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Also see: Havanese Health ~ Havanese
Personality
 History
and Origin of the Havanese.
Although fairly new to the AKC, the Havanese is quite an old breed in "dog
years". Its history is fascinating and important to defining the breed,
as it is unique in many respects.
The name "Havanese" comes from the breed's place of origin: Havana,
Cuba. However, throughout the centuries, the Havanese has had many names:
Blanquito Cubano, Bichon Habanero, Bichon Havanais, Bichon of Cuba, White
Cuban, Blanquito de la Habana, Havana Silk Dog, and Spanish Silk Poodle, to
mention a few. Yet, it is one distinct breed originally developed in Cuba to
become the favored dog of aristocratic sugar barons.
The
Havanese is the "National Dog of Cuba" and
its only native breed. Over time,
the Havanese was taken to other countries typically as a gift to nobility.
Making its debut in England somewhere in the 18th century, notably
two were owned by the Queen of England and one by Charles Dickens. The statue
on the right is a Meissen porcelain; Germany; ca.1770.
Small White Dogs.
Images of small white dogs appear in Egyptian artifacts
found at Faryum, Egypt, dating from the time period of 300-600 B.C. These
dogs are thought by many historians to be the "Blanquito", progenitor
of all modern small breed dogs and named for its white color. The Blanquito
indigenous to Malta were called "Maltese". However, those were sturdier
than modern Maltese, with upright ears, a coarse coat, and appearing in a variety
of colors. The name "Blanquito" referred to the white ones, and were
well distributed throughout Europe - mentioned in Latin by Aristotle (384 BC
– 322 BC). The Romans selected the Blanquito for its pure white coat, and Roman
Emperor Claudius owned several of them (AD 41 - AD 54). Their images were
a common theme for elaborately decorated Roman vases (example below).
Small Soft-Coated Dogs.
Over the ages, Blanquito appeared with increasingly softer
coats, developing both silky and curly (cotton-like) varieties.
The term "Barbichon" -- and its abbreviated form, "Bichon" --
comes from the French word for "soft-coated".
The modern Bichon is thought to have developed from a Spanish
curly-coated Blanquito, called the "Tenerife," named
after the island of origin.
Many breeds gradually evolved from the original Bichon-Blanquitos,
each as unique as its homeland. While the French Bichon
Frisé is possibly the most well known, the Bichon group also
includes the Bolognese, Coton De Tulear, Havanese, Löwchen, Maltese,
and Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Each breed within the Bichon group
developed its own look and personality in association with its
native geographic region.
 Individual
breeds
within the Bichon group vary a bit in appearance, but all have
tails curled over their back, a coat that is hair rather than
fur (non-shedding), short snouts, drop ears, and large, dark
eyes. Black Bichons, like the one depicted in the engraving to
the right, were considered undesirable and not permitted in European
show rings until near the end of the 20th century.
Today's Havanese coat comes in a wide variety of colors, including
black, all equally acceptable in the show ring.
Small Cuban Dogs.
During the "Age of Exploration" -- from the early
15th century into the early 17th century --,
Europeans began to explore the world by ocean. In November of 1492, the
flag of Spain was first raised over Cuba by Christopher Columbus.
In the ten years following, colonization was begun on the island
by Spain who owned it for the better part of the next four hundred
years. Bichon-Blanquito dogs were taken on board ships during
these extended voyages to fend off rodents and to keep the sailors
entertained. They were then offered as gifts upon arrival to
gain the favor and trust of the receiving aristocratic class.
Only the most hardy little dogs could survive the long, arduous
journey and only the most affectionate and responsive dogs could
achieve aristocratic acceptance. Any dog prone to bad behavior
would certainly not have fulfilled its purpose.
These dogs, as rare and cherished gifts, became increasingly popular with
the Cuban elite. The "Blanquito Cubano", as it was known, gradually
evolved into a smaller version of its ancestors.
With its diminutive size, alert expression and affectionate nature, the
sweet, silky dogs fit perfectly with emerging Cuban tastes that
emphasized white clothing, soft food, indulgent manners, and appealing
good looks. Because the breed was developed in Cuba by aristocratic owners
of vast sugar plantations, litters were never for commercial sale, but
were instead planned for the express purpose of giving to intimate friends
and family members.
Cuba's communist revolution from 1958-1960 almost decimated
the breed. People escaped the island quickly with hopes of
returning right away. Unfortunately, the majority of these people were unable
to return to their homes and many dogs were left to fend for themselves.
The Cuban Havanese were nearly wiped out, along with their pedigrees.
Only three families that fled Cuba were able to take their Havanese with
them: the Perez and Fantasio Families who moved to the U.S. and
Senior Barba in Costa
Rica.
 American
Havanese.
During the early 1970's in the United States,
Dorothy Goodale (pictured right) and her husband, Burt,
made it their mission to rekindle the breed. Their goal was to find and
purchase as many purebred Havanese as possible. After years investigating
elusive references to these little dogs, finally they chanced upon an advertisement
for six pedigreed Havanese, representing the two unrelated bloodlines of
the Perez and
Fantasio families.
Mrs. Goodale continued to offer to purchase Havanese in Latin American
newspapers and received only one response: Senior Barber in Costa Rica
agreed to sell five Havanese to the Goodales. As a result, by 1974, eleven
dogs, representing three unrelated bloodlines, established the Goodale's
Havanese fledgling breeding program. In 1979, she founded the Havanese
Club of America with a small group of newly-involved breeders and supporters,
and an official registry was established.
Eventually, through careful and selective breeding, the number of
quality Havanese became large enough to petition the United
Kennel Club for breed registration in 1980. In 1996, the first Havanese
entered an AKC show ring, and was accepted for as a
member of the Toy Group on January 1, 1999. The International
Federation recently reinstated Cuba's patrimony of its only native breed,
officially declaring the Havanese to be "The National Dog of Cuba".
It is estimated that 4,000 Havanese are owned in the United States today
and another 7,000 worldwide.
Read about
the Havanese Health and Personality
R'Gang Havanese
480-239-7006
This website is offered for informative purposes only and does not form
a contract of any kind. As such, any information contained herein
is subject to change without notice.
Copyright
Jane Falkenstein, All rights reserved.
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