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History of the Havanese. The Havanese is a part of the Bichon family which includes the Maltese the Bichon Frise the Lowchen and the Coton de Tulear. Bichons had become a fashionable lapdog in europe during the renaissance, perhaps even earlier, in those days Spain mantained a fierce monopoly over Cuba and it is probable that the first lapdogs to reach the island came directly from Spain, or via Spain from other countries which had trade contact with the Spanish. Because of this monopoly Cuba carried on what has been termed a ransom trade with French, English & Dutch pirates and colonists. They aquired from them much of what they could not in legal trade. It is not impossible that these contacts introduced some lapdogs into Cuba especially at the end of the 19th century. All this leads to the conclusion that the most remote origins of the Bichon Havanese go back to the spanish and european type lapdogs. Which were bred with the earlier Cuban lapdog known as Blanquito de la Habana (Havana Silk dog).When spain ended the trade monopoly in Cuba immigrants who lived in the French colonies of Santo Domingo and Haiti moved to Cuba due to the revolution which erupted there, not only did they bring with them their wealth and culture, life style but natrually their lapdogs. Gradually a new breed arrived on the scene the Bichon Havanese in the 19th century, as a result of mateing the Blanquito de la Habana with Poodles. In any case the Bichon Havanese is above all (and outside any hypotheses concerning its origin) the sum of a great variety of antecedents as are the Cuban people themselves. The Havanese is the Cuban version of the Bichon lapdog abundant in europe since the renaissance. Like the Blanquito de la Habana before it the Havanese was the pet of the Colonial aristocracy until the begining of the twentieth century, when North American tastes were imposed, producing a change in canine fashion. From then on the Havanese was no longer the mascot of the rich and famous but instead became the darling and affectionate friend of the ordinary people of Cuba. In Cuba the Havanese has become not only a trusted friend but also a very successful show dog, enjoying great succuss because of its grace and happy disposition. In the 1950's due to the revolution many Cuban's fled taking with them their Havanese to America. Due to the dedication of the Cuban club of the Bichon Havanese and responsiable breeding programs the Havanese has been saved from extinction. The club was formed in 1991. The first Havanese to be imported into England came in 1993 imported by Barbra Beneson to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude for introducing us to this delightful little dog. In 1994 the Havanese club of Great Britain was founded, the club then introduced the intrim breed standard in 1996. In the following year the Havanese were recognized by the kennel club and were entered onto the import register, also in the same year U.K. toy dog listed the first Havanese classes at their championship show. In the year 2000 the Havanese came off the import register and were given rare breed status. We are the gaurdians of this fantastic breed and all need to work together to preserve them for future generations to love and adore as they deserve to be. |
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