Growing fond of the small size the adorable Havanese dog comes in, and of the lush and hypoallergenic coat the beautiful Poodle has? I’ve never stopped to think if there is a dog breed comprising both characteristics until I saw a photo of the gorgeous Havapoo.
The Havapoo, also called Poovanese, Havadoodle, or Island Mini Doodle, is a breed emerging from the cross-breeding of a pure breed Havanese and Poodle (Miniature or Toy). The breed belongs to the small dog category. It is as fluffy as a sheep but much more exciting to have as a pet. You’ll find it as a perfect partner for children and adults alike. On a general note, the dog is cheerful, playful, and funny.
Like all designer dogs, you need to know how to get the best out of them. So, this article will update you with the basic things you need to know about the Havanese Poodle mix. Meanwhile, people have many questions about these doggies. Among them is how big they can get. We’ll know in a moment.
How Big Does A Havapoo Get?
How big a Havapoo can get largely depends on its type. Their height ranges from 8 to 15 inches (paw pad to shoulders). In terms of weight, they fall between 13 to 45 lbs. Females usually weigh less than males.
Havadoodles are of different types, and that affects their size. First, we have the Mini Havapoo that results from the mix of Toy Poodle with the Havanese. These dogs are the smaller of the Havapoo breed.
Next is the Mini Havapoo breed. You guessed right. It results from breeding the Havanese with a Mini Poodle. These divisions make for the two size classifications of Havapoos, which are Toy Havapoo size and Mini Havapoo size.
What is more important than size is knowing how they would relate to your family. We’ll find out in a moment.
Is Havapoo A Good Family Dog?
The Havapoos is perhaps the best family dog there is. It is friendly to everyone including children. They are naturally playful and should keep the children busy.
Besides, Havadoodles are non-aggressive, so they do not pose any threat to little ones. They also love to keep the company of humans and can escort you around the house.
Although they are accommodating, they would alert you to a stranger’s entrance. They are observant and can easily determine if someone is a friend or foe by the way you relate with such a person
How Long Do Havapoos Live?
The life expectancy of Havapoos ranges between 10 to 14 years.
You would find this information comforting as they are darlings. Meanwhile, small-sized dogs are generally known to live for a good while. It all depends on how you take care of them and deal with their health challenges.
Scheduling regular checkups with a vet is an effective means of preserving Havapoos’ health. Timely management of their health issues will let your Havadoodle live long.
Health Issues Of Havapoos
Asides the general issues associated with canines, Havapoos have health issues that are peculiar to them.
Cross-bred designer dogs do inherit some diseases from their parents. Though this is not a certainty for all Havapoos, many are prone to some congenital health challenges.
Owners of Havadoodles need to be wary of the following conditions:
Cataracts
The Poodle parent is the most likely source of this health challenge. The retina gets clouded to the extent of compromising sight. Early detection is the solution, and that is possible by frequenting the vets.
Congenital Deafness
This is another inherited complication that causes deafness in both ears. Prevention is the only way out of this crisis. It is essential to test parents for this trait before cross-breeding.
Hypothyroidism
Having the Havanese breed as a parent will have Havapoos predisposed to this health issue. When the thyroid hormone secretion falls below the necessary amount, the result of this is a decrease in metabolism. Thyroid hormone replacement treatment should sort this out.
How To Take Care Of Havapoos?
To get the best from your Havapoos, you should take care of them. Taking care of them involves several activities such as feeding, grooming, and exercising. You’ll get tips on how to groom your pet at a later section. But before that, let’s talk about diet and exercise.
Nutrition
Taking care of your doggie begins with ensuring a proper diet. Havanese Poodles are prone to dental problems. As a result, wet food may not be suitable for them. Also, their diet should consist of high-protein and grain-free feed. If you are looking for where to get food that meets these requirements, look no further than Pet Plate.
Also, the food quantity per serving is paramount. You should avoid overfeeding your furry friend to avoid constipation. Although each dog is unique in its food consumption, two small servings of 1 to 2 cups every day should do just fine – one in the morning and one at night.
Meanwhile, you should also consider investing in dental water additives and multivitamin supplements to help prevent diseases and maintain your rover’s health.
Exercising
The Havanese Poodle Mix requires daily exercise to keep fit and prevent them from getting overweight. Although they prefer cuddling up to you for most of the day, it is unhealthy for them.
Also, you need to help her use up her stored energy. If you don’t do this, you’ll soon find out how mischievous these little canines can be.
Do Havapoos Bark A Lot? Temperaments Of Havanese Poodle Mixes
Havapoos bark a lot. The slightest thing that catches their attention makes them do so.
Nevertheless, you don’t have to blame them as this is common to most small dogs. Other than this, they are friendly, playful, and love lots of cuddles.
Moreover, Havapoos are attention-seeking dogs, and sometimes, barking is to draw your attention. In this light, a question comes to mind, how long can a Havapoo be left alone? Read on to find out.
How Long Can Your Havapoo Be Left Alone?
You can let your Havapoo to have some alone time but not exceeding three hours.
You need to understand the personality of your doggie to know how long it can do without human presence. Also, you have to train your four-legged canine to play with other pets and toys.
Nevertheless, if you feel you’ll have to be away for much longer, you can seek the help of a friend who is familiar with your pooch to help you out.
You probably also want to know if your pet can be potty trained. What if it needs to take a dump in your absence? We answer that question next.
Can A Havapoo Be Potty Trained?
Yes, you can potty train your Havapoo.
We’re not saying it’s going to be easy. The ease of potty training depends on which parental trait is dominant in your crossbreed. The Havanese are more reluctant to take to using the potty. Stay hopeful that the puppy doesn’t take after this breed.
On a general note, Havapoos are intelligent dogs and don’t require too much effort to train.
Are Havapoos High Maintenance? Grooming Tips For Havanese Poodle Mixes
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Maintenance
Havapoos do not require much when it comes to maintenance.
It’s agreed that they are attention-seekers. Other than that, they are low-maintenance canines. Moreover, they are low shedders and hypoallergenic as it comes.
Meanwhile, this doesn’t exempt them from needing to be groomed. Grooming the HavaPoodle regularly makes them look cute always. Also, the practice helps to ensure that they are clean and free from ectoparasites.
As part of maintenance, grooming involves activities like trimming, bathing, combing, and brushing. Let’s look at them in detail.
Brushing
You should have a special brush for brushing your fido. Brushing should be done in the direction the furs naturally lie. Daily brushing is essential to prevent shedding. If the need to de-shed arises, you can get the Furminator Undercoat Tool to do it with ease.
Combing
Doing this helps to loosen mats in the coat. Be careful not to rush it so as not to hurt the doggie. Instead, let your fingers act as the first comb to untangle locked hair. Then delicately run your comb through the furs. This helps to discover endoparasites early.
Trimming
Use a nail cutter to trim the nails across the white part. Be careful not to get beyond it lest you hurt the toes.
Bathing
You will need to do this at least once a month. The Seamus Cherry Blossom Whitening Dog Shampoo is our recommended shampoo option for this purpose. They help to maintain a stain-free and odor-free coat.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Havapoo Puppy Cost? The cost of a Havapoo puppy is between $800 and $2,000. These are designer breeds, and so you can’t expect them to come cheap. The cost depends on the kind of parents and the breeder. Also, the availability of after-sales services could jerk up the price even further.
Do Havapoos Like Water? Havapoos will love water if they have enough training. If the history of their parents is facts to go by, they would love to swim too. Poodles rank among the best swimming dogs, and the Havanese isn’t too far behind if taught. Hence, you can only expect their offspring to take after them.
Do Havanese Dogs Get Along With Poodles? Havanese dogs get along with Poodles and any other breed. They show an excellent level of tolerance to dogs and other pets. They would score a five out of five ratings for dogs that relate well with other dogs and pets. So, if you’re looking to bring in a Poodle to your apartment, the Havanese won’t stop you.
