Appearance

The Havanese is small-sized but a sturdy dog. They are slightly longer than tall. They usually have untrimmed wavy hair. Their eyes are set high on their heads and are dark brown and almond-shaped. The ears are medium in length when extended, which could reach halfway to the nose. Their necks are moderately long and slightly arching. They are well-boned muscular legs with round feet.

History

Considered ad the national dog of Cuba, the Havanese is a member of the Bichon family of dogs. They are believed to be the descendants of the Tenerife dog from the Canary Islands as shipping manifest were found aboard ships that sailed from the island of Tenerife. Spanish colonists in Cuba admired and found them to be devoted companions. These little dogs eventually found their way into homes of Cuban aristocracy. During the Cuban Revolution, upper class Cubans who owned Havanese was the first to leave, bringing their dogs in the United States. American breeders became interested in this rare and charming dog, and started breeding them using only a handful of dogs. Today, the Havanese made a huge comeback and is one of the fastest growing breeds of dogs in the American Kennel Club (AKC).