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Havanese

Also called Bichon Havanais, Bichon Habanero, Havaneser, Cuban Bichon, Havana Silk Dog

Recognised breedFCI group 9Deep profile

From Cuba (FCI country of origin), from Bichon-type dogs of the Western Mediterranean brought over by Spanish and Italian ships; the national dog of Cuba1 2 3 4

At a glance the quick version

Weight3.2 to 6.4 kg5 6 4

Height21 to 29 cm2 5 4

Lifespan10 to 15 years6 3 4

Sizetoy

The FCI standard sets no weight. UKC gives 7-14 lb (about 3.2-6.4 kg) with mid-size preferred; Hill's gives 8-13 lb (about 3.6-5.9 kg) for males and 7-12 lb (about 3.2-5.4 kg) for females.

cheerful, playful and a bit of a clown

very affectionate and people-focused

intelligent and easy to train

2 5 7 6

Coat and looks how to spot one

long, soft, silky double coat (flat, wavy or curly; may be corded)

A small, sturdy dog that is a little longer than it is tall, with a plumed tail carried over the back and a bouncy, springy way of moving. The abundant coat is very soft and light, falling flat, in waves or in curls, and often gathers into loose locks. The FCI standard gives a length of 12-18 cm and asks that it be left natural rather than scissored, apart from tidying the feet; the adult coat can take several years to fully develop and some dogs are shown with a corded coat.2 5 4 7

Colourswhitefawn (all shades)blackhavana browntobaccoreddish brownpatches of these colourstan markingsUKC and AKC: all colours and combinations acceptable2 5 4

Personality what they are like

A happy, outgoing little companion that loves to be close to its people and enjoys making them laugh. It is usually gentle and fairly quiet but will throw itself into lively games, and it is known for getting on well with children. Bright and eager to please, it learns quickly and will often let the household know when someone arrives. Early, friendly socialisation helps it feel confident with new people.2 5 6 7

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Low to moderate. The Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 30 minutes a day and Hill's 20-40 minutes. Short walks plus indoor play and games keep it content; it also enjoys dog sports such as agility and obedience.3 6 4

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

High. The Royal Kennel Club advises daily grooming, and Hill's recommends thorough brushing and combing at least three times a week to keep the coat free of tangles. Shedding is minimal. Many pet owners keep the coat shorter for easier upkeep, while show dogs are presented untrimmed or corded.3 6 2 4

Home where they are happiest

An indoor companion that suits flats and apartments as well as houses, in town or country. A small garden is a bonus but not essential. It does best in a home where someone is around for much of the day.3 6

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, good-quality food formulated for small breeds and matched to life stage, given in portions that suit its small size and activity level.6

Company who they like around

High. Bred purely as a companion, it wants to be with its family and is not suited to long hours alone or kennel life. It usually gets along well with children and other pets, and UKC notes it especially enjoys the company of other Havanese.6 5 2

The story where it all began

The Havanese belongs to the Bichon family of small, soft-coated companion dogs from the Western Mediterranean. Dogs of this type, often linked to the Tenerife dog of the Canary Islands, reached Cuba aboard Spanish and Italian trading ships from around the 1500s. On the island they were crossed with other small breeds such as the Maltese and Poodle and developed into the 'Blanquito de la Habana', a pampered pet of Cuba's wealthy families and nobility. The breed also found favour in Europe, where it was shown in England from 1863 and became fashionable in the Victorian era. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959 very few of the old Cuban lines remained, but some dogs travelled to the United States with emigrating families. In the 1970s Dorothy and Bert Goodale gathered 11 dogs to rebuild the breed, and Dorothy Goodale founded the Havanese Club of America in 1979. UKC recognised the breed in 1991, the AKC in the mid-1990s, and it has since become one of the more popular companion breeds in the US.2 8 4 3 6 5

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba.3
2
The AKC describes it as the only dog breed native to Cuba.7
3
It was nicknamed the 'Havana Silk Dog' because its light double coat feels like fine silk.6
4
The modern breed outside Cuba was rebuilt from just 11 dogs gathered by Dorothy and Bert Goodale in the 1970s.8
5
Charles Dickens owned a Havanese named Tim in the mid-1800s, according to the Havanese Club of America.8
6
Cuba featured the Havanese on a postage stamp in 1992, and it has also appeared on stamps from countries including Poland, Hungary, Romania and Mongolia.8
7
The FCI standard asks for the coat to be left natural: scissoring to even out the length is not allowed, only tidying of the feet.2
8
Its coat can form narrow locks that give a lacy, braided look, and some Havanese are shown fully corded.5
9
Havanese have worked as therapy dogs, hearing dogs that alert owners to sounds, and detection dogs, and they compete in agility and obedience.4

Recognised by the official bits

FCI: Standard No. 250 (Bichon Havanais), Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 1 (Bichons and related breeds); definitive acceptance 24 Sep 1963; current standard dated 31 Oct 2016; no working trial1
The Royal Kennel Club: Toy Group; recognised breed3
AKC: Toy Group; first registrable in 1996 per AKC. The Havanese Club of America dates Miscellaneous Class entry to 1996 and full Toy Group acceptance to 1999.9
UKC: Companion Dog Group; recognised July 19915

Popularity Ranked 25th of AKC-registered breeds in 2025, a position it has held since 2023.10

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Havanese. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery 2 days
Bathevery month
HaircutTrim feathering and feet, or keep a short cutevery 8 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery 3 weeks
Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery day
ExerciseAbout 60 minutes a dayevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 10every year

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FCI breed nomenclature: Bichon Havanais (250) fci.beused for recognition, group, origin
FCI Standard No. 250 Havanese fci.beused for history, temperament, coat, colours, height
The Royal Kennel Club: Havanese royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, home size, lifespan, history
Wikipedia: Havanese dog en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, history, size, working roles (secondary)
UKC Havanese breed standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, size, weight, coat, colours, temperament, history
Hill's Pet: Havanese hillspet.comused for size, lifespan, exercise, grooming, diet, living environment
AKC: Havanese akc.orgused for temperament, origin
Havanese Club of America: Havanese History havaneseclubofamerica.orgused for history, fun facts
AKC: Breeds by Year Recognized akc.orgused for AKC recognition year
AKC: Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2025 akc.orgused for popularity

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.