Havanese

Havanese, also known as Havana Bichon, originated from Cuba and is a strong short-legged small dog.

It has a wide and flat cranial vault, large oval eyes, and thick fur. The fur is soft and dense, commonly in gold, silver, white, blue, and other solid colors with some spots, among which pure white is the most rare. The tail is hairy and curved, and the gait is elastic. It used to be a entertaining toy and a symbol of noble status for South American nobles. Now it has become the sweetheart of American dog enthusiasts and one of their favorites.

Havanese is lively in character, cute in appearance, and has delicate and rich emotions, which is deeply loved by people.

The history of Havana dogs can be traced back to the 18th century, and it is a very ancient breed in the Shih Tzu family. Since the birth of Havana Beagle, it has been decided its own destiny and has been specially designed for people's enjoyment. It almost has a natural instinct to distinguish between the poor and the rich, the lower class and the upper class, and is tirelessly accustomed to shuttle around the feet of the nobles, shaking its head and wagging its tail, competing for favor and flattering, all for the sake of living a good life of fine clothes and delicious food. This comfortable and idle dog life is undoubtedly a confusing and tempting bad example, so many people are learning from them, preferring to be a first-class dog rather than a third-class person. There are two theories about its ancestral origin. Some people believe that in the late 18th century, Italian farmers from a village called Emilia brought a number of "Polonaise" puppies from Bologna to Argentina by boat. After arriving in Argentina, they mated these puppies with South American noble dogs, thereby breeding South American Shih Tzu. After these Shih Tzu dogs entered Cuba, the locals named them "Havana Dog" based on the Cuban place name, so its alias is Havana Dog (Ha-vanais). Others believe that it is the descendant of the Maltese dogs brought to the West Indies by the Spaniards. However, from the physical appearance and hair quality, it obviously has the characteristics of the Italian Bolognese dog (that is, the Bologna Shih Tzu) and the South American noble dog, so most people follow the former theory.

According to historical records, the earliest mention of the ancestors of Havana dogs can be traced back to the Polynesians era in the Mediterranean region, and it is said that it may have originated from the island of Malta. Some of the dogs in Spain and Italy may have originated from Havana dogs, and now people call them Havana dogs.

Actually, the current Havana dog is the descendant of a local dog in Cuba. After the end of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, many Havana dogs were introduced to the United States and gained the love of the American people.

Havanese dogs are a satisfying, friendly, and strong small breed of dog. Due to their friendly nature, they are excellent candidates for obedience training.

Although Havanese dogs are long-haired, they shed very little. Moreover, their fur texture is most similar to that of humans. They are one of the few dogs that do not cause fur allergies, making them ideal for people who love dogs but are allergic to dog fur.

These dogs have low energy levels, so they do not require a large amount of space for activities. However, they are more suitable for living in quieter environments. They are a good match for busy professionals and students with limited free time.

1. Heart disease

Dog heart disease is often related to obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it mainly manifests as fatigue, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. Dog heart disease is difficult to detect, and by the time the owner notices it, the dog is often seriously ill.

2. Infectious diseases

Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common malignant infectious diseases in dogs, with a high mortality rate. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in time are prone to contracting these two infectious diseases. Once they become ill, symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, increased body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea may occur.

3. Kidney disease

When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The terrible thing about dog kidney disease is the unconscious process of the disease. By the time the owner discovers it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells often exceeds 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms usually include bloody urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.

4. Parasites

Gastrointestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, lethargy, diarrhea, presence of worms in the feces, and pale gum mucosa. Heartworm is a parasitic worm that lives in the dog's heart. When dogs are infected, they may experience poor vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and ascites.

5. Canine pneumonia

Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory tract system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and increased body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.

Havanese dogs are small in size and light in weight, so they don't have a large appetite. Be careful not to overfeed them.

In general, this breed is very easy to care for, the only drawback is the grooming. Because their fur is long and thick, it needs to be regularly brushed. After one year old, it is best to trim their fur every month or month and a half, or brush it twice a week to prevent tangles.

1. Do not bathe frequently

Bathing dogs, of course, should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing dogs depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, dogs can be bathed one or two more times, and in winter, one or two times can be reduced. However, the total number should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage their fur and skin!

2. Brush regularly

Dogs shed their hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. To promote good hair growth, regular brushing is important. Pet owners can use pet-specific combs to help the dog clean the naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once at night for about five minutes each time is sufficient.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's hair and can make the fur more shiny. Sunbathing can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, the owner can let the dog exercise a bit, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.

4. Deworming

Poor hair condition is closely related to parasitic worms. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, which can lead to poor fur quality. Regular deworming is necessary. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming together. Deworming medication can cause significant harm to the dog's stomach, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order to have beautiful fur, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritious dog food that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can give the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil, etc.