German Shepherd Lab Mix: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying
Breeds / 2024
Havapoo Care Guide: Meet The Havanese Poodle Mix
The Havapoo is a cross breed between a Havanese and a Poodle (Standard or Miniature).
This furry friend is the perfect addition to any home, apartment or large house with a yard.
Friendly and outgoing, they love to be center of attention and will always be by your side, hoping they will get a cuddle.
They have a beautiful look about them – their wavy or curly hair will soon make them the most popular pooch in the neighborhood.
Interested in what this cross breed has to offer? Keep on reading to find out more…
Contents and Quick Navigation
- Photos of Havapoo
- What is a Havapoo? (Overview)
- Havapoo Appearance
- Havapoo Temperament
- How To Train A Havapoo
- Caring for a Havapoo
- Quick Breed Summary Table
- Summary
Photos of Havapoo
What is a Havapoo? (Overview)
This small cross breed is a mixture of a Poodle and a Havanese.
It is difficult to say exactly when this cross breed was first bred, but we can assume it is from the surge of popularity of Poodle designer dogs, caused by the Labradoodle in the 1980s.
We may not know the exact history of the Havapoo, but we know their parents’ ancestry.
- The Poodle is originally from Germany, bred to retrieve waterfowl more than 400 years ago. They were then favored by French nobles and aristocrats – their good looks and entertaining personality made them popular companions.
- The Havanese breed originated in Cuba, it was brought over by Spanish colonists and bred as lapdogs for nobles. Over 300 years of refining the breed has resulted in what we know today as the Havanese.
This new hybrid is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, but the Poodle is part of the non-sporting group and the Havanese is part of the toy group.
The cost of a Havapoo will vary depending on the breeder and the parents. The average cost is around $800 but some premium Havapoos can cost up to $1,800.
You can expect a healthly one to live between 10-14 years.
Keep reading to learn about their temperament, how to train them and more…
Havapoo Appearance
It is difficult to predict what a Havapoo will look like – even two from the same litter can look completely different.
But looking at each parent breed will help give us an idea about what your pup can look.
Some Havapoos will favor their Poodle genes and others may inherit a Havanese look, or they could have a mixture of both.
They will have a small roundish head, with a slight but definitive stop. They will have well set dark eyes, most commonly brown. Their ears will be floppy and fall down onto their cheeks. Their small rectangular build and short legs will give them a toy-like look – this is exaggerated if they are bred with the Miniature Poodle.
No matter the unpredictability of the Havapoo look, there is no doubt they will be cute and adorable.
Height and Weight
This cross breed can range in size, it mainly depends on which Poodle their parent is (standard or miniature).
The Miniature Poodle can weigh between 10-15lb and stands between 10-15 inches. Whereas, the Standard Poodle can weigh between 60-70lb and stand over 15 inches tall.
The Havanese breed can weigh 7-13lb and stand up to 11.5 inches.
Size and weight can all depend on genetics, the pups’ parents and their environment.
You should expect your Havapoo to weigh around 7-30lb and stand between 8-15inches tall – the smaller Havapoos are bred from Miniature Poodles.
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 colors. Some of these include: black, black and silver, chocolate, white, fawn, silver and gold.
The Poodles breed standard states there are 10 official colors, some of these include: apricot, black, blue, brown, gray, silver and cream.
So your Havapoo can have any number of colors!
It is also common to have white markings on their chest, face and on their feet.
Coat
One thing you can almost guarantee is their luscious coat.
They can have either a medium or long length coat. The coat can either be wavy or curly, depending on which parent breed the Havapoo pup favors the most.
Thought to be hypoallergenic, this breed won’t shed too much thanks to the Poodle genes.
Havapoo Temperament
Just like their appearance, their temperament is unpredictable as they could favor one of their parent breeds traits over the other.
To understand Havapoos more, we can look at each parent breed.
Poodles are famous for their intelligence. They are also very sensitive to our body language and voices, which might give them an edge when it comes to obedience and socializing.
They can be shy with strangers at first, but once they are familiar they will come around.
Miniature Poodles are likely to be more excitable and anxious than Standard Poodles, so this is something to consider. It should be noted that Miniature Poodles are more likely to be shy and fearful in new situations; socialization can help a Mini Poodle to become more confident.
Havanese are affectionate dogs, they are more confident and outgoing than the Poodle. These pups are mischievous and playful and will make their own fun, by chewing your shoes if you have not given them enough attention.
So what does this mean for your hybrid?
Havapoos are very friendly and will thrive in a loving home.
Being a very loving and trustworthy cross breed, they are not good guard dogs.
Havapoos won’t mind other dogs in their home, in fact they welcome new furry friends. They are great with dogs and other pets.
When introducing them to other pets, introduce them gradually, by presenting them with something with their scent on and then let them meet face-to-face.
Remember this pooch gets bored easily, so it’s best to keep them occupied and not leave them alone for too long. They will always need their favorite chew toy.
They are not known to be yappy, but they can and do use their voice! They will bark when playing or when they are excited.
Is A Havapoo A Good Family Dog?
Havapoos are great with kids – they love playtime and will be gentle and loving towards children.
How To Train A Havapoo
Havapoos are extremely intelligent thanks to their Poodle parent. In addition to Havapoos being eager to please, they are highly trainable.
They do best with positive reinforcement, so give them a reward when they follow your command or when they stop unwanted behaviors.
As they are sensitive to your body language and voice tone, they will respond positively if you are confident and give them encouragement. If you are stressed out, your dog will sense this and become anxious as well.
Do not punish them, it will stress them out and even encourage them to continue the behavior.
Socialization is just as important as training. Even though Havapoos are fairly sociable, they still need socializing in new situations as a pup. Introduce your puppy to new experiences and situations. When doing so give them positive feedback and let them know it’s a good experience by giving them treats.
Being highly intelligent and energetic, this cross breed needs to keep their mind occupied.
Give them a puzzle feeder, or play games with them like hide and seek or go find the treat.
Teaching them new and fun tricks will also keep their mind sharp.
Caring for a Havapoo
The Havapoo is a fairly small dog and can adapt well to apartment life.
They are suited for any type of family including: singles, couples, big families or empty-nest homes.
As long as you give them enough attention and exercise them, they are quite happy to just be by your side.
Most Havapoos are hypoallergenic, meaning they don’t shed too much.
Exercise Requirements
They may be small, but that does not mean they are lazy.
In fact, they are very energetic and playful. If they have don’t get regular exercise they can get grumpy and frustrated, taking it out on your new shoes!
With all this energy to burn, they should be getting at least 1 hour of exercise a day.
They also need a couple of hours indoor playtime, so buy them a few toys.
Grooming and Shedding
Grooming this cross breed is fairly easy.
A simple brush every other day to prevent tangles and matting will be plenty.
Only give them a bath when they are particularly smelly or if they have been playing around in mud. Bathing a dog too much can wash away their natural oils, leaving their coat dry and dull.
General grooming should also be taken care of. This includes brushing their teeth twice a week, trimming their nails and cleaning their ears.
Feeding and Diet
Knowing what to feed your dog is not an exact science, you should feed them a balanced diet with all their nutritional needs in check.
Dogs need:
- Protein (they are the basic building blocks for cells and tissues)
- Dietary fats (this is where they will get their most concentrated form of energy)
- Carbohydrates
- Fiber (this keeps their digestive system running nicely)
- Vitamins and minerals are also a necessity
Feed your Havapoo high quality natural dog food and make sure to avoid dry food that has artificial filler ingredients like corn syrup.
How much you feed them depends on their weight.
If your Havapoo is 15lb they should be fed around 1 cup of kibble each day or if they are 30lb they should have around 1.5 cups a day.
They can also be given fruit and veg, to help them get the vitamins and minerals they need.
Known Health Problems
Havapoos are cross breeds, meaning they have less chance of inheriting genetic disorders, as they have more genetic variance.
This does not mean they don’t develop any health issues though.
They are prone to developing hip dysplasia and patella luxation – these are joint and bone issues.
Patella Luxation is more likely to occur with Miniature Poodles. This is when the kneecap dislocates causing pain and lameness.
They can also suffer from hypothyroidism, deafness, Addison’s disease, cataracts and epilepsy.
Quick Breed Summary Table
| Breed Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Size: | 8-15 inches. |
| Weight: | 7-30lb. |
| Lifespan: | 10-14 years |
| Coat: | Wavy or Curly, medium-long length. |
| Color: | Wide range of colors. |
| Do They Shed: | Minimal. |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, playful, confident and charming. |
| Intelligence: | Very intelligent. |
| Socialization: | Great with other pets. |
| Destructive Behavior: | Will chew on anything if bored or frustrated. |
| People Skills: | Great with people, can be aloof with strangers at times. |
| Good with Children: | Great with kids (playful and gentle). |
| Activity Levels: | Very energetic, will need at least 1 hour of exercise and 2 hours of indoor play a day. |
Summary
Does this cross breed take your fancy?
They have the right amounts of playful and friendly with a dash of cuddles and cuteness.
Havapoos are non-shedding, small-medium teddy bears that love attention.
These dogs need someone who can take them for daily walks and will always be ready for playtime.
Havapoos will love to play with children and will thrive in a family, but they will also enjoy any loving home!
Let us know in the comments section below what you like about this dog…
