The Havana is a very wonderful rabbit.  They are sometimes enterjectic, but they don't bite or have vicious intentions.  Most breeders, such as myself,  say that they will cull a rabbit, even if it has good type, if it does not have a desirable temperament.  Havanas usually do not need a large cage, or vast amounts of food.  Their coats do not need any special care, but with the mink-like texture, you will use any excuse to pet it.  The only down side I find with this breed is its lack or varieities.   Did you know that the last variety to be accepted was the black, and that was in 1980?!  Currently they are working on accepting brokens an lilacs, but that will be a few years off.

Here is a generalization of the Havana standard from the ARBA Standard of Perfection, in
MY OWN WORDS as much as possible

Thank you!

The Havana is to be a short and compact animal in the body.  There should be a slight taper from the hindquarters to the shoulders.  The outline (when standing back and looking at the animal) should basicly a  curve from the back of the head, to a high point over the hip area, then to drop smoothly down to the tail.  AGAIN, body is to be very round and full feeling.  What I like to see when I pose my animals, is a rain drop on its side.  I love (and most judges also love) a massive animal!! Really big and muscular.   
If your rabbit's "rise" does not appear to start at the back of the head, as if there is a gap between the head and the back, you could very possibly have a rabbit with low shoulders.

Your rabbit's head should be medium-short, and is to be broad.  It is usually broader in bucks than in does.  The cheeks should be full, like their cheeks are puffed up all the time.  But Juniors usually have more refined heads than their senior counterparts.  The neck should be very short, almost to the point that they appear to have almost no neck at all.

The ears are rather short, but should be close to being in proportion with the body.  Ears are usually of good substance, but only are required to have good substace at their base. 
NOTE the ears should be the same color as your rabbits body!!
(LOL No Hava-Layans!!)

The feet and legs are to be of medium-fine bone, straight, and rather short.  Toenails are to be dark in color.

You Havana's tail is to be of medium length, and again, same color as your rabbit's body.
(Again: No Hava-layans!!)

As you can see, the Havana is a rabbit with no special merit on body.  Average size, and average compact body type.  What sets the Havana off from the rest is the mink-like fur.  Color and fur quality are worth as much as body type. Fur/Color and Type must go hand in hand!!  They must balance and complement each other.

The Havana fur is of flyback nature, being very soft, dense, luxorious, with medium length.  The Guard hair is slightly coarser than the rest of the coat, giving it its glossy look.  Look for same length of coat over the whole body.

Here are descriptions of the three colors/varieties

Black
It should be a ink black surface color, uniform over the whole body.  It should be VERY shiny, and the color should go down the hair shaft as far as possible before turning into the blue under color.
Eyes: Brown

Blue
It should be a dark blue surface color, uniform over the whole body. It should be VERY shiny and color is to be carried as far down the hair shaft as possible.
Eyes:Blue-Gray

Chocolate
It should be a dark, bittersweet chocolate color.  It should be VERY shiny and color to be carried as far down the hair shaft as possible before turning into the blue-ish undercolor.
Eyes: Brown

This is a very baisic description.  If you want someone to look over your Havana, or to see a real live Havana,  please contact a local breeder, or I can help you fnd one, just email for help.

A little tip I picked up from Nationally winning Havana breeder, and Judge Susan Origer:

You can pick your kits by flipping them over and comparing their hind feet.  The ones with the shortest and broadest feet should be the most compact rabbits.  From there you can pick the ones with the best hindquarter depth and fur.  But for those high shoulders and short bodies, you can tell from the feet, even at 4-6 weeks!!  Go out and compare your full grown animals.  In my barn the best shouldered rabbits have TINY feet.

(Susan demonstarted this with a large class of black senior bucks.  As she placed them she showed us the feet.  When it came doewn to the wire for the second and first place buck, the 2nd place buck had good fur and nice overall body type, but the 1st place buck had better shoulders and balance, and little itty bitty feet!)

Thanks Susan for this great tip, it WORKS!!
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Kelc and Bunny'th The Porch Occupants
The Havana
A black Havana with very correct type, and a beautiful color and sheen to her fur.
A Blue Junior with good type for its age.  She will grow into her ears by the time she is five months old
A Chocolate Senior with good type, and good color.  A little blotchy in color near the table because she just came though a molt.