drop while the dog is standing still and relaxed, though it should never be tucked. The tail plume can fall forward over the back or lie to either side of the body, which can create optical illusions; either shortening or lengthening the appearance of the dog. Puppies will naturally have less coat on their tails, which can cause a slightly higher tail carriage with- out the weight of the hair seen in an adult dog. Regardless, the puppy’s tail should still arch forward and over the back and show no evidence of point- ing straight up. The final component of outline, the topline, is so important to breed type that it is its own critical element of The Havanese topline is one of the most misunderstood components of the Havanese. The AKC stan- dard calls for a straight, but not level topline, rising slightly from the with- ers to the croup. It is as important that the topline be straight as it is that the topline have a slight rise. This charac- teristic topline is a result of the bal- anced front and rear angulation and the shorter upper arm in comparison to the scapula. It is the presence of a shorter upper arm with good return that drops the front ever so slightly, causing a slight rise. The correct Ha- vanese topline must be caused by this unique Havanese conformation and not by structural faults such as short forelegs or straight rear angulation. It is important to evaluate the topline both on the exam table as well as the on the move, as the straight, slight rise should be present both while standing and when in motion. On the table, it breed type! TOPLINE
is imperative to feel the topline from the withers to the croup to ensure it is straight and only slightly rising to the high-set tail. This is most easily accomplished by gently using finger- tips to feel it in a continuous motion, starting at the withers and ending at the tailset. GAIT The spring in the Havanese gait is a result of the breed’s structure com- bined with its happy-go-lucky per- sonality. At a trot, the slightly shorter upper arm creates a slight lift in the front in order to balance the rear ac- tion. This, combined with the joy- ous nature of the breed, gives them a jaunty air and a lightness on their feet. The spring in the movement should never be so excessive that it becomes a bounce and detracts from sound- ness or the forward motion of the dog. It is important to note that the upper arm shouldn’t be so short that it restricts the front legs from reach- ing forward freely. The breed must have moderate reach and drive, with both excessive and insufficient reach and drive being equally contrary to breed type. The head is naturally car- ried high and is balanced by the tail carried arched over the back. The Havanese must carry its tail up and over the back while moving and can- not be awarded if the tail is carried down or tucked. The slight rise to the topline must be held on the move. There is minimal-to-no convergence toward a centerline of the front or hind legs when moving. While a flash of the pad may be seen on the down and back, it is not a requirement. It is more important to evaluate for sound action than to watch for a flash of the pad.
EXPRESSION Correct expression is critical to Ha- vanese breed type and is created by the sum of the individual parts of the head along with the joyful personality of the breed. Havanese should have a twinkle in their eyes as if to say they are excited for whatever adventure comes next. The almond eye shape is essen- tial to expression. Havanese is the only member of the Bichon fam- ily of breeds whose standard calls for an almond-shaped eye, thus, a round eye gives a more generic “Bi- chon” look rather than the desired mischievous Havanese expression. Similarly, the large size of the eye is critical to add the softness to the ex- pression described in the standard. As almond-shaped eyes can trend smaller, the balance between the shape and size of the eye is delicate yet crucial to Havanese type. Although not explicitly stated in the standard, the eyes should be set moderately far apart to fit with the broad skull, muzzle, and nose. Narrowly set eyes give an incorrect pinched expression. To preserve the desired expression, Havanese should also have very dark eyes. While there is an allowance for chocolate dogs to have a slightly light- er brown eye, a dark eye is always pre- ferred regardless of coat color. It is important to note that with the skull and nose, being described as broad and the muzzle as full, the Ha- vanese head should be robust to fit with the sturdy body. To achieve the desired expression, the muzzle should be slightly shorter than the skull, and it is imperative that the head planes be parallel. Every other Havanese
36 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
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