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Havanese History
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The Havanese originates from the ancient Bichon family of dogs, which includes the Bichon Frise, Bichon Bolognese, Bichon Maltaise and Bichon Havanais, or Havanese. The Havanese was introduced to Cuba during the 16th century by Spanish traders, who made gifts of the little dogs as a means of smoothing trade between the two countries. The Cuban climate is believed to have affected the development of the dog’s coat, making it better suited to protecting the dog from the sun and keeping it cool. Beginning around 1700, the Havanese became an increasingly popular pet in the homes of wealthy Cuban families.
However, the advent of the Cuban Revolution would cause the Havanese's popularity to plummet to such a degree that the dog almost went extinct during the 20th century. The wealthy classes that tended to keep the little dogs left the country, and those who remained had little user for the Havanese. During the 1970s, eleven Havanese were brought to the US, and it is from these dogs that virtually all Havanese outside the former Soviet block descend. The breed was recognized by the UKC in 1991 and the AKC in 1996. The Canadian Kennel Club recognized the Havanese in 2001. These days, the Havanese is more plentiful in the US than in its original homeland of Cuba.
