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The 11 Foundation Havs Copyright 2003, Cynthia Rust Many modern day Havanese can trace their origins to Cuba, via a small town in Colorado. Thanks to the efforts of two incredible humans, Dorothy & Bert Goodale, and 11 very special little dogs. Without them it is quite possible the Havanese breed would no longer exist as their numbers had diminished to a handful, world wide by the late 1960's. Dorothy & Bert Goodale were looking for a toy dog to breed, to replace the Irish Wolfhounds and Wheaten Terriers they had previously raised. They began hearing stories that referred to the silky white dogs that had accompanied a few families exiled from Cuba during the revolution of the 1950's and 1960's. The Goodales, whose interest was now piqued, began searching for the little Cuban dogs to no avail. Years of investigation had led nowhere, when they chanced upon an ad in a Florida paper. Through this ad they were able to acquire six pedigreed Havanese from the Perez & Fantasio families. These included an adult female, and a litter of four female pups sired by Silver Tiger and out of Rags Girl named Show Girl, Inky Doll, Dark Lady, & Buttons 'n Bows. Also in this purchase was a male named Silver Promise, a Rags Girl grandson. Once these six Havanese were settled in their new home, the Goodales were convinced this enchanting breed had the intelligence and calm temperament they were looking for. They began placing ads in Latin papers, circulated throughout the Miami area, offering to purchase more of the charming little Cuban dogs. They received only one response. A Florida man contacted them, telling of a friend of his that had five Havanese he wished to place. That man's name was Ezekiel Barba. He had fled from Cuba to Costa Rica at the time of the revolution. Now elderly, and in failing health, Barba had decided to move to Texas to live with his daughter and could no longer care for his Havanese. The Goodales were able to purchase all five of the Barba dogs, four females, and one male. They included: Nieve & Querido, littermates. Dulce & Sorpresa who were also littermates and shared a sire with Nieve and Querido, and finally another male, Jefe Pequeno. The Goodales bred Jefe Pequeno with Nieve, to produce one of their favorite and most consistant sires, Tigre Luna. Both groups of dogs were similar in appearance and temperament. Now with their foundation stock in place, the Goodales began breeding the dogs using the existing 1963 FCI Breed Standard as a reference. In 1974 their first litter was whelped...and with it the rebirth of the Havanese breed. In 1979, just five years after that first litter arrived, the Havanese Club of America was founded. The handful of breeders and Havanese sponsors at that time also established the HCA breed registry. Through their efforts, the breed continued to grow in size, edging away from the precipice of extinction. In 1991, the Havanese breed was recognized by the UKC. In 1991, The Bichon Habanero Club discovered 15 purebred Havanese in Cuba and designated them as foundation stock for the rebirth of the Havanese breed in Cuba. In February 1996, the breed received Miscellaneous Class status under the AKC. On January 1, 1999 the Havanese breed became a member of the AKC's Toy Group. In 2001, the Canadian Kennel Club recognized the Havanese breed. The Goodales initial efforts to save the breed are now continuing through the efforts of Havanese lover's across the globe. While still considered a rare breed, the Havanese numbers continue to grow, and the little dogs continue to capture the hearts of everyone they meet. It is now believed that nearly all Havanese in the world, other than those in Cuba itself, can be traced back to the Goodale's eleven dogs. The Perez & Fantasio Line:
The Barba Line:
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