Havanese

Temperament & personality

Havanese are social to their core. They were bred to keep people company, and it shows in how they read a room, greet visitors, and gravitate toward whoever is sitting still. Most are friendly with strangers, other dogs, and cats, which makes them an easy pick for multi-pet households. They are playful well into adulthood and happy to clown for attention.

Training tends to go smoothly. The breed is bright and eager to please, and it responds best to reward-based methods with plenty of praise. Harsh corrections backfire, since these dogs are sensitive and quick to shut down. Early socialization helps curb the occasional shy streak and keeps barking in check.

The one thing to plan for is separation. A Havanese that bonds closely can struggle when the house empties out, and boredom or loneliness often turns into barking or chewing. Building up alone time gradually from puppyhood, leaving a food puzzle, and keeping departures low-key all help. If your schedule keeps you away for long days, this may not be the right breed.

Vaccination schedule

Puppies start their core vaccines at 6 to 8 weeks and continue every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age. The core series is DHPP, which covers distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Because a Havanese is small, your vet will handle the puppy gently, but the vaccine dose is the same as for any dog; vaccines are not scaled by body weight.

Rabies is given once at 12 to 16 weeks depending on local law, then boosted a year later. After that, most regions move to a 3-year rabies interval, though some require annual shots, so follow your local rules.

Leptospirosis is now a core vaccine recommended for every dog, so your Havanese should get it regardless of lifestyle. It needs a 2-dose puppy series and then an annual booster, unlike the every-3-year DHPP core boosters. Exposure to wildlife or standing water raises the risk and is a good reason not to skip that yearly booster. Other non-core vaccines depend on lifestyle: a Havanese that visits groomers, boarding kennels, or daycare is a good candidate for Bordetella (kennel cough) and canine influenza, and Lyme is worth discussing in tick-heavy areas. Confirm the full plan with your vet.

Best food & diet

A Havanese does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for small or toy breeds. The smaller kibble size matters for tiny mouths, and small-breed formulas are calorie-dense enough to fuel their metabolism without huge portions. Look for a named animal protein as the first ingredient and a recipe that meets AAFCO or FEDIAF standards for the right life stage.

Portion control matters most with a dog this size. At 3 to 6 kg, a Havanese needs only a modest amount of food each day, and it is easy to overfeed through treats and table scraps. Split the daily ration into two meals, weigh the food rather than eyeballing it, and keep treats under 10 percent of daily calories. Extra weight strains those small knees and hips.

Toy puppies can be prone to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if meals are too far apart, so young Havanese usually eat three to four small meals a day until they mature. Fresh water should always be available. If you want to switch foods, do it over a week or so to avoid stomach upset.

Common health problems

The Havanese is generally a hardy, long-lived breed, but a few orthopedic and eye conditions run in the line. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of its groove, is the most common; signs include a skipping gait or a hind leg held up briefly during a run. Mild cases are managed conservatively, while severe ones may need surgery. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, a breakdown of the hip's blood supply in young dogs, also occurs. Chondrodysplasia is also part of the breed's genetics, but in the Havanese it is largely a normal short-legged conformation trait tied to a specific gene variant rather than a disease in its own right, and it is not usually a source of orthopedic trouble on the level of the two conditions above.

Eyes deserve attention throughout life. Cataracts and other hereditary eye conditions can run in the breed line, so annual eye checks and reputable breeding stock with eye clearances matter. Any cloudiness, redness, or bumping into furniture warrants a vet visit.

Congenital deafness occurs occasionally and can be confirmed with a BAER hearing test. Buying from a breeder who screens for knees, eyes, and hearing is the best insurance.

Allergies & skin

Under that long silky coat, Havanese skin is fairly resilient, but the breed can develop allergies like any other dog. Environmental allergies (atopy) to pollen or dust mites show up as itching, licking of the paws, and recurrent ear or skin infections. Flea allergy dermatitis is another common trigger, where a single bite sets off intense itching.

Food allergies are less common than owners assume, but they do occur, usually as year-round itching or digestive upset. If your vet suspects a food allergy, the reliable way to confirm it is an elimination diet using a novel or hydrolyzed protein for eight to twelve weeks.

The long coat can hide skin problems and trap moisture, so part the hair and check the skin regularly. Keep the coat clean and dry, dry thoroughly after baths, and watch the ears, which can hold humidity. Any persistent scratching, hot spots, or odor is worth a vet visit rather than a wait-and-see.

Flea, tick & worm prevention

Year-round flea and tick prevention is the simplest way to protect a Havanese, and the small size means dosing has to be precise. Most modern preventives are sold in weight bands, so a 3 to 6 kg dog usually falls in the smallest or second-smallest bracket. Never split a large-dog dose to save money; get the product matched to your dog's current weight.

Options include monthly chewables, topical spot-ons, and long-acting collars. Some chewables cover fleas and ticks together, while others add heartworm and intestinal worm control in one product. Your vet can recommend the right combination for your climate and tick load.

Intestinal worming follows a schedule too. Puppies are dewormed every two weeks from about 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks, then monthly until 6 months. Adults are usually treated every three months, or more often if they hunt, scavenge, or share a home with children. In heartworm regions, keep year-round heartworm prevention going without gaps.

Medications & dosing

Because a Havanese weighs so little, medication dosing is weight-based and leaves little room for error. A rounding mistake that would be trivial in a Labrador can be significant in a 4 kg dog, so weigh your dog before any dose is calculated and let your vet do the math.

Never give human medicines without veterinary direction. Common painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) are toxic to dogs, and even a small tablet is a real overdose risk for a toy breed. If your dog needs pain relief, the vet will prescribe a canine anti-inflammatory at the correct dose.

When your vet prescribes antibiotics or other medication, finish the full course and follow the timing instructions, since small dogs can be sensitive to dosing gaps. Keep a written record of what your dog takes and any reactions. If you ever see vomiting, lethargy, or loss of appetite after a new medicine, call your vet.

Grooming & coat care

The Havanese wears a long, silky, low-shedding double coat, and it is high maintenance. Because loose hair stays in the coat instead of falling out, it mats quickly if neglected. Owners who keep the full coat should brush and comb daily, working right down to the skin so mats do not form at the roots, in the armpits, and behind the ears.

Many owners choose a shorter clip, sometimes called a puppy cut, which keeps the dog tidy with far less daily work. Either way, a professional groom every four to six weeks helps with the coat, nails, and the hair around the eyes and paws. Regular baths keep the coat bright, but always dry thoroughly to prevent skin problems.

The low-shedding coat is why the breed is often called hypoallergenic. No dog is truly allergen-free, since dander and saliva still carry allergens, but many people with mild sensitivities tolerate a Havanese better than a heavy shedder. Round out grooming with weekly ear checks, regular nail trims, and tooth brushing, since toy breeds are prone to dental disease.

How the Havanese compares

Deciding between similar breeds? Here is the Havanese next to Sealyham Terrier and Australian Terrier.

Frequently asked questions