Havanese Bichon Mix – The Havachon
If you already know of the Havanese dog breed, you are probably aware that this little pup has become incredibly popular in recent years.
The demand is certainly keeping breeders busy!
Since the breed is so popular, breeders have also started to crossbreed the Havanese with more dog breeds to create hybrids, or what can be considered a designer dog breed. One such hybrid is the Havanese Bichon mix.
Read on to learn more about the history of the Havanese Bichon mix, as well as some of its common physical characteristics, personality traits, and maintenance needs.
What Is a Havanese Bichon Mix Called?
If you have heard of a Havanese Bichon mix, you may be wondering what exactly this is. Of course, as can be assumed from the name, this is a dog that is created by crossbreeding a Havanese parent and a Bichon breed parent. The offspring is then a hybrid breed that is often referred to as the Havanese Bichon mix.
Another name for this breed of designer dog is the Havachon– typically, for these types of dog, the name is taken from combining the names of each of the two parent breeds. For a Havachon, it does not matter which parent is the Havanese dog and which parent is the Bichon dog.
As long as one parent is one breed and the other parent is the second breed, the offspring will be considered to be a Havanese Bichon mix.
Havanese Breed History
While the Havachon does not have its own extensive history, since it is a newer hybrid breed, both of its parent breeds do! The Havanese, for instance, can date back all the way to the 1500s.
Their ancestors came from Tenerife to Cuba with Spanish settlers. Once in Cuba, these dogs– the Blanquito– were crossbred with the Bichon family dogs, such as the poodle, in order to create the Havanese that we are familiar with today. The dog was bred and developed entirely in Cuba with very few outside influences.
The Havanese is still the national dog of Cuba today.
As the breed was developed, it became very popular with wealthy families in Cuba. They were developed to be companion dogs, so wealthy families loved their affectionate and loyal personalities. It was not until some wealthy families escaped Cuba with their pets, during the Cuban Revolution, that the breed gained popularity outside of the country.
These families escaped with their Havanese dogs to America, where the American breeders took interest in the dogs. In the 1970s, breeders began to breed Havanese from these same dogs, and their popularity began to boom. They were then recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1996. The breed’s popularity is still increasing to this day!
Bichon Breed History
As mentioned above, the Bichon family was actually part of the breeding journey for the Havanese dog! Their ancestors were bred with the Bichon to get the Havanese that we know today. Bichons do have a lengthy history to be proud of as well. For the purpose of this article, we will be speaking on the Bichon Frise specifically.
Another name for the breed is the Bichon Tenerife. They were first Spanish dogs and were used as sailing dogs, though most are familiar with them as being French dogs– partially because of the breed name. The French were the ones who developed the breed from water dogs into the more gentle lap dogs that we are familiar with in the modern day.
In the 13th century, the dogs began to enter the European courts– such as that of Spanish, Italian, and French royalty. Before this, though, they were more commonly found with Spanish seamen.
Italians rediscovered the dogs in the 14th century during their travels, and are largely credited with bringing them back to continental Europe. It was not until 1933, however, that the official breed standard was adopted, and then the breed was brought to the United States and North America in 1955. In 1971, it was admitted to the American Kennel Club’s miscellaneous class.
Two years later, in 1973, the breed was then permitted to compete in the non-sporting group at the American Kennel Club dog shows.
Havachon Appearance
When it comes to a hybrid dog breed, the two parent breeds may pass down slightly different characteristics to each of their litters. This is the reason that there is a variation in appearances for breeds such as the Havachon.
Take a look below for some of the common physical characteristics of this breed, traits that you may recognize in your own Havanese Bichon mix.
Size
A Havachon can be slightly different in size, depending upon the dog’s sex.
Male Havachon is a bit larger than their female counterparts, for instance. The maple Havachon averages are between 10 to 15 inches tall.
Female Havachon measures are in between 9 and 14 inches tall.
When it comes to weight, a male Havachon is going to weigh on average, between 10 to 17 pounds. A female Havachin is usually between 9 and 16 pounds in weight.
Coat
The Havachon has a double coat, just like its parent breeds. This means that the hair that the breed does lose often gets caught in the outer coat, reducing shedding or mess.
Their coat is very dense and medium to long, which matches the coats of both parent breeds, too. When it comes to coat texture, this can vary.
Usually, a Havanese Bichon mix will have a curly coat or curly with a slight wave to it. Sometimes, the Havachon can also have a shorter coat, depending upon which traits are passed down, and from which parents.
Coloring
The Havanese Bichon hybrid dog is a breed that has many different coat colour possibilities. Just like its parent breeds, the Havachon can also come in combinations of more than one colour– such as being bi or tri-colored. Some of the different coat colours that you may see in your Havachon are cream, gray, pied, silver, black, brown, white, or blue– more of a silvery blue-gray than the colour blue you may be thinking of! Havachons will also have expressive dark brown eyes and a cute black button noses. The Havachon looks a bit like a sweet stuffed animal!
Havachon Personality
Havachons make great family pets and companion dogs, especially because both of their parent breeds were bred to be companion dogs or lap dogs. They are sweet, loving, and affectionate. Of course, they are also very loyal! However, it is important to note that this breed needs a lot of attention and does not do well if left alone for too long. They will likely suffer from separation anxiety. Havachons are, additionally, playful and have an independent streak. They get their eagerness to please nature from both parents, and for this reason, they are usually fairly easy to train. Socializing your Havachon early on is important because they can grow to be wary of strangers, especially if poorly socialized as puppies. Though, because of this and their alertness, they can also end up making great watchdogs.
Havachon Maintenance
When we are referring to the maintenance of your pet, this can encompass the physical maintenance, such as brushing, but also the amount of exercise and mental stimulation that a pet requires. The Havachon is a breed that does not shed very much, but it needs to be brushed several times a week so that the coat does not get tangled or matted. Brushing your Havachon three times a week should usually be sufficient. This breed also needs regular grooming and trims, due to the length and thickness of its coat. Trimming your Havachon’s coat and having them professionally groomed every six weeks is recommended. You should also brush your dog’s teeth regularly and check their ears weekly, and clean them out.
When it comes to mental stimulation and exercise, the Havachon is a breed that does need a lot of exercise for a small dog. It can walk about 9 miles every week and needs an average of 40 minutes of exercise every day. They are also very intelligent dogs, so they need sufficient mental stimulation. Obedience or agility training can be a great way to keep your dog mentally stimulated. If your dog does not get enough physical or mental stimulation, it may develop destructive habits that will be difficult to break!
Havachon Health Concerns
As this is a hybrid breed, you have two breeds to be looking at for common health concerns. Not only will you want to look at the Havanese and their common health issues, but you will also need to be aware of the common health issues of the Bichon breed. This is important to be aware of before you make a choice to add a Havachon to your family, as you will need to know what sort of health concerns can crop up for this breed, especially later in life.
Toy breeds often end up having joint issues, such as Legg- Calve- Perthes disease and patellar luxation. These are both issues that can occur in the Havachon. Other issues include eye issues like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. Havachons may also experience bladder stones and bladder infections, as well as more severe issues such as heart murmurs, portosystemic shunts, and mitral valve disease. As your Havachon ages, it may end up developing deafness or dental problems. Allergies can be seen in this hybrid breed, too. In addition, you will want to be prepared for the tests that you might have to run throughout your Havachon’s lifetime. Occasional tests include X-rays, eye exams, blood work, and ultrasounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a Havanese Bichon mix?
A Havachon Bichon mix is a hybrid breed that has one parent who is a Havanese and one who is a Bichon breed. When crossbreeding two breeds of dog, the offspring will usually end up with an average weight and height that is between that of the two parent breeds. A Havanese Bichon mix, specifically, is typically about 11 inches tall and 12 pounds in weight.
Do Bichon Havanese shed?
Havanese dogs are considered to be hypoallergenic, so they do not shed and do not have much dander to trigger allergies. When a Havanese does shed, most of the hair usually gets caught by the outer coat, so it seems that they shed less than they actually do. As the Havanese is one of the parent breeds of the Bichon Havanese hybrid dog, the Bichon Havanese is also a dog that does not shed or at least sheds very minimally. It can also be considered to be a hypoallergenic breed.
Do Havachon dogs shed?
The Havachon breed is a hybrid between a Havanese and a Bichon. Interestingly, the Havanese is a purebred dog that was crossbred between the Blanquito and other dogs from the Bichon family, such as the poodle. Thus, the Havanese has some characteristics of a Bichon dog already– when the two breeds are bred together to make a Havachon, they have a lot of shared characteristics that are passed down. The Havanese and Bichon dogs are both breeds that do not really shed and are considered to be hypoallergenic. Due to this, the Havachon is also a breed that sheds very minimally– it can be said that the breed does not shed.
How much is a Bichon Havanese?
The Bichon Havanese dog is a hybrid or designer dog breed. Due to this, they will be more expensive than some other mixes– they are not a breed that you will usually find at the shelter looking to be adopted. Instead, you will have to purchase them from a breeder, which is more costly. Depending upon the breeder and factors such as the location, the price may vary. The average puppy costs about $1000 to $1500. If the puppy is considered to be show quality, the price can be even higher, averaging around $2500.