When I introduce Mr. Darcy, I get one of two responses. Many people immediately look at him and say "Darcy, aren't you cute!". Alternatively, pretty much an equal number of people look up quickly, meet my eyes and say "Mister Darcy! I love that!!". Those are the fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice who totally get me.
The same thing happens when I tell people he is the Havanese breed. They either completely melt or they say, "you mean like a Shih-Tzu?". Let me be clear, I'm completely fine with all of these people groups. My point is just that if you don't know what a Havanese is, then I need to introduce you to this somewhat lesser known purebred option in the "toy" dog category.
When I was looking to add to our household with dog #2 I had a much clearer picture of what I was looking for than just cute....I mean gosh they are dogs - they are all cute! The Havanese checked all the bullets for me:
Toy breed (size)
Non-shedding
Low pitch bark
Didn't need a ton of physical exercise
High on the human companion or "velcro" dog scale
The last one might seem surprising, but I really wanted a little buddy that I was going to take with me wherever I could. I was also prepared, financially, to pay for doggie daycare. Enter the Havanese dog breed!
The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the Havanese as "cheerful little dogs with a spring in their step". Mr. Darcy definitely has some bounce to him. Sometimes I swear he is literally hopping on all fours when he gets excited. In the winter time he looks like a rabbit bouncing through the snow! In addition to the visual appeal, there is research that speaks to the positive behavioral attributes as well.
When Dr. James Serpell conducted the research that led to developing C-BARQ for assessing dog temperament, he included the Havanese breed because it was one of the 30 most popular breeds according to the AKC at that time. Out of about eight or so toy breeds included in the research, the Havanese out-performed the group and was a bit of a positive anomaly. The evidence showed them to be less likely to display fear, aggression and anxiety related issues than their similar sized counterparts. They also had a higher than average trainability rating!
Mr. Darcy has been incredibly joyful to train. He is extremely eager to please and is a spectacular little problem solver. Whether that's breed specific or just my experience I can't say. I know that I put more than the average pet owner amount of time into training, building confidence, shaping and playing with him from the time I got him at about ten weeks old.
When one of the other dogs in our family (who shall remain nameless, you know who you are!) takes a bone away from Mr. Darcy, he basically lets it happen. Then, after a minute or two, he wanders off into another room and we hear "bark bark bark". The Bone-Thief (BT) then drops the prize and races off to check out the fuss. Now that BT is distracted, Mr. Darcy calmly saunters back into the room and retrieves the bone again. What a guy.
If you are considering a Havanese dog or puppy I would make a few suggestions regarding budget:
Be prepared to set aside the time and money to learn how to train them. The smallest of dogs can and should do everything the biggest dogs do, just on their own scale.
If you are looking for a puppy, then find a reputable breeder who is putting dog health first. You should expect to spend several thousand dollars. Breeding responsibly is very expensive. If you aren't sure how to find a great breeder then ask the local Veterinarians. A great breeder will be well known to their Vet.
Budget for regular grooming (every 6-10 weeks depending on your preference)
Make plans for daycare or a dog walker so that you don't make your velcro breed dog at higher risk to develop mental health issues.
On a sober note, even the sweetest of dog breeds could develop behaviors that are completely opposite of what is typical. I have a friend who knew only one Havanese and she felt it was extremely aggressive and an incessant barker. The first few days, weeks and months are absolutely critical for setting you and your dog up for success.
I also know people who have successfully rescued Havanese and had amazing success! That's a super special bond as you are often saving each other.
In conclusion.....Havanese please?!
References
What the C-BARQ can tell us about canine temperament. Lecture by James Serpell 2014.
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