Havanese illustration
Toy

Havanese

National dog of Cuba with a silky textured coat

Breed characteristics

Size
Small
Exercise
Up to 30 minutes per day
Size of home
Flat/ Apartment
Grooming
Every day
Coat length
Long
Sheds
No
Lifespan
Over 12 years
Vulnerable native breed
No
Town or country
Either
Size of garden
Small/ medium garden

About this breed

This member of the Bichon family is the national dog of Cuba and it is thought that he was taken from the Mediterranean to Cuba by Spanish or Italian traders. The breed became more widely known when the Communist regime took control of Cuba and many people fled to the USA taking their dogs with them. The Havanese has the silky textured coat of the other Bichon breeds but comes in a wide variety of colours.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Toy breed group

The Toy breeds are small companion or lap dogs. Many of the Toy breeds were bred for this capacity although some have been placed into this category simply due to their size. They should have friendly personalities and love attention. They do not need a large amount of exercise and some can be finicky eaters.

 

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options. 

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours 

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

  • Black
  • Black & Tan
  • Black & White
  • Brown Sable & White
  • Chocolate
  • Chocolate & White
  • Cream
  • Cream & Tan
  • Cream & White
  • Cream Sable
  • Gold
  • Gold & Cream
  • Gold & White 
  • Gold Sable 
  • Gold Sable & White 
  • Particolour 
  • Red 
  • Red & Cream 
  • Red & White 
  • Sable 
  • Sable & White 
  • Tan & White 
  • Tricolour 
  • White

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Health

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

Currently there are no additional health screening schemes or DNA tests for this breed. You may want to speak to your breeder, vet or local breed club about any health issues in the breed.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email 

Health (The Kennel Club)

Report a health issue

The Havanese Club of Great Britain is currently monitoring and actively collecting all reports of health issues in the breed. If your Havanese dog has any health issues, please report them on their online health reporting system.

Breed watch

Category 1        

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.

Read more about Breed Watch

Breeding restrictions

There are a number of The Kennel Club's rules and regulations that may prevent a litter from being registered, find out about our general and breed specific breeding restrictions below.

More about breeding

There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.

Looking for a puppy?

Looking for a Havanese? Explore our list of puppies and rescue dogs for sale near you.

More information

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