In this article we will tell you about the breed of the most beautiful miniature dogs with long hair - the Havanese Bichon, which is also called the Havanese, Havanese, Havanese. You will learn about the standard of appearance and character traits of representatives of this breed, and maybe decide to get yourself such a pet if you need an unpretentious, cheerful companion and devoted friend.
History of the origin of the breed
There are two versions of who the Havanese may come from - the official and the alternative. According to the official version, they were obtained from matings of Maltese and Italian lapdogs (Bolognese), which came to Malta with settlers and colonialists from Spain. But this cannot be confirmed. According to an alternative version of the origin, the Havanese descended from the Tenerife lapdog, which crossed with other lapdogs and poodles in the Canary Islands.
The Cuban aristocracy welcomed the Havanese Bichon, but at the beginning of the 20th century the breed began to die out. It was preserved only thanks to the efforts of American amateurs who bred lapdogs.
The end of the 20th century became the time of the conquest of Europe for the Havanese. Here they have become popular not only among professional dog handlers, but also among amateur owners due to their calm but friendly character.
The Havanese Bichon is the national breed of Cuba.
Havanese Bichon price
It is believed that the most promising Havaneses should be looked for in the USA, although American breeders are not eager to send puppies with excellent exterior characteristics abroad. As for the cost, you won’t be able to buy a purebred Havanese Bichon in the States for less than $1000-1500. Havanese dogs from Russian nurseries are cheaper - from 30,000 rubles for a pet-class puppy. It is better not to respond to offers with a lower price tag that are found on virtual bulletin boards. In most cases, they are placed by sellers of mixed breeds and undocumented animals.
Description of the breed
Havanese walk with their heads held high, giving the impression of being little proud people. But that's not true. Their springy gait is due to the length of their front legs, which are slightly shorter than their hind legs.
Breed standard
Torso:
- compact, rectangular format with a length-to-height ratio of 4:3,
- strong but not heavy skeleton,
- tail set high, raised in a ring above the back.
Head:
- small size,
- slightly narrowed muzzle,
- dense, dry black lips,
- hanging, wide-set ears,
- black or brown eyes, well-pigmented eyelids, dark nose,
- full set of teeth, scissor bite.
Legs:
- short, straight, strong bones,
- paws are collected in a ball, oval.
Wool:
- thick, soft undercoat, moderately soft guard hair, springy when touched,
- hair is long (up to 18 cm), wavy (including ears, legs and tail dewlap),
- forms a parting on the crown,
- any color (except for white, cream, golden, silver, chocolate, black, blue and their combinations are acceptable; mono-colored is better).
Appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier
This miniature dog is quite strong and dignified. Its height from floor to withers is from 15.24 to 23 cm. Standard weight is from 1.81 to 3.17 kg (no more than 3 kg for exhibition specimens).
Puppies have black and brown coats that can be combined in different ways. As they grow older (usually at the age of 5-6 months), the black color gradually begins to acquire bluish tints, and the brown color becomes lighter. By the age of one and a half years, the Yorkshire Terrier's coat from the scruff to the base of the tail already has a dark bluish-steel color, and the muzzle, chest and paws are colored a rich golden fawn.
Frame
The Yorkshire Terrier is harmoniously built, its body has a proportional structure. He is quite muscular and elegant at the same time. The dog's back is quite short and horizontal. The height at the withers corresponds to the height of the croup
Yorkie's posture is proud, sometimes this little one looks touchingly important
Ears
Yorkie muzzle
The ears are miniature, V-shaped, erect, located not too far from each other, covered with soft short hair. The color of the coat is light golden.
Teeth
The Yorkshire Terrier is characterized by a scissor bite: the upper canines slightly cover the lower ones, and the incisors of the lower jaw are closely adjacent to the back side of the upper, forming a kind of lock.
Limbs
The Yorkie's front legs should be slender and straight, with no elbow bones protruding in or out. The hind legs, when viewed from the rear, should look straight; when viewed from the side, a slight bend is noticeable. The claws on the paws are black.
It is customary to remove dewclaws (dewclaus) on the hind legs, and at the request of the owners on the front legs.
Tail
The tail is traditionally docked to medium length. Cupping itself is not necessary. The tail is densely covered with hair, the color of which is darker and richer than that covering the body.
Wool
The pride of the Yorkshire Terrier is its thin, shiny, silky, completely straight coat, which is often called hair. In the classic version, it should be divided from the base of the skull to the tip of the tail and fall completely evenly and straight on both sides of the body, reaching the floor. In order for such a handsome man or beauty to always look impeccable, you will need to devote a considerable amount of time to them every day. This makes sense if the Yorkie is a participant in exhibitions, the hero of TV shows, or is invited to photo shoots. However, among the owners of such “super stars” there are many people who are simply selflessly devoted to this breed of dog.
Yorkshire Terrier after grooming
Most owners of Yorkshire Terriers prefer to cut their hair. There are several dozen haircut models: from simple to incredibly sophisticated. The procedures take place in grooming salons or at home with the invitation of a specialist. Sometimes short-haired Yorkshire terriers create a sensation no less than their long-haired relatives who look like aristocrats.
From time to time, a genetic leap occurs in the Yorkshire Terrier's nature. This is called the "return gene" or simply "return". In this rare case, your black-brown pet's coat will not turn bluish-gold as expected. The black color will remain that way, without any hint of blue, and the brown will turn into golden-red. This Yorkie is called Red Legged Yorkies, literally - red-legged Yorkshire terrier.
Character and behavioral characteristics
The open, friendly nature, rare among small breed dogs, is the most attractive feature of the Havanese Bichon. They are very affectionate: both puppies and adults follow a person with their “tail”. They love their owner endlessly, they miss him and would prefer not to part with him even at night. They react quickly to praise and reprimand.
Always playful and affectionate, Havanese are great for families with children and get along well with other dogs and cats. They are not leaders - they do not protect territory, toys and food. As an island breed, they are excellent swimmers and love to play in the water. Dogs that are not socialized enough can be fearful.
Havanese Bichons “treat” people, which is why they often work as canine therapists.
Application
The Bichon is widely used as a companion dog for single people. A dog will brighten up the loneliness of an elderly person; in addition, close communication with an animal is beneficial for the owner’s well-being.
Kinestherapy is one of the newfangled branches of alternative medicine. Many balneological centers use the method of treatment by communicating with animals. The Havanese Bichon dog breed is considered the most promising in this direction.
The beneficial effects of contact with animals on the activity of the nervous and cardiovascular systems have been scientifically proven. In a family with children, the dog will become a friend in games, and sometimes in pranks. The dog is ready to have endless fun, which brings him closer to children. Although the Bichon is small in size, it can very well play the role of a watchman. A ringing and loud bark will warn the family that guests are approaching.
Education and training
Havanese Bichons are easy to train and even beginners can handle it. Dogs of this breed are smart and love to learn, so they can quickly master a large number of tricks. The dog is still learning the basic habits (to relieve himself in the litter box, sleep in his place, don’t beg, don’t bother the owner, don’t spoil things) and commands (“Come to me!”, “Near!”, “Sit!”) for participation in exhibitions. in puppyhood, and does it without difficulty. Suitable for agility and flyball. In addition to the functions of a pet, the Havanese can be trained to be a guide for the blind and a termite and mold detector.
Characteristics of Havanese
| Attachment level | High |
| Friendliness | High |
| Child Friendly | High |
| Loyalty to other pets | High |
| Exercise needs | Average |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy level | Average |
| Learning ability | High |
| Intelligence | Average |
| Tendency to bark | Low |
| Shedding amount | Low |
Diseases and care
The health of the Havanese as a breed is not ideal. Common diseases of the Havanese Bichon:
- Cataract, retinal detachment (signs: lacrimation, corneal clouding, photophobia, hyperemia of the mucous membranes of the eye; diagnosis and treatment in the early stages can save the animal’s vision);
- Otitis, inflammation of the ears (signs: hot, painful ear, excess wax; in the hanging ears of lapdogs, an environment favorable for inflammation is easily created);
- Medial dislocation of the patella (signs: mobile (shifting) patella, lameness),
- Hip dysplasia (difficulty and pain when moving and lifting, “rabbit” running, lameness in the hind legs).
Havanese is vaccinated against common infectious diseases of dogs (rabies, leptospirosis, distemper, parvovirus enteritis, infectious hepatitis, adenovirosis) according to the following scheme:
- The first complex vaccination - at the age of 2 - 3 months,
- Revaccination (with the same vaccine) - after 2 - 3 weeks,
- The second complex vaccination - at the age of 6 months (after changing teeth),
- Rabies vaccination at 12 months of age.
Further, mandatory annual vaccination against rabies, against other infections - optional. After each vaccination, keep the dog in quarantine for 12 days: do not walk, do not allow contact with animals, do not overcool, do not overfeed. The long-haired Havanese Bichon is never cut: cutting damages its coat. But it is regularly combed and washed as necessary.
For washing, choose dog cosmetics (shampoo, conditioner, conditioner), but make sure that your pet is not allergic to it. Havanese sheds lightly all year round, but in autumn and spring this process is more intense. Brushing and combing will solve the problem of hair in the house. His fur will protect him from overheating, but will not protect him from the cold in winter - dress your pet in warm dog clothes for walks.
Clean the ears (the visible part of the auricle) with cotton swabs soaked in lotion. Do not try to clean the depths of the ear canal: it may become clogged with cotton wool and wax. To prevent fur from clogging the ears, trim it completely from the inside of the shell. Trim the claws once a month, shortening them by 1 - 2 mm, no more, so as not to injure the blood vessels. With regular trimming, the living tissue in the claws will “retreat” to the fingers.
Health
The Havanese Bichon is a model of longevity, with an average lifespan of 14 years. But with good care they can live up to 16 years, remaining in active physical shape.
Predisposition to a number of diseases:
- Cataract.
- Retinal atrophy.
- Food allergies.
- Otitis of the external and middle ear.
To avoid contracting life-threatening diseases for dogs, all puppies are vaccinated. The first vaccination is carried out at the age of 8-10 weeks: by this time the innate immunity received by the puppies from the mother subsides.
Standard vaccinations against plague, rabies, hepatitis and other infections are carried out strictly according to schedule, under the supervision of a veterinarian. Action plan (adjustment is possible according to the individual condition of the dog):
- 8-10 weeks. 1st round The first vaccination against plague, enteritis, leptospirosis, and parainfluenza is given.
- 12-14 weeks. 1 round (continued). Revaccination of a previously administered vaccination. Plus a new rabies vaccine.
- 6-7 months. 2nd round of previously administered vaccinations.
- 12 months. 3rd round of previously performed vaccinations.
Next, vaccinations are repeated at intervals of 1 year for the entire life of the pet.
Feeding
Bichons are a decorative breed of dog, so their nutrition should, first of all, be aimed at developing and maintaining a beautiful and healthy appearance. Take meat products, grains and vegetables as the basis for a natural diet. Sometimes add eggs, dairy products, herbs, fish and fruits. Feed your dog an age-appropriate multivitamin regularly. Under no circumstances should you feed sweet, salty, sausages or food from your table.
If you don’t want to select and prepare your dog’s food yourself, switch it to dry complete food of super premium and holistic classes, while completely eliminating additional vitamins in dry food so as not to cause an overdose.
Nutrition
A Havanese Bichon puppy needs to eat plenty of meat and dairy products to ensure its skeleton and muscles develop properly. It is recommended to finely chop chicken or rabbit meat for him every day (mono combine), and also give him fresh cow's milk.
Thanks to regular consumption of proteins, the dog progressively gains muscle mass and becomes healthier. We also recommend giving her soups, borscht and broths to improve digestion. In addition, you can include in your pet’s menu:
- Cereals.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Berries, vegetables and fruits.
- Fish (without bones).
But you can’t give him sweets and smoked foods. Remember, the Cuban lapdog is an excellent manipulator, who, at the sight of a delicious cake, can look at you pitifully and whine, begging for it. You can't agree!
After eating difficult-to-digest and high-carbohydrate foods, dogs experience digestive dysfunction. When the puppy turns 1.5 years old, we advise you to change his diet from natural to ready-made, that is, give him food (wet or dry).
Mating, pregnancy and childbirth
Female Havanese Bichons begin to go into heat between 6 and 12 months of age and repeat every 6 to 9 months. Never breed a female dog in her first heat: the body of a recent puppy is not yet strong enough to bear offspring. Find out the duration of estrus specifically for your dog: to do this, observe the bitch more than once or twice. Typically this period is 20 - 22 days. It is better to breed with a male dog on the 11th - 15th day and again a day later - two. Mating is best done in the boy's territory. It is ideal if the animals are comparable in height. But if the difference is big, place a pillow under the hind legs of the dog or bitch.
The Havanese Bichon's pregnancy lasts 59 ± 3 days. It is important to know exactly the gestational age, since prematurity and postmaturity threaten the puppies with death. To do this, always write down the mating dates. Young dogs (up to 3 - 4 years old) have small litters, which is why pregnancy may last longer than usual. In the first three weeks, the bitch’s behavior changes (she becomes more affectionate), but there are no external signs. After a month, the belly grows and the mammary glands enlarge.
Signs of imminent labor:
- prolapse of the abdomen,
- greenish or yellowish discharge from the loop,
- decrease in rectal temperature to 37 degrees and below.
Prepare your birth kit:
- disposable diapers (put under the bitch),
- ironed cloths (to receive and dry puppies),
- dishes (put away afterbirth),
- a box for puppies with a heating pad (if the bitch is restless, and newborns should not be placed in it),
- surgical clamp and scissors (for cutting the umbilical cord; treat with alcohol),
- antiseptic spray Septonex, Aluminum or Xidikol (for treating the umbilical cord wound),
- scales, notebook, pen, thick thread of floss (weigh and mark puppies, write down the results).
If the birth is successful, then no medications or other means of resuscitation are needed. If not, the veterinarian you call will have everything you need with you.
How to choose a puppy
Requirements for animals:
- puppy not younger than 2 - 3 months,
- compliance with the standard (even dark pigmentation of the nose and eyelids, eyes not sunken or bulging),
- good health (active movements, clean, healthy eyes and ears, strong, straight legs without unevenness),
- correct character (cheerful, curious, fearless, timid),
- availability of treatments and vaccinations, documents, stamps.
Requirements for conditions of detention:
- cleanliness of the room, dishes and toys,
- good complete food
- calm healthy mother.
Choosing a nickname
The source of inspiration is the names of celebrities, historical figures, mythological and literary heroes, place names and even the character and appearance of the pet. Choose a sonorous, clearly pronounced nickname that you won’t get tired of after you call your dog for the twentieth time that day.
| Suitable for girls: | Audrey, Sarah, Klepa, Missy, Luna, Camry, Vesta, Belka, Nusya, Ganga. |
| For males: | Guy, Ollie, Jerry, Rain, Fet, Drona, Brom, Quinn. |
Owner reviews
Anya K.
“We bought a bichon for our daughter to develop her sense of responsibility, and the dog coped with it perfectly. For two years now she has been a favorite with the whole family, does not bark, does not smell, does not shed. Lyalya never asks to go for a walk on her own; she prefers to stay in the apartment, so we don’t go for walks according to schedule. She is so kind that it seems that she is not a dog at all, but a canine angel. And smart at the same time.”
Violetta D.
“Our black Motya is just an amazing dog. She is good-natured and cheerful, loves our children very much, and this is mutual. It is not true that they are wary of strangers: Motya will treat a stranger kindly if he shows positive attention to her, for example, expresses a desire to pat her on the head or pat her withers. She's just happy about it. When she runs, it’s just a hilarious sight and endless happiness: her ears jump up with her.”
Similar breeds
Maltese (Maltese) is an affectionate, cheerful dog with perfectly white, elegant fur. She has a sensitive, good-natured character, but strangers often frighten her or cause aggression.
Bichon Frize are playful, sincere and intelligent miniature dogs similar to the snowy white poodle, making a wonderful gift for yourself or a loved one.
The Coton de Tulear is a small decorative dog with lush “cotton” fur, originally from the island of Madagascar. Related to Bichons, they are included in the same group of decorative dogs.
Bolognese is a “French lap dog” of Italian origin. He inherited a charming appearance from lapdogs, and a curly coat structure from poodles.
Shih Tzus are traditional Chinese dogs, their homeland is Tibet. Like the Maltese, the Chinese lion cub has the longest fur in relation to the body.
Yorkshire Terrier
Today, Yorkshire Terriers are popular thanks to many celebrities who post photos with their cute pets. Height up to 20 cm at the withers and weight within 3 kg really allow you to appear everywhere with this dog and even carry it in your bag. But people should not forget that the breed was originally bred as rat catchers, so a brave heart beats in the small body of the Yorkshire and the hope that all his abilities will be in demand by the owners.
Despite their ostentatious independence, Yorkies try to keep their owner in sight and, if they do not detect him, become worried
But owners are primarily attracted by the special fur of these dogs, which is similar in structure to human hair. This gives housewives the opportunity to try themselves as stylists, creating a variety of hairstyles for their pets.
Yorkshire Terriers require early socialization, otherwise the pet will grow up either excessively cowardly, or irritable and aggressive.
Briefly about the main thing
- The Havanese Bichon is a cheerful, friendly, easy-going dog breed.
- Havanese are easy to care for and do not require grooming or frequent washing.
- This is a smart, easy to train breed.
- Havanese dogs are energetic, but do not need physical activity; indoor living is acceptable.
Tell us in the comments about your Havanese's funniest habits and skills.
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