Havanese

About the breed

The Havanese is a small companion dog from Cuba, where it holds the status of the country's official national dog breed. It is known for its cheerful, gentle nature, remarkable sociability, and long, silky coat that gives it a distinctive soft, gently waved silhouette. Despite its lap-dog looks, the Havanese is surprisingly lively, bright, and versatile — a breed prized by families and therapy-dog handlers alike.

Mediterranean roots and arrival in Cuba

The Havanese's ancestors trace to the western Mediterranean, where small curly-coated Bichon-type dogs developed along the Spanish and Italian coasts. According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), these dogs were most likely brought to Cuba by seafaring Italian captains, and later by Spanish colonists and traders. On the island they were crossed with other small breeds and gradually developed into a distinct breed, which — due to the dogs' frequently brown ('tobacco') coat color — became popularly linked in folklore to the name of Havana, Cuba's capital, though the FCI notes this is folk etymology rather than the breed's actual origin of name. By the 18th and 19th centuries the Havanese had become a favorite companion of Cuban aristocratic and wealthy families.

Rescued after the Cuban Revolution

The political upheaval following the 1959 Cuban Revolution nearly wiped out the breed — the old Cuban bloodlines died out entirely. According to the Havanese Club of America, a handful of families, including the Pérez, Fantasio, and Barba families, managed to bring their dogs with them into exile. In the mid-1970s, Dorothy Goodale acquired eleven purebred Havanese from Mr. Barba in Costa Rica, representing four distinct bloodlines, and used them to found the American breeding population. She co-founded the Havanese Club of America in 1979, and the American Kennel Club officially recognized the breed in 1996. Today thousands of Havanese are registered in the US, and most of the breed's modern worldwide population descends from that small group of rescued dogs.

Appearance and signature coat

The Havanese is a sturdy yet light-bodied little dog, low on the leg, with a lively, elastic gait. Its most recognizable feature is its long (12–18 cm on an adult dog), soft, straight or wavy coat with little to no undercoat, which can naturally form curly strands. Under the FCI standard, scissoring or otherwise shaping the coat is forbidden in the show ring — only tidying the hair on the feet and around the eyes is allowed. The coat can be maintained brushed out and flowing, or corded into ropes similar to a Puli's. Colors range from white, fawn, and black to Havana brown, tobacco, and reddish-brown, often combined with white patches.

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Havanese as exceptionally bright and easy to train, even as a watchdog. It is affectionate, happy-natured, amiable, playful, and something of a clown, and it loves children, playing with them endlessly. Havanese bond closely with their people and don't do well left alone for long stretches. Thanks to their intelligence and eagerness to please, they respond well to food-reward training, which according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) makes them a versatile breed — they excel in obedience and agility and frequently serve as therapy dogs, with many earning the Canine Good Citizen certificate.

Health

The Havanese is generally a healthy, long-lived breed (13–16 years), though it carries a few documented hereditary risks. Among the health screenings recommended by the Havanese Club of America's CHIC program are an annual eye exam, a patellar luxation evaluation after one year of age, and a hip evaluation after age two. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease — deterioration of the femoral head due to disrupted blood supply — occurs in Havanese mostly between 4 months and 1 year of age and is more common in small breeds generally. Luxating patella is also frequently seen. A genetic study published in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology found a very high prevalence of the FGF4 retrogene mutation linked to chondrodystrophy (disproportionately short legs) in Havanese — among 355 dogs tested, none were free of at least one mutant copy of the gene, suggesting the population's forelegs have gradually shortened over recent decades. Hereditary deafness, per the club, is rare in the breed.

Grooming and care

The Havanese's long, silky coat needs daily brushing to prevent mats and tangles, along with regular eye cleaning for tear staining and ear checks. Owners not showing their dogs often keep the coat clipped shorter to simplify upkeep. Exercise needs are moderate — short walks and indoor or yard play are usually enough, making the breed suitable even for less active owners.

Suitability for families and apartments

Thanks to its small size, quiet bark, and moderate exercise needs, the Havanese adapts very well to apartment living. It is highly sociable with people and, usually, with other pets as well, especially with early socialization — the AKC rates the breed as getting along well with other dogs and cats, while advising caution around more aggressive animals. Its adaptability, intelligence, and eagerness to please also make it a solid choice for first-time dog owners, though it needs plenty of companionship and consistent coat care.

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