Havanese

This cheerful, socialable little dog is the only dog breed native to Cuba and has a fascinating history. The breed comes from the Bichon family of dogs and is related to the Bichon Frise and the Maltese, as they were likely ancestors. The wealthy planters and aristocrats of Cuba were the owners of the Havanese, which gets it’s name from Cuba’s capital city, Havana. The breed’s forerunner was thought to have been brought to Cuba by seafaring Italians or possibly the Spaniards. In any case, the breed was further refined over 300 years and may have been crossed with poodles…