About the Havanese Breed
General Appearance
The Havanese breed is a small, sturdy dog of immense charm. The native dog of Cuba, they are beloved as a friendly, intelligent and playful companion. He is slightly longer than tall, with a long, untrimmed, double coat. The plumed tail is carried arched forward up over the back. The unique springy gait is a result of the breed’s structure and playful, spirited personality. These characteristics of temperament, coat, structure and gait are essential to type.
Body
The height is slightly less than the length from the point of shoulder to point of buttocks, creating a rectangular outline. The Havanese is moderately boned and should never appear coarse or fragile. Their expressions are soft, intelligent and mischievous. Eyes are large, dark brown and almond-shaped. Chocolates may have somewhat lighter brown eyes. Eye rims are solid black for all colors except for chocolates which have solid brown eye rims. Their ears are broad at the base, dropped, and have a distinct fold. They are set high on the skull. When alert, the ears lift at the base but always remain folded. The nose and lips are solid black for all colors except for chocolates which have solid brown pigment. The tail is high-set and arches forward up over the back. It is plumed with long, silky hair.
Coat
Silky to the touch, the coat of a Havanese is soft and light in texture in both outer and undercoat, although the outer coat can carry slightly more weight. The coat can be grown to be long, abundant and wavy. It stands off the body slightly, but flows with movement. Puppy coats are shorter and have a softer texture than adult coat. Havanese do not shed or have a dog odor. They are hypoallergenic which makes them the ideal dog for those who suffer from allergies.
Color
Havanese come is all sorts of colors and marking patterns. The skin may also be any color.
Temperament
Havanese are friendly, playful, alert and intelligent with a sweet, non-quarrelsome disposition.
Grooming
Grooming should be done daily. It can be as casual as gently running a comb or soft brush over its body while you are watching TV at night. You can take a piece of gauze and wipe its teeth and the insides of the ear flaps. When the puppy smells stinky its time for a bath. Puppy cologne sprays work really well in between baths.
Tips for Care
House Training
The puppy cannot be expected to hold its bowels or bladder well until about 12 weeks of age. It takes consistency and patience to get a puppy well house and crate trained. Expect your puppy to be somewhat consistent at 4-6 months old.
Feeding
Puppies go with food. Use this to mix with food of your choice or continue with same brand. This will keep puppy from having serious digestive problems as systems are very fragile. It is best to leave food out for your puppy for the first few days after coming home. You can add a little warm water to it if you like. Just remember moist food equals softer bowels. Keep food and water in the same place so puppy learns where it is.