Havallon

The Havanese is a small, sturdy dog of immense charm, standing between 8.5 and 11.5 inches at the shoulder with an ideal height of 9 to 10.5 inches. These compact companions typically weigh between 7 and 13 pounds, with their body length slightly exceeding their height at the withers, creating a rectangular silhouette that is characteristic of the breed. The breed possesses a distinctive structure featuring a short upper arm with moderate shoulder layback and a straight topline that rises slightly from the withers to the croup. This unique construction produces their characteristic springy gait, a lively and energetic movement that reflects their playful personality and distinguishes them from other toy breeds. The hallmark of the Havanese is their long, abundant coat that is silky to the touch and remarkably light in texture despite its profuse appearance. The coat stands off the body slightly but flows beautifully with movement, ranging from straight to wavy with wavy being preferred for conformation showing. Unlike many other longhaired breeds, the Havanese coat does not mat easily and has no undercoat or bi-annual shed, making them a popular choice for those seeking a lower-shedding companion. All colors and marking patterns are acceptable in the breed, including white, black, cream, gold, silver, blue, champagne, chocolate, and various combinations including tricolor and parti-color patterns. The coat may also be corded in mature dogs, forming distinctive tassel-like sections. The head is well-proportioned to the body with a slightly rounded skull and a moderate stop. Drop ears are set high and covered with long, silky hair that frames the face beautifully. Their dark, almond-shaped eyes convey an alert and intelligent expression that captures the breed's curious nature. The plumed tail is carried arched forward over the back, adding to their elegant appearance and serving as a hallmark of proper breed type. Head furnishings are long and untrimmed, often falling forward over the eyes or secured in two small braids using plain elastic bands. The coat may reach six to eight inches in length on mature dogs and feels like raw silk floss, providing excellent insulation from both heat and cold while maintaining its beautiful flowing appearance.

The Papillon is a small, elegant toy breed instantly recognizable by its distinctive butterfly-like ears that give the breed its name, which translates to butterfly in French. Standing between 8 and 11 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 5 and 10 pounds, these dainty dogs possess a fine-boned yet surprisingly sturdy and athletic build that belies their delicate appearance. The breed also includes a drop-eared variety known as the Phalene, meaning moth in French, which carries equal merit in the show ring and may appear in the same litter as erect-eared puppies. Both varieties share the same refined body structure and elegant appearance that has made them favorites among royalty and nobility for centuries. The Papillon's coat is long, silky, and flowing, lying flat and smooth against the body with abundant fringing on the chest, ears, back of the forelegs, and tail creating a beautiful plumed effect. Unlike many longhaired breeds, they have no undercoat, which reduces shedding significantly and makes grooming more manageable than other toy breeds with similar coat length. The coat is always parti-colored, featuring a white base color with patches of any other color including black, red, orange, tan, sable, or lemon distributed symmetrically. A white blaze and noseband are preferred on the face, with symmetry of facial markings being highly valued and contributing to the distinctive butterfly appearance when viewed from the front. The breed's most striking and defining feature is their large, rounded ears set at approximately 45-degree angles on the head, covered with long, flowing fringes that resemble butterfly wings when the dog is alert and attentive. Their head is small with a slightly rounded skull, a well-defined stop, and a fine, tapered muzzle that is distinctly shorter than the skull. The dark, round, medium-sized eyes are set well apart and convey an alert, intelligent, and lively expression that reflects the breed's curious and spirited personality. The tail is long and plumed, set high and carried arched gracefully over the back with the abundant silky plume falling to one side. Despite their delicate and refined appearance, Papillons move with a light, quick, and effortless gait that demonstrates their surprising athleticism and confident personality.