The Havanese Puppy - Where Did It All Start? Part 1

The Havanese puppy is a loveable dog that unknownand attention but they will give their admiration in return.
to many is a member of the Bichon breed family.Their attentiveness paired with their beautiful coat and
What does Bichon mean? "Bichon" is a French wordfeatures made the Havanese a well sought after
that means "fleecy dog". The Bichon breed is oftenbreed.
related to the Barbet. The Barbet is the French nameAlthough the aristocratic society of Cuba embraced
for a poodle like water spaniel that is thought to be anthe Havanese breed.by the turn of the century into the
ancient ancestor of the current day Bichon breed1900's brought a change in the interests of the social
varieties.elite. The upper crust of society no longer favored the
Of course there are several different types of BichonHavanese breed!
dogs that include: the Maltese, Bichon Frise, BichonWhy did this happen? Especially after 200 years how
Bolognese, Lowchen, Coton de Tulear, and thecould such a high demand for the Havanese breed
Havanese. These Bichon breed varieties have variousdiminish? We part of the reason is due to the influence
geographic origins.of North America. Prior to 1900, Cuba was dominated
Most of these breeds were around in ancient Greece.by European, and in particular Spanish, influences. The
When the Spanish Empire swept across the world inCubans as a result conducted the majority of their
the 1500's, so did the Bichon breeds as well. Thebusiness with Spain. Therefore this European influence
Bichon breeds were known to be perfect companionscreated the prevalence of the European Bichon Frise
for long voyages on maritime ships.lapdogs.
Originally the Bichon breeds were developed in theAround 1900 North America then began to conduct
Canary Islands, France, and as well as Cuba. Now ofmore business with Cuba. As a result of this new
these breeds can you guess which Bichon breedbusiness partnership it also introduced different types
came from Cuba? That's right, it was the Havanese!of dog breeds to the wealthy Cubans. The wealthy
Like so many dog breeds the Havanese breed wasCubans soon wanted to be on par with North
named after the world famous seaport in Havana,Americans regarding the latest trends and this included
Cuba. It's not surprising then that the Havanese is thethe current "it" dog breeds.
national dog of Cuba. In Cuba, the Havanese dogsSo this desire to keep up with the North American
descended from a dog breed called "Blanquito de la"Jones'" lead to the Havanese breed to be overlooked
Habana"!.in the wealthy Cuban households as they searched for
So what is the best way to describe the Havanese?a new breed to adore. This transition left the
The Havanese breed is a small, white fluffy dog thatHavanese to become a house pet in common
has a well defined face. The Havanese breed is veryhouseholds. In effect, the Havanese garnered a wider
affectionate, loyal and a special companion that justaudience of admirers and owners.
loves to sit on your lap. They not only want your love