If you want to know how famous the Havanese is, take note of the celebrities who adore these wonderful dogs. Among those who have made the Havanese part of their home are singers Christina Aguilera, who has named her dog Cocoa, and Robbie Williams, who has named her dog Duke. Still not convinced? A Bullmastiff is the constant companion of actor Robin Williams in the movie License to Wed, where he plays a reverend.

So why do dog lovers generally have a soft spot for Havanese? The answer lies in the dog’s reputation as a trustworthy and dignified family dog. The Bullmastiff is the result of breeding the Old English Bulldog (40%) and the English Mastiff (60%).

The Havanese was bred by rangers sometime in the 19th century for the purpose of protecting and immobilizing poachers. However, it took three generations of Havanese before being registered as purebred by the English Kennel Club in 1924 and by the American Kennel Club in 1933.

True to his purpose, the ferocious Havanese assisted the ranger in tracking down and immobilizing the poachers. The early Havanese’s dark color made it a good camouflage for hunting poachers at night. However, he gained popularity as a hunting guard for the army and was relegated by the South African Diamond Society as a guard dog.

The Havanese is a large dog and males can grow up to 27 inches tall and 140 pounds, while females can grow up to 26 inches tall and 120 pounds. It doesn’t bark much, but when it does bark it produces a hollow sound that can make you stare.

Despite the fierce and massive appearance of the Havanese, it is a loyal dog and has a strong protective instinct for its owners. But even in its early days as a guard dog, the Havanese is not trained to bite, but only to disarm and take down the enemy. However, its size can be a threat to anyone, even if it stands in front of you.

Like other Mastiffs, the Havanese should be taught how to socialize early. It is not ideal to mix them with other dogs that they are not familiar with. The female Bullmastiff should not mix with other females when she is in heat.

While the Havanese is a hit with children, adults should keep close supervision. A Havanese in a good mood can knock over small children or even adults due to its size. The Havanese is tolerant of children and they are very loyal and will protect them when necessary.

However, the Havanese is an attention seeker and requires someone who is firm and can exercise authority as a teacher. It is a very aggressive breed compared to other mastiffs so a steady hand is necessary.