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Havanese

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1. General Description of the Havanese

   The Havanese is a Toy breed that sports a bit more length than height. The large, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown in color, wide-set and feature an expression of soft yet mischievous intelligence. The moderately long ears are wide at the base, set high and reach halfway to the nose. When the Havanese is alert, the ears lift a bit at the bottom. The skull is round and features a moderately accentuated stop. The muzzle is rectangular in shape and sports a wide, square shaped black nose. The moderately long neck arches to a topline that is straight yet not completely level, and rises a bit from the withers to the rump. The deep, broad chest features well-sprung ribs with a moderate tuck. The high-set tail is curved and features a long, silky plume. The coat is soft and silky, long and slightly wavy. The coat can be a variety of different colors, from white to deep chocolate or even black. Coloration can also be a combination of several shades.

2. Havanese Temperament

   The Havanese makes a perfect family dog. They are gentle yet playful with children and adore human company. This breed gets along quite well with people as well as pets of all kinds. The Havanese is highly intelligent and quite easy to train. They are rather sensitive and prefer gentle guidance to harsh discipline. These little dogs have a reputation as entertainers because they can be easily taught to perform tricks and enjoy doing them. The Havanese is brave and alert, and makes a great watch dog. While they may bark at the arrival of a stranger, they are quick to warm up to new people.

3. Caring for a Havanese

   Exercise requirements for this breed are modest; a brisk walk or vigorous game in the house or yard will usually do the trick. For Havanese that are not going to be shown, you can choose to have the coat clipped. If you decide to keep the coat long, frequent brushing and combing is needed to prevent tangles and mats. You may want to use a light conditioning treatment to keep the silky hair in good condition. These dogs don't shed very often, and need grooming to help remove dead hairs. Keep the nails trimmed and the hair between the toes clipped. Ears should be kept clean and free from mites and dirt. It is recommended to maintain the teeth with a weekly brushing with dog-friendly toothpaste. If you begin doing this when your Havanese is a puppy, she may even learn to enjoy it! The primary health concern for the breed is patellar luxation, though elbow dysplasia, chondrodysplasia, Legg-Perthes, portacaval shunt, mitral valve insufficiency and deafness are also sometimes seen.

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We include the following list of misspellings so our internal search tools can send you to the right place. People often misspell Havanese as Havaneese, Havenese, or Havunese.