the Havana Silk Dog Association of America

General Appearance:

The Havana Silk Dog is a purely Cuban invention and is a reflection of the culture of La Habana and its people – attractive and fun-loving, brave and resourceful, and highly adaptable to any situation. He is a small, elegant, but athletic dog with strong herding instincts, rectangular in form with long, silky hair of various colors.  His charming temperament is reflected in his typically high head and tail carriage, and his lively, elastic gait.

Size, Proportion, Substance:

• Size- 9 to 11 inches
• Proportion - height at top of shoulder equals the distance from top of shoulder to set-on of tail, creating a rectangular outline rather than a square one. A well-balanced dog is approximately one-third head and neck, one-third body, and one-third leg.
• Substance - medium bone throughout, neither coarse nor fine. Not to exceed 13.5 pounds.

Head:

• Length of head - measured from tip of the nose to occiput, is about 50% of the height at top of shoulder.
• Muzzle - Rather refined, the cheeks very flat. Length of muzzle in relation to skull is ideally 3 to 4. Mandible flat and firm. Jaws align in a scissors bite.

• Nose – Broad, square, and always black. Any color other than black is a disqualifying fault.
• Stop - Moderate
• Planes - parallel
• Eyes - Set well apart, rather large, very dark. Eyelids rather almond-shaped. A curtain of hair falls forward from the occiput, covering the eyes

• Pigmentation of eye rims and lips is ideally black. Any deviation from the ideal to be penalized to the extent of the deviation. A halo of dark pigmentation surrounding the eyes is very desirable.
• Ears -Set high on skull, broad based, with a distinct fold at the line of the skull. Triangular in shape with fine leather, the ears reach the outer corner of the eye. Carried neither folded along the neck nor framing the cheeks.

      When alert, ears lift at the base, producing an unbroken line across top of skull.

• Skull - Broad and slightly rounded. Its width, measured between the ears, approximates the length of muzzle.

Neck, Topline, and Body:

• Neck - Moderately long, allowing for high head carriage. Length of neck approximates 50% of the length of body measured from top of shoulder to set-on of tail. Carries a slight arch and blends smoothly with the shoulders.
• Topline - Straight but not level, rising slightly to point of hip. Length of croup measured from point of hip to base of tail approximates the distance between the eyes.(1.5 inches) 
• Body – Broad and rather long, allowing for greater reach and drive. Chest is rather broad in front and reaches the elbows. Ribcage is oval in shape, with ribs well-sprung off the spine, and a clearly defined tuck-up. Loin is short, broad, and well-muscled. Length of ribcage is approximately twice the length of loin.
• Tail – Set on so that it is naturally carried raised in the shape of a crozier (inverted J) over the back while moving. The vertebrae of the tail should not touch the back.

     In repose the tail can be dropped and should extend slightly past the hock.

Forequarters:

• Shoulders – Laid on well, muscular, strong, and well laid back. Angle at point of shoulder approximates 100 degrees. 
• Upper arm - Relatively short and well-angled, with forelegs set well under the body Upper arm is shorter than forearm from elbow to pastern.
• Forechest - is pronounced.
• Forelegs - lean, straight and parallel when viewed from any angle. Distance from floor to elbow is equal to the distance from elbow to top of shoulder.
• Pasterns - upright.

• Feet - round and compact.

Hindquarters:

• Legs - strong and muscular, with moderate angulation. When stacked, hind foot falls slightly behind a vertical line dropped from the ischium. Legs straight and parallel when viewed from the rear.                   
• Pelvis - Angle from point of hip to ischium is ideally 30 degrees off the horizontal.

• Hocks- short and straight, parallel when viewed from the rear; not exceeding 30% of the height at the point of hip.
• Hind Feet- slightly longer than forefeet.

Coat:

Rather flat, very soft and silky, with a slight wave. Coat is long, but should not obscure outline or movement.  There are two coat patterns.

• Silk: A typical drop coat, with long silky hair entirely covering the dog.
• Satin: Hair on head, feet, and front of legs is short and fine. Body coat of moderate length, with longer, silky furnishings on ears, chest, backs of legs and tail.

 Color:

Any color or combination of colors is equally acceptable as long as the nose is black

Gait:

Lively, elegant, and elastic. Movement is sound, with free reach and good extension. Head and tail are carried high while moving. Topline may level out as speed increases but does not slope toward the rear.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, curious, and intelligent. Very outgoing and self-confident.

Disqualifications:

Pigmentation of nose other than black.

Bowed forelegs and/or skeletal deviation of the carpus (valgus)

Coarse, curly coat, or satin coat

Merle; Blue eyes.

©HSDAA 2007 - 2010