The precise development of the Havanese remains shrouded in mystery. Most researchers agree that during the Spanish empire, a small, white silky coated dog roamed the Mediterranean coast and was variously identified as the Little Silk Dog, the Melita, the Caniche. As Columbus' discoveries opened up shipping lanes to the New World, ship captains transported the small silk dog from continent to continent.
By the end of the 17th century luxury dogs
were entering Cuba by both legitimate and
clandestine routes.
The small Cuban dog bred from the imported toys was smaller than its ancestors, with an all white coat the texture more in keeping with the taste and conditions of the island owners.
Known at first as the Blanquito Cubano, it made its successful debut in England, sometime in the 18th century. Black havanese, like the one to the left, was considered undesireable and not permitted in the showring in Europe until the end of the 20th century.
The Blanquito de la Habana, as it was later called, with its diminutive size, alert expression and affectionate nature fit perfectly with emerging Cuban tastes which emphasized white clothing, soft food, indulgent manners, and appealing good looks.
At the beginning of the 20th century, new fashions and tastes reached Cuba. While the breed was developed in Cuba by aristocratic owners of vast sugar plantations, litters were never for commercial sale, but were planned for the express purpose of giving to intimate friends and family members.
By 1900 after slavery had ended many of the
Cuban sugar plantation owners could not afford or
could not adapt to the change and sold their
plantations for enormous prices. Some Havanese remained with new Cuban owners, some returned to Europe where they could be enjoyed performing tricks and the "happy havanese dance" in circus acts.
An ad from 1988 when the Havanese, after being returned to Europe, began to become well established.
Dorothy Goodale at her book signing.
Cuba's communist revolution from 1958-1960 almsot decimated the breed. Three families fled Cuba taking their Havanese with them--the Perez and Fantasio Families, who were the first
Havanese breeders in the US and Senior Barba, a Cuban gentleman who was the first Havanese breeder in Costa Rica.
By 1974 eleven dogs, representing three different bloodlines were gathered from these sources to establish
a breeding program by Dorothy Goodale and her husband, Burt. Dorothy and Burt chanced upon an advertisement for six pedigreed Havanese after they had spent years investigating elusive references to these little dogs. Mrs. Goodale placed advertisements in Latn papers offering to purchase Havanese and received only one response. Senior Barber in Costa Rica agreed to sell his Havanese to the Goodales and in 1979 the Havanese Club of America [HCA] was founded by a small group of newly involved breeders and supporters and the registry was established.
The Havanese have been recognized by the Federacion Cinologica de Cuba since 1963 which has appealed to the International
Federation to reinstate Cuba's patrimony of its only native breed.
The Havanese have recently joined the Toy Groups in the US, Canada, and Europe. It is estimated that 4,000 Havanese are owned in the United States today and another 7,000 world wide.
