Havanese Dog Facts – 10 Things You Should Know

Havanese dogs are known for its rugged impression especially when not clipped or primped in any way.

It is a little dog with strong legs, allowing it to freely and easily move.

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It has long, silky hair covering its dark eyes and a long tail. Its abundant coat can be wavy, curly or corded, with the ladder being recognized by both the CKC and AKC.

This dog breed is double-coated and has soft hair for both undercoat and overcoat. While it generally has long hair, some dogs in this breed carry a short-haired recessive gene.

Two Havanese dogs with this gene will likely have a litter of puppies with short, smooth coats that some considers being a fault when in a show arena.

The Havanese dogs with short coat have the nickname “Shavanese.” Havanese dogs have solid black lips, nose, and eye rims on all of the dog’s available colors, except the real chocolate dog.

Havanese comes in a wide range of colors, including gold, cream, white, black, blue, and silver, along with tricolor and parti-color. This breed is known for having a sound constitution and being a strong physical type.

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Origin of Havanese Dogs

The Havanese dogs are known several other names, such as Havana Silk Dog and Bichon Havanais.

It descended from the dogs that were found in a permanent home in Cuba. Around the time it first came to be, the breed is quite popular among the wealthy Cubans.

The name Havanese came from Havana, the capital of Cuba. In the 1950s, the breed almost became extinct because of the Cuban Revolution.

Fortunately, some of the exiled families in Costa Rica and Florida managed to preserve it. It was then in the middle of 1960s when a breeding program began in the U.S.

The Havanese dog breed was saved from extinction and now just as prevalent as other small dogs.

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Temperament of Havanese Dog Breed

Havanese dogs are great for a companion as they are responsive and gentle. They quickly become attached and are great when with children.

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The most notable traits of dogs are their affectionate and playful temperament.

They have a high degree of intelligence, cheerful, and sociable. These dogs can quickly get along with everyone, whether other dogs, cats, and other pets, even with people.

Moreover, this dog breed is easy to train for obedience. With love for observing the things that go around them, they are not a good responder if you use harsh discipline.

It should be noted that Havanese dogs are sensitive to the tone of voice. As such, it is not likely to listen to you if your voice is too meek. You need to be calm but with a voice with authority.

The history of Havanese dogs shows it as a circus dog, which is probably due to its ability to learn quickly.

It is also likely because this breed enjoys doing things for others. While they do not bark a lot, Havanese dogs are still considered excellent watchdogs.

They make sure to inform you if a visitor arrives and welcomes the guest if it sees you welcome them.

If you have not adequately socialized your dog, it is likely to exhibit a bit of shyness especially when around strangers. However, this is not a characteristic natural to dogs.

This dog can be both timid and aggressive, which highly depends on the treatment of the human who provides it with leadership.

By training your dog well, then you can make sure that it does not develop Small Dog Syndrome.

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What is the life expectancy for a havanese dog?

The Havanese dog breed is a companion dog originating from the Western Mediterranean Basin.

The breed was thought to have descended from some of the types of small companion dogs in the Old World Bichon.

It is famous for the many positive traits of the breed such as the gentle temperament. The life expectancy of a Havanese is around 14 to 15 years.

Havanese Dog Full Grown

Havanese dogs are usually considered full grown by the time they are 12 to 18 months old.

A few things contribute to the maturity of this dog breed with its bloodline being the most critical factor.

If you want to know when your puppy will become full grown, then you need to ask about its parents.

When it comes to how tall it can become, the average height of a Havanese dog is 8 ½ to 11 ½ inches.

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It is the average height they can get when they are finally mature, which is according to the breed standard of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

On the other hand, the adult bodyweight is somewhere around 8 to 13 pounds on average.

However, some dog can be considered fully grown when they reach their second birthday.

Does a Havanese Dog Shed?

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Havanese dogs have a unique, silky coat. It has a double-layered coat that only sheds little.

The dander it produces is also considerably less than other dogs. This dog breed belongs to one of the dogs who sheds very lightly and does not make you worry about cleanups.

If you worry about the fur it gets around your house, rest assured that Havanese dogs only sheds a little of them.

Is a Havanese Dog a Good Family Dog?

If it is a happy and playful dog breed you are looking for, Havanese dogs are that what you need.

They are excellent family dogs because of how they often enjoy playing quick games, not to mention they are people-oriented pets.

They love to snug in laps although sometimes a bit too dependent. As such, they don’t do well if you leave alone for a long time.

Are Havanese Dogs Aggressive?

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Havanese dogs are not aggressive by nature. However, improper obedience training can lead the dogs to exhibit negative traits, and that includes being aggressive.

It all depends on the humans who are supposed to act as the pack leader to the dog. If properly trained, this dog breed is known for its independence streaks and playful side.

Are Havanese Dogs Hypoallergenic?

As mentioned before, Havanese dogs shed very little and produce less dander as well.

While there are no dogs that can be said to be completely hypoallergenic, the said traits of the dog make it a candidate for a hypoallergenic small dog.

It makes this dog breed highly ideal for people who have an allergy or respiratory problems, ensuring they can have a pet friend without worrying it will cause an adverse reaction.

Are Havanese Dogs Smart?

Just like all other dogs, Havanese dogs need proper training. Dogs of this breed are known to be highly trainable, able to learn tricks and perform them with great agility.

It allows them to do well in obedience competitions, even make its games. Besides serving as a companion dog, it does great as a visiting therapy dog when adequately socialized.

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Do Havanese Dogs Bark a Lot?

One of the main issues with dogs is they have the potential to bark a lot. Just like with other small dogs, this one tends to bark when he sees something or someone new.

However, there is a possibility of preventing this from becoming a habit if you establish the correct relationship with your pet.

That is, you need to show him that you are the pack leader, the boss that it needs to follow. It makes it essential that you have your dog undergo a respected training.

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Health Problems

Most dogs of the Havanese breed have a long lifespan. However, they are known to be prone to allergies that can disrupt the dog’s quality of life.

Some of the things it can be allergic include pollen, grass, and fleas. If the dog has an allergy, it causes them to scratch and scratch, chewing himself until he becomes a dog with terrible skin conditions.

As mentioned before, this dog breed is relatively healthy. However, there are specific health issues that it can inherit. Some of these hereditary issues are:

  • Cherry Eye
  • Cataracts
  • Deafness
  • Chondrodysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Liver Shunt
  • Patellar Luxation (slipped kneecaps)
  • Legg Perthes (or Legg-Calve-Perthes)

You can learn more about these health conditions with a web search. Knowing the possible health conditions that your pet dog might develop is essential.

It helps you prepare and consider well if getting a Havanese puppy is a great idea for you.

How Much Does a Havanese Dog Cost?

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The average cost of a dog depends on several factors. Some of those factors are age, color, breeder, quality, and more.

These things determine how much you will have to pay to get a Havanese puppy.

Research suggests, however, that the average price for a purebred Havanese dog is around $850 to $1900.

This price range is because you will still need to look at the quality of the dog. As for backyard dog breeders, the usual range is around $500 to $1400.

Additionally, the dogs you get at the price range of $1400 to $2000 are those sold from reputable breeders. These Havanese dogs have competitive quality and are perfect for shows.

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1 thought on “Havanese Dog Facts – 10 Things You Should Know”

  1. It’s great to know that Havanese puppies can be trained easily due to their natural obedience. I’m planning to buy one from a breeder later this year because I can feel that my only child tends to feel lonely when he is at home and not with his friends. Perhaps having a pet would give him some companionship that are quite different from what parents can give him.

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