The Havanese is a frisky, playful little dog that loves to make friends. They tend to be outgoing and very social animals, always on the lookout for people who are willing to give them attention. They’re best described as social butterflies and will happily run to strangers to introduce themselves. 

Despite their affection toward new friends, they still enjoy the company of their owners and family members the best. The Havanese forms a deep bond with their owners, and may sometimes develop separation anxiety. They’re prone to following their owner around all day, like a furry little shadow. Some people even call them “velcro dogs” because they’re always stuck to their owner’s side. 

Despite being a toy breed, they have energy in spades and may tend to pester their owner for playtime. They get along well with children and the elderly, as they know how to be gentle and sweet. A well-exercised and well-socialized Havanese is a great family pet that loves to be the center of attention.

Other toy breeds may be content to sit and watch the world go by, but not the Havanese. Beneath their silken coat is a surprisingly sturdy and athletic body. They love playtime and running around, and have moderate exercise needs.

They’re a small breed and don’t have the energy reserves to match actual working dogs, but they still require at least 30 to 45 minutes of exercise each day. This can be split into multiple shorter sessions of 15 to 20 minutes, depending on just how much energy your Havanese has to burn. 

Due to their small size, they don’t need a huge amount of space in which to play. While they enjoy running around, it’s fine to do this on-leash, as they aren’t particularly speedy dogs. It’s also a good idea to keep the leash on for walks, as they have a surprisingly high prey drive and may take off after rodents or birds. 

The Havanese is a double coated breed, with an outer coat as well as an undercoat; both are soft. This thick double coat tends to be long, and can be wavy, straight, or curly. Most Havanese owners opt to keep their dog’s hair cut short, as grooming them when their hair is long can be a tedious process. 

The coat of the Havanese needs to be brushed daily if kept long, and should be brushed three to four times a week even when cut short. Their hair is so soft that it gets tangled and matted very easily, so this brushing should not be skipped. 

This breed is especially prone to tear stains – which are most often only an aesthetic issue, but excessive tear staining may be a symptom of an eye condition. It’s a good idea to wipe the area around the dog’s eyes regularly to prevent tear stains from forming. 

Baths can be done every two to four weeks, depending on how dirty your Havanese gets – dogs that have more outdoor play time will tend to need more frequent baths. Like most other small dogs, the Havanese should get their teeth brushed three to four times a week, or even daily. This will help prevent tartar buildup and bacteria from causing tooth and gum issues. Nail trimming can be done every two to four weeks. 

The Havanese tends to be a very smart and clever dog. They pick up on training quickly, and because they’re so happy when their owners are happy, they’re typically very easy to train. 

One area of difficulty is toilet training – small dogs in general have more difficulty with toilet training due to their small bladders. It’s a good idea to start toilet training very early, ideally as soon as your Havanese comes home with you. 

The Havanese responds best to positive reinforcement in the form of treats, toys, or praise. They’re highly sensitive to their owner’s emotions, so getting frustrated or angry may just make them shut down or become uncooperative. It’s much easier to simply reward them when they do the right thing. 

Many Havanese dogs are perfectly content to be lap dogs, but those with more energy than usual can go through agility and obedience training. While the Havanese is small, they’re more athletic than they look – and they’re more than smart enough to be able to complete challenging agility courses. 

Havanese dogs are generally healthy and can live for up to 14 to 16 years. The Havanese may be prone to:

• Chondrodysplasia – an inherited disorder that affects bone and cartilage development and results in abnormally short limbs
• Joint dysplasia – a malformation of the elbow or hip joint that can cause pain and lameness in either the front or rear legs
• Deafness – Havanese dogs are prone to deafness in one or both ears
• Cataracts – a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, resulting in vision loss

The Havanese is a small breed that doesn’t take up much space. They typically only weigh between 7 to 13 pounds, and stand between 8.5 to 11 inches at the shoulder. There’s no difference in size and weight between males and females. 

Their small size allows them to fit into nearly any type of household. They’re a favorite for apartment owners, as they don’t need a great deal of space in which to run and play. It’s still good to bring your Havanese outdoors, though they are perfectly happy with shared outdoor spaces such as parks. 

It’s not advisable for a Havanese to be kept as an outdoor pet. Most Havanese will need to be part of family activities, and may become moody if left alone for very long.