Havanese is a very sensitive, devoted and always joyful dog.
It likes to be nestled and cuddled, has a high level of intelligence. It likes to be in the centre of attention and often strives for it performing different tricks, it desires the company of people. It is very sensitive to the tone of voice.
Havanese has the reputation of an acrobat, probably the reason of it is that it learns fast and likes doing many things. Havanese warns if it hears a strange sound but it calms down if it sees a guest and runs to welcome him.
We are inviting you!!!
BREED STANDARD
FCI Standard No 250/10th April 2006, English version
HAVANESE (Bichon havanais) FCI-St n° 250
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Western region of the Mediterranean Sea
Country of breed development: Cuba
PATRONAGE: FCI
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE CURRENT BREED STANDARD: 21st February 2006.
CLASSIFICATION: Decorative and companion dogs
F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION: Group 9 decorative and companion dogs. Section 1 and related breeds.
They do not undergo the test of work.
OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE BREED:
The breed comes from the western region of the Mediterranean Sea and developed itself along the coasts of Spain and Italy. It seems that the dogs were quite early brought to Cuba by Italian mariners. By accident, due to the most frequent colour of the dogs, which is brown (the colour of tobacco), the legend of home breed origin from Havana, the capital of Cuba was created. Political disturbances led, however, to the total extinction of the former Havanese line on Cuba. After illegal export of several dogs from Cuba, their sparse offspring survived in the USA.
GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:
Havanese is a little, lively dog, short on legs with a long, rich and – nicer to admire – wavy coat. Its movement is lively and elastic.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The length of the muzzle (from the top of the nose to the stop) is equal to the length between the stop and occipital bump. The ratio of the trunk length (measured from the top of the shoulder-blade to the end of buttocks) and the height in withers is 4:3. FCI-St n° 250 3
NATURE/TEMPERAMENT:
Extremely lively dog; it is easy to be bred as a guard dog. It is tender, friendly, charming, playful, of a joyful temperament and a bit prone to foolery. It loves kids and can play with them all the time.
HEAD:
Of medium length; the ratio between the length of the skull and the trunk (measured from the withers to the caudation) is 3:7.
THE AREA OF THE BRAIN BOX:
Skull: Flat or very slightly embossed; broad; forehead area slightly developed. The scull seen from the top is rounded from the back and almost perpendicular and square from three sides.
Stop: Moderately marked.
THE AREA OF THE BONY FACE:
Nose: Black or brown
Muzzle: Slightly narrowed towards the nose but neither star like nor angular.
Lips: Gentle, dry and not droopy.
Bite: Scissor. Valued full set of teeth. Lack of P1 and M3 tolerated.
Cheeks: Very flat, not protruding.
Eyes: Quite big, almond shaped, brown, in the most dark shade. Soft in outlook. Eyes’ edges dark brown or black.
Ears: Placed quite high; falling along cheeks forming small fold which raises them slightly. The ends of the ears are slightly pointed. Ears covered with coat forming long fringes. They are neither ajar like the arms of the windmill nor closely adhered to the cheeks.
NECK: Of a medium length.
TRUNK: The length of the trunk slightly exceeds the height in the withers.
Back: Upper line straight, slightly embossed in the lumbar area.
Buttock: explicitly falling. FCI-St n° 250 4
Ribs: Well embossed.
Belly (very weak): Well raised
TAIL: Carried high or in the band form or – better- curved over the back. Covered with a silk gown forming long, silky fringes.
LIMBS
FORELEGS: Straight and parallel, dry; good bony frame. The distance between the ground and the elbow should not be longer than between the elbow and withers.
HINDLEGS: Good bony frame, moderately angulated.
FEET: Slightly lengthened; small; compact.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: According to its joyful temperament Havanese moves easily and elastically. Easy movement of forelegs in a straight line entails the movement of the hindlegs.
COAT
HAIR: Woolly undercoat, weakly developed; often completely absent. Upper hair is very long (12-18 cm an old dog), soft, straight or wavy, it may form curls. Any hairdresser’s treatments, equalization of hair length using scissors or trimming are forbidden. The exception is ordering hair on feet, slight cutting of hair on the forehead – not to cover the eyes – and hair on the muzzle, but it is better to leave them in their natural length.
COLOUR: It is rarely pure white. Half in various shades (slight dimness is allowed), black, Havana colour (brown-red colour of cigars), the colour of tobacco, red-brown. Patches in the mentioned colours are permitted. FCI-St n° 250 5
HEIGHT:
Height in withers: From 23 to 27 cm.
Tolerated: from 21 to 29 cm.
FAULTS: Any discrepancies from the above-mentioned features should be treated as faults which assessment should be proportional against their degree and scope.
ESSENTIAL FAULTS:
- Lack of type in the general outlook.
- Angular or star like muzzle which length is not identical with the length of the skull.
- The eyes of the birds of prey; too deep-set eyes or bulging eyes; partial depigmentation of the rims of the eyelids.
- Too long or too short trunk.
- Straight tail not worn over the back.
- ”French” front (wrists convergently mounted, feet put outside).
- Deformed back feet.
- Strong, rare hair; short coat (except for puppyish); coat after hairdresser’s treatments.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
- Aggression or excessive shyness.
- Depigmentation of a nose.
- Mandibular and maxillary prognathism
- Ectropion, entropion; depigmentation of one or both rims of the eyelids.
- The height above or below the norms, included in the standard.
Every dog having physical or psychical disorders should be disqualified.
Attention: Males should have two, normally, fully-developed testicles, totally lowered to the scrotum.