| It seems that every country has its own history | | | | hairs of the top coat are long and rather wavy. The |
| when it comes to dogs and which dogs become the | | | | A.K.C. also allows for the mature Havanese to be |
| particular dog which has flourished in that country. | | | | shown in a "corded" coat. A Corded coat will happen |
| Cuba is no exception, for it is the native country of | | | | naturally if, as the dog is maturing, the coat is allowed |
| the Havanese. Although the Havanese most probably | | | | to separate itself into parted clumps of hair which |
| originated with the Spanish settlers of Cuba many | | | | gradually will wrap around themselves over time |
| centuries ago as descendants of the Bichon | | | | (usually with human interference) and develop into |
| Barbichon of Southern Spain , it became apparent | | | | cords. This type of coat is seldom seen on a pet |
| after many years of development that the dog was | | | | Havanese for it takes a lot of patience to "train" a |
| destined to become a unique breed. Because at first | | | | coat in this manner. The head is furnished with a |
| there seemed to be many of these little toy dogs | | | | beard and hair which is long over the eyes. This long |
| that carried a distinctive coat color of a deep brown | | | | hair is believed to protect the eyes of the dog from |
| similar in color to that of the cigar, it is theorized that | | | | the hot Cuban sun and because of this it has become |
| the name "Havanese" came from the name "Havana | | | | tradition for this breed to leave the hair in a loose fall |
| Brown" which is the first known name of the dog. | | | | over the eyes rather than pulling it back into a |
| Eventually this name was popularized into the name | | | | topknot. The Havanese is not a large dog, at the |
| "Havanese" and it is under this name that the dog is | | | | withers the height should not be over 11 and a half |
| now recognized as an A.K.C. breed.This little dog is | | | | inches, the minimum being 8 inches.This little dog |
| similar in many respects to the Bichon Frize. However | | | | should be jaunty and happy in appearance and of |
| the coat color can be of any blend or combination, | | | | course should have a temperament to match. It is a |
| whereas the Bichon is always white. The coat of the | | | | dog that has been used through centuries as a family |
| Havanese is long and shaggy and the standards for | | | | pet and also a herder and protector of the family |
| the show ring require that the coat not be clipped, | | | | chicken flock, a task which it can perform quite well. |
| altered, or tampered with in any way. The coat is | | | | It is an active breed and not one to remain quiet for |
| double. However, since this is a bred that has lived | | | | long, as some small lap dogs do. This little dog is quite |
| for years in the tropics, the double coat is not "hard" | | | | intelligent and does well at tricks and also excels in |
| or woolly but is soft and silkyin appearance and | | | | such ring sports as obedience and agility and flyball. |
| texture, rather like that of a single coat. The guard | | | | |