Did you know?
· The Havanese entered the AKC registry on June 30, 1995, and entered the Miscellaneous Class on February 1, 1996. Effective January 1, 1999 it began competing in the Toy Group.
· The Havanese is AKC's 142nd breed.
· The Havanese comes in a wide variety of colors, and is not trimmed or clipped.
· The Havanese Club of America was formed in 1979.
History
The Havanese is an old breed of the Bichon family. The earliest references to the ancestors of the modern Havanese go back to Plinius (23 to 79 B.C.) in the Mediterranean region, and the breed may have originated on the island of Malta. Dogs in both Spain and Italy played an integral part in bringing the Havanese to the New World. Also known as the Havana Silk Dog, today's Havanese descended from the dogs that found a permanent home in Cuba, where they were popular among the wealthy Cubans. After the Cuban revolution in 1959, many of these dogs ended up in the United States.
Today the Havanese is a happy, outgoing, sturdy, small dog. Combining an outgoing temperament with their trainability, Havanese are excellent candidates for obedience training.
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 8 ½ to 11 ½ inches, with the ideal being
between 9 and 10 ½ 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 8 ½ inches or over
11 ½ 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.)
Colour:
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.)
Text Copyright © 2001 AKC. All rights reserved.