Five kilos, no hunting drive, no guarding drive, and a greeting that turns every visitor into an old acquaintance. That is why the little Cuban has moved in recent years from the niche into family homes. One item is missing from that calculation, though. Ten minutes of brushing a day, every day. And a dog who has to learn to stay alone, because it is simply not in his nature. With him, beginner-friendly does not mean undemanding.
Breed profile
- Origin: Cuba, developed from Bichon dogs of Spanish settlers
- Height: 23 to 27 cm
- Weight: 4 to 7 kg
- Life expectancy: 13 to 16 years
- Coat: long, silky, slightly wavy, in all colours, hardly sheds
- Temperament: cheerful, affectionate, playful, sensitive, keen to learn
Temperament: the dog who likes everyone
A Havanese greets strangers like old friends. He plays with children without snapping, gets along with cats, is happy about other dogs. He is playful into old age, learns tricks for fun and wants to be part of everything. His sensitivity is his advantage and his risk: he senses moods immediately, takes harsh words personally and needs training that relies on praise instead of strictness.
What sets him apart from other small dogs: he is a companion dog without hunting drive, without guarding drive, without aggression potential. That makes him so easy in daily life. And it makes him a dog who really cannot cope without his people.
Where the Havanese makes work
1. The coat is a second job
The Havanese hardly sheds, which is why he is considered allergy-friendly. The price: the long, silky hair mats within days if it is not brushed. Ten minutes a day with brush and comb, especially behind the ears, in the armpits and on the belly. A bath every six to eight weeks, a trim every two to three months, either learned yourself or at the dog groomer for 50 to 80 euros. If you do not want to do that, have him clipped in a short puppy cut. Also lovely, but still needs brushing.
2. He cannot be alone, unless you teach him
For centuries the Havanese was bred as a companion. Being alone is not in his nature. Separation anxiety is one of the most common problems in this breed: barking, howling, destroying, puddles. It can be avoided if you practise in small steps from the first week, minutes, then quarter-hours, then hours. If you work full time and have no care arrangement, you should not get a Havanese.
3. The tear stains and the teeth
Light-coloured Havanese often get rust-brown tear stains under the eyes, mostly harmless, but to be wiped daily. And as with all small dogs the teeth sit close together: tartar and periodontitis are common. Brush teeth from a young age, check-up at the vet.
4. Health: kneecaps, eyes, heart
Patellar luxation, eye diseases such as cataract and PRA, and heart valve problems occur in the breed. Reputable VDH breeders have kneecaps and eyes examined and show you the results. The Havanese boom has attracted many puppy dealers offering puppies for 800 euros without papers. These dogs often have anxiety disorders and joint problems. A puppy from a breeder costs 1,800 to 2,800 euros, and the difference is noticeable.
5. He is not a sofa cushion
Small does not mean low-exercise. A Havanese wants an hour a day outside, loves agility in miniature, trick dogging and search games. An under-exercised Havanese becomes nervous and yappy, an exercised one is the calmest dog in the café.
What his daily life needs
- People around him. Home office, family, retired household, dog-friendly office: anything where he is not alone for eight hours.
- Daily coat care as a ritual, ideally in the evening on your lap.
- Positive training. Clicker, treat, voice. Never pressure.
- Brain work. He learns quickly and becomes gloomy without tasks.
- Early socialisation. He is friendly by nature, but skittishness occurs in some lines.
Who is the Havanese right for?
For families with children, for first-time owners, for seniors, for allergy sufferers with reservations (test beforehand). For everyone who wants a dog as a family member, not as a garden dweller. Not for working people without care and not for people who have no desire for coat care.
This is exactly where most breed descriptions drop out. The more honest question is not whether the dog suits you, but whether your week suits him. „Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?“ (Which Dog Is REALLY Right for You?) works that out, hour by hour, before the puppy arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Havanese an allergy-friendly dog? He hardly sheds, but allergies react to saliva and dander. Spend time with the dogs at the breeder beforehand.
Does he bark a lot? He alerts you, but less than a Spitz or dachshund. With training a calm dog.
Havanese or Maltese? Very similar. The Havanese is somewhat sturdier and more playful, the Maltese calmer and even more high-maintenance with the white coat.
Silky coat as a subject
The silky coat and the dark button eyes make the Havanese a watercolour favourite: the soft gradients suit his nature. For the photo: freshly brushed, hair out of the eyes, window light from the side so that the coat shines.
Silky coat is where prints most easily fail. That is why you see your picture before anything is printed and tell us what should still be different. The styles and materials are with the dog portraits.
Read more
- Why the doodle only promises what the poodle can already do: the other dog who hardly sheds
- Pomeranian: why you must not shave him: similarly small, a completely different temperament
- The first 3 days with a puppy: what really counts in the first days
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