Havanese
A cheerful, people-loving bichon from Cuba with a soft, flowing coat and a playful spirit.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- 23–27 cm
- Weight
- Males 4–6 kg · Females 3.5–6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–15 years
- Exercise
- 30–60 min a day
- Grooming
- Every day
- Coat
- Silky, Wavy, long
- Colours
- White, Cream, Fawn, Black, Chocolate, Red, Tan
- Bred for
- Companionship
- Country of origin
- Cuba
- FCI
- Group 9, no. 250 · Companion & toy dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 4/5 – High |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 5/5 – Very high |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 1/5 – Very low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 5/5 – Very high |
| Suits apartment living | 5/5 – Very high |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a friendly, family-oriented small dog
- are a first-time owner
- are home much of the day
Think twice if you …
- leave the dog alone for long hours
- dislike regular grooming
- want a guard dog
Care
Temperament
Friendly, playful and affectionate, sociable with people and animals. Strongly attached to family and dislikes isolation.
Exercise
Daily walks and games; enjoys agility, tricks and playing with other dogs.
Grooming
A long coat needs daily brushing; a shorter trim reduces the work. It sheds very little.
Training
Eager and responsive to rewards; house training needs consistency.
Health
Patellar luxation, cataracts, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, deafness and short-legged growth disorders are reported. Ask the breeder for knee, eye and hearing results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Kneecaps (patella)
- Eye examination
- Hearing (BAER)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Havanese is Cuba's national dog. Its ancestors were small bichon-type dogs brought by Spanish settlers, which became pets of wealthy Cuban families. After the 1959 revolution only a few dogs left the island, and the modern breed was rebuilt largely in the United States from that small group.
Havanese are affectionate, outgoing and fun-loving. They usually get on with children, visitors and other pets, and they love to be wherever their people are. They are adaptable and easy to travel with, but they can struggle when left alone for long periods. The coat is soft and plentiful and needs regular care.
Did you know?
The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba.