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