01Summary
In a paragraph
If you only have 30 seconds.
The Havanese is Cuba's national breed and an FCI Group 9 representative with a pronounced need for human closeness. Anyone who plans to keep it as a low-maintenance lapdog fundamentally underestimates the breed: the long coat demands daily attention, the bond-orientation requires genuine presence, and separation anxiety develops more quickly than in many other breeds. With the right expectations, it is an eager-to-learn, lively companion.
02Introduction
What makes the Havanese special
The Havanese is Cuba's national breed, FCI Group 9, hypoallergenic and people-oriented, ideal for city living, withers height 23–27 cm.
03Profile
Key facts and suitability
- Origin
- Kuba
- Original purpose
- Companion dog of the Cuban aristocracy
- FCI
- No. 250 · Group 9 · Sektion 1: Bichons und verwandte Rassen
- height at the withers
- 23–27 cm
- Weight
- 3–6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 14–16 Years
- Coat type
- Long-haired
- Minimum exercise
- 30 min/day
- Puppy price
- 1'500–3'000 CHF
- Waiting period
- 9 months
- Sports
- Agility · Obedience · Tricks · Therapy dog
04Temperament
How the Havanese shows up in everyday life
When you come home, you are not greeted by a quiet dog. The Havanese registers your arrival before you even open the door and greets you with visible physical tension — tail wagging, jumping, vocalisations. This is not an isolated incident, but everyday life. Internal axis: The need for social contact of this breed is at the highest level. The Havanese requires human presence as a basic condition, not as a bonus.
On a walk, it shows curiosity and attentiveness. It explores its surroundings but generally stays within sight. External axis: Towards strangers, it behaves openly to sociably — this value is also high. This means: A Havanese that jumps on a stranger sitting on a park bench is acting in a breed-typical manner, not because of poor training. Without clear recall and greeting rules, this behaviour becomes habitual.
In the evening on the sofa, it seeks physical closeness. It does not lie next to you, but on top of you. Anyone who finds this disturbing should honestly assess this before getting a dog — not afterwards.
It requires daily mental and physical stimulation, even if the need for exercise is moderate. Trick training, nose work or small search games keep it balanced. Without mental enrichment, it develops strategies for self-entertainment that are rarely in the owner's interest.
It interacts actively and playfully with children, provided the handling is respectful. Toddlers who treat it as a toy overwhelm it. The combination of high need for social contact and high friendliness towards strangers makes it a dog that seeks social situations — but requires orderly structures to remain stable within them.
05Needs
What this breed needs daily
The Havanese needs 45 to 60 minutes of active exercise daily, divided into several sessions. A long morning walk and two shorter rounds in the afternoon and evening cover the basic requirement. Pure garden time without interaction does not replace structured walks.
Mental stimulation is at least as important as physical exercise. The Havanese learns quickly and works cooperatively — this means it needs regular training sessions that challenge its mind. Trick training, nose work, small fetching tasks or basic Mantrailing exercises are well suited. Two to three short training sessions per day (5–10 minutes each) are more effective than one long session.
The need for social contact significantly exceeds the exercise requirement in this breed. The Havanese needs a daily routine where it spends most of its time in human company. Alone time of more than four hours daily constitutes a burden. Anyone who is regularly absent for longer periods must plan for reliable care — whether through dog sitters, day care or a second key person in the household.
Grooming is a separate time commitment: brushing daily for 15 to 30 minutes, professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. Anyone who does not plan for this harms the dog through matting, which causes skin problems.
Socialisation during puppyhood largely determines how stably the Havanese reacts in new situations. Regular contact with various people, dogs and environments from the eighth week of life lays the foundation for a balanced adult dog.
Exercise
Low
mental work
Medium
Social needs
Very high
training
Easy
07Quick Check
08Suitability
Who this breed is suitable for – and who it isn't
✓Matches
The Havanese suits owners who spend most of the day at home or can reliably integrate their dog into daily life — in home office, in an office that allows dogs or with a fixed care solution. People who plan 45 to 60 minutes of active exercise daily and additionally devote 15 to 30 minutes to grooming meet the basic requirements.
Families with children from about six years old, who handle the dog respectfully, get along well with the Havanese. Seniors with an active lifestyle and sufficient presence at home are also suitable owners. First-time owners are conceivable if they use a supporting dog training school from the start and build consistent, calm structures.
City dwellers without a garden benefit from the fact that the Havanese tolerates apartment living well — provided exercise and social closeness are ensured. Anyone who enjoys active training and a close human-dog bond will find a willing-to-learn partner in this breed.
×Doesn't match
The Havanese does not suit owners who are away from home for more than four hours daily and cannot or will not organise a care solution. Anyone looking for a dog that acts independently and with little attachment orientation will be permanently dissatisfied with the Havanese.
Households that underestimate the care effort are also unsuitable: Anyone who does not have the time or willingness for daily brushing causes active harm to the dog through matting. Anyone who believes a small dog does not need consistent training risks separation anxiety, excessive barking and jumping up as a permanent state.
People who equate high friendliness towards strangers with uncomplicated independence misunderstand the breed: The Havanese is open towards strangers but not independent of its key person. Distinguishing between these two axes is crucial. Families with very small children under three years old should realistically assess the Havanese's high drive for interaction — the combination of a lively dog and a toddler requires permanent supervision.
10Line reality
Show line, working line, breeder market
The Havanese is kept exclusively as a companion and pet dog today. Working lines, field trial lines or protection dog lines do not exist for this breed — the FCI standard classifies it without working tests in Group 9, Section 1.
In practice, two informal breeding directions can nevertheless be observed: show line and hobby breeding. Show lines adhere closely to the FCI standard — coat structure, proportions and gait are in the foreground. Dogs from these lines are regularly shown at exhibitions and correspond to the classic breed type with abundant, wavy coat.
Hobby breeding without a focus on exhibitions often produces dogs with more variable coat structure and less uniform type. This does not necessarily mean poorer health, but systematic health tests, which are prescribed in organised breeding associations, are often missing.
A relevant regional particularity: In Switzerland, since all old Cuban bloodlines died out after the Revolution, the entire current world population is based on a very small founder population from the USA. Genetic diversity is limited. Reputable breeders pay attention to inbreeding coefficients and international breeding partners to secure the health of the population in the long term.
11Health · Reality
What you need to plan for medically with your Havanese
The Havanese is considered a comparatively robust small dog breed, but exhibits breed-specific health risks that should be known before getting a dog.
Patellar luxation (kneecap dislocation) is the most common orthopaedic disease in small dog breeds. Studies by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) show that, depending on the breeding line, between 5 and 10 % of Havanese dogs examined exhibit patellar luxation (OFA database, as of 2023). Reputable breeders have parent dogs radiologically examined before breeding and issue corresponding certificates.
Eye diseases — including cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) — occur in the breed. The CAER examination (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) is considered the minimum standard for responsible breeders.
The life expectancy is 13 to 15 years, with well-cared-for dogs at a healthy body weight more frequently reaching the upper range. Overweight poses a real risk in this breed: the low body weight of 3 to 6 kg means that even 500 g of excess weight corresponds proportionally to a considerable burden and affects joints and heart function.
Dental problems are generally more common in small dogs — regular dental care from puppyhood and annual veterinary dental checks significantly reduce the risk of periodontitis.
Preventive examinations recommended: annual eye examination, patella screening before breeding, semi-annual dental check-up from the fifth year of life.
12Structured data
Health by the numbers
Prone to diseases
patellar luxation, eye problems (cataract, progressive retinal atrophy), chondrodysplasia
Recommended health tests
patellar luxation screening, eye examination, DNA test for PRA
13Myths ↔ Reality
What is often said incorrectly about this breed
Five myths, five realities, five sources.
"The Havanese is hypoallergenic and does not cause allergies.
No dog is completely hypoallergenic. The Havanese sheds comparatively little fur but still produces saliva and skin flakes (Can f 1 allergens), which can trigger reactions in sensitised individuals. Allergy sufferers should consult an allergist and undergo contact tests before getting a dog.
„Small dogs hardly need training — the Havanese sorts that out on its own.
Lack of structure regularly leads to jumping up, excessive barking and separation anxiety in Havanese. The breed reacts sensitively to inconsistency. Clear, calm rules from the first day are not optional but a prerequisite for a balanced coexistence.
„The long coat of the Havanese looks after itself if you don't clip it.
Without daily brushing, the soft, wavy coat of the Havanese mats within a few days. Mats pull on the skin, cause pain and promote skin irritation. Professional grooming every 6–8 weeks supplements the daily home routine — but does not replace it.
„The Havanese gets along with all dogs because it is so friendly.
High friendliness towards strangers and other dogs is a tendency, not a guarantee. Without sufficient socialisation in puppyhood, the Havanese can become fearful or reactive towards larger dogs. Controlled encounters from the puppy stage are crucial.
„The Havanese is suitable as a dog for people who are on the go a lot because it is so small.
Body size says nothing about the need for social contact. The Havanese belongs to the most bond-intensive breeds in Group 9. More than four hours of alone time daily lead to stress signals such as barking, accidents or destructive behaviour in many individuals.
14animal welfare
The animal welfare perspective
Breeder market, designer versions, animal shelter reality — what no one writes in the puppy ad.
The Havanese is one of the breeds that regularly end up in animal welfare facilities — not due to aggression or difficult keeping, but due to systematically underestimated requirements. Two causes dominate: the daily grooming effort for the coat and the pronounced bond intensity, which leads to separation anxiety problems in unprepared owners.
Backyard breeder market: The Havanese is a sought-after fashion breed, which favours commercial breeding. Puppies from backyard breeding operations are often sold without adequate socialisation, without health tests of the parent dogs and without a vaccination record — often via classifieds portals at prices under 800 euros. Low prices are not a sign of a good offer, but frequently a warning signal.
Designer versions: Crossbreeds such as "Havapoo" (Havanese × Poodle) or "Havashire" (Havanese × Yorkshire Terrier) are marketed as hypoallergenic and character-strong. No recognised health standards, no stud books and no reliable predictions about temperament or health exist for crossbreeds. Anyone who acquires such a dog brings a calculated unknown into their home.
Breeding- and keeping-related problems: Separation anxiety is not uncommon in Havanese dogs, but rather a direct consequence of the genetically anchored bond orientation in combination with insufficient preparation for alone-training. Many owners only start alone-training when the dog already shows problems — at this point, the effort is significantly higher.
Rehoming as an equally valid option: Animal welfare organisations in the DACH region regularly place Havanese and Havanese crossbreeds. Adult dogs from rehoming services often come with a known character, completed socialisation and basic veterinary care. Anyone open to this option often finds a stable companion — and simultaneously relieves an overcrowded system.
15Costs · Transparency
What this breed realistically costs
The acquisition costs for a Havanese puppy from reputable breeding with pedigree, health tests and VDH/SKG/ÖKV membership are between 1,200 and 2,000 euros in the DACH region. Offers significantly below this often originate from backyard breeding operations without health screening.
The annual living costs break down as follows: High-quality food for a 4–6 kg heavy dog costs between 400 and 700 euros per year. Professional grooming every 6–8 weeks comes at 50 to 90 euros per session — this results in 300 to 700 euros annually for grooming alone. Care materials for the daily home routine (brushes, care spray, scissors) cost a one-off 80 to 150 euros.
Veterinary costs in basic operation (annual vaccination, parasite prevention, routine examination) are between 200 and 400 euros annually. For breed-specific diseases such as patellar luxation, treatment costs of 1,500 to 4,000 euros per affected joint can arise.
A dog liability insurance costs between 50 and 120 euros annually for a Havanese. A health insurance policy ranges from 300 to 800 euros per year depending on the provider and scope of benefits, and significantly reduces the financial risk in case of operations.
Total costs in the first year (including getting a dog, basic equipment, initial vaccinations): realistically 3,000 to 4,500 euros. From the second year onwards: 1,500 to 2,500 euros annually.
16Puppy search
What you need to consider when choosing a breeder
- A reputable breeder lets puppies leave no earlier than at eight weeks, shows both parent dogs or at least the mother on site and provides health certificates for patellar luxation and eye examinations.
- Puppies handed over without a vaccination record, without a microchip or from the boot are highly likely to come from commercial breeding.
- Reputable breeders in the German-speaking region are often organised through the Swiss Havanese Club (SHC), the Zwerggriffon-Löwchen-Havaneser-Club Austria, or the Verband Deutscher Kleinhundezüchter.
- Membership of an association alone does not guarantee quality, but it increases the likelihood that breeding conditions are monitored.
- Placement through animal welfare organisations is an equally valid option.
- Havanese dogs often end up in animal welfare care due to underestimated grooming requirements or separation anxiety — well-socialised adult dogs from rehoming services are often more stable than puppies of unknown origin.
- Platforms such as Tierschutz-Austria, Tasso, or the Deutsche Tierschutzbund regularly place Havanese and Havanese crossbreeds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Havanese
Is Havanese suitable for beginners?
Havanese is considered suitable for first-time dog owners.
Is Havanese a family dog?
Havanese is considered suitable for families with good socialisation and species-appropriate care.
How much exercise does Havanese need?
At least around 30 minutes of exercise per day.
Does Havanese suit an apartment?
With enough exercise and enrichment, Havanese can also be kept in an apartment.
What is the size and weight of Havanese?
Fully grown, Havanese reaches about 23–27 cm at the withers and weighs around 3–6 kg.
What is the life expectancy of Havanese?
The life expectancy of Havanese is approximately 14–16 years.
Is Havanese suitable for allergy sufferers?
Havanese is considered relatively hypoallergenic. There’s never a guarantee — test direct contact beforehand.
Which diseases are common in Havanese?
patellar luxation, eye problems (cataract, progressive retinal atrophy), chondrodysplasia
17Breed clubs
Official breed clubs in DACH
19Related
Similar breeds – and their differences
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Does this breed suit you?
Cheerful, people-oriented companion dog. Cuba's national breed. Hypoallergenic and long-lived, ideal for allergy sufferers and city dwellers.