History of the Havanese Breed

The breed name, "Havanese", speaks to the history of the breed. Most of what is known about the Havanese is known from their Cuban heritage. They reached Cuba through transport on European trade ships for the purpose of entertaining the sailors, as well as to be used in trade with wealthy Cuban families. Their heavy concentration in Havana, the most populous city in Cuba, led to the name "Havanese". They are also known by other names, such as The Havana Silk Dog, White Cuban, Bichon Habanero, Bichon Havanais, and Bichon Havanese. The Havanese is said to be so smart it was once used as a Circus Dog in Europe, although not every Havanese lends credence to this. Still, it's easy to picture them walking around in unison in cute little circus outfits, doing tricks, singing, dancing and otherwise entertaining the cheering crowds. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution caused many citizens to leave the country, often unable to take their Havanese with them, or thinking they would return shortly. They also were difficult to smuggle out after the revolution. As a result, there were very few Havanese outside of Cuba, and the pureness of the breed was neglected within Cuba. Some were successfully removed to the United States and enabled the preservation of the breed. Families like Fantasio, Perez and particularly Dorothy and Bert Goodale allowed the Havanese breed to be restored to its present population by careful attention to blood lines and a dedication to the well-being of the breed. In fact, it is likely they prevented the Havanese breed from extinction. The Havanese has sky-rocketed in popularity in recent years. According to the AKC, in 2007 it was the 37th most popular breed, despite not even being on the charts several years ago. Its popularity has even surpassed well known breeds such as Collies, Saint Bernards, Bloodhounds, Pekingese and Bullmastiffs.