Much like children, Havapoo puppies are at their best when on routine. In fact, the earlier you start your Havanese puppy on a routine, the easier it will be for it to adapt to its new surroundings and learn how to behave.
Havapoo puppies don’t shed much, but they do require regular and frequent grooming to keep their coat free debris, tangles and matting. Like many small companion breeds, Havanese puppies are a little harder to house train than other breeds.
Havapoo puppies are vivacious and sociable companions - they need lots of attention and loving care, but no roughhousing. Havapoo are small -10 to 15 pounds when fully grown - they can be injured by rough play and careless behavior.
As moderately active little dogs, Havapoo puppies need daily exercise but don’t need much. With the proper outlets to burn energy, they are more than content to cuddle on your lap or play indoors.
How to Handle Your Havapoo Puppy?
Havapoo puppies are not fragile but they do need to be handled with care. Support your puppy’s rear end with one hand and place the other hand under their tummy to support their spine. Never carry your Havapoo with one hand or by its paws or head.
Remember to support your puppy’s spine when carrying them and lifting them on to/off of furniture. Consider installing a baby gate or small ramps to allow your Havapoo access to places where stairs can’t be avoided.
We recommend utilizing caution when introducing a Havapoo puppy to small children. Many small dogs have been accidentally injured by children picking them up, falling on them, or tripping over them. Children under 5 years old should never be left alone with a small dog.
How to Puppy-Proof Your Home?
Havapoo puppies are very curious and, like all puppies, tend to explore their new environments with their mouths - they are very likely to sniff out food and anything they think is food and chew on it to see if they can eat it.
That’s why it’s incredibly important that new puppy owners take the necessary steps to puppy-proof their home.
- Install cabinet locks.
- Install puppy gates.
- Keep all entrances to home closed.
- Keep toilet lids closed.
- Remove any choking hazards.
- Move all poisonous houseplants out of reach.
- Fence in the yard, if possible.
- New Havapoo Puppy Supplies
One of the biggest mistakes a new puppy parent can make is to pick up your new puppy before making a trip to the pet store. Below is a list of supplies you’ll need to purchase BEFORE, not after your scheduled puppy pick-up appointment:
- Collar
- Leash
- Harness
- Toothbrush
- Nail Clippers
- Brush
- Shampoo
- Crate (large enough for a puppy to comfortably sit, stand and lie down)
- Chew Toys (puppy-safe)
- Food Dish (Non-Plastic)
- Water Dish (Non-Plastic)
- Puppy Pads
- Bed
- Blanket
- Puppy Food
- Puppy Treats
Like its parent breed, the Havanese, Havapoo is a small, sturdy, well-balanced rectangular dog of moderation possessing a level topline and a tail carried well over the back. Slightly longer than they are tall, Havapoo puppies sport a long, silky double coat, short arms, a plumed tail and a springy gait that is all their own.
Head
Havapoo possess an expression that is soft, intelligent and slightly mischievous. They have large eyes, a broad nose and wide ears that sport a distinct fold. The muzzle is slightly shorter than the length of the skull but also full and rectangular with a broad nose.
Body
The Havapoo possess a body that is slightly longer than their height at the withers when measured from the point of the shoulder to the end of its rear. The neck is of moderate length, blends smoothly into the shoulders, slightly arched and in balance with the dog’s height and length.
Legs and Feet
The Havapoo possess a body that is slightly longer than their height at the withers when measured from the point of the shoulder to the end of its rear. The neck is of moderate length, blends smoothly into the shoulders, slightly arched and in balance with the dog’s height and length.
Tail and Hindquarters
The Havapoo tail is high-set and arches forward over its back. It’s also plumed with long, silky hair, which falls straight forward or to either side of the body. The hindquarters are slightly higher than the withers.
Coat and Colors
The Havapoo tail is high-set and arches forward over its back. It’s also plumed with long, silky hair, which falls straight forward or to either side of the body. The hindquarters are slightly higher than the withers.
Height and Weight
Havapoo should weigh no more than 13 pounds. Height can range from 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches at the shoulder. Havapoo typically mature at one year of age, though they tend to reach their full height around 6 to 8 months.
The Havapoo's coat needs extra attention to keep it from knotting and matting. Daily brushing makes it easier to release tangles.
They are moderately active so need daily exercise but as they are small dogs, they don't need to exercise for long.
Havapoos can be shy and prefer staying close to their owners to playing with other dogs or venturing out on their own. Expect to spend a lot of time with them!
Nutrition
Havapoo puppies don’t grow much but they do grow quickly. They need high protein, high-quality food to fuel their healthy development. The more nutritious the diet, the better your Havapoo puppy’s life will be.
What Should I Feed My Puppy Havapoo Puppy?
We recommend that you stay away from dog food brands that use artificial ingredients, preservatives and fillers like grain, wheat and brewers rice. When given the choice, your Havapoo will most certainly choose wet food over dry food.
However, due to the high occurrence of dental disease in the breed, we recommend feeding your puppy a blend of wet and dry kibble, which is better for their teeth. Avoid giving your puppy people food.
Be aware that Havapoo are known to be little tricksters when it comes to food - they can train you to feed them some of your food if you aren't vigilant. Be consistent and ensure everyone in your family knows to keep human food away from the puppy.
How Much Should a Havapoo Puppy Eat?
Start your Havapoo puppy on moistened dry puppy food, 3 to 5 times per day for no longer than 10 minutes per feeding. Remove their food after 10 minutes, even if they haven't finished. Though, 10 minutes should provide enough time for your puppy to consume the entire meal.
Monitor your new puppy’s health and wellness; if they appear skinny and eagerly finish every meal, then you may need to increase the amount of food in their diet. Some foods are considered poisonous to dogs and should be kept well out of their reach. Dogs who ingest these foods should be taken to the vet immediately:
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Onions
- Garlic
- Caffeine
- Grapes
- Dairy
- Nuts
- Pitted Fruit
Grooming
Your Havapoo puppy’s coat is as luxurious as it is beautiful and, as you would expect, needs a lot of attention and grooming to keep from knotting, tangling and matting. Don’t worry. With regular brushing, monthly baths and some preventative care, it’s easy to keep your Havapoo puppy clean, groomed and looking its best.
Brush your Havapoo puppy’s coat at least once per day to keep it tangle free. Using a pin brush, stroke the hair in the direction of growth. Be sure to brush behind the ears, legs and under the tail where smaller knots are common.
How To Bathe a Havapoo Puppy?
To bathe your Havapoo puppy, thoroughly wet their coat; hold the water nozzle close to their skin. Apply dog shampoo; parting their fur in multiple locations to ensure the shampoo reaches the skin. Rinse away shampoo with warm water.
Your Havapoo also needs to be fully dried and thoroughly brushed after their bath to remove tangles in the coat and prevent matting. Don’t worry about trimming; simply brush to remove the dry hair and dead skin.
Use bath time to check your puppy for potential health concerns such as cuts and abrasions to their legs and paws, poor dental hygiene, ear & eye infections and infestation of fleas and/or ticks.
Exercise
As a small dog breed, Havapoo puppies don't need much exercise, but they do need daily activity to improve circulation and provide opportunities to socialize and explore its environment. Daily walks are enough to keep your Havapoo puppy healthy. Just remember to keep your Havapoo on a leash whenever they’re outside.
Training
As companion dogs, Havapoo puppies are quick learners who excel at all forms of training. Havapoo puppies are not only obedient, they are eager to please and readily follow verbal and nonverbal commands.
Like the Havanese and the Poodle, the Havapoo may exert a “holier than thou” attitude, which can prove challenging when it comes to training. Don’t worry. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, your Havapoo will be trained and housebroken in no time.
To get the best results from training, we recommend using positive reinforcement techniques with food and treats as a motivator. Like all dogs, the earlier you begin training your Havapoo puppy, the easier it will be.
Housebreaking
Housebreaking a new puppy can be a challenge but, fortunately, Havapoos are not only smart, they learn quickly. As with all breeds, we recommend that housebreaking begin as early as possible, preferably within the first few days of bringing the puppy home.
Start by creating an area for your Havapoo puppy inside the house away from stairs, doors that lead outside, and anything that they could possibly ingest. The next step is to establish a routine, which includes a feeding schedule with frequent trips to the same potty spot.
How to Potty Train a Havapoo Puppy?
Your Havapoo puppy will most likely have to go potty after they wake up from a nap or bedtime; 20 minutes before bedtime; 20 minutes after any meal and before and after each walk. Remember, positive reinforcement always works better than punishment. It’s far better to praise your Havapoo puppy when they go potty outside, then it is to punish them if/when they go potty inside.
How to Crate Train a Havapoo Puppy?
As with most puppies, we recommend that Havapoo owners crate train their puppy as soon as possible after bringing them to their new home. Start with a crate that is big enough for an adult Havapoo to stand, turn around, and sit or lie down without touching the sides.
Place the crate in your bedroom for the first few weeks so your puppy can associate the crate with the comfort of your presence. Introduce your puppy to the crate by placing a few treats inside and around the crate, this will help them to associate food with the crate.
Shut and lock the crate once your puppy is comfortably inside. Leave the room. Your puppy will likely bark once you leave the room. Ignore the barking until they have stopped entirely, or they will bark every time they desire to leave the crate. Don’t forget, puppies need a toy, and easy access to fresh clean water when inside their crate.
Socialization
Like any breed, it’s important to socialize your Havapoo puppy from an early age, as social skills learned as a puppy are likely to affect its behavior as an adult. We recommend that new Havapoo puppy owners begin socializing their puppy within the first few days after they arrive at your home.
Assemble the family on the floor and let the puppy greet everyone in their own time. It's best to introduce any other pets, quietly and slowly, but treats tend to ensure a positive experience for any puppy.
Though your Havapoo will love the outdoors, a dog park is not the best place to socialize a small dog like a Havapoo puppy for the first time. A game of fetch in a fenced in yard is a much better way to exercise your Havapoo puppy away from large, curious dogs who are likely to upset the much smaller puppy.
Obedience Training
Obedience training a Havapoo puppy encompasses more than simply teaching it new trick, it can also stifle your Havapoo urge to bark and jump. Start by establishing the house rules for the puppy and ensuring everyone in the household is on the same page about enforcing them. House rules for your puppy might include keeping the dog off the furniture, out of certain rooms, and sleeping in a crate at night.
The key to obedience training any puppy, but especially a Havapoo puppy is diligence, consistency and lots of patience. Issue your command. Pause. Then reward them with a snack when they get it right. Do not punish your puppy when they fail a command. Simply regain their focus and try again until they get it right.
Havapoos respond best to positive, reward based training methods, not fear of punishment.
Havapoos are known for their love of companionship. Therefore, time-outs an infinitely more effective training method than loud yelling or physical punishment. Be sure to use the word “time-out” before and during the punishment so that the dog associates the words with what is happening.
How big do Havapoos get? As a cross between a Miniature Poodle and a Havanese, Havapoos are fairly small. They weigh no more than 20 pounds with a height of up to 11 inches.
Do Havapoos bark a lot? Like many toy breeds, Havapoos are prone to barking, especially when they are excited or anxious or want attention. Keep your Havapoo feeling safe and loved by reducing the amount they bark.
How long can Havapoos be left alone? Havapoos are prone to separation anxiety so don't leave them alone for more than a few hours.
Does Havapoos pick one person? Havapoos are friendly and affectionate with all family members but do tend to grow close to one person in particular and follow them from room to room.
Are Havapoos high maintenance? Havapoos are not considered high maintenance. They don't eat much, don't need a lot of exercise, and are happy just hanging out with you.
Are Havapoos hyper? Like the Havanese and Poodle, Havapoos are social and have lots of energy. Give them lots of attention and playtime.
Are Havapoos good family dogs? Yes, a Havapoo is a great choice for families! They are affectionate, friendly, non-aggressive, and adore company.
Though the exact history of the Havapoo is unclear, we do know the history of its parent breeds, the Havanese and the Poodle. The Havanese is an old breed, closely related to the Bichon family of dogs, then known as Tenerife dogs. Tenerife dogs made the crossing to the new world with Spanish in the early 1500s, where they were immensely popular with the Spanish nobility.
A number of factors contributed to the development of the Havanese, primarily limitations on the import of other breeds to Spanish colonies and the tropical climate of the Caribbean. Isolated in the New World, the Tenerife-Bichon dogs developed into the Havanese, the only breed native to Cuba.
The Poodle, on the other hand, was developed in Germany as a sporting and hunting companion. The Poodle’s name is no doubt a reference to the dog's initial role as a water dog, bred to retrieve hunting arrows and spears that missed their mark and landed in water.
The advent of firearms eliminated the need to retrieve arrows; thus the role of the Poodle in Medieval Europe evolved from that of a retriever to a “miniaturized” lapdog and family companion. Today, Poodles and Havanese are bred to produce the beloved Havapoo.
The Havapoo is a popular designer breed that combines the affectionate Havanese with the sharp-witted Poodle. While Havapoos are not a new hybrid they have steadily gained traction in popularity. As with any designer they are often considered a healthier option when compared to their purebred counterparts and have an estimated life expectancy of 10-14 years. However, they can still be predisposed to some of the same health issues as their foundation breeds. With proper care and yearly vet exams, the majority of Havapoos will live long and healthy lives.
Potential Health Conditions:
• Dislocated Kneecap, Patellar Luxation
• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Hypothyroidism
• Gum Disease, Periodontal Disease
• Liver shunt, Portosystemic Shunt
• Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease (LCP)
• Addison's Disease, Hypoadrenocorticism
• Congenital Deafness
• Cataracts
• Recurring seizures, Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE)
Suggested Screenings
• Eye Exam
• Hearing Test
• Hip X-rays
• Knee Exam
Routine Care
• Neuter or Spay
• Regular Dental Exams
• Eye Care
• Controlled Exercise
Life Expectancy
Like the Havanese and the Poodle, the average life expectancy of a Havapoo is between 12 and 15 years old. The best way to ensure a long and happy life for your puppy is to provide it with a nutritious diet, plenty of exercise and all the love and affection you can give.
