Havanese

The Havanese descends from the small Bichon-type dogs carried to Cuba by Spanish settlers, where they became the pampered companions of Havana's wealthy families and earned the name Havana Silk Dog. The breed nearly disappeared after the Cuban revolution, surviving through a handful of dogs taken abroad by exiled families and rebuilt by American fanciers from the 1970s. It remains Cuba's national dog.

Havanese are lively, affectionate and highly people-oriented, often described as velcro dogs for how closely they follow their owners from room to room. They're outgoing with strangers, generally good with children who handle them gently, and get on well with other dogs when socialised as puppies. This is a breed that genuinely wants to be wherever its people are.

That attachment can tip into separation distress if the dog is regularly left alone for long periods, so build up alone time gradually. They're intelligent and food-motivated, which makes them responsive to reward-based training. It also means treat allowances need planning into the daily calorie total, and not added on top.

A Havanese's small frame and moderate exercise needs mean its daily calorie requirement is modest, so a few extra treats or table scraps can easily tip the balance towards weight gain. An energy-dense small-breed kibble in carefully weighed portions keeps body condition in check across the breed's long lifespan, so do not free-feed. Two small meals a day suit them better than one.

The breed can be prone to liver shunts. Owners of an affected dog should follow their vet's guidance on a specially formulated diet, and not a standard recipe. For healthy Havanese, a small-breed formula with joint-supporting nutrients and a kibble sized for a small jaw supports mobility and dental health as they age.

Every dog is different — weight, age and activity all shift what a Havanese needs. The Food Finder turns these breed tendencies into a shortlist matched to your dog’s age, size, budget and needs.