Havapoo

What is a Havapoo Dog?

What do you get when you cross a Havanese and a Poodle?

You get a Havapoo! Or the Havapoo. Or the Poovanese

Also known as a Havanese poodle mix, or the Poovanese.

And while the name Havapoo is a little on the unappealing side – I much prefer the term Havadoodle or Havanoodle – Havapoos are an extremely adorable dog. Like all poodle mix dogs, the havapoo is a nice mix of the best things.

If you’re looking for a hybrid dog that will be great with your family and with your kids, and you want a hybrid dog that is simple to train and that is hypoallergenic, you have come to the right place. A Havapoo is perfect for you.

But what exactly is a hybrid dog anyway? And what qualities can you expect from your new Havapoo pup?

How Much Does a Havapoo Puppy Cost?

You should be prepared to pay a extra for a puppy with breeding rights or even for a puppy advertised as show quality with papers. You should plan on paying anywhere from $3,200 upwards to $7,500 or even more for a Havapoo with top breed lines and a superior pedigree. However, for most pet quality puppies, the average cost for all Havapoos sold is $1,100. In 2021 the prices of dogs have gone up due to COVID and lots of demand. So for now you can add an additional 500$ to what you might expect.

Where do Havapoo Dogs come from?

Hybrid dogs, like the Havapoo, are a breed of dog that is the result of two different breeds of dog breeding and creating a mix. When it comes to the Havapoo, you get the best of the Havanese bloodline and the poodle bloodline.

And while it is true that every dog on earth today has been crossbred at some point in time or another, the Havapoo is truly special. 

The poodle and the Havanese are known as the parent breeds. These are the breeds that are mixed.

So, let’s take a quick look at the parents of the Havapoo.

The Havanese dog is considered the only native Cuban dog, and they are a dog breed that is now extremely popular all over the world. Havanese dogs are small, loving, and full of happy energy.

Havanese dogs typically weigh between 7 and 13 pounds and grow no taller than around 11 inches.

Poodles, specifically miniature poodles since those are the breed typically mixed with Havanese dogs to get the Havapoo, are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

Interestingly enough, the poodle first came from Germany where they were bred specifically for hunting ducks.

Today, the poodle is the national dog of France! Unlike some other dogs, the Poodle is extremely popular. The Poodle breed has been in the top 5-10 most popular dogs for a very long time, even Poodle designer dogs like the Havapoo, the Labradoodle and others are also very popular.

Of course, the miniature poodle was bred smaller to be a better companion for city dwellers and aristocrats. Purebred dogs are the most sought-after, but mixes are becoming very popular because of the traits they pass on.

And so, where the Havanese breed enjoyed many years as a beloved pet to Cuban royalty, the poodle was a favorite of European royalty. When you adopt a Havapoo poppy, you are getting a dog with one of the most royal bloodlines in the world!

What Does a Havapoo Look Like?

The Havapoo, originated first in the United States of America, probably sometime in the last few decades thanks to the growing popularity of dog breeding. You can find this dog with any number of physical appearances, resembling both a poodle and a Havanese. It all comes down to, mainly, the type of poodle used in the breeding. 

Basically, you can expect your Havapoo to be slightly larger than your average Havanese dog. Havapoos range dramatically in both height and weight, between 12 to 45 pounds and roughly 8 to 15 inches tall in height. Those are some huge variables! It will depend largely on whether the dog was bred using a standard poodle or a miniature poodle. 

Havapoos typically have short legs, extra floppy ears, and a very curly coat of hair. The colour of the coat varies wildly, just like with any normal Havanese dog. A Havapoo can be white, brown, gray, red, and even black. And while the length of a Havapoo’s coat greatly varies, the one thing that stays the same is that their coat is always relatively wavy, just like with a typical Havanese.

Havapoo puppies will also change colour slightly as they age, a trait they get from their Havanese parents.

What is the Size and Height of a Havapoo?

Generally speaking, Havapoos are a small size dog. They are generally in the 15 inches to 25 inches tall range and usually in the 10-25 pounds range. Having said that they can get a little bigger than that if the poodle is a bigger dog. So you can see them up to 45 pounds but not usually. These are smaller dogs with a great mix of smaller poodles and the Havanese.

The Havapoo much like the Havanese is a small to medium dog. Really when you think about it thought they are a small dog. No they aren’t like a chihuahua but they are a small dog. You need to consider this as you get ready for your new dog, if that is what you are looking for.

Is your house ready for a small dog? Are your children ready for a small dog? if your lifestyle ready for a small dog?

These are the best dogs, but it is always good to really ask yourself these important questions before you jump into a new dog.

Colors

Both the Poodle and the Havanese have a wide range of coat colors (solid, bi-colors and tri-colors).

According to the AKC breed standard, Havanese dogs have 16 official colours. Some of these include black, black and silver, chocolate, white, fawn, silver and gold. The Poodles breed standard states however that there are 10 official colours, some of these include: apricot, black, blue, brown, gray, silver and cream.

This means that your Havapoo can be a whole number of different colours and mixes. And to complicate it even more their colours can change over time.

It is also common to have white markings on their chest, face and on their feet.

What is the Temperament of a Havapoo Dog? 

A designer dog is usually known as a dog that is a mixture of pure breeds, and it also means both temperaments are in the new “design”

If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs because of your familiarity with the Havanese dog and their loving temperament, you will be pleased to know Havapoo dogs are extremely similar.

These puppies are friendly and highly sociable, and positively love spending time with their human family. 

Havapoo dogs tend to be not only super intelligent but also highly curious. They have a very playful nature that makes them great with young children. If you are looking for a dog to grow up alongside your child, Havapoos are an excellent choice. 

These dogs are also extremely easy to train because they are so eager to please their human family. And when it comes to strangers and other animals, so long as you expose your Havapoo pup to other people and other creatures from a young age, they will be very placid when it comes to new faces.

Do keep in mind that while these dogs are extremely friendly, they do not make the best guard dogs. You will notice significantly less barking than you would get with a Chihuahua or another small breed of dog.

Are Havapoo Dogs Healthy?

You will be very pleased to know that the average lifespan of a Havapoo dog is between 10 and 14 years. They live about the same length of time as a Chihuahua and are equally as healthy. That being said, there is one condition that afflicts both parent breeds of the Havapoo.

Havanese dogs and poodles both commonly suffer from skin allergies and skin irritations. Luckily, these health issues are much easier to handle than a dog that comes with heart issues or respiratory problems. 

If you groom your Havapoo dog regularly, and you ensure they have the best diet available, then you will drastically reduce the chances of them experiencing problems with their skin. It will also help with a number of other health issues too.

You want to give your dog a good brushing at a minimum once a week. You may want to consult your veterinarian to come up with a healthy diet for your dog to keep their skin healthy. Different dog breeds need different things.

Read Also – Hip Displaysia and the Havanese Dog

Here are some of the health problems you need to be aware of, however.

Havanese in general can suffer from hip dysplasia, heart problems and legg perthes. Although these issues are really rare they are things you should have your vet keep an eye on, especially if you rescue a dog.

Where do I Get a Havapoo Dog?

Most of the time you will get your Havapoo dog from a breeder. Sometimes this are known as a designer dog.

It is key to make sure the breeder is reliable, trustworthy, and moral. Ensure that the breeder conducts health tests on their breeding stock and that they keep all their dogs healthy and happy. 

When possible, stay clear of breeding farms. Regardless of the dog breed you get, You should never support these atrocious people who breed dogs like slaves. Also, even if your new Havapoo appears healthy, we strongly encourage you do visit the vet at least once every 12 months. 

We have a number of resources for people in certain areas. If you are in the Ontario region check out our Havapoo Puppies in Ontario article.

Rescuing a Havanese Poodle Mix

Gateway Havanese is not a breeder, but we believe that every dog deserves a loving home. I think there are a number of rescues and dog pounds in your area that you should definitely consider checking out. Often times people just can’t look after their dog and need to re-home them. I also imagine that after this COVID pandemic because of the passing of so many people there may be a number of dogs available. And instead of breeding new ones we should think about giving homes to the ones that now need a home.

Havapoos won’t be readily available at most generic places, that’s why it might be good to go on a search for Havanese-specific rescues, and there are some. If you check our breeders and puppies page you’ll find a list of breeders, clubs and rescues in your state, province or area. Havapoos are available you will just need to really look for them.

Remember that Havapoos are a cross breed and most dog owner types are looking for that kind of cross breed, but it does come with certain considerations.

That said, there are some things to be aware of.

• When you rescue a dog, you really don’t know its history. So make sure you take the Havapoo a vet to check it out.
• Hopefully, it was bred well, raised well, and properly socialized, but there’s no way to know for sure.
• This can lead to some behavioural issues, particularly with more aggressive breeds. This isn’t the dogs fault and it will mean that you will need to take extra time to socialize the dog and make it feel safe.
• With full-grown rescues, you also won’t have the same opportunity to train your pup from a young age. So you may need to teach an old dog new tricks, this is possible, you just need patience. You can also check out the training below which will help you significantly.

Want To Own A Well-Trained, Obedient, Healthy, Fully Housebroken, Disciplined & Happy Pet Havanese? Introducing Hands-off Havanese Training Secrets and Information With Fast, Effective Results That Save Hours Of Your Time Every Week!! Sign up for a FREE mini course on training your Havanese

When you are dealing with a rescue it can also be difficult to find the specific breed you are looking for. With all that, if you are prepared for the potential challenges of a rescue dog, I encourage you to visit your local rescue, shelter or pound.

Feeding and Diet

To get an understanding of what to feed your Havapoo it is great to start off with looking at what dogs need in general. Havapoos are similar to Havanese in that they will need a certain amount of food in a day that matches their body type. You’ll need to be careful that they don’t get over fed, they can experience hip issues later in life, especially if they are overweight. So with Havapoos, you need to manage their food.

Here is a list of dogs nutritional needs.

1. Meat/Protein – The basic needs for muscles. Dogs need meat.
2. Carbohydrates – We give our dog pure pumpkin and vegetables.
3. Fat – Usually in the meat or raw, but they need fat for energy as well.
4. Fibre – Just like us they need this for gut health and to keep things running smoothly.
5. Vitamins and Minerals – You can use multi or other supplements if needed. Check with your vet.

We feed raw meat (beef, chicken and fish), pumpkin and vegetables everyday. We also use a multivitamin. Give your havapoo a good diet with high quality items. Avoid supermarket dry foods that has junk in it like corn and anything that ends in “meal”

You will need to ensure your dog gets the right amount of food for its weight, and check-in with your vet yearly to see if your dog is healthy and at the right weight. Each dog breed is different.

Havanese Poodle Mix Products and Accessories

To keep your dog happy and healthy, you’ll want the right equipment! There are a number of things that you will be looking for. Here is a list

• Brush. Even though your dog doesn’t shed you will still need to brush its hair. It won’t be that often, but as your dog’s hair gets longer you will need to brush out the mats and make sure that new mats don’t form. We have some great recommendations here.
• Shampoo. Just like the brush, Havapoos will need to be cleaned. They are low enough to the ground that they will pick up dirt especially when it’s raining, or snow when it’s snowing. It is also true that they just get a little dirty from rolling around in on the ground, especially when they find a worm. They love to roll on worms. Anyway, make sure you have the right shampoo for their hair type. Check HERE.
• Harness. If you would like to use a collar that’s ok, but if you want a harness check out our harness review here

Socialization and Training

Training a Havapoo or a Havapoo puppy is similar to training a Havanese or a poodle. Havanese are known for being one of the most trainable dog breeds, and eager to please. Poodles are known as one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the whole dog world. Havapoo puppies will have a mix of these traits.

You will need to get on them early and ensure that you are training right from the beginning. It is important to create boundaries and stick to them. Havapoo puppies will be eager to please, but they will also be very smart. When you are working with your Havapoo puppy you will need to be consistent and firm.

Socialization for a Havapoo puppy is just as important as training is. You will need to make sure that you expose your Havanpoo puppy or Havapoo Puppies to people and other dogs. These dogs are usually very social and will adjust very easily.

Having said that it is still important to give them experiences that include children and other dogs. Being highly intelligent and energetic, this crossbreed needs to keep its mind occupied.

Havapoo Socialization

Make sure that you are giving them a safe space to get socialized, and that you are giving them positive affirmation when these events happen. Usually, in most cities, there are groups you can join that meet in parks and use the opportunity to socialize their dogs.

One of the things we do is to make sure that Nessie always sits in the same place when we eat dinner and that we don’t feed her from the table. This took a little to build in as a habit but it really does work.

We say, “go to your mat” and she knows that at least one paw (ha) has to be touching her living room mat/bed. It just means we can eat without her begging at the table.

You can also work with the Poodle parent or the Havanese parent to help you with the puppy, as they will follow them. This isn’t always an option because the parent is usually in a different home, but it can be helpful.

Let us know what you think, and leave a reply

Havapoo FAQ

How Big will a Havapoo Get?

A Havapoo will remain a smaller style dog, even though sometimes the poodle part of the mix will make the dogs a little bigger. If the parent dog that is the poodle is a little bigger you can expect that the puppies will grow a little bigger as well. However each and every puppy is going to be different and become different.

The Havapoo will likely be from 10 – 25 inches tall and will weigh in the 10-25 pounds range. Again seems like a big range but that is because poodles will range in size from small to medium to standard.

Mixed breeds are typically an in between of the two parent breeds. Designer dogs that use Poodle breeds and Havanese breeds will take on the middle average of the two parents.

Is a Havapoo a good family dog?

Both the Havanese dog breed and the Poodle dog breed are well-known as great family dogs, they are intelligent, friendly and cuddly. The Havapoo mixed breed is a dog that will need exercise and stimulation. They are generally not known as a dog that will entertain themselves and be lazy.

Yes they like to sleep and they will relax, but they are best suited for daily walks and daily interaction with a family.

Having said all of that it is also good to know that these dogs are easy to maintain around the home as they don’t shed that much, and are also hypoallergenic.

The hair will grow and you will need to decide on the cut that you are going to maintain. This will also be affected by whether the dog is more Havanese or more Poodle. The Havapoo mixed breed will be a great option for your family.

Can a Havapoo be left alone?

Yes you can leave them alone. We leave our Havanese alone all of the time, and Poodles are fine alone. However, the max you would want to do it for is 8 hours give or take an hour. We are gone for work during the day and Nessie is fine. Like it was mentioned above you will still need to play with the, take them for a walk and interact with them.

Having said that, these are not dogs that like to be alone all of the time. These are not great danes. You will need to have regular interaction with them, as they can suffer from separation anxiety at times.

How much does a Havapoo weigh?

A Havapoos weight can fluctuate a lot because of parenting. Your Havanese Poodle mix might be more Havanese and only weigh 7-12 pounds, and be mixed with a smaller poodle. Or your pup could be mixed with a larger poodle and be more in the 25+ pounds range.

Is a Havanese Poodle Mix Right for Me?

Picking a dog breed for a single person or for a family is a big decision. There are so many factors that go into the type of breed that you are looking for. For us it came down to one main thing in the beginning and that’s hypoallergenic.

Having someone in the family that is allergic means that you really limit a number of dog breeds because of that allergy. Havanese Poodle Mix.

After that there is some consideration about the house that you live in, or apartment, and the size of dog that you are going to get. If you have a bigger house with a large backyard you can consider certain breeds. However if you live in a condo on the third floor and work 90 hours a week you may not be open to the same breeds.

When it comes to the Havapoo they are a dog that definitely still needs daily stimulation and exercise, so that is something you will need to consider. The nice thing about them is that they do not shed, so they shouldn’t cause you any additional cleaning requirements.

Ultimately, whether or not a Poovanese is right for you depends on a number of factors.

These are very friendly, sociable, and intelligent dogs, which typically make great pets.

As long as you are able to accommodate their relatively high energy levels, the Havapoo should be a great option for your next family member!

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