The Ultimate Guide to the Havapoo (Havanese Poodle Mix)

Last Updated on June 4, 2024

Are you trying to find a small low-shedding dog to add to your family? Let us introduce you to the insanely cute Havapoo.

Havapoos, also known as Havadoodles, Havanoodles, or Poovaneses, are small mixed-breed dogs.

Let’s learn more, shall we?

What is a Havapoo (Havanese Poodle Mix)?

A Havapoo is a cross between a Havanese and a Poodle (Miniature or Toy). Havapoos are one of the many Doodle dog breeds that people seek out for their low- to no-shedding coats.

As it’s not a purebred dog, the Havapoo is not recognized by the AKC, however, it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Temperament

A Havanese Poodle mix will inherit the characteristics of both parents, so let’s take some time to learn about the parent breeds so you can understand what Havapoos are like.

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Havanese

The Havanese dog is the national dog of Cuba, and is well known for a silky and long coat. This purebred dog breed is small in size and usually only reaches 11.5 inches tall and 13 pounds. They have an average life expectancy of 14 years.

While Havanese dog breeds are not high-energy, they are moderately active and need regular walks and playtime to burn off their energy. They are also highly intelligent, and mental stimulation is equally as important as walks and runs!

In terms of exercising, because the Havanese dog is moderately energetic, you should aim to exercise a Havanese dog for 30 minutes per day.

The Havanese dog breed is low to non-shedding.

Havanese dogs love to be around humans and may develop separation anxiety if they aren’t trained properly to learn how to be apart from their families.

Being a good lap dog, you can expect the Havanese dog to sit beside you while you watch your favorite show on Netflix.

Miniature Poodle

Miniature Poodles are well known for their curly locks, which is quite the opposite of the Havanese. Miniature Poodles live to be around 14 years old. As for their size, a Miniature Poodle will stand at around 15 inches tall and weigh a maximum of 16 pounds or less.

Both the Standard and Miniature Poodles are low-shedding dogs.

This dog breed is playful and full of energy. They are loyal family dogs and are protective of their homes and families; Miniature Poodles will try to ward off intruders with their barks, while trying to be as fierce as possible!

As for their intelligence, the Miniature Poodle is one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world.

Havapoo

Now that we have a good idea of the parents’ temperament and characteristics, let’s take a look how different can the Havapoo be!

Friendly

Just like the parent breeds, a Havanese Poodle mix has a mild and friendly disposition. They love to be around their humans, both adults and children alike.

This Poodle mix is also very friendly, social and loves to make friends with other dogs. If you already have other dogs at home, the Havapoo will quickly warm up to your older pets!

Gentle

Havapoos are known to be gentle, too, a trait they inherit from the Havanese dog. While Poodles can also be gentle, they can sometimes have high energy levels which can result in rambunctious behavior until fully trained.

Intelligent

And thanks to the Poodle parent, Havapoos are incredibly intelligent and easy to train!

An important point worth noting: While the Havapoo might get their traits from the parents, their upbringing is the most important aspect of their temperament. The love, training, and structure you provide to your dog is the most important factor as to whether or not they end up well-behaved.

Playful

Havapoos love to play with people of all ages and other animals. What makes them great playmates is their size. They can easily play around children, and their small size means there is no fear of the Havapoo knocking over your child.

This also makes them suitable for seniors or people with mobility issues.

Appearance

Height

Since both parents are small in stature, you can expect the Havapoo to be equally small too. They can achieve heights up to 15 inches, but it is more common to have Havapoo to be around 10 inches in height.

Due to their small size, they make excellent dogs for those living in smaller dwellings like apartments.

Weight

On average, the Havapoo’s weight ranges from 7 to 20 pounds. A Havapoo will be smaller if bred with a Toy Poodle rather than a Miniature Poodle, as Toy Poodles are smaller than Miniature ones.

Colors

Havapoos can come in a myriad of colors, ranging from brown or grey as the most common of colors. On rarer occasions, you might find white or black colored Havapoo too. Similarly, the Havapoo can come in solid colors, a mix of colors, or even spotted colors.

Havapoos may also be different colors as puppies than they are as adults; as they grow, their colorings may change slightly.

Coat

The Havapoo’s coat comes in various forms, and yes, they can resemble either parent too. It is possible for the Havapoo to have the long, wavy hair that the Havanese dog breed has, or the thick and curly coat of the Poodle!

There is also the possibility that the coat will be a combination of both parents and be wavy. With Havapoo puppies, it’s impossible to tell what their coats will be like until they grow up.

Fun fact: both Poodles and Havanese have hair, not fur. It’s a subtle distinction, and I put together a full guide on the difference between hair versus fur if you’d like to learn more!

Lifespan

On average, the Havapoo’s lifespan ranges from 10 to 15 years. This is again dependent on the dog’s health as well as the type of nutrition that you provide to the dog.

Health Issues

Havapoos can inherit many of the health issues that Mini Poodles and Havanese dogs are prone to. However, with proper health testing from your breeder, you should be able to avoid many various diseases.

Regardless, it’s still important to know the different health issues Havapoos may face:

• Patella luxation is a common orthopedic issue in Havapoo dogs, where the kneecap dislocates from its normal position, leading to lameness and pain.
• Hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder, can also affect Havapoo dogs and causes lethargy, weight gain, seizures, and hair loss.
• Deafness can be inherited in Havapoo dogs, ranging from mild to complete deafness in one or both ears.
• Addison’s Disease, an adrenal gland disorder, can also affect Havapoo dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
• Cataracts, a condition where the eye becomes opaque, can develop in Havapoo dogs and can cause vision problems.

Always be watchful of the Havapoo’s health condition, and if you notice anything that isn’t normal, seek the consultation of professional vets.

Exercise Needs

As you can probably infer from the parent breeds, the Havapoo requires a decent amount of daily exercise. You should aim to give your Havapoo at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.

Take this as a bonding session, too! Also, by exercising the Havapoo daily, you’re helping to expend its energy levels. And this can be a good thing, as you wouldn’t want the Havapoo to start destroying things at home simply because it is bored and needs to release some of its pent-up energy!

Grooming Needs

As for grooming your Havapoo, since both parents are low-shedding, you must frequently brush them.

We recommend you start brushing your Havapoo puppy as soon as you get them so they can get used to the sensation of the brush.

Even if it’s only for a few minutes each day, they will slowly get used to the brush so that they don’t end up hating brushing sessions.

Since Havapoos don’t shed, their hair is prone to painful mats and tangles. Daily brushing will prevent this. Also, while combing the dog’s coat, you can help to inspect the dog’s skin in case there are any scratches or ticks that might be affecting the dog.

In terms of trips to a professional groomer, you should aim to take your Havapoo every six to eight weeks.

Trainability

Due to the parent’s high level of intelligence, you can expect the Havapoo to be intelligent and easy to train—they can pick up training quite quickly!

But don’t take this for granted, as the Havapoo might become disinterested if training becomes too repetitive.

We encourage you to change a few training parameters for each session. It can be a different location to a different trick that you are trying to teach your dog!

Why You Shouldn’t Get a Havapoo

So far, the Havapoo seems like a fantastic dog. And it is! So why shouldn’t you get a Havapoo?

It’s always a good idea to discuss reasons why a Havapoo might not be the right dog for you. Here are a couple of key points:

1. Havapoos are moderately energetic. If you’re looking for a couch-potato dog, the Havapoo is not for you.
2. Havapoos have high-maintenance coats. Low-shedding dogs require plenty of brushing and grooming (and frequent trips to the groomers). If you’re not keen on all that brushing, you may want to reconsider the Havapoo.

If the above doesn’t bother you, then a Havapoo might just be the right dog for you!

Summary

When many people are searching for dog breeds, they turn to Poodle mix dogs. Havapoo’s make a great companion dog as they get along with both children and other pets!

Do you have a Havapoo? Tell us what your Havapoo is like below!