The sweet but sturdy little Havanese is descended from dogs brought to Cuba from Spain and has evolved from a lap-warmer of the aristocracy into a versatile family companion, watch-dog, and herder of the family poultry flock. They are the National Dog of Cuba and Cuba’s only native breed. This is a friendly, bright, trainable breed that makes a wonderful family pet and tends to be good with children. Their coat is abundant but light and silky and offers protection from the tropical sun and heat. The Havanese coat does not shed, which makes them suitable as pets for allergy sufferers, but does require regular grooming to keep clean and tangle-free. Although a toy breed, they are active and require daily exercise.
Each AKC approved purebred breed has its own national club. The mission of these “parent breed clubs” is to improve and preserve a particular breed by advancing knowledge about its history, its health, and care requirements. They also work to assure that the breed’s form and function remain true to its historical physical type and character: A Dalmatian, for instance, should be athletic and have a natural affinity for working with horses. A Fox Terrier should have the right body size and shape, and a drive to go after vermin.
Pet owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and others with a special love for a breed become members of the parent breed club to meet like-minded enthusiasts and to support the club’s mission. The nation’s top breed experts are members of the parent club.
The national parent breed club is the first and best place to go to learn about a breed or find a knowledgeable, experienced breeder.
Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
