The Havanese Dog is a small hypoallergenic dog breed that has gained quite a following for its long, flowing, silky hair, soulful eyes, and over all snuggle factor. The Havanese dog was bred as a companion for Cuban aristocracy, and today it is a devoted family dog that wants to be with its people at all times.
Related: Complete List of Small Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds – Toy Breed
Havanese Dog – All About People
The Havanese dog is a relative of the Bichon family, and it shows in their personality. Nicknamed the Veclcro Dog, this breed is completely and totally devoted to its people. Surprisingly, the Havanese doesn’t fit neatly into the lapdog category that most of people think of.
When people think lapdog, they think of a pooch that drapes onto a person and pretty much stays there. The Havanese small hypoallergenic dog is a lapdog of a different variety. Although it has all of the traits of the traditional lapdog, including an intense desire to be with its people at all times, it also has a fairly high energy level. It loves to romp and play more than most lap dogs.
Related: Tips for Training a High Energy Dog
Temperament
The Havanese dog is a lapdog in every sense of the word. It thrives on human companionship, and it will often become anxious when left alone. This is not a dog that wants to be on its on in any sense of the word. It’s nicknamed the Velcro Dog for a reason – it is ALWAYS with its people. Don’t be surprised when the Havanese dog follows you to every room in the house, and don’t be surprised if it scratches at your bathroom door!
In addition to its friendly demeanor, this breed is highly intelligent and easy to train. Its love of family, friendliness, and ease of training makes it the perfect family dog for a first time owner.
Activity Level
Although it’s a lapdog, the Havanese dog has a remarkable amount of energy. Don’t take this to mean that your Havanese dog should go on a mountain hike or a long run. Instead, it means that this breed loves to romp and play more than most lapdogs. A nice game of fetch in the backyard is always welcome for this small hypoallergenic dog, and they don’t have the timid nature of some lapdog breeds when it comes to rough housing.
Health
The Havanese dog is a healthy breed, overall. Although generally healthy, there are some conditions that may appear more often than others in this breed.
- Hip Dsyplasia: A degenerative disorder in which the thigh bone seats incorrectly into the hip joint. This usually doesn’t make an appearance until later in life when arthritis has made its way into the joint.
- Elbow Dysplasia: A disorder very similar to hip dysplasia. Treatment is weight management and in more serious cases, medication or surgery.
- Chondrodysplasia: A genetic disorder in which the dog has abnormally short limbs for the breed. It can range from barely detectable to crippling.
- Legg-Perthee Disease: A disease in which the the blood supply decreases to the head of the femur and that part of the bone dies off, collapses, and deforms. Surgery is generally required, and dogs often do very well afterwards.
- Cataracts
- Deafness
- Luxating Patella: Also known as floating kneecap, this is a common breed in small dogs. While normally not required, this condition can sometimes require surgical correction.
- Portosystemic Shunt: A condition in which blood from the digestive tract bypasses the liver, resulting in toxins recirculating in the blood stream instead of being filtered out by the liver.
- Heart Murmur
- Mitral Valve Insufficiency: Commonly occurring in older dogs, this is a condition in which the mitral valve of the heart begins to fail.
Although this is quite a list, remember that you Havanese dog may not have any of these conditions, or if it does, it certainly won’t have them all. This is simply a list of what’s been seen in the breed.
Havanese Dog – A Faithful Companion
The Havanese dog is a wonderful companion for any family. This breed loves its people, and it loves to be with them at all times. It’s devotion, intelligence, ease of training, and love of its people make the Havanese dog one of the best choices for a family.
As always, make adoption your first option. If you can, always check your local shelter or online rescue sites first.
