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Havanese: Breed Profile, Temperament, Health, and Care Guide

A Havanese is a small Toy Group breed and Cuba’s national dog, a member of the Bichon family descended from the Spanish Tenerife dog, known for its soft, silky coat.

A Havanese is a small Toy Group breed and Cuba’s national dog, descended from the Spanish Tenerife dog that Spanish settlers brought to the island centuries ago, part of the broader Bichon family that also includes the Bichon Frise and Maltese. Nicknamed the “Havana Silk Dog” for its soft, silky coat, the Havanese nearly went extinct following the Cuban Revolution before a dedicated American breeder rebuilt the breed from a handful of surviving dogs. This guide covers where the breed originated, its temperament, how big Havanese get, how long they live, the health problems they are prone to, grooming, how much exercise they need, how easy they are to train, what to feed them, the pros and cons of owning one, and what else people ask.

What Is a Havanese and Where Did the Breed Originate?

A Havanese belongs to the American Kennel Club’s Toy Group. The breed developed in Cuba after Spanish settlers brought small companion dogs descended from the Tenerife dog, part of the Bichon family, and the breed became a beloved fixture among Cuban aristocracy, nicknamed the “Havana Silk Dog.” When wealthy families fled Cuba during the 1959 revolution, only a small number were able to bring their dogs, and the breed nearly went extinct as a result. American breeder Dorothy Goodale tracked down Cuban refugee families in Florida who had preserved the breed and rebuilt it from just eleven founding dogs. The AKC recognized the Havanese in 1996.

The American Kennel Club defines the breed in its “Official Standard of the Havanese”, approved August 9, 2011, which sets out the size, coat, and temperament a Havanese should have. As of September 2026, the AKC ranks the Havanese 25th of 210 breeds in popularity.

Which Havanese Colors and Coats Does the Standard Allow?

Every color and marking pattern is allowed and judged equally, so Havanese come in cream, gold, white, silver, black, chocolate, brindle, parti-color, and many more. The coat itself may be straight or wavy, and the standard permits dogs to be shown either brushed or corded, with the hair left to form long, rope-like cords as in the Puli. Corded coats need a different care routine and are rare in pet homes.

What Is a Havanese’s Temperament Like?

A Havanese’s temperament is affectionate, intelligent, and genuinely cheerful, and the breed’s clown-like personality made it historically popular as a trained performing dog. Its standard calls for a dog that is “friendly, playful, alert and intelligent with a sweet, non-quarrelsome disposition.” Havanese are outgoing and friendly with nearly everyone, prefer spending time close to their people, and carry a relatively low prey drive that lets many live peacefully with cats. That same devotion means Havanese can develop real separation anxiety, needing at least one person home for much of the day to stay genuinely happy.

Is a Havanese a Good Dog for First-Time Owners?

Yes, for owners ready to groom. The breed is small, sturdy for its size, eager to please, and rarely aggressive, which makes day-to-day handling easy for a beginner. Grooming and companionship are the two demands to plan for. A Havanese alone for long workdays is an unhappy dog, while one with company most of the day is among the easiest toy breeds to live with.

How Big Do Havanese Get?

Havanese are a small, sturdy breed with a body slightly longer than tall, a long double coat that can be straight or wavy, and a lively, springy gait that gives the breed real presence for its size. A height under 8.5 inches or over 11.5 inches at the withers is a disqualification under the standard, except for young dogs under a year.

What Is the Average Havanese Height and Weight?

Measure	American Kennel Club figure
Height	8.5-11.5 inches
Weight	7-13 pounds
Life expectancy	14-16 years

Figures are from the American Kennel Club Havanese breed profile, retrieved September 2026.

How Long Do Havanese Live?

Havanese live 14 to 16 years, with multiple breed-club surveys pointing to a natural lifespan around 13 to 15 years for most dogs. Regular veterinary care, including the OFA hip, patella, and annual eye screening recommended by the Havanese Club of America, supports a full lifespan.

What Health Problems Are Havanese Prone To?

Havanese are documented as being at higher risk for the following conditions.

What Is Patellar Luxation in Havanese?

Patellar luxation is a common orthopedic issue in small breeds where the kneecap slips out of its groove. Affected dogs skip. Some hold a back leg up for a few strides and then carry on as if nothing happened, which owners mistake for a quirk rather than a joint problem. The Havanese Club of America recommends OFA patella certification for breeding dogs after one year of age. Mild cases are managed with weight control, while frequent or painful luxation is corrected with surgery.

What Is Hip Dysplasia in Havanese?

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint that causes pain and arthritis, and it occurs in the Havanese despite the breed’s small size. OFA hip certification is performed after two years of age once the joints have fully developed. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, a breakdown of the top of the thighbone in young toy dogs, causes a similar limp and is treated with surgery.

What Eye Problems Affect Havanese?

Cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy both occur in the breed. An annual CAER eye exam is recommended by the breed club by a veterinary ophthalmologist, since some eye diseases appear only in middle age, after dogs may already have been bred. Tear staining and eye irritation from hair falling into the eyes are everyday issues, solved by trimming or tying up the hair over the face.

What Other Health Problems Affect Havanese?

Some Havanese have a mild form of chondrodysplasia, which shortens and can bow the front legs; affected dogs may limp or tire on long walks. Liver shunts, a birth defect that sends blood around the liver, and heart disease are recognized in the breed. Deafness occurs, and the breed club suggests a BAER hearing test for breeding dogs. Allergies can be triggered by food or environmental factors, showing up as itchy skin or digestive upset.

Which Health Tests Should a Havanese Breeder Provide?

Ask for hip and patella results from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a current CAER eye exam, and a BAER hearing test for both parents. Many breeders also x-ray front legs and run a bile acids test for liver function. Results can be checked on the OFA website by each parent’s registered name.

How Do You Groom a Havanese?

Havanese have a long, silky double coat, sometimes called “Havana silk,” that requires a high grooming commitment, including brushing several times a week at minimum to prevent matting. Many pet owners keep the coat trimmed into a shorter, more manageable “puppy cut” rather than maintaining the breed’s full show-length coat.

Grooming task	Full coat	Puppy cut
Line-brush to the skin and comb	Daily or every other day	Two to three times a week
Tie up or trim hair over the eyes	Daily	At each trim
Bath and condition	Every 1 to 3 weeks	Every 3 to 4 weeks
Professional trim	Tidy only	Every 6 to 8 weeks
Brush teeth	Daily	Daily

Mats form fastest behind the ears, under the legs, and anywhere a harness rubs, so check those spots at every brushing.

How Much Exercise Does a Havanese Need?

A Havanese needs moderate daily exercise, and the breed is not a couch ornament despite its small size, doing best with a mix of walks and frequent interactive play rather than either extreme of activity level. This balanced energy profile makes the breed a reasonable fit for both active and more relaxed households.

Which Activities Suit a Havanese?

Two walks of 20 to 30 minutes a day plus play keep most adults fit. Havanese shine at trick training, rally, agility, and therapy work, where their cheerful manner wins people over. Many love a game of fetch in a hallway. The breed handles heat better than flat-faced toy breeds but still needs shade and water on hot days.

Are Havanese Easy to Train?

Yes, Havanese are intelligent and easy to train, eager to please and quick to learn new tricks and commands. Positive reinforcement training suits the breed’s people-focused temperament well, and the Havanese’s history as a trained performing dog reflects just how responsive the breed can be.

Why Is House-Training a Havanese Slow?

House-training is the one area where the breed has a reputation for taking its time. Small bladders, a dislike of rain, and owners who carry small dogs outdoors rather than letting them walk all slow the process. A fixed schedule, a crate, and a treat the moment the puppy finishes outside work best. Some owners in apartments use an indoor potty area, which suits the breed well as long as it stays in one spot.

What Should You Feed a Havanese?

Havanese do well on a complete, balanced small-breed formula suited to their age and activity level, and like many small breeds, they can be prone to overindulgence given their size, so measured portions matter for long-term health.

How Many Meals a Day Does a Havanese Need?

Puppies eat three or four small meals a day until about six months, then two. Adults do well on two measured meals. Some Havanese are picky eaters, and leaving food out all day tends to make that worse; a meal left for 15 minutes and then picked up teaches a regular appetite. Treats should be small, since a biscuit is a large share of a ten-pound dog’s daily calories.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Owning a Havanese?

Here are the main advantages and drawbacks of owning a Havanese, side by side.

Pros	Cons
Affectionate, cheerful, genuinely outgoing temperament	High grooming commitment for the long silky coat
Low prey drive, good with cats in many homes	Prone to separation anxiety given strong attachment to owners
Highly trainable and eager to please	Documented risk of hip and patellar joint issues
Well suited to families, singles, and apartment living	Needs consistent daily interaction, not a good fit for frequently empty homes

People who love the breed’s cheerful temperament but would rather not search for a breeder can contact Havanese rescue organizations, which place adult dogs regularly.

What Else Do People Ask About the Havanese?

The questions below cover how much a Havanese costs, whether a family home is a good fit, what nearly drove the breed to extinction, and how much shedding comes with a Havanese.

How much does a Havanese cost?

Havanese prices vary by region, bloodline, and breeder reputation, and a puppy from a breeder who provides OFA hip, patella, and CAER eye clearances costs more than one that doesn’t. Adopting an adult Havanese through a rescue is a lower-cost alternative.

Is a family home a good fit for a Havanese?

Yes, Havanese are widely regarded as excellent family dogs, known for a cheerful, outgoing temperament that extends well to children and other pets, including cats given the breed’s relatively low prey drive. Their strong attachment to their people means they do best in households where someone is regularly present.

What nearly drove the Havanese to extinction?

The Havanese nearly went extinct following the 1959 Cuban Revolution, when wealthy Cuban families fled the country and only a handful managed to bring their dogs with them. American breeder Dorothy Goodale sought out these refugee families in Florida and rebuilt the breed from just eleven founding dogs, saving it from disappearing entirely.

How much shedding comes with a Havanese?

Little: Havanese shed relatively little for a longhaired breed, though that low shedding comes with a genuine trade-off, since the coat requires frequent, dedicated brushing to prevent matting given its length and silky texture. Many owners opt for a shorter puppy cut specifically to reduce this grooming commitment.

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