In the past few years, we have witnessed a rise in the popularity of designer dog breeds. There are many reasons for it. For starters, mixing two breeds can reduce the risk of health issues. And then you have the possibility of getting a hypoallergenic dog. Well, one such example is the Havanese Poodle mix. Granted, both parents are hypoallergenic.
How much do you know about the Havapoo? Do you want to know more? Let’s find out.
Meet The Breed
Let’s start from the beginning. The Havapoo pup is a hybrid dog breed, a mix between a Havanese and Poodle. In most cases, breeders cross a Miniature Poodle or Toy poodle, which means you get a mini Havapoo or Toy Havapoo.
Other names you can find about this puppy are Poovanese, Havadoodle, or Havanoodle. It doesn’t matter the name, the result is the same puppy.
We would recommend you adopt if possible, and try to find a Havapoo puppy from a local shelter or rescue group.
As for the dog, these puppies are lovers, not fighters. They love to cuddle and spend the day with their owners. Yes, they may bark, but that is a very rare occasion.
Generally speaking, they do well with other animals and small children. But interactions should be supervised because you have a small dog.
Their small size makes them a perfect option for apartment dwellers.
Meet The Parents
We said in the beginning that both parents are hypoallergenic. But how much more do we know about the parent breeds? Let’s find out.
Havanese
Famous for their friendly and affectionate nature, Havanese dogs have soared in popularity lately. A huge part of that is their amazing silky coat. And as people are getting bored with Maltese and Bichon Frise, the Havanese is a worthy alternative.
Here are some common personality traits of these puppies:
- Playful and enjoy playing with toys or running around
- They have plenty of energy to run around
- Very affectionate and will always try to stay close to their owners
- They thrive on attention and affection
- Friendly with people and other animals, they are social by nature
- Their loyalty can sometimes be overly attached to their owners
- Sensitive and can become anxious or stressed in certain situations
- They thrive in a calm and loving environment
Poodle
While the Havanese is not in the upper rank of most popular dog breeds by The American Kennel Club, the Poodle is right up there. Poodles are in the top 10 of the most recent listings of the AKC.
What makes them so popular? Well, they are among the smartest dog breeds, falling only behind the Border Collie. And they have a hypoallergenic coat. At the same time, the Standard Poodle is an amazing companion for active owners.
With that in mind, let’s check some of the common personality traits of the Poodle parent breed:
- Highly intelligent and quick learners, they are easy to train
- Praised because of their problem-solving skills
- Affectionate and love to be close to their owner, but can show an independent streak as well
- Very active dogs that need regular exercise and mental stimulation
- These dogs were bred for hunting, so they are very alert and have a keen sense of hearing
- Can bark to alert of any potential danger
- Versatile breed that can adapt to different living situations
Appearance
Like any hybrid dog, the Havanese Poodle mix can inherit the personality traits, features, and characteristics of either breed. This can make it a bit challenging to predict appearance. There is no breed standard set by The American Kennel Club.
The size of your Havapoo pup depends mostly on which Poodle parent was used. For example, a Standard Poodle will result in the largest Havapoo dog. But in most cases, breeders use Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle, resulting in Toy Havapoo and Miniature Havapoo accordingly.
They can grow between 8 and 15 inches, but in most cases, they fall somewhere between 8 and 10 inches. Weight can vary as well, between 7 and 30 pounds, but they are in the lower part usually.
Now, let’s talk about their coat. These puppies come in different colors and combinations. For starters, they might have solid coat colors, two colors, or three colors. And the options range from black, white, brown, tan, grey, silver, apricot, and blue, to a mix of colors.
Then, you have the structure of the coat. It can be dense and curly, inherited from their Poodle parent, or long and silky like the Havanese parent.
Personality
The first thing owners notice is the sharp intelligence of their mixed-breed dog. The Havapoo dog is easy to train, quick to learn, and pretty good at making solid decisions.
But that high intelligence can also be a challenge. If your dog feels bored or not mentally stimulated, it will resort to mischievous behavior. You have to up your game to meet your dog at the same intelligence level.
As for their temperament, these puppies are extremely loving lap dogs. If you have a miniature or toy variant, they will be happiest when they spend time with you. These dogs are not working breeds. Yes, the Poodle might have had a history of working, but this mixed breed loves to cuddle with you. That is his work.
While they are playful, they can be calm and gentle. These small-size puppies are not as hyperactive as most small dogs. Because of that, they are great and versatile companions for all ages. They might not be the typical yappy dog, but they can bark to alert you of strangers or when they play with you. They do want to express their opinion at times.
They get along with other family pets, including even cats.
Training
As we said before, training can be both easy and challenging. If you can satisfy your dog’s need for mental stimulation, training will be easy. But if you do not provide mental stimulation during training, your puppy will get bored.
Remember, you are dealing with an extremely intelligent dog. Their Poodle genetics kick in when they train. Havapoo puppy responds best to positive reinforcement. You can use either dog food or treats.
Remember, their high intelligence means they will notice your body language and voice tone. They are sensitive, so make sure to use a confident body stance and voice tone. If you are stressed out, your dog will pick it up and become anxious as well.
We strongly recommend not punishing your Havanese Poodle mix. Instead, encourage it to display good behavior.
Socialization is also an important part of training. These puppies are fairly sociable, but they need to experience new situations as a puppy. Introduce your Havapoo pup to different experiences and situations and provide positive feedback for good behavior.
Exercise Needs
Exactly how much physical exercise and mental stimulation does your puppy need? Well, this designer dog might be small, but that doesn’t mean it is lazy.
They are quite energetic and playful. As we said before, they love spending time with you, but they also want to go outside and play. Do not expect a couch potato who cuddles all day long.
Without exercise, they become grumpy and frustrated and can take it out on the furniture in your household. They have plenty of energy to burn.
Generally speaking, between 45 and 60 minutes of exercise per day is mandatory. Plus some mental stimulation. Play with toys, train while playing, and you will be fine.
Health Issues
The good news for potential owners is that both parents are generally healthy dogs. And mixed breeds have a tendency to reduce the potential issues in a purebred dog. Add in the fact that small dogs live longer, and your Havapoo pet can live between 14 and 18 years.
Some of the issues that might arise include hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, eye issues, deafness, and thyroid issues.
We recommend getting your puppy from a reputable breeder to minimize the potential for any risks.
Grooming
Grooming will largely depend on which features your dog inherits. For example, if your puppy inherits the Havanese gene, you can style their coat in two ways. You need to brush your pet to keep its long and silky hair. Without brushing, you can expect some natural felted cords.
If your dog inherits the Poodle genetics, the coat will be shorter and curly. But Poodles also need regular brushing. Their coat is prone to matting, so make sure to provide the grooming your dog needs.
So, generally speaking, your dog needs brushing 2 times per week. And if it has curly hair, even more, to prevent matting.
Why Shouldn’t You Get One?
- Grooming can turn into quite a task. You might have a hypoallergenic dog, but you will need to brush it quite often
- Can become overly attached to their owner
- If you do not provide mental stimulation, they will resort to mischievous behavior
Why Should You Get One?
- One of the most intelligent puppies around, picks up commands and cues quickly
- Hypoallergenic dog that doesn’t shed
- Loving and friendly puppy that can adapt to different scenarios and situations
