The popular Havanese dog was originated from the Mediterranean during ancient times. It comes from a family of small dogs called the Barbichon family – today it’s known as the Bichon. These animals showed up in large amounts throughout Cuba when Spanish traders brought them as gifts to give to their Cuban women. This permitted open trade between the two peoples.

The Cubans totally loved this little dog and spoiled them and treated them as if they were royalty. Havanese dogs were well-known with wealthy people. Sooner or later, these dogs made their way back to Europe where many called them the White Cuban. Their status continued to increase. Several people owned them as pet dogs but also loved Havanese dogs as entertainers.

Later on, the Havanese became less and less popular with the exception of entertainment and circus acts. These dogs were seen in several circuses across Europe as trick dogs. Sooner or later, their breed began to radically drop in numbers to the point where they were they were nearly non-existent. This was prevalent in Cuba and Europe. 

Pure luck brought this dog breed back up in numbers when 3 families from Cuba left for America and brought their Havanese dogs along with them. It is likely that they arrived in the US between the late 1950s - 1960s. Actually, nearly all Havanese dogs of 21^st century derived from these bloodlines. Dog aficionados took notice of the Havanese and in 1996 it was reported into its first AKC dog show. Back inn 1999, the Havanese was accepted as a new member of the toy group.

Personality

One of the best ways to explain the character and demeanor of a Havanese dog is lover of attention. This dog totally adores being in the spotlight and is very playful. If truth be told, the Havanese scores on the highest level in terms of love kindness and liveliness. They are often referred to as being a clown, this breed is also popular for getting along with human beings as well as all kinds of animals.

Taking Care of Your New Havanese

Because of this dog’s small size and height, there’s no need for a whole lot of attention or even grooming and maintenance. Even though they don’t have to be groomed a lot, their long coat does require a good brushing every day. All they need is a short stroll on a leash and this will take care of their exercise requirements. On the other hand, this dog has to stay indoors with the family. One good aspect is that Havanese dogs do not shed, however, the hairs from their coat can become knotted up and disheveled, and this is why it is recommended to brush their coat every day.

Health Information

The typical life line of a healthy Havanese pet dog can last up to fifteen years. The usual time for most is an estimated thirteen years. There are no big health problems to worry about with a Havanese. The only issue that you have to be concerned about is patellar luxation. This is very common condition among small pet dogs.