Havanese Breed Information

Havanese belong to the American Kennel Club’s toy group. These little guys and gals are outgoing, cheerful, and lively with high intelligence levels. They are very affectionate with family members, do exceptionally well with young children, and are friendly with other dogs too.

Originating from Cuba, this breed is strikingly attractive with big, brown eyes, a gorgeous silky coat, and a perfectly curled tail. Havanese have a vivacious and sociable personality to go with the good looks, which makes them immediately likeable. They are the ideal dogs for urban dwellers and adapt well to both houses and apartments. Given that they are adaptable and social, and being natural trick dogs and born clowns, it does not take a Havanese long to win new friends. However, Havanese like being around people and don’t do well if left alone for long periods.

Havanese are 8-12 inches in height on average and weigh anywhere from 7 to 13 pounds. The life expectancy of a Havanese is 14-16 years on average. Standard colors in Havanese are black, silver, tan, blue, brindle, chocolate, cream, fawn, gold, red, sable, white, and combinations of these colors with white or cream markings or tan or silver points, among others.

To ensure you are bringing home a healthy Havanese puppy, choose a responsible breeder on Puppy Hero. Also, make sure the breeder has health clearances on the dams and sires. Havanese dogs can have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) results for at least four different medical tests.

You should know that a Havanese is a high maintenance dog with daily grooming needs. The long, silky coat needs daily brushings to stay tangle-free. Some Havanese owners like to keep the hair clipped short to reduce grooming. Others like to cord the coat.

Although this is a small dog, your Havanese will require moderate amounts of exercise, such as playing in the backyard or going for a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

Training a Havanese puppy is relatively easy because they are intelligent and eager to please. Keep in mind though that Havanese dogs are sensitive and you’re likely to get better results using positive reinforcement and gentle encouragement rather than harsh training measures.

Nutrition for a Havanese dog should be age-appropriate. This breed has a tendency to gain weight, so treats should be given in moderation.