Here are some fun and fascinating facts about the Havanese canines that will surely surprise a lot of people!
Havanese canines hail from Cuba and not only they are the national dog of this Caribbean country, but they are also the only canine breed that is native to Cuba.
Havanese is an immensely old breed that was probably developed in the city of Havana which is the capital of Cuba. And, to honor the place where these canines first came into existence, they were named as Havanese.
Apart from their official name, the Havanese canines are also known as the Havana Silk Dogs, Havanese Cuban Bichon, Bichon Havanais, Havaneser, Bichon Havanês et cetera.
The Havanese canines have a long and beautiful coat that not only enhances their looks but it also provides great protection to these canines especially under the hot weather conditions and prevents them from any overheating issues. And, because of this, the tolerance of Havanese canines to heat and high temperatures is very high. Also, one add-on bonus of their coat is that it doesn’t shed very often and if it does, it is in a very limited manner and this makes these canines highly suitable for the people with allergies.
It is believed that when Spanish settlers arrived on the Island of Cuba after it was claimed by Columbus, they also brought various small companion dog with them. These canines are believed to be the ancestors of the Bichon Family. When they started breeding with each other, a new breed of canines was born and after many years of development and perfection, this breed became the Havanese canines that we know and love today.
When Havanese canines came into existence, they were considered a symbol of royalty and fanciness mainly because of their adorable size and good looks. These pooches were very popular among the Cuban aristocrats and they quickly became a close companion to most of the affluent families of Cuba. And eventually, when these canines started to move to other countries like France, England et cetera, they began spreading their charm in those places as well. Queen Victoria was also a huge admirer of the Havanese canines.
The Havanese canines’ numbers took a huge hit after the Cuban Revolution. This breed was very close to becoming extinct, but thanks to the three families that left from Cuba to the US, they started breeding these canines and within a few years, their numbers again became fairly strong.
Havanese are extremely friendly and affectionate canines that love to be in the company of almost anyone. These pooches are not only great with their own family members, but they are highly warm and cordial with other people and strangers as well. And, they display the same amount of love and affection to other animals too which includes both cats and other canines. Havanese are also highly kind and careful with small children and thus they are considered to be an awesome breed for almost everyone.
Havanese canines are used for a lot of work-related purposes in various parts of the world. They are good at herding various animals like ducks, they can detect termites and mold through their strong sense of smell and as they are highly trainable in nature, they are used at several circuses for performance and show-related tasks.
Over the years, a lot of top-notch stars and celebrities have owned a Havanese canine. The list of famous Havanese owners includes people like Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Venus Williams, Barbara Walters, Joan Rivers, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria.