in 1991. CCBH is a member of the Cuban Kennel Club which belongs to FCI. The Havanese was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996, and a total of 1,307 HCA registered Havanese were granted AKC regis- tration. As so often happens when AKC recognizes a new breed, the popularity of the breed has exploded since recognition. When Havanese began showing for championships in January of 1999, they were virtu- ally unknown by breeders of other breeds of dogs. After a few months, the Havanese was being noticed by other breeders – a lot of other breed- ers. Breeders of larger breeds who were thinking of downsizing to a smaller breed were especially notic- ing them. According to the AKC Reg- istration Statistics, in 1999 a total of 626 individual dogs were registered with AKC. In 2001 the Havanese was ranked 75th of 146 breeds. In 2011, Havanese were ranked 32nd of 173 breeds with 4,466 dogs registered that year. Havanese have become popular as competitors in companion events. They train easily and are willing performers. Many now compete in Obedience, Rally and Agility, and also participate in Tracking Trials, Flyball competition and Musical Freestyle dance. Early on in Agil- ity competition, the Havanese were dubbed “The Flying Furballs”. There are several OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) and MACH (Master Agility Champion) titled Havanese, with others working toward those titles. With their joyful attitude, they do well in every venue. They excel in Therapy work where their small size, loving disposition and happy attitude make them favorites. Numerous Ha- vanese have earned the AKCTherapy Dog title. The future of the Havanese is bright, with demand for the breed as both pets and show dogs continuing to be strong.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In the early 1960s I en- rolled our mixed breed family dog in obedience school and joined the o b e d i e n c e club. Sub- s e q u e n t l y I trained a
Labrador Retriever that belonged to a member of the obedience club, and put a CD title on her while I was in high school. In 1967 I bought a Cairn Terrier to show in Conformation. For over 25 years I showed and bred Cairn Ter- riers, producing several champions in that breed. I continued in Obedi- ence also, and earned titles on other dogs. Two of my Cairns participated in American Working Terrier Associa- tion Earthdog tests and had Earthdog titles. I became interested in Havanese in 1995.We purchased our firstHavanese from Lynn Nieto, and that dog finished her HCA Championship and Rare Breed Championships as a puppy. In January 1999, Ch. Los Perritos Over- look Salsa ROM, became the first Ha- vanese bitch to finish an AKC champi- onship. Although I rarely have puppies, I have bred 19 Havanese champions, with several others soon to be shown. I have also finished Championships on several Havanese bred by other people. A member of the Havanese Club of America since 1997, I have served on a number of committees over the years. Currently I am the Correspond- ing Secretary of HCA, chair of the Standard Committee and a member of the Awards Committee. As Chair- man of the Standard Committee I was given the responsibility of form- ing a committee to produce the new Judges Education presentation. It is currently being used for Judges Education presentations.
An 1860 engraving from France showing the Petit Chien Havane (Little Dog of Havana).
They consisted of a bitch with four fe- male puppies, plus an unrelated young male dog. Subsequently, she was able to purchase five additional male dogs from a Cuban exile who was moving from Costa Rica to Texas and was no longer able to keep his dogs. By 1974 Havanese were being bred in the United States by American breed- ers, using the 1963 FCI Standard for Bichon Havanese. Mrs. Goodale subsequently modified that standard. Mrs. Goodale and a group of other breeders founded the Havanese Club of America in 1979. Beginning in the last quarter of the 20th century, breeding of Havanese in Cuba has increased. Zoila Guerra Portuondo founded the Cuban Club of the Bichon Havanese (CCBH) Poulka de Dieghem, a chestnut brown bitch, was exhibited at the Tuileries in Paris in 1907. Leighton describes her as a Havana Spaniel. 1 1 Leighton, Robert. The New Book of the Dog. London: Cassell. 1907. Page 539
T op N otch T oys , O ctober 2019 • 59
Powered by FlippingBook