Are Havanese Good With Cats?
The Havanese is a breed of dog that is able to get along well with other pets in the home.
If you have other dogs, or cats, the Havanese will do well with them as long as your Havanese is properly socialized. Some people think that if you have a dog, you cannot have a cat, or vice versa, but it really just comes down to the breed of dog!
Some dogs do have a high prey drive, so they will not get along well with cats as they may see them as prey, rather than a companion.
Havanese and Cats
There is a bit of a never-ending debate between pet owners, and that is the debate of dogs vs cats. Many people are either die-hard “dog people” or diehard “cat people”. That being said, there are also many people who like both animals, and even own cats and dogs at the same time. Of course, this does require having dogs and cats that do get along with the other species. Not every dog or every cat will be able to do this. This is also easier for certain breeds of dogs and cats.
You may be wondering if the Havanese, which has become very popular, is one of the breeds that is good with cats. Below, we will go over the Havanese breed in greater detail, and will also discuss whether or not the Havanese is a breed of dog that can get along well with our feline friends!
Also Read – Are Havanese Easy to Train?
What Is a Havanese Dog?
The Havanese dog breed is easily recognizable by a number of features, including its small stature and long, silky coat. Havanese typically only grows to be between 8 ½ to 11 ½ inches high at the shoulder. The healthy Havanese averages between 7 and 13 pounds in weight. The breed also has a tail that curves over the back, and drop ears with pronounced folds. Havanese were bred to be companion dogs. This means that they are gentle, sweet, and affectionate, too. They are known to be eager to please and very smart as well! Below, we will go over the history of the Havanese breed in more detail.
Also Read – Best Havanese Training Books
Havanese Breed History
The Havanese dog breed is one that originated from Cuba. It is even the national dog of Cuba to this day! The ancestors of this breed were first brought to the country by Spanish settlers. The Blanquito breed, which is now extinct, was bred with members of the Bichon family. These could have included the poodle or the Bichon Frise. The resulting offspring were the early Havanese puppies! Breeders combined the desirable traits of both breeds to create a new breed, which we now know today as the Havanese. It did take several rounds of breeding, or generations of puppies, to achieve the breed standard for the Havanese that we are familiar with in the present day.
Havanese dogs were bred to be companion dogs. For this reason, they became popular with the wealthy and elite families of Cuba. When the Cuban Revolution began, many of these families escaped the country and fled to America. Those who could brought their dogs with them. This introduced the dogs to the American market, and a demand for this new, cuddly breed quickly sprang up. American breeders worked to breed more Havanese from the dogs that had come over from Cuba, and the breed has risen in popularity ever since.
Also Read – Are Havanese Dogs Fussy Eaters?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Havanese be aggressive?
Havanese dogs were bred to be companion dogs, meaning that they are sweet and affectionate, and cuddly, too! Because of this, Havanese are not typically known to be an aggressive breed.
Rather, they have a gentle and sweet temperament. Havanese can be mischievous, though, and if not trained properly, they can get into all sorts of trouble and may push and try to get away with anything that they can.
There are some instances where a Havanese could be aggressive, just as it could happen with any breed that is not trained or socialized properly, but it is uncommon!
What dog is best with cats?
If you are trying to get a dog when you already have cats— or want to get a cat when you already have a dog— it is crucial that you make sure the animals will get along.
There are certain breeds that will get along with cats better than others. For example, some types of dogs have a very strong prey drive, which is not their fault. It is just something that was bred into them!
But they would not be a good fit for a house that has cats. Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds of dogs that is best with cats.
Are Havanese good with other pets?
If you are introducing a new pet into your home, you should be sure that you have chosen a pet that will react well to having other pets around, whether they are the same species or not.
Havanese dogs have a fairly sweet and cuddly temperament, and they get along well with children, adults, and other pets, too. If your Havanese is properly socialized, then it should do fine with other pets. In fact, your Havanese may thrive even more from having other animals around!
Is a Havanese a good first dog?
There are certain breeds of dogs that are only recommended for experienced dog owners, as they can be a more challenging pet for those who are more inexperienced.
One of the breeds that is best for first-time dog owners or a family that has never had a pet before is the Havanese dog. They are sweet, gentle, and eager to please. Havanese are also very smart, so they take to training easily, and they can be gentle with children.
The Havanese is a fairly quiet dog that does not bark a lot and is a small breed, so is well suited for apartment living as well.