High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Havanese is a dog breed of the Bichon type, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana ("little white dog of Havana"). The Blanquito descended from the also now extinct Bichon Tenerife, which was introduced to the Canary Islands by the Cubans. It is believed that the Blanquito was eventually cross-bred with other Bichon types, including the Poodle, to create what is now known as the Havanese. They are sometimes referred to as "Havana Silk Dogs," though this was originally just another name for the Blanquito de la Habana. The Havanese is the National dog of Cuba.