Havanese

Canis lupus

Last updated: January 23, 2025
Verified Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
Dorottya Mathe/Shutterstock.com

Havanese dogs are known to be overly attached to their owner families, often bonding with young children and older adults alike


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Havanese Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Havanese Conservation Status

Havanese Locations

Havanese Locations

Havanese Facts

Fun Fact
Havanese dogs are known to be overly attached to their owner families, often bonding with young children and older adults alike
Diet
Omnivore
Common Name
Havanese
Slogan
These are the only dogs that are native to Cuba
Group
Toy

Havanese Physical Characteristics

Skin Type
Fur
Lifespan
15 years
Weight
13lbs

Havanese as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
Silent
Hypoallergenic
Yes
Separation Anxiety
High
Preferred Temperature
Average climate
Exercise Needs
Low
Friendly With Other Dogs
High
Pure bred cost to own
$800 to $1,200
Dog group
Toy
Male weight
7-13 lbs
Female weight
7-13 lbs

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With their small and sturdy build, Havanese dogs are fairly affectionate and playful. They are often welcomed into families for their soft fur, intelligence, and desire to please their loving owners.

The lack of shedding and clever mind of the Havanese dog have earned it a place as a common therapy dog in hospitals, bringing joy to patients that need their spirits lifted. Their mental focus and agile bodies also make it easy to teach them tricks; as such, they are sometimes bred with other canines for mixed-breed toy dogs.

Havanese (Canis familiaris) -standing against white background

An adult Havanese sizes up the photographer.

History of the Breed

The national dog of Cuba, the Havanese, was developed from a now-extinct dog called the Blanquito de la Habana. Both the Havanese and the Blanquito come from the Tenerife, a Bichon-type dog, also extinct like the Blanquito, but the Tenerife came to Cuba in the 1500s with Spanish farmers and noblemen.

By the 18th century, Europeans vacationing in Cuba discovered the Havanese, and the breed became quite trendy in Europe. The UK’s Queen Victoria and author Charles Dickens even enjoyed their company.

Also known as the Havana Silk Dog, Cuban Bichon, and the Bichon Havanais, the Havanese comes in 16 different colors, the most common of which are cream, gold, fawn, red, chocolate, silver, blue, brindle, and sable. There is little to no difference between the size and weight of male and female Havanese. The breed typically weighs between 7 and 13 pounds and are between 8 and 11 inches in stature. However, when the Havanese is mixed with other toy dogs (e.g., like the poodle), they may be as tall as 15 inches.

Common Health Issues

Thanks to relatively responsible breeding, Havanese dogs live long lives with few health concerns. Nevertheless, there are still a few things to watch out for, principally deafness, eye disorders, and heart problems, which a veterinarian can screen for.

Havanese dogs do have a genetic predisposition due to their size to chondrodysplasia or achondroplasia, a condition known to cause the bones not to reach their full adult size. Often, these dogs have fairly short legs, a trait that is passed down to them by their parents.

Another hereditary condition common to the Havanese is Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which also impacts the poodle, chihuahua, Pomeranian, and other toy or terrier breeds. It impacts the hips in younger dogs when the blood supply to the hip bones, specifically the femoral head, is compromised, which can then cause necrosis or death of the bone. Most dogs with this problem will limp on the affected leg.

Patellar luxation, often linked to genetics but can also arise following a traumatic event, occurs when the kneecap dislocates. Often, when one kneecap is pushed out of place, the other one will dislocate as well.

Beautiful young havanese dog is sitting on a gravel forest road in soft light in late summer

While petite in stature, the Havanese is also quite statuesque in appearance.

Temperament and Exercise

If you are looking for a happy-go-lucky, social, moderately energetic, intelligent, and affectionate (petite) dog, the Havanese meets the bill. Havanese dogs love to be with their owner(s), whether it’s learning new tricks and commands, which this breed is very good at; playing games; or running errands with you.

This also means this breed does not make a great kennel dog as they can become quite anxious if separated from their humans for too long. Socialization with other people and dogs goes a long way in making sure your Havanese pup doesn’t become overly shy and timid. The Havanese is considered a great breed for city living.

The breed is also quite good with children as the Havanese are no physical obstacle to even the smallest littles and make great play companions and watchdogs. One concern might be that the dog would nip a child, but both Havanese puppies and adult dogs would be easy to train away any aggressive behaviors.

The breed makes for a good lookout as they are quick to alert their owners of the presence of strangers, but their petite size puts them at a significant disadvantage as a guard dog (as much as they might like to believe differently). They are generally good with other pets in the house, although they may bark excessively without additional training.

The Best Dog Food for Havanese Dogs

Havanese dogs need a restricted diet, as a pound or two or three, while meager on a large breed (like a Labrador or a German Shepherd), is quite significant on this tiny dog. It is suggested that they be fed a 1/2 to 1 cup of dry dog food daily, divided into two servings.

You can mix turkey, chicken, or beef into their dry food as an additional protein source if prepared without oils and seasoning. Do not feed human food to your Havanese dog, as it can cause health problems for them. Since the Havanese can be prone to heart conditions, it is recommended that they avoid foods containing legumes, as there is a link between legumes and heart failure in dogs. Compare legume-free dog foods.

Havanese (Canis familiaris) - laying in grass

Keep your Havanese dog’s diet legume-free.

Maintenance and Grooming

The Havanese breed requires regular grooming sessions. Brush your Havanese’s coast at least two to three times a week, removing any knots or tangles that could eventually result in matting. Though the expense can be high, professional grooming is often the most effective. They would need a bath every 1-2 weeks, but the frequency depends on the thickness of the coat and how dirty they may become.

Never brush its coat when it is dry. If you brush the coat when they have not recently had a bath, spray water or waterless shampoo on the coat before brushing.

Puppies

Much like adults, Havanese puppies are also not difficult to train. Puppies of this breed are often only 2.5-4 pounds at 8 weeks old, so it is helpful to divide their meals up throughout the day to ensure they receive the nutrition they need to grow big(ger) and stronger. Adult maturation is reached at age 1, but many are full grown by 8 months.

Havanese puppy dog in the meadow

A Havanese puppy on his way to charm his humans.

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What's the right dog for you?

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About the Author

Heather Ross

Heather Ross is a secondary English teacher and mother of 2 humans, 2 tuxedo cats, and a golden doodle. In between taking the kids to soccer practice and grading papers, she enjoys reading and writing about all the animals!

Havanese FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How long does a Havanese live?

These dogs usually live for about 13 to 15 years.

Are Havanese hypoallergenic?

Yes, Havanese dogs are hypoallergenic.

How big do Havanese get?

They are about eight to eleven inches in size. Havanese Poodle mix dogs are usually eight to fifteen inches in size.

Are Havanese yappy?

Havanese dogs are not very yappy, but they might sometimes bark at strangers. If they are not trained properly, the barking could excessively increase.

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