Havanese: Needs & Common Issues

A Havanese can fill a compact home with cheerful company. In its 2025 registration figures, the Canadian Kennel Club ranked this breed seventh, a sign of their appeal to families across Canada. Bred for companionship, these little dogs usually prefer joining household activities to spending time in another room. Their attachment to people also calls for thoughtful teaching. Hallway sounds can trigger barking, departures may unsettle them and toilet routines need consistency. Use gentle guidance, playful interaction and brief lessons to build good habits. Shared expectations help everyone teach the same rules, giving your Havanese a clear path to becoming a relaxed member of the household.

What the Havanese was bred to do

The Havanese belongs to the Bichon family, alongside the Maltese and the Bichon Frise. Its ancestors came from the western Mediterranean, and early sea traders carried these small dogs to Cuba. There, the breed developed into a prized companion and children’s playmate for wealthy Cuban families. The Cuban revolution of the late 1950s nearly wiped the breed out, and a handful of dogs taken to the United States helped rebuild it.

Your Havanese brings that companion heritage into everyday life. Staying close to people comes naturally to a breed developed for company, while their past as a children’s playmate helps explain their enthusiasm for attention and games. The devoted families who preserved the Havanese also reflect the close human connection that remains central to the breed.

What a Havanese is like to live with

Happy, outgoing and receptive to training are qualities the Canadian Kennel Club highlights in the Havanese. These small companions generally welcome new people, enjoy children’s company and live comfortably with other pets. A sturdy build and springy gait give them a lively presence, while their activity requirements fit urban and suburban routines.

Such devotion can make independence difficult. A Havanese may trail their favourite person through the house, then become unsettled once everyone leaves. Their appealing face and small stature can also tempt families to overlook manners. They still need thoughtful teaching, just as a much larger companion would.

Common Havanese behaviour problems and how to fix them

Barking at noises and visitors

For an attentive Havanese, footsteps outside a condo or movement beyond the window can seem worth announcing. Knocks and arriving guests may set off another round. When their family offers no direction, this little companion may take on the job of monitoring every disturbance. Recognize the warning without adding excitement, then calmly take responsibility for greeting visitors. We explain ways to reduce these noisy habits in our barking guide. For entrance-specific practice, explore our advice on doorbell barking.

Struggling when left alone

Of the challenges Havanese families bring to us, being left alone tops the list. A dog bred for close companionship may bark, damage possessions or toilet indoors during an absence. Start with very short periods apart, adding time gradually without making departures or returns a big event. Allow time beforehand for a game and a little mental activity. Find practical routines in our guide to staying home alone. For a closer look at distress when people leave, read our explanation of separation anxiety.

Toilet training setbacks

A tiny accident tucked behind furniture can escape notice, allowing a Havanese to repeat it. Their small bladder makes regular toilet opportunities important. Choose one outdoor location, visit it consistently and offer gentle praise immediately after they finish. Inside, keep your little companion within sight while they learn. For a fuller routine, including outings on chilly Canadian mornings, follow our puppy toilet-training guide.

Jumping and demanding attention

Picking up a Havanese after they paw your legs, leap towards you or bark for company can accidentally encourage another performance. Even a pat or a conversation may supply the attention they wanted. Agree on a quiet, consistent approach throughout the household, saving affection for moments when your dog stands calmly on all four feet. Our article on jumping up at people explains how to change this greeting habit.

Small dog, big rules

Owners often carry small dogs past problems instead of teaching them how to cope. Over time, some Havanese start growling when someone moves them off the bed or snapping when picked up. Treat your Havanese the way you would treat a large dog: clear rules, calm handling practice and no free passes because of size. If you see growling, read why dogs growl.

Resisting grooming and handling

Lifelong coat care is part of living with a Havanese. Squirming, mouthing or growling can turn brushing into a struggle. Begin with brief, relaxed handling, praise a steady stance and gradually lengthen sessions as your dog becomes comfortable.

Exercise and mental work for a Havanese

A Havanese needs daily activity and plenty of interaction, though the amount is modest compared with larger breeds. Mix short outings with brain work:

• Neighbourhood outings give your Havanese opportunities to practise relaxed walking at your side. Find practical guidance in our article on reducing lead pulling.
• Trick training, which suits a breed with a long history as a performer and family entertainer.
• Scent games such as hiding treats or a favourite toy around the house.
• Gentle play with family members, with clear rules for when the game ends.
• Coming when called starts inside with your Havanese, then moves to quiet, secure settings. Follow our recall training instructions for guidance.

Havanese and Canadian winters

Cuba’s tropical climate shaped the Havanese, and their little bodies lose warmth quickly. On bitterly cold days, shorten outdoor trips. Afterwards, remove trapped snow or ice from their coat and rinse road salt from their paws. Trim the fur between their paw pads, too. Use indoor play and brief lessons to stay engaged through winter evenings. Our winter activity advice offers options when walks become shorter.

Havanese in condos and apartments

A Havanese can thrive in a condo when their family addresses noisy alerts. Start early with quiet responses to footsteps outside the unit, encounters with neighbours and elevator rides, rather than letting every shared-space sound become a barking cue.

Grooming and health basics

The Havanese’s silky hair sheds little, which appeals to some families concerned about allergies. That coat still offers no assurance that an allergy-sensitive person will tolerate them. Prevent tangles by brushing several times a week, or choose a shorter trim for easier maintenance. Keep hair around the eyes clean and neatly trimmed. Ask your veterinarian about an appropriate weight for your small companion and health checks relevant to Havanese. When looking for a puppy, take time to investigate breeders before making your decision.

Is a Havanese right for you?

A Havanese suits you if you:

• Want an affectionate companion who loves to be with you
• Can offer your Havanese company through most daytime hours
• Make your home in an apartment, condo or compact house
• Can keep up with regular brushing or grooming visits

Before choosing a Havanese, consider how you’ll meet their need for company if everyone regularly spends long hours away.

How Bark Busters helps Havanese owners

We work with your Havanese at home, where visitor greetings, corridor noises and couch manners actually happen. During lessons, we guide household members in using their voice, body position and movements to communicate clearly. Predictable boundaries can help this watchful little companion relax rather than supervise every arrival or sound. Many families see a worthwhile change in their dog’s behaviour at the first visit.

Every training program includes our Life Of Dog Support Guarantee. From your Havanese’s puppy lessons through their senior years, your trainer remains available to help with training needs as life with your companion changes.

Havanese FAQs

Are Havanese easy to train?
Yes. Havanese are eager, quick learners who enjoy attention. Toilet training and time alone take patience, so start both early.

Are Havanese noisy companions?
Hallway sounds and arriving visitors often prompt a Havanese to raise the alarm. Training can reduce persistent barking by helping them trust you to manage greetings and respond to unfamiliar activity.

Do Havanese enjoy family life with children?
These playful companions usually enjoy youngsters. Have children cuddle while seated at ground level instead of lifting the dog. Always oversee interactions involving toddlers.

How do Havanese cope with time alone?
They can learn to manage brief absences through gradual practice. This people-focused breed generally suits a household that offers plenty of daytime company.

Do Havanese shed?
Very little, but the coat tangles easily. Regular brushing or a shorter pet trim keeps it comfortable.

Wondering how a Havanese compares with other breeds? Visit our library of breed training guides, then learn how a dog’s background shapes behaviour in Does Breed Matter?

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