Information on AKC Havanese Puppies
AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Havanese
The National Dog of Cuba and the country’s only native breed, the Havanese is a small, sturdy dog with a friendly disposition. His wavy, silky coat is profuse, but remains extremely light, insulating and protecting the breed against harsh tropical heat. His coat, which comes in all colors, should remain untrimmed. The Havanese’s popularity in the show ring has grown quickly, and they are also now high in demand as a family pet.
A Look Back
An old breed, the Havanese is a descendent of breeds brought to Cuba from Spain and could also be related to the Tenerife, an ancestor of the entire Bichon family. Once known as the Havana Silk Dog and the Spanish Silk Poodle, the Havanese evolved from its role as a pampered lap-dog of the aristocracy into a family companion responsible for being a watchdog, child’s playmate and herder of the family’s poultry flock.
Right Breed for You?
The Havanese is trainable and intelligent and possesses a naturally affectionate temperament, which making the breed an ideal family pet. Although a toy dog, they remain energetic and require some form of daily exercise. The breed’s non-shedding coat makes it suitable for allergy sufferers, but regular grooming is necessary to keep the coat in top condition.
If you are considering purchasing a Havanese puppy, learn more here.
- Toy Group; AKC recognized in 1996.
- Ranging in size from 8½ to 11½ inches tall at the shoulder.
- Companion.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Havanese Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Havanese is a small sturdy dog of immense charm. He is slightly longer than
tall, and covered with a profuse mantle of untrimmed long, silky, wavy hair. His
plumed tail is carried loosely curled over his rump. A native of Cuba, he has
evolved over the centuries from the pampered lap-dog of the aristocracy into what
he is today - the quintessential family pet of a people living on a small tropical
island. His duties traditionally have been those of companion, watchdog, child’s
playmate and herder of the family poultry flock. His presentation in the show
ring should reflect his function – always in excellent condition but never so
elaborately coifed as to preclude an impromptu romp in the leaves, as his character
is essentially playful rather than decorative.
While historically always a toy dog and therefore never overly large or coarse,
he does not appear so fragile as to make him unsuitable as a child’s pet. His
unique coat reflects centuries in the tropics, and protects against heat. It is
remarkably soft and light in texture, profuse without being harsh or woolly. Likewise,
the furnishings of the head are believed to protect the eyes from the harsh tropical
sun, and have traditionally never been gathered in a topknot for this reason.
In both structure and gait, the Havanese is not easily mistaken for any other
breed. His characteristic topline, rising slightly from withers to rump is a result
of moderate angulation both fore and aft combined with a typically short upper
arm. The resulting springy gait is flashy rather than far-reaching and unique
to the breed. The overall impression of the dog on the move is one of agility
rather than excessive ability to cover ground. These characteristics of temperament,
structure and gait contribute in large part to the character of the breed, and
are essential to type.
Size, Proportion and Substance
The height range is from 8½ to 11½ inches, with the ideal being
between 9 and 10½ inches, measured at the withers, and is slightly less
than the length from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, creating a rectangular
outline rather than a square one. The Havanese is a sturdy little dog, and should
never appear fragile. A coarse dog with excessive bone is likewise contrary to
type and therefore equally undesirable. The minimum height ranges set forth in
the description above shall not apply to dogs and bitches under twelve months
of age. Disqualification: Height at withers under 8½ inches or over
11½ inches, except that the minimum height ranges set forth in the description
above shall not apply to dogs or bitches under twelve months of age.
Head
The expression is soft and intelligent, mischievous rather than cute. The
eyes are dark brown, large, almond-shaped, and set rather widely apart. Dark eyes
are preferred irrespective of coat color, although the chocolate colored dog may
have somewhat lighter eyes. The pigment on the eyerims is complete, solid black
for all colors except for the chocolate dog which has complete solid, dark chocolate
pigment. No other dilution of pigment is acceptable. Ears are of medium length;
the leather, when extended, reaches halfway to the nose. They are set high on
the skull, slightly above the endpoint of the zygomatic arch, and are broad at
the base, showing a distinct fold. When the dog is alert, the ears lift at the
base, producing an unbroken shallow arc from the outer edge of each ear across
the backskull. The backskull is broad and slightly rounded. The stop is moderate.
Length of muzzle is slightly less than length of back skull measured from stop
to point of occiput and the planes are level. The nose is broad and squarish,
fitting a full and rectangular muzzle, with no indication of snipiness. The pigment
on the nose and lips is complete, solid black for all colors except for the chocolate
dog which has complete solid, dark chocolate brown pigment. No other dilution
of pigment is acceptable. A scissors bite is ideal. Full complement of incisors
preferred. Disqualifications: Complete absence of black (or chocolate in
the chocolate dog) pigmentation on the eyerims, nose or lips.
Neck, Topline, and Body
The neck is of moderate length, in balance with the height and length of the
dog. It carries a slight arch and blends smoothly into the shoulders. The topline
is straight but not level, rising slightly from withers to rump. There is no indication
of a roach back. The body, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks,
is slightly longer than the height at the withers. This length comes from the
ribcage and not from the short, well-muscled loin. The chest is deep, rather broad
in front, and reaches the elbow. The ribs are well sprung. There is a moderate
tuck-up. The tail is high-set and plumed with long, silky hair. It arcs forward
over the back, but neither lies flat on the back nor is tightly curled. On the
move the tail is carried loosely curled over the rump. The long plume of the hair
may fall straight forward or to either side of the body. The tail may not be docked.
Forequarters
Shoulder layback is moderate, lying not more than 40 degrees off vertical.
Extreme shoulder layback will negatively affect proper gait, and should be faulted.
The tops of the shoulder blades lie in at the withers, allowing the neck to merge
smoothly into the back. The upper arm is relatively short, but there is sufficient
angle between the shoulder and upper arm to set the legs well under the body with
a pronounced forechest. The elbows turn neither in nor out, and are tight to the
body. Forelegs are well-boned and straight when viewed from any angle. The distance
from the foot to the elbow is equal to the distance from elbow to withers. The
pasterns are short, strong and flexible, very slightly sloping. Dewclaws may be
removed. The feet are round, with well arched toes, and turn neither in nor out.
Pads and nails may be black, white, pink, or a combination of these colors. Chocolate
dogs may also have brown pads and nails.
Hindquarters
The hind legs are well-boned and muscular through the thigh, with moderate
angulation. The hocks are short and turn neither in nor out. In normal stance,
the hind legs are parallel to each other from hock to heel and all the joints
are in line when viewed from the rear. The rear assembly, in which the rump is
slightly higher than the withers, contributes to the breed’s unique, springy gait.
Dewclaws should be removed. The hind feet fall slightly behind a perpendicular
line from point of buttock when viewed from the side. Hind feet have well arched
toes and turn neither in nor out. Pads and nails may be black, white, pink or
a combination of these colors. Chocolate dogs may also have brown pads and nails.
Coat
The coat is double, but without the harsh standoff guard hair and woolly undercoat
usually associated with double coats. Rather, it is soft and light in texture
throughout, though the outer coat carries slightly more weight. The long hair
is abundant and, ideally, wavy. An ideal coat will not be so profuse nor overly
long as to obscure the natural lines of the dog. Puppies may have a shorter coat.
A single, flat coat or an excessively curly coat are equally contrary to type
and should be faulted. Disqualifications: A coarse, wiry coat. An atypical
short coat on an adult dog (atypical would be smooth, flat coat with, or without
furnishings.)
Color
All colors are acceptable, singly or in any combination. No preference is
given to one color over another. The skin may be freckled or parti-colored.
Gait
The Havanese gait is lively, elegant, resilient, and unique, contributing
greatly to the breed’s overall essential typiness. The characteristic "spring"
is caused by the strong rear drive combined with a "flashy" front action
effected by the short upper arm. While a truly typey dog is incapable of exaggerated
reach and drive, the action does not appear stilted or hackneyed. The slightly
higher rear may cause a correctly built specimen to show a flash of pad coming
and going. The front legs reach forwardfreely. There is good extension in the
rear and no tendency toward sickle hocks. The topline holds under movement, neither
flattening nor roaching. Head carriage is typically high, even on the move.
Temperament
Playful and alert. The Havanese is both trainable and intelligent with a sweet,
non-quarrelsome disposition.
Presentation
The dog should be shown as naturally as is consistent with good grooming.
He may be shown either brushed or corded. His coat should be clean and well conditioned.
In mature specimens, the length of the coat may cause it to fall to either side
down the back but it should not appear to be artificially parted. The long, untrimmed
head furnishings may fall forward over the eyes, naturally and gracefully to either
side of the skull, or be held in two small braids beginning above the outer corner
of the eyes, secured with plain elastic bands. (No ribbons or bows are permitted.)
Corded coats will naturally separate into wavy sections in young dogs and will
in time develop into cords. Adult corded dogs will be completely covered with
a full coat of tassle-like cords. In either coat, minimal trimming of the hair
at the inside corner of the eye is allowed for hygienic purposes only, not an
attempt to resculpt the planes of the head. Minimal trimming around the anal and
genital areas, for hygienic purposes only, is permissible but should not be noticeable
on presentation. The hair on the feet and between the pads should be neatly trimmed
for the express purpose of a tidy presentation. Any other trimming or sculpting
of the coat is to be severely penalized as to preclude placement. Because correct
gait is essential to breed type, the Havanese is presented at natural speed on
a loose lead.
Faults
The foregoing description is that of the ideal Havanese. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation keeping in mind the importance of the contribution of the various features toward the "original purpose of the breed."
Disqualification
Height at withers under 8½ or over 11½ inches except that the
minimum height range shall not apply to dogs or bitches under twelve months of
age.
Complete absence of black ( or chocolate in the chocolate dog) pigmentation on
the eyerims, nose or lips.
Coarse, wiry coat.
An atypical short coat on an adult. (Atypical refers to a smooth, flat
coat with, or without furnishings.)
Approved: May 7, 2001
Effective: June 27, 2001
