Havanese Links and info

• American Kennel Club of America
  This is the official Web site. AKC's objective is to advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running and maintenance of purebred dogs..

• Havanese Rescue, Inc.Havanese Rescue Inc. (HRI) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization formed for the charitable purposes of rescuing purebred Havanese and Havanese mixes which are homess or son-to-be-homeless.

• Infodog - AKC dog show statistics and schedules, dog products and services

• PetEdge - Over 12,000 products for your dog or puppy

  This where we buy LOTS of products. We use exercise pens, you can buy them at toys R Us/babies r us or order them from www.petedge.com    They open into a rectangle. I put puppy pads on one end and a blanket bed area on the other end.  This gives them room to move during the day.  They can stay there all night or all day while you are at work.  Crates are very confining, can cause them to get territorial with humans.  Some pets will nip if crated long period and a person reaches into "their space" the crate.  Pens are also a safe/time to settle down place.    We have even used them on top of carpet by placing a section of vinyl under the pen. 

  We are feeding Nutro Puppy Chicken small bites.  Iams on occasion it is easier to get, Iams is at grocery store.  We use puppy pads. The  pups, play with small stuffed toys, squeaky toys and I let them play with flat rawhides (take them away when they get small). 

  
  
  

Havanese Colors, Patterns and Standards

Havanese Colors By the HCA Color Committee

"The AKC is in possession of a letter from the HCA stating that any color and pattern in the Havanese is acceptable. Since Havanese are acceptable in all colors and patterns, we have tried to pick a reasonable palate to cover most probabilities.

We are now allowed 20 colors and 7 patterns of color. We also are allowed an additional 10 ‘alternate’ colors and 3 ‘alternate’ patterns for those colors or patterns that just don’t fit in the regular 20 or 7. In order to use and register one of these alternate colors and/or patterns, you would write in your choice on the ‘other’ line of the registration and send a picture of the pup or dog along with the registration to the AKC office. A picture must accompany this, if you chose to write in your color or pattern as an alternate.

We are only allowed to pick one choice from the color side and one choice from the pattern side, (see last page of this handout for a ‘quick reference’) and the new ‘colors’ will be different for most of us. Please do your best in making your decisions based on the choices you have.

Color Choices  (Basic colors)

  White

  Cream – Cream will be used for an off white puppy. This would have previously been registered as champagne. Most pups will display darker cream on the ears.

   Gold - Gold is a warm rich color of moderate intensity. These dogs have an apricot or light orange.

  Red - Red is an intense reddish orange. It’s also a warm color but is more intense than gold.

  Fawn – Fawn dogs are the cooler tans, buffs or brown tones.

  Black – Blacks are black with no reddish or brown tones or hairs.

  Chocolate – The only dogs with the liver colored nose and lips, and lighter eye color.

  Black and Tan

  Black and Silver

  Blue - Blue is from an almost black to a soft charcoal color. The hallmark of blue dogs is that they do not start turning from black to blue until they are a year old or older. Many times the blues have a dull cast to their coat as it turns from black to brown and finally to blue. Probably few puppies can be registered at blue, since this coat change happens much later.

  Silver – Silver dogs can be from charcoal to a very soft light silver or pewter silver. These pups start silvering at an early age, usually after 4 weeks but certainly by 12 weeks.

There has been much misdiagnosing between sable and brindle in the past. The definitions are as follows:

  Sable – Identified by black tipping of the hairs on a coat of a different base color such as fawn or gold. The base color is identified by looking at the roots of the hair near the ‘scalp’.

  Brindle – Identified by any pattern of color that goes all the way to the roots, unlike sable where JUST the tips are dark along with a base color. Most Brindles have several colors going on, i.e. Silver, black, gold, cream. Brindles do not have to have the classic ‘striped pattern’ as previously thought, but they may. Often, brindles display a black mask.

NOTE: If you put a sable dog in a puppy clip, you will cut off the black tipping and it will not grow back, except perhaps on the ears. Brindle would grow the color back since that is the color of the hair all the way through. There are varying degrees of sable tipping and some will keep more of the black tipping than others. Often only the black tipping on the ears remains as the dog grows older. With Brindle, while the base colors may lighten significantly, the colored hairs will remain throughout the body and not just on the ears.

The colors listed below are the complete list of colors. These are the same colors listed above, but with the addition of either sable or brindle. This will be how you chose the colors of your dogs on registration forms.

(1,2.) Cream; Cream Sable (we don’t think there would be a cream brindle but if you should get one, this would be a ‘write in’ with an accompanying picture to AKC, with registration papers.

(3.4.5.) Gold; Gold Sable; Gold Brindle

(6.7.) Fawn; Fawn Sable

(8.9.) Red; Red Sable

(10.) Chocolate –

(11. 12. 13.) Silver; Silver Sable; Silver Brindle

(14. 15.) Black; Black Brindle – black brindle: Black coat with auburn hairs. This is what was once thought of as “Havana Brown”. Black brindles have degrees of auburn with the black coat. They may sometimes display a lot of the auburn coloring or very little. They may even appear to look like a rich dark Chocolate, but they will not have the liver colored nose. They have a dark black nose and pigment.

(16. 17.) Blue; Blue Brindle

(18.) Black and Tan

(19.) Black and Silver

(20.) White

Alternates could be:

Red Brindle Fawn Brindle Chocolate Brindle Chocolate Sable Black & Tan Brindle Black & Silver Brindle

Pattern Choices

  Parti – Primarily white with markings of another color from above. Generally, more than 50% of the dog is white.

  Pied – Primarily a colored dog with any of the above colors with white markings concurrent with the Irish Pied pattern: White of varying degree on feet and/or legs, white chest and a full or partial white collar around the neck. The tail is also tipped in white.

  White Markings - Primarily an almost solid colored dog with a few areas of white, i.e. chest spots, toes, etc. of white.

  Cream Markings – same as white markings but with cream or tan instead.

  Silver Markings – same as white markings but with silver instead.

  Tan Points – A colored dog with tan cheek spots, eyebrows and feet, forelegs and tail vent. (marked similarly to a Doberman)

  Silver Points – Same as for tan points but with the silver instead.

Examples:

1. A puppy who is born a Black Irish Pied with tan markings between the black and white would now be registered as: Black and Tan Irish Pied. (think Bernese mountain dog colors, here) It being an Irish Pied, automatically tells you this dog has the white Irish Pied coloring. 2. A sable parti would now be registered according to his base color; i.e. gold, gold sable, or fawn sable etc. and then the pattern of parti.

New AKC Havanese Colors & Patterns (Quick Reference)

Colors: Patterns(you may chose ONE) 

White Parti Black Pied Black Brindle White Mkgs Blue Cream Mkgs Blue Brindle Silver Mkgs Chocolate Tan Points Cream Silver Points Fawn Fawn Sable Gold Gold Brindle Alternate Colors: Gold Sable Red Red Brindle Red Sable Chocolate Sable Chocolate Chocolate Brindle Silver Fawn Brindle Silver Brindle Black & Tan Brindle Silver Sable Black & Silver Brindle Black & Tan Black & Silver

Please choose the color that will most likely resemble each puppy, AS AN ADULT. AKC wants us to register our puppies as how they will most likely look as adults.

NOTE: You may chose an alternate color and/or pattern in ‘other’ when filling out Registration Forms for new puppies, if you have one that doesn’t fit any of the above, but you MUST include a picture of the puppy with the application to AKC.

Sable: Dark tipped hairs on one of the base colors above. Only the tips of the hair are dark. Brindle: Various Colored hairs of any pattern, that go all the way to the root, with one of the base colors, above. Many brindles have a black mask. Brindles have several colors in them, so chose their ‘main’ color from what base color is growing in at the roots at time of registration."

AKC STANDARD - effective June 27, 2001American Kennel Club

General Appearance: The Havanese is a small sturdy dog of immense charm. He is slightly longer than tall, and covered with a profuse mantle of untrimmed long, silky, wavy hair. His plumed tail is carried loosely curled over his rump. A native of Cuba, he has evolved over the centuries from the pampered lapdog of the aristocracy into what he is today - the quintessential family pet of a people living on a small tropical island. His duties traditionally have been those of companion, watchdog, child's playmate and herder of the family poultry flock. His presentation in the show ring should reflect his function - always in excellent condition but never so elaborately coifed as to preclude an impromptu romp in the leaves, as his character is essentially playful rather than decorative.

While historically always a toy dog and therefore never overly large or coarse, he does not appear so fragile as to make him unsuitable as a child's pet. His unique coat reflects centuries in the tropics, and protects against the heat. It is remarkably soft and light in texture, profuse without being harsh or woolly. Likewise, the furnishings of the head are believed to protect the eyes from the harsh tropical sun, and have traditionally never been gathered in a topknot for this reason.

In both structure and gait, the Havanese is not easily mistaken for any other breed. His characteristic topline, rising slightly from withers to rump is a result of moderate angulation both fore and aft combined with a typically short upper arm. The resulting springy gait is flashy rather than far-reaching and unique to the breed. The overall impression of the dog on the move is one of agility rather than excessive ability to cover ground. These characteristics of temperament, structure and gait contribute in large part to the character of the breed, and are essential to type.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: The height range is from 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches, with the ideal being between 9 and 10 1/2 inches, measured at the withers, and is slightly less than the length from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, creating a rectangular outline rather than a square one. The Havanese is a sturdy little dog, and should never appear fragile. A coarse dog with excessive bone is likewise contrary to type and therefore equally undesirable. The minimum height ranges set forth in the description above shall not apply to dogs or bitches under twelve months of age.
Disqualification: Height at withers under 8 1/2 inches or over 11 1/2 inches, except that the minimum height ranges set forth in the description above shall not apply to dogs or bitches under twelve months of age.

Head: The expression is soft and intelligent, mischievous rather than cute. The eyes are dark brown, large, almond-shaped, and set rather widely apart. Dark eyes are preferred irrespective of coat color, although the chocolate colored dog may have somewhat lighter eyes. The pigment on the eyerims is complete, solid black for all colors except for the chocolate dog which has complete solid, dark chocolate brown pigment No other dilution of pigment is acceptable. Ears are of medium length; the leather, when extended, reaches halfway to the nose. They are set high on the skull, slightly above the endpoint of the zygomatic arch, and are broad at the base, showing a distinct fold. When the dog is alert, the ears lift at the base, producing an unbroken shallow arc from the outer edge of each ear across the backskull. The backskull is broad and slightly rounded. The stop is moderate. Length of muzzle is slightly less than length of backskull measured from stop to point of occiput and the planes are level. The nose is broad and squarish, fitting a full and rectangular muzzle, with no indication of snipiness. The pigment on the nose and lips is complete, solid black for all colors except for the chocolate dog which has complete solid, dark chocolate brown pigment No other dilution of pigment is acceptable. A scissors bite is ideal. Full complement of incisors preferred. Disqualifications: Complete absence of black (or chocolate in the chocolate dog) pigmentation on the eyerims, nose or lips.


Neck, Topline and Body: The neck is of moderate length, in balance with the height and length of the dog. It carries a slight arch and blends smoothly into the shoulders. The topline is straight but not level, rising slightly from withers to rump. There is no indication of a roach back. The body, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, is slightly longer than the height at the withers. This length comes from the ribcage and not from the short, well-muscled loin. The chest is deep, rather broad in front, and reaches the elbow. The ribs are well sprung. There is a moderate tuck-up. The tail is high-set and plumed with long, silky hair. It arcs forward over the back, but neither lies flat on the back nor is tightly curled. On the move the tail is carried loosely curled over the rump. The long plume of hair may fall straight forward or to either side of the body. The tail may not be docked.

Forequarters: Shoulder layback is moderate, lying not more than 40 degrees off vertical. Extreme shoulder layback will negatively affect proper gait, and should be faulted. The tops of the shoulder blades lie in at the withers, allowing the neck to merge smoothly into the back. The upper arm is relatively short, but there is sufficient angle between the shoulder and upper arm to set the legs well under the body with a pronounced forechest. The elbows turn neither in nor out, and are tight to the body. Forelegs are well-boned and straight when viewed from any angle. The distance from the foot to the elbow is equal to the distance from elbow to withers. The pasterns are short, strong and flexible, very slightly sloping. Dewclaws may be removed. The feet are round, with well arched toes, and turn neither in nor out. Pads and nails may be black, white, pink or a combination of these colors. Chocolate dogs may also have brown pads and nails.

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Hindquarters: The hind legs are well-boned and muscular through the thigh, with moderate angulation. The hocks are short and turn neither in nor out. In normal stance, the hind legs are parallel to each other from hock to heel and all the joints are in line when viewed from the rear. The rear assembly, in which the rump is slightly higher than the withers, contributes to the breed's unique, springy gait. Dewclaws should be removed. The hind feet fall slightly behind a perpendicular line from the point of buttock when viewed from the side. Hind feet have well arched toes and turn neither in nor out. Pads and nails may be black, white, pink or a combination of these colors. Chocolate dogs may also have brown pads and nails..

Coat: The coat is double, but without the harsh standoff guard hair and woolly undercoat usually associated with double coats. Rather, it is soft and light in texture throughout, though the outer coat carries slightly more weight. The long hair is abundant and, ideally, wavy. An ideal coat will not be so profuse nor overly long as to obscure the natural lines of the dog. Puppies may have a shorter coat. A single, flat coat or an excessively curly coat are equally contrary to type and should be faulted.
An atypical short coat on an adult dog (atypical would be a smooth, flat coat with, or without furnishings.)

Color: All colors are acceptable, singly or in any combination. No preference is given to one color over another. The skin may be freckled or parti-colored.

Gait: The Havanese gait is lively, elegant, resilient, and unique, contributing greatly to the breed's overall essential typiness. The characteristic "spring" is caused by the strong rear drive combined with a "flashy" front action effected by the short upper arm. While a truly typey dog is incapable of exaggerated reach and drive, the action does not appear stilted or hackneyed. The slightly higher rear may cause a correctly built specimen to show a flash of pad coming and going. The front legs reach forward freely. There is good extension in the rear and no tendency toward sickle hocks. The topline holds under movement, neither flattening nor roaching. Head carriage is typically high, even on the move.

Temperament: Playful and alert. The Havanese is both trainable and intelligent with a sweet, non-quarrelsome disposition.

Presentation: The dog should be shown as naturally as is consistent with good grooming. He may be shown either brushed or corded. His coat should be clean and well conditioned. In mature specimens, the length of the coat may cause it to fall to either side down the back but it should not appear to be artificially parted. The long, untrimmed head furnishings may fall forward over the eyes, naturally and gracefully to either side of the skull, or held in two small braids beginning above the eyes, secured with plain elastic bands. (No ribbons or bows are permitted.) Corded coats will naturally separate into wavy sections in young dogs and will in time develop into cords. Adult corded dogs will be completely covered with a full coat of tassle-like cords. In either coat, minimal trimming of the hair at the inside corner of the eye is allowed for hygienic purposes only, not in an attempt to resculpt the planes of the head. Minimal trimming around the anal and genital areas, for hygienic purposes only, is permissible but should not be noticeable on presentation. The hair on the feet and between the pads should be neatly trimmed for the express purpose of a tidy presentation. Any other trimming or sculpting of the coat is to be so severely penalized as to preclude placement. Because correct gait is essential to breed type, the Havanese should be presented at natural speed on a loose lead.

Faults: The foregoing description is that of the ideal Havanese. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation keeping in mind the importance of the contribution of the various features toward the "original purpose of the breed."

Disqualifications:
· Height at withers under 8 ½ or over 11 ½ inches except that the minimum height range shall not apply to dogs or bitches under twelve months of age.
· Complete absence of black (or chocolate in the chocolate dog) pigmentation on the eyerims, nose or lips
· An atypical short coat on an adult. (Atypical refers to a smooth, flat coat with, or without furnishings.)