Bichon Havanese Temperament

Breed Overview: The Havanese, Cuba's National Treasure

The Havanese — often called the Bichon Havanese or Havana Silk Dog — is the only breed native to Cuba and a member of the Bichon family that includes the Bichon Frisé, Coton de Tulear, and Bolognese. Descended from the now-extinct Blanquito de la Habana ("little white dog of Havana"), the breed was developed by Cuban aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries as a companion and lap dog. When the Cuban Revolution forced wealthy families into exile in the 1950s and 1960s, a handful of Havanese were smuggled out, forming the genetic foundation for every Havanese alive today. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1996, and it has climbed steadily into the top 25 most popular breeds in the United States.

The Havanese is classified as a toy breed, though it sits at the larger end of that category. This is a dog built for companionship above all else — not for working, herding, or guarding. Understanding the Bichon Havanese temperament means understanding a dog that was literally engineered over centuries to sit on your lap, follow you room to room, and make you laugh.

Havanese Breed Quick Reference

Attribute	Detail
Size Class	Toy (larger end)
Weight	7–13 lb / 3.2–5.9 kg
Height	8.5–11.5 inches / 22–29 cm at the withers
Lifespan	14–16 years (some reach 17–18)
Coat Type	Long, silky, lightly wavy double coat; hair (not fur)
Energy Level	Low to moderate
Grooming	High — daily brushing or professional grooming every 4–6 weeks
AKC Group	Toy Group
Origin	Cuba (Western Mediterranean development)

Bichon Havanese Temperament: 5 Core Personality Traits

If you're researching the Bichon Havanese temperament specifically, you're likely trying to figure out whether this breed's personality fits your household. Here are the five defining traits you'll encounter, with real behavioral examples from multi-dog households and breed specialist observations.

1. Velcro-Dog Attachment

The Havanese bonds intensely with its primary person and will follow you from the kitchen to the bathroom to the home office without hesitation. This isn't casual affection — it's a dog that wants to be in physical contact or line-of-sight at nearly all times. Owners report Havanese sleeping pressed against their legs, sitting on feet while they work, and becoming visibly anxious when a family member leaves the house. This trait makes them exceptional therapy and emotional support dogs but also means they are highly prone to separation anxiety if left alone for more than 4–5 hours regularly.

2. Clownish Playfulness

Havanese are famously silly dogs. They'll spin in circles when excited, "talk" with a range of grumbles and chirps, and invent games like tossing a toy in the air and chasing it. This playfulness persists well into their senior years — it's common to see a 12-year-old Havanese still performing tricks for treats. The breed's comedic timing is genuine; they seem to understand when they're making people laugh and will repeat the behavior.

3. Alert but Not Aggressive

A Havanese will announce visitors with a burst of barking, but once the person is inside, the dog typically warms up within minutes and solicits attention. They are watchdogs, not guard dogs — they'll tell you someone is at the door, but they'll also show that person where the treats are kept. Early socialization (between 8–16 weeks) is critical to prevent the alertness from tipping into nervous barking at every sound.

4. High Social Intelligence

The Havanese reads human body language with unusual precision for a toy breed. They'll sense tension in a room and retreat, recognize when a child is crying and move to comfort them, and adjust their energy to match their owner's mood. This emotional attunement is why the breed excels in therapy work and why they struggle in chaotic, high-conflict households.

5. Gentle Stubbornness

Don't mistake their eagerness to please for blind obedience. A Havanese will happily learn a "sit" or "shake" but may decide that "come" is optional when they're investigating something interesting. This isn't defiance — it's independent thinking in a small package. Force-free, reward-based training works beautifully; harsh corrections or raised voices will cause a Havanese to shut down entirely.

Physical Characteristics: What a Havanese Actually Looks Like

The Havanese is a small but surprisingly sturdy dog — they are not fragile like some toy breeds. The AKC breed standard calls for a dog that is slightly longer than tall, with a topline that rises slightly from withers to croup, giving them a distinctive "springy" gait.

Weight: 7–13 lb (3.2–5.9 kg), with most adults settling around 9–11 lb. Males tend toward the higher end. Unlike some toy breeds, there is no "teacup" or "miniature" variant — any Havanese under 6 lb likely has health or developmental concerns.

Height: 8.5–11.5 inches (22–29 cm) at the withers. Dogs outside this range are considered non-standard but are still perfectly healthy pets.

Coat: The Havanese has a long, soft, lightweight double coat that is unique among Bichon breeds — it's silky rather than cottony, with a slight wave. The coat is technically hair, not fur, which means it grows continuously and sheds minimally, making the breed a reasonable option for some allergy sufferers (though no dog is truly hypoallergenic). Coat colors include white, cream, fawn, chocolate, black, silver, and parti-color combinations. The breed's dark, almond-shaped eyes and dropped ears frame a soft, expressive face that owners describe as "always smiling."

Exercise & Activity Needs

The Havanese is often marketed as a low-energy lap dog, but that's an oversimplification. While they don't need a 5-mile run, they do require structured daily activity to stay physically healthy and mentally balanced. An under-exercised Havanese is a barking, destructive, anxious Havanese.

Daily Exercise Recommendations by Age

Life Stage	Daily Exercise	Recommended Activities
Puppy (3–12 months)	20–30 minutes	Short leash walks (5 min per month of age), indoor fetch, puzzle toys
Adult (1–7 years)	30–45 minutes	Two 15–20 min leash walks, interactive play, beginner agility, trick training
Senior (8+ years)	20–30 minutes	Gentle leash walks, indoor play, snuffle mats, low-impact swimming

Key exercise notes:

• Havanese are heat-sensitive due to their dense coat — avoid midday walks when temperatures exceed 80°F (27°C).
• They excel at canine sports scaled to their size: rally obedience, trick dog titles, and small-dog agility are popular outlets.
• Mental stimulation counts as exercise: 10 minutes of trick training tires a Havanese as much as a 20-minute walk.
• A fenced yard is nice but not required — this breed thrives in apartments with committed walking routines.

Common Health Issues in the Havanese

The Havanese is generally a healthy breed with a long lifespan, but responsible ownership means understanding the conditions they're predisposed to. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Havanese Club of America recommend specific health screenings for breeding stock, which gives us good data on prevalence.

Breed-Specific Health Conditions

Condition	Description	Estimated Prevalence	Screening/Prevention
Cataracts (juvenile & age-related)	Clouding of the eye lens causing progressive vision loss; can appear as early as 1–3 years	~5–8% of screened dogs	Annual CERF/OFA eye exam by veterinary ophthalmologist
Patellar Luxation	Kneecap slipping out of position, causing intermittent "skipping" gait; grades I–IV	~7–10% of screened dogs	OFA patella evaluation; maintain lean body weight
Hip Dysplasia	Malformation of hip joint causing arthritis; less common in toys but present in the breed	~3–5% of screened dogs	OFA or PennHIP evaluation of breeding stock
Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)	Progressive heart valve degeneration; leading cause of death in older Havanese	Significant in dogs 10+ years	Annual cardiac auscultation by veterinarian after age 7
Chondrodystrophy & IVDD	Short-limbed dwarfism gene linked to intervertebral disc disease; causes back pain or paralysis	Breed carries CDDY gene; IVDD risk elevated	DNA test for CDDY variant; avoid jumping from furniture; use ramps

Other conditions to monitor: deafness (particularly in predominantly white coats), liver shunts (portosystemic shunt — usually presents in puppies under 1 year with stunted growth and neurological signs), and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (hip degeneration in young dogs).

Always consult your veterinarian about breed-appropriate screening schedules. A responsible breeder will provide OFA or equivalent health clearances for both parents before selling a puppy — ask to see documentation, not just verbal assurances.

Grooming Requirements: The Real Commitment

The Havanese coat is beautiful, but it demands serious maintenance. If you're not prepared for regular grooming, this breed will become matted and uncomfortable within weeks.

Daily brushing (full coat): Required if you keep the coat at show length (floor-length). Use a slicker brush followed by a stainless steel comb to catch tangles near the skin. Pay special attention to behind the ears, the armpits, and the "pants" area — these mat first.

Puppy cut / shorter trim: Most pet owners opt for a 1–2 inch "puppy cut" maintained by a professional groomer every 4–6 weeks. At this length, brushing 3–4 times per week is sufficient. Expect to pay $50–$85 per grooming session depending on your region, which adds $450–$750 annually.

Bathing: Every 2–4 weeks with a gentle, dog-specific shampoo. Havanese skin is sensitive — avoid human shampoos and heavily fragranced products.

Eye care: Tear staining is common, especially on white and cream coats. Wipe the eye area daily with a damp cloth or veterinary-approved tear stain wipe. Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed short to prevent irritation.

Nail trims: Every 2–3 weeks. Havanese nails grow quickly, and overgrown nails alter their gait and contribute to patellar luxation stress.

Ear care: Check and clean weekly with a veterinarian-approved ear cleaner. The dropped ears trap moisture and debris, creating a breeding ground for yeast infections.

Training & Intelligence

The Havanese is rated as having above-average working intelligence — they learn new commands in 5–15 repetitions and obey known commands on the first try roughly 85% of the time (based on Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings framework for the Bichon family). However, intelligence and obedience are different things. A Havanese understands what you want; they just might negotiate.

Recommended training approach:

• Method: Positive reinforcement only — treats, praise, play rewards. The Havanese is extremely sensitive to tone and body language; a disappointed "oh no" is more effective than a raised voice.
• Session length: 5–10 minutes, 2–3 times daily. They lose focus in longer sessions and may start offering random behaviors to "guess" what you want.
• Priority skills: Crate training (essential for separation anxiety prevention), recall (they have a surprisingly strong chase instinct for a toy breed), and "settle" or mat training (builds independence).
• Socialization window: 8–16 weeks is critical. Expose your Havanese puppy to diverse people, surfaces, sounds, and other dogs during this period to prevent the nervousness the breed can develop.

What to avoid: Never use shock collars, prong collars, or alpha rolls on a Havanese. These methods will destroy the trust this breed relies on and can trigger fear-based aggression or complete behavioral shutdown. If you're struggling with training, seek a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA or IAABC credentialed) who uses force-free methods.

Family Suitability: Kids, Pets, and Apartment Living

With children: The Havanese is excellent with children aged 6 and up who understand how to handle a small dog gently. They are playful enough to engage in games but sturdy enough (at 9–13 lb) to tolerate accidental bumps better than a 4 lb Chihuahua. However, toddlers who grab, squeeze, or drop dogs are a genuine risk — a Havanese can suffer a luxating patella or tracheal injury from rough handling. Always supervise interactions and teach children the "four on the floor" rule before allowing them to hold the dog.

With other pets: Havanese typically do well with other dogs and can coexist peacefully with cats, especially when raised together. Their low prey drive means they're less likely to chase small animals than many terrier breeds. Multi-dog households are actually beneficial for this breed — a second dog provides companionship that reduces separation anxiety when humans are away.

Apartment living: The Havanese is one of the best apartment breeds available. They are small, relatively quiet (when properly exercised), and don't need a yard. Their main apartment challenge is separation anxiety — if you work from home or have a dog walker, they'll thrive. If you're gone 8+ hours daily, consider a doggy daycare arrangement or a companion pet.

Cost of Ownership: What You'll Actually Spend

The Havanese is a premium-priced toy breed, and ongoing costs are moderate to high due to grooming needs and potential health screenings.

Havanese Cost Breakdown (2026 Estimates)

Expense	Cost Range
Puppy from responsible breeder (AKC registered, health-tested parents)	$1,800 – $3,500
Adoption from Havanese rescue	$300 – $600
Initial veterinary setup (vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip)	$400 – $800
Annual veterinary care (wellness, vaccines, heartworm/flea prevention)	$600 – $1,000
Annual grooming (professional, every 5–6 weeks)	$450 – $750
Annual food (high-quality small-breed kibble or balanced diet)	$240 – $420
Pet insurance (accident + illness, $250 deductible)	$360 – $600/year
Supplies (crate, harness, toys, bed, grooming tools)	$200 – $400 (first year)
Estimated first-year total	$4,050 – $7,470
Estimated annual cost after year one	$1,650 – $3,170

Money-saving tip: Learning to do basic maintenance grooming (brushing, nail trims, ear cleaning, sanitary trims) at home can reduce professional grooming visits to every 8–10 weeks instead of every 4–6 weeks, saving $150–$300 annually.

Is the Havanese Right for a First-Time Owner?

Yes — with caveats. The Havanese is one of the better first-time breeds because they are forgiving of training mistakes, eager to bond, and adaptable to different living situations. However, a first-time owner must be prepared for the grooming commitment and the separation anxiety management. If you work from home or have a flexible schedule, a Havanese is an outstanding first dog. If you're gone 10 hours a day and want a low-maintenance pet, look elsewhere — perhaps a cat or an older, lower-energy dog from a rescue.