The Hava-Wheat is hybrid breed made up of a combination of a Havanese and a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, sometimes referred to as a Wheatie, was bred in Ireland as a farm dog who could herd sheep, guard livestock and kill rats. They share a common ancestry with the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Irish Terrier but didn’t have their status and were often referred to as the "Poor Man's Wolfhound." Wheaten’s, which go back more than 200 years used to have their tails docked to avoid taxes. The Wheaten was recognized as a breed by the Irish Kennel Club in 1937, on St. Patrick's Day. The first Wheatens arrived in the United States in November of 1946 and were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973. Today, they are prized for obedience, agility, and tracking. Some are used in therapy as working dogs. Although now the national dog of Cuba, the Havanese was once almost extinct there during the Cuban Revolution in 1959 when many fled. The cute, white dogs with long, silky hair are believed to be related to the Bichon Frise, and are thought to have arrived in Cuba on board ships from Tenerife. They were adored by the Spanish colonists and the Cuban aristocracy often living a life of luxury in palaces and country estates. They were also known as the Havana Silk Dog and are "Habaneros" in Spanish. During the mid-1800s they became popular in Europe with Queen Victoria owning two and Charles Dickens having a male called Tim. It is said that only a handful of the dogs arrived in the United States with refugees fleeing the Cuban Revolution. They soon became popular though and were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996.
