The Havanese is a member of the Bichon Family and is the official dog of its native Cuba.
Although the exact history of the Havanese is unknown, it is commonly thought that this cheerful little dog descended from the now extinct Bichon Tenerife and came to inhabit Cuba when European merchants and sailors from Spain and Italy came to trade with Cuba. It is believed that the little white dogs they brought with them to Cuba crossed with poodles and other Bichon types to eventually develop into the Havana Silk Dog or Havanese.
The population of the Havanese unfortunately declined in its' native Cuba, following the Cuban Revolution, where many wealthy families fled to America bringing their beloved pets with them. Some American breeders subsequently became interested in the little Havanese in the 1970’s, most notably Dorethy Goodale, who helped bring the breed back from extinction, using dogs she acquired having placed advertisements in newspapers as her foundation stock. Back in Cuba, another lady, Zoila Portuondo Guerra was also working hard to preserve and promote the breed and became the founder of the Cuban Havanese Breed club. The now famous Cuban Champion Puppy became the first champion havanese in Cuba. Puppy was honoured in 1992 by being featured on a Cuban postage stamp to celebrate the nation’s only purebred dog. It is because of the efforts of ladies such as Ms Goodale and Ms Portuondo Guerra that we can now enjoy this cheerful, playful little dog that is known as the Havanese.
Although the exact history of the Havanese is unknown, it is commonly thought that this cheerful little dog descended from the now extinct Bichon Tenerife and came to inhabit Cuba when European merchants and sailors from Spain and Italy came to trade with Cuba. It is believed that the little white dogs they brought with them to Cuba crossed with poodles and other Bichon types to eventually develop into the Havana Silk Dog or Havanese.
The population of the Havanese unfortunately declined in its' native Cuba, following the Cuban Revolution, where many wealthy families fled to America bringing their beloved pets with them. Some American breeders subsequently became interested in the little Havanese in the 1970’s, most notably Dorethy Goodale, who helped bring the breed back from extinction, using dogs she acquired having placed advertisements in newspapers as her foundation stock. Back in Cuba, another lady, Zoila Portuondo Guerra was also working hard to preserve and promote the breed and became the founder of the Cuban Havanese Breed club. The now famous Cuban Champion Puppy became the first champion havanese in Cuba. Puppy was honoured in 1992 by being featured on a Cuban postage stamp to celebrate the nation’s only purebred dog. It is because of the efforts of ladies such as Ms Goodale and Ms Portuondo Guerra that we can now enjoy this cheerful, playful little dog that is known as the Havanese.