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Breed profile

Havanese

Cuba's national dog: a sturdy little bichon that learns quickly, likes everyone, and would rather be wherever you are.

Young grey-and-white Havanese sitting on a sandy path beside long grass
A six-month-old HavanesePhoto: Edumegina / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
3–6 kg7–13 lb
Height
22–29 cm9–11 in
Lifespan
13–16 yrs
Group
Toy
Origin
Cuba
Popularity
#25 US#70 UK · 2025

Known for: Flat-friendlyFirst-time ownersLow sheddingLap dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Friendly, Affectionate, Playful, Gentle.

Health problems to know about

  • Patellar luxation
  • Portosystemic (liver) shunt
  • Cataracts
  • Sebaceous adenitis

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Brush the silky coat daily down to the skin, or keep it in a short pet trim. Short walks and indoor games cover most of its exercise. Ask breeders for eye test results.

A good fit for

Flats, first-time owners, families with gentle kids, people who are home a lot.

Probably not ideal for

Anyone out all day (it hates being left), owners who want a low-grooming dog, people after a jogging partner.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Havanese
  2. Wikipedia: Havanese

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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