The Havanese

FCI:

Havanese Group IX. - Companion and Toy Dogs, Section - Bichons and related breeds.

General Appearance:

This is a typical companion dog, exceptionally clever and intelligent, and easy trained, very sensitive, loyal and teachable, cheerful nature, always friendly, its action virtually charming, playful and fun-loving.

It loves children and is willing to play with them anytime. It is better when adults check children´s games, children can deal with this dog as a toy and it is not good. It is very good with small pets.

Temperament & Behaviour:

 It is suitable for beginners able to observe elementary education requirement - always be consistent kindly. Due to its sensitivity it deserves kind treatment based on empathy. Just owner can speak up, it is enough for understanding. It learns quickly and tends to the extent possible to meet the owner. Cruel handling it can never deserve. I too harsh words hurt it. This does not mean that it should be spoiled.

Body:

It's small, but relatively robust short legged dog with a long, rich, delicate and, if possible, wavy hair. The ratio between the length of the body measured from the front edge of the shoulder to point of buttock, height at withers is a 4:3. Its height at withers is 23-27 cm at tolerance of + / -2 cm.

The head is medium, the ratio between the length and the length of the body measured from the withers to the tail and face as 3: 7. The skull is above flat to very slightly rounded, broad. Seen from above the square is rounded at the back and on the other three sides nearly equal. The forehead when viewed from the side rises slightly. The front slope (stop) is reasonably steep. Muzzle tapering gradually toward the nose, but never explicitly pointed or downright blunt ended.

Requested is a scissor bite and full dentition. Tolerates the absence of first premolars (P1) and molars 3 (M3).

Cheeks are completely flat, protruding sideways. Eyes should be fairly large, almond-shaped and brown in colour, if possible, darkest, friendly expression. The eyelid rims must be dark brown to black.

The earlobes are developed relatively high. Fall along the cheeks forming rather small folds which are lifting off. They should not stick out to the sides, or cling closely to the cheek. The tops are slightly rounded. They should be covered with long hair forming streams.

Topline body should be straight, slightly arched over the loin. The tail should be carried high, either in shape curled crosier, or (preferably) curled over the back. It is covered with long silky hair.

The forelegs must be straight and parallel to each other, dryly muscled and strong bones. The distance from the ground to the elbow must not be greater than the distance from the elbow to the withers. The hindquarters have strong bones and moderate angulations.

Coat consists of an outer coat and undercoat, which is wavy and thin, often totally absent. The top coat should be very long for an adult of 12 to 18 cm, soft, flat or wavy and may form curly wisps. Its care is inadmissible except trimming the edges of the feet. It can be reduced may also be at the forefront of that does not hide the eyes and on the muzzle, but it is better if it remains naturally long.

Colouration is rarely completely pure white, beige can be a different colour (black light shading caused by dark-coloured end of hair is allowed), black, Havana (dark chocolate) brown, tobacco-brown, reddish brown. These patches of colour on a light background are permissible.

Faults include a total of atypical appearance, muzzle sharply pointed, decidedly blunt ended or otherwise length than the skull, eyes, predators (yellow), sunken or protruding, the edges of eyelids partially de-pigmented, body too long or very short tail straight, carried low (hanging down), convergent wrist and turned in forequarters.