Putting Your Havanese In The Show Ring



Posted: Tuesday, July 07, 2009

by
GreatDogSite.com

People all over the country are won over by the charming personality of the Havanese dog breed. Being very popular, these dogs are showing up more frequently at dog competitions. There are certain standards a Havanese must have to be able to compete in a professional dog show, the dog must be shorter rather than longer, have a rectangular confirmation and have a silky textured coat with long, wavy hair. The coat of a show Havanese should not be trimmed or styled in any particular manner. The Havanese breed should be playful in nature, and makes an excellent companion for people of all ages. In the past, these dogs have been a welcomed playmate for small children, are great watchdogs and ideal for herding purposes. The way the dog appears shows their true character and how well they adapt to working.

A Havanese has a medium length neck which curves and arches gracefully. The chest is expansive and deep, reaching all the way down to the elbows. With a tail set high, it should arch deliberately over the back and possess no curvature or curling. The arms of the dog are short with enough of an angle for the legs to rest directly under the body. The paws should be well-rounded with arching toes that point straight out. The dewclaws can be left on the front feet, however, should be removed from the back feet. A Havanese is double-coated, however, it differs from the typical coat of a cold-natured dog breed; the texture is soft and silky, wavy and long, not wooly or bushy. The coat can be of any coloration and a corded-coat is also allowable. Since the breed originated in the tropics, the coat has the added function of protecting the dog from the hot weather and glare of the sun. The head hair should not be placed in a top-knot, the hair on the head is meant to shield the eyes from the sunlight.

The Havanese breed has a top line that rises a bit at the rear and a shorter upper arm. The breed has a springy step and is very agile, with a deliberate gait. Height wise, the standards for show state the dog must be between 8.5-11.5 inches tall. The dog has big, wide set eyes which are dark brown and almond-shaped; lighter brown colorations in the chocolate range are acceptable, but not preferred. The rims of the eyes should be lined completely with black pigment; however, a chocolate colored dog might have chocolate colored pigment. The ears of a Havanese should be set high, have a distinct fold and be medium length, reaching approximately half the distance of the nose when extended outward. The Havanese skull is rounded and broad; the muzzle is a bit shorter in length than the skull. The dog should have a squared, broad nose which is black in color; there are exceptions made for dogs of chocolate coloration, which can have a chocolate colored nose, and the teeth of a Havanese should meet in a perfect scissor bite.

This article was written by John Jackson and has been contributed by http://www.greatdogsite.com. For more information on the Havanese, please visit our page http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Havanese/.
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