The Havanese (Habaneros in Spanish) is a very active gentle little breed that is a member of the Bichon family. It is believed that they came from the Western Mediterranean region. There are several distinct groups of the Bichons including the Bichon Bolognese, the Bichon Havanais, the Coton de Tulear, the Bichon Teneriffe (Bichon Frise) as well as the Maltese and the Lowchens.
The Cubans believed these little dogs were brought to their country by Italian sea captains and sold to wealthy Cubans as well as gifts to wealthy senoras. Catalina Laza, the wife of a wealthy sugar mill Baron treasured the dogs and raised them for her pleasure. She also gave them as gifts to her wealthy friends and hence these little dogs were seen in the country estates of wealthy families.
The Cuban Revolution on 1959 threatened the existence of these little dogs and they were becoming extinct. Some of them were brought to the United States by Cuban families. Two families, the Perez family and the Fantasio family combined forces and the dogs were registered with the Havanese Club of America. The Havanese received full recognition in the United States, January 1, 1999, and they are in the Toy Group.
This little dog is a complete charmer, agile, very sociable and and affectionate. Their non shedding coat is long, abundance, soft and wavy. A couple of minutes brushing the coat daily will keep it free of tangles.
The one thing that distinguishes the Havanese from their "cousins" is the great abundance of coat colors - cream, white, blue, champagne, gold, red, sable, silver, black and chocolate (appropriately named Tobacco Brown) or any combination of these. Any of these colours can combine to create many eye catching 2 and 3 colour coats. Colours develop and change as the dog matures. In many cases the difference between puppy colouration and adult coat may be quite dramatic. Many Havanese lighten significantly from birth to young adulthood. Some darken again later on with maturity though not usually to the depth of colour they had as puppies.
The Havanese should be groomed two-to-four times each week. The coat should be brushed or combed in layers from the skin outward. In winter and in dry climates, a light oil or coat dressing prevents static buildup and split hairs. The coat must be free of mats before bathing. Mats can be removed by moistening with coat oil and rubbing with the fingers until the tangle separates. The coat should be shampooed liberally and rinsed completely before application of a coat conditioner according to instructions on the container.
The Havanese is a small muscular dog with great stamina and not meant to be a tiny fragile dog...
