Havanese
Discover the Havanese, Cuba's national dog: a bichon-type toy breed with a silky coat, 14.5-year lifespan, and a history of near-extinction before its modern revival.
The Havanese is a bichon-type toy dog with a lifespan of 14.5 years, slightly longer than the average purebred. This figure comes from a 2024 UK study of 56 dogs, but the breed's history is defined by a near-total collapse of its gene pool in the mid-20th century.
Size and physical structure
The Havanese is a toy dog standing between 8.5 and 11.5 inches at the withers, with the ideal height falling between 9 and 10.5 inches. Their body is slightly longer than they are tall, a proportion maintained by a unique topline that rises just slightly from the withers to the croup. This slope creates a straight but not level back that remains constant during movement. The gait is springy rather than far-reaching, driven by strong rear drive and a slightly shorter upper arm. The muzzle is full and tapers slightly, with the skull length equal to the muzzle length, avoiding the short or snipy appearance seen in other breeds.
The coat and its maintenance
This breed possesses a long, soft, lightweight double coat that feels almost cool to the touch, resembling silk. Unlike many other double-coated breeds, the outer coat is neither coarse nor overly dense, and the undercoat is sometimes completely absent. The hair is slightly wavy and undulating, and it can be shown either brushed out naturally or in a corded style that mimics human locks. While modern standards accept all coat colors and patterns, chocolate-colored dogs are the exception regarding pigment, allowing for dark brown noses and eye rims instead of the required black. The tail is carried arched forward over the back, with a long plume that falls on the body without the tail itself ever touching the spine.
Health and genetic risks
While the Havanese enjoys a robust life expectancy, they are predisposed to specific medical conditions that require monitoring. Luxating patella, liver disease, heart disease, cataracts, and retinal dysplasia are the primary health concerns. A notable genetic risk is sebaceous adenitis, an inflammatory skin condition. Furthermore, a study of over 90,000 dogs at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital found that 4.35% of Havanese had a portosystemic shunt, a rate significantly higher than the 0.35% seen in mixed-breed dogs.
History and the Cuban connection
The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba, descending from the Blanquito de la Habana, a breed that is now extinct. The Blanquito itself was a descendant of the Bichón Tenerife, and the modern Havanese likely resulted from cross-breeding with other bichon types, including the poodle. These dogs became devoted companions to Spanish colonists and were highly admired by the nobility. The breed's fortunes turned dramatically during the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s; the new regime viewed the dogs as property of the former elite and sought their elimination. Expatriates who fled to the United States saved the breed, but by the 1970s, the American gene pool consisted of only 11 dogs.
Temperament and modern roles
Today, the Havanese is one of the fastest-growing breeds in the AKC, having risen from 28th place in 2012 to 25th in 2013. Their friendly and trainable nature makes them suitable for various roles beyond the home, including therapy work, assistance for the hearing impaired, and detection work for mold and termites. They are also active competitors in dog sports such as agility, flyball, and musical canine freestyle. In the show ring, they must be presented untrimmed, with only slight trimming allowed around the feet; the tail may never be docked, and head furnishings may be held in small braids.
It is worth noting that while the Havanese is sometimes called the "Havana Silk Dog," this is a distinct breed bred to different standards. The Havanese itself remains a unique bichon-type dog with a history that spans from the Canary Islands to the courts of Europe, and finally to a successful recovery in the United States.