Although it is new to the AKC, the Havanese is quite an old breed in dog years. Its
history is fascinating and important to defining type, as it is unique in many respects.
The Havanese is the National dog of Cuba and its only native breed. The flag of Spain
was first raised over Cuba by Christopher Columbus in November of 1492. In the 10 years
following, colonization was begun on the island by Spain, who owned it for the better part
of the next 400 years.
The first settlers came from two distinct classes: farmers primarily from the island of
Tenerife, and the "segundos," or second sons of the Spanish aristocracy. Ship's logs of
the early sixteenth century reveal that dogs were brought along on these early colonists'
voyages, and logic tells us they were most likely the dog of Tenerife, common ancestor
to all the Bichon family. Because of the trade restrictions imposed on its colonies by
Spain, Tenerife remained one of the only ports open to Cuba for trade, and it would
appear these little dogs, who soon found their way into the homes of the resident
Spanish aristocracy, developed without much outside influence.
It is believed that during the days of the Spanish Empire they were brought to Cuba by
sea captains to be sold to wealthy Cuban families as well as given as gifts to win the
favor of wealthy senoras who would encourage their merchant husbands to ship their
merchandise on the sea captains' ships.
The dogs did, however, develop in response to the climate of this tropical island. The
Havanese of today is still a remarkably heat-tolerant little dog, due in no small part to the
unique coat. Once called the Havana Silk Dog, or the Spanish Silk Poodle, the dog has a
coat like raw silk floss, profuse, but extremely light and soft, and insulating against the
tropical rays much like yards of silk in an Indian sari protect the women of India. In its
native country, the coat was never clipped for this reason, and the hair never tied into a
topknot, as the Cubans believe it protects the eyes from the harsh sun.
In spite of the trade restrictions, Colonial Cuba developed and prospered. By the 18th
Century, it was the cultural center of the New World, with an elegance that surpassed
anything the British had managed in its colonies. The aristocracy of Europe found the
city of Havana to be a great vacation spot, with its operas, theaters, and palacios. On
their return to Europe, they brought back the little Dog of Havannah, which found favor in
the courts of Spain, France, and England. In both Spain and in the court of Louis XVI,
they were shorn in the poodle style and were much admired for their diminutive size. The
English, on the other hand, appeared to leave them au natural and called them the White
Cuban, although they were also found in parti-colors and shades of fawn.
By the mid-eighteenth century, they were downright trendy in Europe. Queen Victoria
owned two, and Charles Dickens had one, beloved of his seven children and named Tim.
They were exhibited in the early European dog shows, and type was well established. In
Cuba meanwhile, the times were changing. The aristocracy of the sugar barons was
dying out and a new class was emerging, the bourgeoisie, and the little dog of Havana,
adaptable as always, became a family dog extraordinaire, playmate of children,
watchdog, and herder of the family poultry flock, a position he has held there for the past
150 years.
With the advent of the Cuban revolution, the class of Cubans who owned Havanese was
the first to leave. Many fled with their dogs to Costa Rica, and a handful of dogs found
their way to this country until, by the end of the 1970's, a gene pool was being rebuilt.
Most of the Havanese in the world today, save those from the Iron Curtain countries and
those remaining in Cuba, stem from those early immigrants numbering less than a
dozen. Remarkably, through all their travels, Havanese type has remained virtually
unchanged from that of the dogs painted in the eighteenth century. To preserve it now
and for the future is the challenge.
history is fascinating and important to defining type, as it is unique in many respects.
The Havanese is the National dog of Cuba and its only native breed. The flag of Spain
was first raised over Cuba by Christopher Columbus in November of 1492. In the 10 years
following, colonization was begun on the island by Spain, who owned it for the better part
of the next 400 years.
The first settlers came from two distinct classes: farmers primarily from the island of
Tenerife, and the "segundos," or second sons of the Spanish aristocracy. Ship's logs of
the early sixteenth century reveal that dogs were brought along on these early colonists'
voyages, and logic tells us they were most likely the dog of Tenerife, common ancestor
to all the Bichon family. Because of the trade restrictions imposed on its colonies by
Spain, Tenerife remained one of the only ports open to Cuba for trade, and it would
appear these little dogs, who soon found their way into the homes of the resident
Spanish aristocracy, developed without much outside influence.
It is believed that during the days of the Spanish Empire they were brought to Cuba by
sea captains to be sold to wealthy Cuban families as well as given as gifts to win the
favor of wealthy senoras who would encourage their merchant husbands to ship their
merchandise on the sea captains' ships.
The dogs did, however, develop in response to the climate of this tropical island. The
Havanese of today is still a remarkably heat-tolerant little dog, due in no small part to the
unique coat. Once called the Havana Silk Dog, or the Spanish Silk Poodle, the dog has a
coat like raw silk floss, profuse, but extremely light and soft, and insulating against the
tropical rays much like yards of silk in an Indian sari protect the women of India. In its
native country, the coat was never clipped for this reason, and the hair never tied into a
topknot, as the Cubans believe it protects the eyes from the harsh sun.
In spite of the trade restrictions, Colonial Cuba developed and prospered. By the 18th
Century, it was the cultural center of the New World, with an elegance that surpassed
anything the British had managed in its colonies. The aristocracy of Europe found the
city of Havana to be a great vacation spot, with its operas, theaters, and palacios. On
their return to Europe, they brought back the little Dog of Havannah, which found favor in
the courts of Spain, France, and England. In both Spain and in the court of Louis XVI,
they were shorn in the poodle style and were much admired for their diminutive size. The
English, on the other hand, appeared to leave them au natural and called them the White
Cuban, although they were also found in parti-colors and shades of fawn.
By the mid-eighteenth century, they were downright trendy in Europe. Queen Victoria
owned two, and Charles Dickens had one, beloved of his seven children and named Tim.
They were exhibited in the early European dog shows, and type was well established. In
Cuba meanwhile, the times were changing. The aristocracy of the sugar barons was
dying out and a new class was emerging, the bourgeoisie, and the little dog of Havana,
adaptable as always, became a family dog extraordinaire, playmate of children,
watchdog, and herder of the family poultry flock, a position he has held there for the past
150 years.
With the advent of the Cuban revolution, the class of Cubans who owned Havanese was
the first to leave. Many fled with their dogs to Costa Rica, and a handful of dogs found
their way to this country until, by the end of the 1970's, a gene pool was being rebuilt.
Most of the Havanese in the world today, save those from the Iron Curtain countries and
those remaining in Cuba, stem from those early immigrants numbering less than a
dozen. Remarkably, through all their travels, Havanese type has remained virtually
unchanged from that of the dogs painted in the eighteenth century. To preserve it now
and for the future is the challenge.
A Little History on the Breed.....
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