Our Havanese have lived up to EVERYTHING we were promised:

Hypoallergenic, non-shedding
The Havanese is a great little breed for the allergy sufferer!  My husband, who has always wanted a dog, has had allergies to dogs since childhood; our Havanese never leave his side while he is home and Dazzle usually sleeps with us -- all without causing any allergic reaction.  I enjoy having dogs that do not leave an oily, odiforous residue on my hands when I give them love.

Friendly disposition
Think of the Havanese as a Golden Retriever in a small body – they love people and they love other dogs.  If our boy Teddy could meet and greet every human and dog in the world, then he would be the happiest boy alive!  Please make sure you buy from a breeder who breeds for good temperament; we have met Havanese that are more timid or less outgoing and this is quite simply *not* a Havanese to own.  A Havanese should be happy, friendly, and outgoing.

Great family companions
As the AKC web-site says, the Havanese is in high demand as a family pet.  The primary reason is due to its development in Cuba as the family companion responsible for being a watchdog and child’s playmate.  Our dogs can and do accompany us everywhere and love to spend their days with us; they rest while we work and play when we are ready to play and bring a lot of joy into our lives.  Havanese are great dogs for family members of all ages, from the youngest toddler to the oldest grandparent – make sure you work with a breeder who will match the personality of your new Havanese puppy to your specific family situation (personality testing generally cannot occur prior to seven weeks).

Healthy  
Because Havanese are a newer breed to the United States, arriving after many of the health testing capabilities were developed, Havanese obtained from reputable breeders are very healthy dogs.  Statistics on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals site show that only a small percentage of Havanese from health-tested/passed parents and responsible breeders have any health issues (please be aware that Havanese from non-reliable sources do not show the same healthiness and ensure that you get your puppy from a breeder that health tests and only breeds dogs that have passed their health testing).  The Havanese Club of America’s puppy buyer education page lists the health testing your breeder should be performing.

Very clever and easy to train
Havanese want to please their people very much, this makes them remarkably easy to train – they will do anything for the praise of their humans!  They are naturally agile and quick, both body and mind, making for lots of fun in the training process.  One of Shimmer and Dazzle’s cousins was the top Toy dog in Obedience for 2008, every Havanese in our house dreams of performing in agility trials, and, of course, they all have shown well in the conformation ring (STAND is the first command taught and treated at our house). 

Happy, happy, happy
We have many friends who, when they have downsized from Bearded Collies, have chosen Havanese as the new breed of dog to have in their lives – these friends have explained that the reason they do this is because the Havanese have the same “joie de vivre” (love of life) that a Beardie has.  We must agree.  Our dogs are always joyful, happy, and ready to go experience new things – we love to have them in our lives.

Recommended reading:
·  The Havanese by Diane Klumb and Joanne Baldwin
·  Bichon Havanese by Zoila Portuondo Guerra
·  Good Owner, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
·  From Nose to Tail - Havanese Grooming Handbook by the Havanese Fanciers of Canada

Breed Links:
·  The American Kennel Club’s information page on the Havanese:  http://www.akc.org/breeds/havanese/index.cfm
·  The Havanese Club of America’s Puppy Buyer Education page:  http://www.havanese.org/education/puppy-buyers/60-puppy-buyers
·  The Havanese Fanciers of Canada’s “Choosing a Breeder” page:  http://www.havanesefanciers.com/?q=choosingabreeder
·  The local Havanese Club in Washington (Cascade Havanese Club):  http://cascadehavanese.org/