Pros and Cons of Owning a Havanese Dog

The only breed of dog that can be considered indigenous to the island nation of Cuba is the Havanese. These adorable tiny puppies aren’t afraid to act on their whims, are always smiling, and seem to have a twinkle in their beautiful brown eyes.

They are known to be friendly and outgoing companions, and their diminutive stature makes them the ideal pet for an apartment or other cramped living situation.

The American Kennel Club has granted recognition to this breed, making it the 142nd breed overall.

The Havanese is a breed of dog that is easily recognisable due to its distinguishing characteristics, such as its curled-up tail and long, silky coat.

These canines are available in a wide range of colours to choose from. You may string their fur to make them look like Puli, you can cut it short to lessen the amount of care they need, or you can let it grow out long to allow it to flow freely in the wind.

It does not actually make a difference which choice you select because this breed always has a dashing appearance.

The Havanese are highly versatile dogs, but they also do well with a regular schedule and can be happy with that. They are clever extroverts who take their responsibilities as watchdog and a comic very seriously. They are known for their comedic timing.

There are some other benefits and drawbacks associated with this breed that should be taken into consideration as well.

Let’s Talk about the Pros of Owning Havanese

Havanese adores the company of humans.

The Havanese is an excellent choice to think about getting if you want a dog that is lively around the house but also enjoys being cuddled up with its human companions.

This breed has a remarkable affinity for human companionship. They are content to curl up on your lap and cuddle with you while you watch television or read a book.

They will want to accompany you if you have to run errands, even if this means riding next to you in a carrying bag or in a carrier if you need to take them with you when you go out.

One of the few things you can do to make these puppies miserable is to put them in a scenario in which they are lonely and bored. This is one of the few things you can do. When this happens, you can start engaging in undesirable activities.

Havanese will wrap you up in their little paw and teach you how to do things instead of you teaching them. Potty training is harder and takes longer, but once they decide to stop going to the bathroom inside, they won’t have another accident inside again.

Sarah H

To maintain their physical fitness, these dogs don’t need a lot of exercises at all.

Because the Havanese is a toy breed, it requires a significantly lower amount of exercise to maintain its level of fitness and activity compared to larger dog breeds.

To satiate their demand for physical activity, the majority of puppies will want to go on at least one or two walks with their owners each day, in addition to spending some time playing in the backyard or within the house.

If they are unable to get all of their energy out, you will notice that they sprint laps about your home without any awareness of the objects that might be in their way as they do so.

It may be enjoyable to see them act “wild” like this, but it’s also a sign that their needs aren’t being adequately addressed if it happens often enough.

The vast majority of Havanese do not behave in an aggressive manner against other people.

When you are able to socialise your Havanese with other people and dogs, you will discover that their territorial impulses are geared more towards warnings than they are towards aggressive behaviour.

When something suspicious is going on in the neighbourhood of your home, your dog will alert you to it.

They give the responsibility of becoming the family guardian a lot of thought and attention. This breed makes a lot of noise to make sure that you are aware of any problems that may arise in the event that you are replaced by someone who they do not trust.

The only time a dog will make an effort to solve an issue is if it either perceives that it is in danger or believes that the safety of its family is in jeopardy.

The Havanese performs admirably in the majority of training scenarios.

You won’t find a smaller breed of dog that is more energised by food than this one, and that goes double for this breed. You’ll notice a change in their demeanour once you teach your puppy some basic tasks since this will help them overcome the independent streak that may give the impression that they are cold.

The intelligence of Havanese dogs combined with their strong desire to please their owners makes them particularly well-suited for obedience and agility training.

There are some behaviours that are more difficult to train with this breed than with others, but the majority of owners find that the positives here outweigh any negatives that they might experience with their dog. For example, there are some behaviours that are more difficult to train with this breed than with others.

Despite having long hair, Havanese do not have a heavy shedding problem.

These canines have stunning coats that are available in a dizzying array of colours to choose from. The majority of people are able to locate a puppy that lives up to their standards of either handsomeness or beauty.

Even if you keep the length of the coat, there won’t be a significant amount of fur in your house for you to deal with. Even during the transition from one season to another, there is very little shedding, and it is simple to clip, braid, and maintain in other ways as well.

If you do choose to let it grow out, giving it a good brushing a few times a week will ensure that your child’s hair is always looking its best, even if you choose to let it grow out.

Now the CONS of Owning Havanese

Havanese dogs love to bark.

The Havanese breed, like most other toy breeds, is one that enjoys listening to its own barking and purring more than any other sound.

These dogs are highly friendly towards both other animals and people, yet they take the potential danger posed by an unfamiliar person very seriously.

Your whole house is going to be filled with your dog’s barking if they don’t recognise the person who knocks on the door.

They enjoy climbing up to the highest point in their prefered room, such as the back of a couch, so that they can survey the entire space and alert others of any threats.

Havanese have separation Anxiety

The Havanese is no exception to the norm that little dogs have a tendency to overcompensate with their stature and noise as a way to advertise their presence, and this is a trait that they share with other small breeds of dogs.

They have the potential to be annoying and boisterous at times, particularly when they are playing or when they perceive that they are in danger.

These puppies typically worry more about being left alone than they do about potential intruders or the occasional knock on the front door.

If you are required to leave them at home for extended amounts of time each day for work or school, the dog may develop the tendency to self-soothe by chewing or scratching things around your home in a destructive manner.

During these occasions, they will also bark as an outlet for the frustration that they are feeling.

The emphasis placed on Treats may cause people to have weight problems.

Because of their small size, Havanese don’t require a high daily caloric intake; therefore, the motivational value of treats can become a detriment if they are given too frequently.

This is a breed that typically has issues with their weight as they get older, particularly senior dogs of this breed. If you want to prevent your dog from developing obesity, you should monitor the number of calories that it consumes and limit the number of goodies that you give it.

Table scraps that consist of foods that are high in fat content as well as bones that have been cooked should be avoided whenever feasible.

Havanese are very smart, but they can be stubborn when it comes to things like potty training and learning how to behave. I always say that a dog's true intelligence shows when it understands what you're saying, then thinks about it and weighs its options.

House Training a Havanese dog might be an uphill battle at times.

The majority of owners report that the process of housetraining their Havanese is the most challenging aspect of the dog’s training that they must endure.

This breed can be quite difficult to housetrain because of its stubborn nature. Because of their size, it can be difficult for them to notice the need to go outdoors.

As a result, you will need a lot of patience with your dog in order to get through this stage of the learning process.

It can be helpful to have puppy pads that you can spread out somewhere, as this will teach them to go to the designated area rather than wherever they chance to be at the time.

This breed has a reputation for being obstinate at times.

Some Havanese have a temperament that can be described as moderately obstinate. When it is time to come back home after a stroll or when playtime must be brought to an end, you will most frequently run into this characteristic.

They can develop a dog-like sort of tunnel vision when it comes to their favourite pastimes, and they won’t want to stop doing those activities until they’ve used up all of their energy.

Dogs that are forced to fend for themselves rather than being able to rely on their family for the care that they require are more likely to develop this characteristic. If you raise a puppy, you may be able to avoid the most severe manifestations of this trait.

About Content Reviewer & Vet Expert OnBoard:  Dr. Sara J at Hampton Vet Clinic. Dr. Sarah is passionate about pets and loves sharing her knowledge and research with you. At Pet Paws Hub, we strive to be the ultimate resource for learning everything about Owning & caring for your pet!