The Havana Silk Dog

1. There is an original small dog of Cuba that predates any Kennel club or registry, with a written history of at least 300 years.

2. Because of the genetic isolation of this dog, especially since the late 1950’s, the dog as it exists today in Cuba and known there as Bichon Havanais, as well as isolated gene pools existing in Russia and Hungary, probably represent the best examples of the original breed. Though this dog is reported as extinct by such authorities as Wickipedia.com and infopet.com, to paraphrase Samuel Clemens, “the rumor of its death is an exaggeration.”

3. The Havanese as registered with the American Kennel Club represents more than one breed type. While there can be style differences within a breed, major differences such as flat silky coat vs. fluffy double coat, body proportions, tail set and carriage, eye shape, head and muzzle proportions are far more than stylistic variations. A simple review of pictures from the Havanese Hotline and the Champion’s pictures appearing in the annual American Havanese Champions yearbook underlines this conclusion and adds an exclamation point.

4. While the original dog of Cuba shares part of its history with the Havanese, it branches off in the early 1970’s to create what is today recognized by the AKC as the Havanese, and this breed could accurately be called the American Havanese. A review of the AKC website or The Complete Dog Book reveals that in fact many breeds share a close history as well as common ancestors.

5. The original Cuban dog is in danger of “extinction by assimilation” into the American Havanese. It is possible to preserve and protect this dog by careful selection based on phenotype, as well as judicious addition of dogs from Cuba and selective breeding decisions to maintain that original type. In fact, many breeders have been making that selection in their breeding since before the Havanese became an AKC recognized breed. Doing this does not say that the original Cuban dog is “better” than the American Havanese, only that it is different, and that both types should be preserved.

6. Doing this to preserve a breed is certainly not a new idea. Many years ago, Springer spaniels, Sussex spaniels, and Cockers came from the same litter, depending on size as well as shape and make to determine which they were. In the USA, the Cocker Spaniel changed so much that now in the rest of the world it is called the American Cocker, while the original dog was split off in the 1930’s and became what is called in this country the English Cocker, and is known everywhere else as simply the Cocker Spaniel. The Norfolk Terrier, once shown as a variety of the Norwich, was split off into a separate breed in 1979. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was re-created from the English Toy Spaniel, because fanciers wanted to return to the original dog as preferred by King Charles. The Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers were a single AKC breed until 1984, and if you go back far enough in the history of the British Isles, all the setters wee once lumped under the single name of “setting dog.”

7. The desire to protect the original type, under the name Havana Silk Dog, is simply a recognition of the differences. Its not about “better”, any more than preferring an English Cocker over a Cocker Spaniel, or a Sheltie over a Collie is about “better”. It is about different. The Havana Silk Dog and the Havanese are different, each having its supporters, and after all, that is why there are so many breeds; everyone can find what they prefer

These ideas did not suddenly spring forth, fully formed. Breeders, judges, handlers, exhibitors and observers have commented on the differences in Type that can be seen in the Havanese conformation rings. Given the exceeding small original gene pool, it is difficult to understand how there could be such variation. Some breeders have noticed this, and in fact have been breeding for the Havana Silk Dog phenotype for years, long before the existence of the Havana Silk Dog Association of America. . Only when it became clear that the original dog of Cuba would be lost in the larger gene pool of the Havanese did they finally come to the decision that creating the Havana Silk Dog Association is the necessary next step.

Together, those who have formed the HSDAA and those who are registering their dogs have begun a fascinating new journey. Its going to be an exciting, and fun, trip. The most important thing to remember is…. It’s all about the dogs.