuban, The Caniche (poodle/thick curly hair), The Little Dog of Havannah, The Cuban Shock Dog, The Cuba-dog, Toy Havanese, Le Havanais (French), Shock Dog, Cuban Silk Poodle, White Cuban, Bichon Havanese, Havanezer, Havi, Havana Bichon Havanese, Blanquito de la Habana (little white dog of Havana now extinct), Bichon Habanero Havanese – meaning: Toddler, The Melita / Maltese (former name of Malta. Refers to Maltese Terrier family)
Havanese Began in the Canary Islands
Havanese are believed to have descended from the Tenerife Dog. These dogs lived on the Tenerife island which is part of the Canary Islands. The Tenerife dogs produced the Barbet bloodline. The Barbet appeared to be small in size and weight. The Barbet descendent, the Barbichon (shortened to Bichon), is a group of white, small dogs with long curled tails, wavy or curly hair. Their descendants, the Havanese, have a long, double coat but the outer coat is soft and flowing rather than being coarse and thick. The Havanese are also considered hypoallergenic or non-shedding. Larger dogs were found on the Grand Canary Island and have a very different ancestry than the Barbets. Due to Spanish restrictive trade practices concerning Cuba and Tenerife, it was easy to see the captain’s logs showing these dogs’ origin reflecting a limited gene pool. Today the Tenerife dog or Bichon Tenerife is now extinct. Its’ descendent is the Blanquito de la Habana (now extinct) who bred with other Bichon dogs which resulted in what is known today as the Havanese.
The Bichon family also produced other breeds such as the Portuguese Water Dogs, Barbet, Poodle, and more. Some references list the Tenerife, Havanese, Bolognese and Maltese as the four types of Bichon. Coton De Tulear may be counted as a fifth bichon.
Bichon, (Middle French from biche) means “lap dog” commonly used as such a dog in Europe describing ‘little white dog’. There is the breed of dog known as a Bichon Frise, a descendent (perhaps) of the Bichon from Bichon Tenerife. It is a small white dog, too, with a similarly complicated history as the Havanese – not examined here – in French ‘frise’ means ‘curly.’ What was considered from the Bichon family comes in many colors today including Havanese.
Origin Theories Abound
The Bolognese and Maltese origins include Italy and Malta (one theory). Another possibility is that the Havanese are descendants of the Italian Bolognese bred with the South American Poodle when the Italians sailed to Argentina (Fiorenzo Fiorone). An expert opinion by Zoila Portuondo Guerra of Cuba states that there were two breeds. The first breed is the ‘Blankito (Blanquito) de la Havana’ that existed in Cuba during the 1600s- 1700s and it was very small. In the 1800s immigrants from the mainland came with their little lap dogs and poodles. These dogs bred with Blankito and a larger, second breed – Havanese – in varied colors began. A different theory is that Havanese have descended from Maltese when Spaniards brought them to the West Indies. The last theory here is the Havanese resulted from when the Tenerife dogs bred with the Maltese and Poodles. It is obvious there is no definitive version to the origin question. Dorothy Goodale felt the Mediterranean and the Bichon group were the most valid part of Havanese origin.
Tenerife
Tenerife, formerly Teneriffe, means ‘white mountain’ but it was also known to the Romans by ‘Nivaria’ meaning ‘snow’. All total there are seven large volcanic islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, and La Palma) with smaller nearby islands in the Canary Island archipelago (chain). Tenerife is only about 785 mi² or the size of Maui. Tenerife was the unique home to the Tenerife dog who differed in size compared to dogs from the other Canary Islands and ancestral home of the Barbet bloodline.
From Tenerife to Cuba
The two classes of people who came from Tenerife to Cuba were farmers and the aristocrats who brought their dogs, Bichon Tenerife. Aristocratic second sons came to create and oversee the development of sugar plantations and other lucrative pursuits. A great number of people emigrated from Tenerife to Cuba later in the 1800s but early immigrants contributed to successful crop cultivation and settlement purposes to rebuff French colonists. During the 1500s multiple ships’ logs noted the Tenerife dogs were brought to Cuba. These dogs’ descendants eventually lived a life of privilege for a while. They were kept indoors or in the inner courtyard. They were lap dogs and even indulged with ribbons in their hair, too! Captains also gave these dogs as presents to the wives of wealthy Cubans to encourage goodwill in trade contracts. The support of the aristocratic businessmen was pivotal to the success of trade and financial security for the captains and their backers.
Havana in the 1500’s was also the only authorized port of entry in Cuba under Spanish law. It was very significant because Havana had the largest natural harbor in the Caribbean. Most importantly, Havana was the only drydock available to repair vessels and restock with readily available supplies in the area, so, it was a major harbor for all travelers.
Cuba had naturally growing tobacco. Cubans rolled the leaves of the ‘Cohiba’ plant and then wrapped them in corn or palm leaves that had been soaked in seawater. Voila – cigars! By 1528 Cuban cigars and tobacco were throughout Europe and Spain. Tobacco was the first cash crop in the Jamestown colony (1612). The cigarette or “little cigar” was developed in 1865 in North Carolina. The first tobacco factory was established in Seville, Spain in 1676.
A famous painting in 1529 is a Portrait of Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (Italian) by Titian showing an aristocrat with a small cream dog, a Havanese. In one reference it was suggested the dog was only a symbol of “faithfulness”.
In 1544 the first open-pit copper mine began. Later the mines were abandoned.
The Canary Islands, Cuba, and several ports along the coastal property of the Spanish Main were attacked by Huguenot pirates. In 1555, the Huguenot pirate Jacques de Sores was paid by the French to go to Cuba. He looted, burned, and destroyed Havana. He killed many and desecrated churches. Havana was rebuilt and became the capital of Cuba in 1592.
1700’s The Beginning Rise of Havanese Popularity
Cubans were imitating the fashions of Europe such as having a small, white lap bichon-like dog and the other fashions of the day. It is this petite dog that would have found his way to Europe. They accompanied their owners from Cuba as they vacationed in Europe and became more recognized. After Britain’s Queen Anne (1665-1714) saw the Havanese in a circus performance for British court, she acquired two for herself. She is also the earliest easily recognizable owner of Havanese on record in England or Europe. European aristocrats flocked to Havana for vacation because Havana became the cultural center for the New World – Spain’s crown jewel. It offered theater, opera, and wonderful Palacios with its warm climate, white sand beaches with turquoise water, waterfalls, new beautiful buildings, and more. Don’t forget the cigars!
In France, Havanese were clipped like poodles and at least one was found in Louis XVI’s court (1754-1793). The aristocrats returned to their courts in France, Spain and England. Standard Poodles were the dominant pet in Spain, during this time as toy poodles were the favored pet in France. Another first (perhaps) painting of the Havanese was by Jacques Bachelier in 1768. The English left the Havanese coat au natural and called them ‘The White Cuban’. Havanese traveled in coaches and carriages. They were only bred as special gifts and considered social status symbols. Havanese were found among the aristocracy and bred to be an affectionate lap dog. Their unique non-shedding, silky coat just added to their appeal with their sunny disposition and playfulness.
Unfortunately, there was some confusion about the little dog. Cuba wrongly referred to its little ambassador as a “Maltese” while the same dog was referred to as a “White Cuban” in Britain. On the continent it is was known as “Havanese” from Havana or “Havana Silk Dog” due to the silkiness of its coat. This confusion is still illustrated today in the profusion of names this little dog has to its credit.
Many Europeans immigrated to Cuba. The Germans, French, and Belgians especially came to Cuba bringing their lapdogs such as poodles, etc. These dogs bred were with the Blanquito de la Habana resulting in a little larger dog, new colors other than white and a new breed. This is probably the Havanese of today.
Cuban 1800’s Havanese Popularity Peaks
In the 1800s the nobility and the aristocracy with all its trappings became extremely important in Cuba. Cubans wanted their cities of Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Matanzas to be the new Paris or Madrid. The Spanish Crown had growing concerns about being seen as weakening by France, Spanish American colonies, and England. Spain commissioned more noble titles in an effort to strengthen loyalties within Cuba. More noble titles were bestowed on Cuban families than anywhere else at the time under Spanish authority. The Catholic Church also imparted titles. Families from Germany, France, and Italy held their European titles through inheritance or marriage. Part of ‘aristocratic’ for Cubans also meant having inherited privileges befitting their station in life. Non-royal titles such as Lord (Senor) or Duke (Duque) often included the family’s location such as Duque de Yumuri. Cuban titles reflected the same titles of continental Europe.
Searching the internet for ‘antique pictures of Havanese’ or add ‘with girl’ brought up a bounty of old photographs. The oldest was ‘silver’ in 1865. There may be older ones in France. Luisa V. Fumi made a fabulous vintage engraving entitled ‘Havanese Carriage’ showing a carriage with two tremendously large wheels – six feet or better – with an almost delicate and detailed premium place to seat between them. Havanese were crated in a basket in front of the passengers. The driver or coachman of these carriages actually rode on the horse in front of the carriage. The carriages in the 1800s were called, ‘volante’ (Spanish for ‘flying’). It is specifically a Cuban Spanish-styled carriage with an open body and a retractable leather hood or bonnet in case of inclement weather with very large wheels. It was typically in this style of carriage you would find Havanese with their owners when they traveled in Cuba. In the 1500s or earlier, the Spanish brought wagons or drays with them to Cuba to haul freight. Autos arrived in 1898. A characteristically Cuban carriage is still used today.
ENGLAND
The Victorian Period (1837-1901)
The Havanese enjoyed great popularity in England during the Victorian Period. England’s first dog show was in Newcastle-on-Tyne (1859) as ‘The Sporting Dog Show’. Non-sporting dogs were shown in Birmingham later that year. Havanese were shown at the bigger, second show (1863), The National Dog Show held in Chelsea. The show grew and sold over 20,000 tickets and more than 700 dogs were shown in less than seven years. Westminster Kennel Club’s first show was in 1877 in the States. Black Havanese were not allowed to be shown until after 1900. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) had a friend Lady Ellesmere, Duchess of Sutherland (1759-1839) – the first Duchess of Sutherland. Lady Ellesmere reportedly acquired two Havanese from Havana for her young friend, Victoria. They were named Golia and Chico. Please note Watt’s matching bow in the picture to the right.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) owned a Havanese named Tim. Could Tim have been inspirational for the name “Tiny Tim” for a Dickens character? He often wrote about all aspects of his dogs in his letters and fiction. His good friend Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), Scottish philosopher, social commentator, and more, also had a Havanese named Nero (another source said Nero was a Maltese). He is buried in Carlyle’s garden. This is a time when literature and written commentary flourish. Dickens and Carlyle and Carlyle’s wife, Jane, wrote a lot about their dogs and referred to them as “Shock Dogs”. Earlier in Alexander Pope’s (1688-1744) ‘Rape of the Lock’, ‘Shock’ was the name of Belinda‘s dog, referred to as a ‘lapdog’. ‘Shock’ was a character embodying all of the multiple clichés of the time regarding lapdogs and the affection lavished on them. The clichés in the satire were about the rivalry between the poet or lady’s suitor and the dog for the lady’s jealousy desired affections “. . . resting his head gently upon her bosom” or perhaps “. . . she held him close . . .” This was considered tongue and cheek clichés. Later in Europe Havanese popularity faded and they were used more often in circus acts like the one where Queen Victoria first saw them. The United Kingdom’s international Crufts dog show began in 1891, headquartered now in Birmingham. Guinness World Records declared Crufts to be the largest dog show of its kind worldwide offering several areas of competition such as conformation, heelwork to music, agility and more. A very large trade show is included.
HAVANESE IN THE 1900s
Catalina Laza
One of the most well-known Cuban Havanese breeders was Catalina Laza (d. 1930). She was famously beautiful. She won beauty pageants in 1902 and 1904 in Havana and other beauty contests even after she was married. In a review of an evening at the theater, she is described by Jose Antonio Ramos as “always beautiful, elegant, and triumphant” Laza. For a time, she lived outside of Cuba but returned about 1917. Her second husband, Juan Pedro Baro was a very wealthy landowner and sugar baron. They built a stunningly, elegant Art Deco home which was described as the most luxurious mansion in Havana.
She entertained often and held a spectacular housewarming celebrating her new home. Catalina presented Havanese to her friends as gifts. As customary, Havanese were never sold but always presented as gifts through their history. She was a passionate defender of the Havanese and their protector. It is said she was the ‘Grand Dam of the Havanese’. A great love story with Baro was also associated with her.
It was rumored Catalina gave Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) a Havanese. He had one or two Havanese. In 1928 Mr. Hemingway had a 2-day layover in Havana on an ocean liner and began his love affair with Cuba. He fought in the Spanish Civil War. Afterward, IN 1939 he sailed his boat back to Cuba and lived about ten miles outside of Havana. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction (1953) and the Nobel Prize for literature (1954). During the summer of 1960, he returned to the states and died the following year.
Fidel Castro and the Desperate Exodus (1957 to present. Castro died 2016)
Well before 1957, the Havanese had become a beloved family dog in Cuba. From 1907 Cuba experienced a steady annual average of 2.5% population growth into the late fifties. It had a population of about 6.77 million in 1957 with a large middle class. The average income for an 8-hour day worker was greater than what existed in Germany, Denmark, Belgium, or France at the time. Cuba boasted the second-highest income in Latin America before Castro took office.
In 1959 Fidel Castro (1926-2016) came into power and violently decimated Cuba. Under Castro in January of 1959, there was no more censuses taken. As violence escalated people fled for their lives. Hundreds of thousands left Cuba from 1960 to 1979. By themselves over 14,000 children came to the States between 1960 and 1962. More than 141,000 people were killed until 1987.
Havanese were left behind with friends, families, etc. Their pedigrees and paperwork were lost. The families thought they would be able to soon come back for them, but it was not meant to be. It was very difficult and dangerous to smuggle anything out of Cuba with literally no extra room in the boat. The breed was a reminder of the privileged wealthy and titled. Castro did not like dogs. Life in Cuba became very different. Starving people eventually began to eat cats in desperation. Many Havanese became homeless. Even as late as 1994, living under tightening rationing, poverty-stricken Cubans continued to include cats as a dietary staple. By 2008 Cuba’s economy had become the worst in Latin America except for Nicaragua and Haiti. Cuba produced nothing except cigars and a small quantity of rum. It is a net importer (brings in more than exports) of sugar. Without the support of the United States, other allies, and Venezuela there would be mass starvation (2015).
Only the Perez and Fantasio families were known to have escaped Cuba with their dogs. These families became the first breeders of Havanese in the United States and they worked together to preserve the breed. Their dogs are remembered as the first Havanese in America. Later it was learned Senor Ezekiel Barba had been able to escape to Costa Rica with his dogs. The breed teetered on extinction.
HAVANESE RESCUED IN THE UNITED STATES
Dorothy Goodale (12/6/23 -12/28/2008)
In the United States a lady named Dorothy L. Goodale and her husband, Bert, bred and showed Irish Wolfhounds, Soft-Coated Irish Wheaten Terriers, and other breeds for many years. She also had an interest in rare breeds. She imported and bred Löwchens at one time. Dorothy was respected internationally as a breeder, educator, canine authority, and author. Dorothy and Bert created the Berdot Kennels of Delta, CO. Later their kennel name became Havana Doll House and Berdot Kennels. Eventually Dorothy began looking for a smaller dog in the 1970s with intelligence and quiet temperament similar to her big dogs.
In the mid 70s she happened upon what she was looking for in her dentist’ s office. Amidst the magazines was one Spanish magazine with two white little dogs on the cover page. She knew of the Havanese but had been unable to find a breeder. Now she could trace the dogs to Texas where she learned about their plight. She bought 6 pedigreed dogs: 5 related females and a non-related male. She placed an ad in Latin newspapers in Miami. More than a year later she heard from the daughter of a man in Costa Rica. Senor Ezekiel Barba fled Cuba and became the first Havanese breeder in Costa Rica. Now he was moving to be with his daughter due to his poor health and could no longer care for his five dogs. Dorothy arranged the purchase. The man built the dog crates with great care and carpeted the crate floors. When the dogs arrived, Dorothy had two groups of dogs. Each group reflected the gentleness and appearance of the other. She had almost all she needed to begin a very selective breeding program with four bloodlines.
By 1974 Dorothy still needed an official breed standard. As a guide she had a written pedigree and her own substantial knowledge. She followed the only standard available she could find – the 1963 FCI standard. The FCI is the European international federation for canine registration (Federation Cynologique Internationale) in Belgium. It is similar to our AKC. The Goodales began the remarkable journey of recovering the Havanese breed and preventing its extinction with these 11 dogs. In 1979 she founded the Havanese Club of America (HCA) and began a registry. Over 1060 Havanese were registered in the early 90’s in the States. In 1996 AKC accepted Havanese into the Toy Group. Also, in 1996 Havanese were first shown in America. Dorothy claimed she had more than a 50-year love affair with the Havanese. At one time the lineage of all Havanese could be traced back to those 11 dogs. She is credited with being the American founder of the Bichon Havanese and Bolognese Breeds. She also founded the Bolognese Club of America. She imported the first Bolognese to America from Italy when she had been breeding dogs for about 45 years and she was the sole U.S. breeder of Bolognese for many years. Bert and Dorothy bred only Havanese and Bolognese from 1985 forward. All in all, she spent most of her long life working with dogs, rescuing the Havanese breed from extinction and introduced a few rare breeds to America with distinction. Dorothy Goodale died in 2008. Bert preceded her in death (1997). If you would like to learn more about her go to http://www.boloclubofamerica.org/dorothy.html where her friends offered loving tributes to her. Dorothy’s book, Havanese A Complete and Reliable Handbook, should be read by any Havanese owner. It seems as if the Havanese were just waiting for her to find and save them!
In 2017 24/7 Wall St. ranked them 12th among the most popular dog breeds in America. AKC has seen exceptional growth in the Havanese popularity nationwide from obscurity to a very popular breed within only 25 years ! As of February of 2018, there were over 8000 registered AKC Havanese. Many Havanese breeders celebrate Dorothy Goodale’s birthday, Dec 6 annually!
The Bichon Habanero
In Cuba Havanese are known as Bichon Havanese or Bichon Habanero. Zoila P. Guerra is a Cuban breeder, researcher and author. Ms. Guerra and Mr. Alfred Sanz Peraza and others began working with only 15 dogs to recover the Havanese breed in Cuba with a carefully handled breeding program. Mr. Peraza’s knowledge of genetics and love of the breed determined which breedings took place with his dog, Pupi, who possessed exemplary genetics and beauty. They are also founders of the Club Cubano del Bichon Habanero (Cuban Havanese Club) in 1991. Ms. Guerra is also credited as the founder of the Cuban Kennel Club (Federacion Cinologica de Cuba) and wrote two books including, Bichon Havanese (1999).
A Havanese appeared in 1992 on Cuban postage stamps. “This stamp commemorating the Bichon Havanese in Cuba features my Cachita’s grandsire, Cuban CH Pupi (Puppy). His son escaped from the island with his humans and my Cachita was born in Miami!” – Alicia Vidaurreta. Pupi (1988-2002) was the first Bichon Havanese Champion of Havana, Cuba. He is sire to CC, GCC Bonita de la Giraldilla and he is listed as Cuba CH ‘Puppy’ in the Havanese Gallery. In 2012 Mr. Peraza was the only active founder still in the club. His FCI kennel is under the name Sanz Peraza. He held the offices of President and Vice-President. In 1993 the Havanese officially became the National Dog of Cuba and the only recognized native breed of that country.
Iron Curtain Havanese
There is little material documenting the Havanese going into the countries of what collectively was known as the “Iron Curtain” (Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungria, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union) although there is mentioned that some of the refugees from Cuba in the late 1900’s who returned to the Soviet Union with their dogs. It is reasonable to assume there were possibly careful breeders through these years somewhere in these countries but there have been some difficulties with the bloodlines, too. However, there is a fabulous article, “History of the Havanese,” by Diane Klumb and Joanne Baldwin, DVM which has more detailed information about Havanese in the Iron Curtain countries as well as a comprehensive Havanese history.
Postal Stamps Around the World
Havanese are now found on postal stamps internationally. Just to name a few of the countries: Polska (Poland), S. Tome E Principe (2003) (Sao Tome & Principe islands off the west coast of Africa near Nigeria), The Republique De Guinee (2002) (Guinea) a West African country near Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Mongolia, Oman (Arabian Peninsula), Romania and the Magyar Posta in Hungary. Can you start a Havanese stamp collection?
American Kennel Club (AKC)
The American Kennel Club (AKC) give a much briefer explanation to the Havanese history first stating that it is the national dog of Cuba and the island’s only existing native breed. The AKC states that dogs of the Bichon family were brought to Cuba where they would adapt to the island’s diet and climate resulting in a smaller dog with a white silky-textured coat. This white smaller dog would become known as the Blanquito de la Habana, also known as the Havana Silk Dog. When poodles arrived in Cuba during the nineteenth century from other countries, crossbreeding toke place between the Poodles and the Blanquito de la Habana producing the slightly larger dog of various colors who would retain their silky coat, known as the Havanese of today.
At the start of the Cuban Revolution, many Cubans would leave their country. During this time is when Mrs. Dorothy Goodale, an American Dog Breeder, heard of the breed and started her program. The outer coat sheds water and blocks sunlight while protecting the skin. It has an undercoat that is downy soft whereas the outer coat is shaggy and straight. The outer coat has what is called ‘guard hairs’. Guard hairs are courser, thicker, or considered ‘hard’, and straight. They are longer than the undercoat hairs. Where the coat is great protection against the damp and cold climate the guard hairs also help a dog stay warm or cool down. In Havana, the breeze is allowed to flow through the Havanese outer coat to keep them cool on hot Cuban days.
In the 1980’s German breeders were having short hair Havanese appear in their litters. It is caused by a recessive gene both parents must-have. These dogs are perfectly healthy but are not hypo-allergenic – they shed. The standard for the Havanese coat is an untrimmed, soft, long double coat. It can vary from straight to curly hair including corded, but the short hair is not recognized in the AKC Standard for Havanese or the AKC conformation ring in showing. Names of short hair Havanese: smooth coats, short-coated, short hair (SH), or (nickname) Shavanese. Ethical breeders adhere to breeding Havanese to the AKC Havanese standards. AKC offers complete information regarding the Official Standard of the Havanese.
The only requirement size wise is the height which is 8.5 -11.5 inches at the shoulder with the preference being 9-10.5 inches. In the show arena height under 8.5 at the withers or over 11.5 inches is considered a flaw for disqualification. If the dog (male) or bitch (female) is under a year old the minimum height is waived. Weight is not given a standard but typically 11 – 14 pounds is found in the AKC shows. There is no ‘miniature,’ toy’ or ‘teacup’ in the Havanese breed. A Havanese should be sturdy, never fragile. Their coloring can vary greatly. Bill Burns, The Kennel at Burns Gardens, has a wonderfully detailed paper:
“What Makes You Think Your Dog is a “Havanese?”- An Extensive List of what the Judges look for -(http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/517940/10729552/1297631825570/havanese_standards.pdf?token=tprejyIe4cRRKOh2nQMlM0MlqqA%3D)
It is a serious look at every aspect of the Havanese including similarities and differences between world canine registries such as CKC (Canadian Standard) or UKC (United Kennel Club), etc. It is an education all in itself and should be required reading for any breeder or serious Havanese Fancier. The material may have aged, but the detail and information are invaluable. We have found in the conformation ring there can also be a variety of opinions regarding Havanese beauty. There are also regional as well as national and international preferences for size, color, etc. Outside of the show ring, Havanese vary in size from about 7 pounds or so to beyond 20 lbs. There are many other newer reference sources available as well. Mr. Burn’s is one of our favorites. Please check with HCA for any changes.
Today
Today the Havanese is again a family favorite found worldwide. Havanese have been shown in the European international show in London – Crufts – and many other places around the world. In 2019 at Westminster a Havanese won FIRST place in the Toy group. The same dog won RESERVE DOG (2nd Place) over 192 other breeds in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Dog Show in the United States.
The Havanese is a perky, silly and loving little dog with a heart big enough for any family. Havanese serve excellently as Emotional Support Dogs and in other areas of service. Their numbers are increasing in Agility events, of course Conformation and more. They are smart, quick to learn and generally a happy friend more than willing to play or listen. They love to watch what’s going on from up high, and you will often find them on the back of the sofa surveying their world. Their favorites are being close to their owners, playing (any paper must be shredded!), and napping. The fact that they are non-shedding and hypo-allergenic just makes this breed more wonderful!
Throughout their history Havanese have survived moving to foreign lands, the play of being a pampered social status symbol and living a life of luxury to working as trick dogs in itinerant circuses. They have lived through wars and have been refugees. Havanese have been left behind to the point of near extinction. There are certainly pockets of non-remarkable historical information missing about the Havanese. This little dog has proven to be a survivor of the times via its patrons. Once you own a Havanese it is easy to understand why people have loved these little dogs and tried so hard to protect this breed even to their own peril. It is a breed like no other. Their personality – ‘temperament’ is far too blasé, clinical and inadequate – yes, personality because each of these dogs is such an independent character making them more than mere ‘companion’ dogs. They are laughter, sunshine, solace, and so much more. They are Havanese.