Skip to content
PetPrep
Get early access

Animal register · DogIn the app

Havanese

Bichon Havanais

The Havanese is a small member of the bichon family and the national dog of Cuba. Its standard describes a sturdy little dog, low on its legs, with a very long, soft, flat or wavy coat that is never trimmed, and a tail carried high over the back. It comes in fawn, black, havana brown, tobacco, reddish brown and, rarely, white, with or without patches and tan markings.

Its standard calls it affectionate, playful and even a bit of a clown, and says it loves children and plays endlessly with them; UK sources call it an excellent family pet given the right socialisation, and easy to train. It needs about 30 minutes of exercise a day, can live in a flat, and does not shed — but its long coat needs grooming every day to prevent knots and tangles.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Havanese — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
small — The Royal Kennel Club S138
Adult weight
3–6 kg — PDSA S140
Daily exercise
up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S138
Brushing
every day — The Royal Kennel Club S138
Shedding
does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S138
Lifespan
more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S138

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • apartment livingS138
  • family lifeS140
  • families with childrenS136
  • homes that prefer less sheddingS138

Keep in mind:

  • needs brushing several times a weekS138S140

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S138

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S138
  • Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S138
  • Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S138

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S138

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S138
  • Height at the withers: 23–27 cm — FCI S136
  • Adult weight: 3–6 kg — PDSA S140

Training

  • FCI standard no. 250, group 9 (companion and toy dogs); origin: Cuba. — FCI S137

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Havanese need?

According to our sources, the Havanese needs this much exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S138.

How long does a Havanese live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Havanese is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S138.

How big does a Havanese get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Havanese, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S138; Adult weight: 3–6 kg — PDSA S140.

How much grooming does a Havanese need?

Coat and grooming of the Havanese, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S138; Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S138; Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S138.

Who is the Havanese a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Havanese as a good fit for: apartment living — The Royal Kennel Club S138; family life — PDSA S140; families with children — FCI S136; homes that prefer less shedding — The Royal Kennel Club S138. Keep in mind: needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S138S140.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3
Young dogmonth 923,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)23,000 steps
Seniormonth 108 (9 years)22,300 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing 7 times a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S138

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S140
  • Eye problems occur in the breed: progressive retinal atrophy, which can slowly lead to blindness, and extra eyelashes that rub on the eye (distichiasis); breeders are advised to have the parents' eyes tested. — PDSA S140
  • A portosystemic (liver) shunt, where blood bypasses the liver, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S140

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S138

Further tests for best practice

  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S138

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S136FCI — FCI-Standard N° 250 — Havanese, EN (PDF)https://dev.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/250g09-en.pdf
  11. S137FCI — Breeds nomenclature — Havanese (250)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/HAVANESE-250.html
  12. S138The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Havanesehttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/havanese/
  13. S140PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — Havanese breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/small-dogs/havanese
  14. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  15. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  16. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  17. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  18. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

Ready for a pet?

Be among the first families to try PetPrep. We will email you when it is ready — nothing else.

By subscribing you agree to receive emails about PetPrep. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy