Breed Profile –
Havanese |
The Havanese is a member of the bichon family.
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| Group: |
Toy |
Uses: |
Companion |
| Color: |
White, cream, champagne, black, black and tan, blue, gold, chocolate (rare), parti-color and tricolor. |
Coat: |
Double coat, long, heavy silk; wavy, curly or straight. |
| Life Span: |
Mid-to late teens |
Grooming: |
Brush daily. Professional groomers will place the Havanese on a table, leashed for safety, and brush the coat as they fluff it with a blow dryer on a low heat setting. The novice may prefer to use the blow dryer first and brush the coat once it is dry. |
| Height: |
8.5 to 11.5 inches |
Weight: |
7 to 14 pounds |
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General
The Havanese is born to live in your home and not outdoors or in a kennel; but at the same time, this dog requires plenty of exercise because of his vitality and restlessness. The Havanese dog loves to be carried and caressed. Since they respond with endearing and picturesque gestures, many people can’t resist their bewitching ways and wind up turning their Havanese into dolls that can’t walk on a leash, much less enjoy a good run in the park.
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Characteristics
The temperament of the Havanese breed plays a decisive role in its form. These dogs should be neither timid nor aggressive. By character, the breed is lively, intelligent and up to any situation. It shows no cowardice, in spite of its size. It enjoys sharing with its family every kind of inside or outside activity, from swimming, running to romping in the grass or in the snow. Its joy in life and its sense of innate pride are clearly expressed in its movements and in how it carries its head and tail. It gets along well with others of the same breed and even other breeds; for, although the Havanese breed is somewhat dominant, it’s not a quarrelsome dog.
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Health
The most serious diseases that affect the Havanese also affect any other dog: parvovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and rabies. All these diseases are fatal in more than 90% of cases. The only sure way to prevent them is to vaccinate your dog. Always ask the breeder for worming and vaccination certificates in addition to the pedigree.
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Other Info
Your Havanese dog, with a character all his own, does the things he does for good reason. Owners must make a special effort to understand the breed. The Havanese dog is an intelligent small breed, always ready and able to learn new things.
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