| People all over the country are won over by the | | | | texture is soft and silky, wavy and long, not wooly |
| charming personality of the Havanese dog breed. | | | | or bushy. The coat can be of any coloration and a |
| Being very popular, these dogs are showing up more | | | | corded-coat is also allowable. Since the breed |
| frequently at dog competitions. There are certain | | | | originated in the tropics, the coat has the added |
| standards a Havanese must have to be able to | | | | function of protecting the dog from the hot weather |
| compete in a professional dog show, the dog must | | | | and glare of the sun. The head hair should not be |
| be shorter rather than longer, have a rectangular | | | | placed in a top-knot, the hair on the head is meant to |
| confirmation and have a silky textured coat with long, | | | | shield the eyes from the sunlight. |
| wavy hair. The coat of a show Havanese should not | | | | The Havanese breed has a top line that rises a bit at |
| be trimmed or styled in any particular manner. The | | | | the rear and a shorter upper arm. The breed has a |
| Havanese breed should be playful in nature, and | | | | springy step and is very agile, with a deliberate gait. |
| makes an excellent companion for people of all ages. | | | | Height wise, the standards for show state the dog |
| In the past, these dogs have been a welcomed | | | | must be between 8.5-11.5 inches tall. The dog has big, |
| playmate for small children, are great watchdogs and | | | | wide set eyes which are dark brown and |
| ideal for herding purposes. The way the dog appears | | | | almond-shaped; lighter brown colorations in the |
| shows their true character and how well they adapt | | | | chocolate range are acceptable, but not preferred. |
| to working. | | | | The rims of the eyes should be lined completely with |
| A Havanese has a medium length neck which curves | | | | black pigment; however, a chocolate colored dog |
| and arches gracefully. The chest is expansive and | | | | might have chocolate colored pigment. The ears of a |
| deep, reaching all the way down to the elbows. With | | | | Havanese should be set high, have a distinct fold and |
| a tail set high, it should arch deliberately over the | | | | be medium length, reaching approximately half the |
| back and possess no curvature or curling. The arms | | | | distance of the nose when extended outward. The |
| of the dog are short with enough of an angle for the | | | | Havanese skull is rounded and broad; the muzzle is a |
| legs to rest directly under the body. The paws should | | | | bit shorter in length than the skull. The dog should |
| be well-rounded with arching toes that point straight | | | | have a squared, broad nose which is black in color; |
| out. The dewclaws can be left on the front feet, | | | | there are exceptions made for dogs of chocolate |
| however, should be removed from the back feet. A | | | | coloration, which can have a chocolate colored nose, |
| Havanese is double-coated, however, it differs from | | | | and the teeth of a Havanese should meet in a |
| the typical coat of a cold-natured dog breed; the | | | | perfect scissor bite. |