The Havanese is a distant relative to the Bichon Frise family. Spanish traders brought the dogs as gifts for Cuban women, which in turn established trading relations with the Cubans.  Owning one of these little darlings was a status symbol of the wealthy and educated in Havana.  Pampered and spoiled, they became very popular, not only as pets, but as performing dogs in the circus.  In the 1960's as many wealthy Cubans migrated to the U.S., Costa Rica and Puerto Rico,  they brought their companions with them as a reminder of their native homeland.   It is written that an experienced breeder, Dorthy Goodale was the one in the United States to really get this breed established.  Her first Havanese lines appeared in 1974 and were an immediate success in attracting other breeders.   Today as people are researching this unique breed, many are adding them to their families.  Havanese have become one of the favorite of the lap dogs....nicknamed by some as the "Velcro" dog,  because of the closeness they want to be to their family.  They can go by the names:  Bichon Havanais or the Silky Havana dog.