Poodle
Fast Facts
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Energy Moderate
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Size Medium
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Trainability Accommodating
The Havapoo is fun-loving, tiny people-pleaser that combines the best features of two breeds, the majestic Havanese and the intelligent Miniature Poodle. These extroverted canines love to be the center of attention and to snuggle up to their favorite person.
Small, sturdy and Adaptable, Havapoos are excellent watchdogs, and adapt well to apartment living. They learn quickly and have little trouble housebreaking, though they are prone to excessive barking. Havapoos are energetic, fun-loving dogs who love to play outside, though they should never be unsupervised. Nor should they be alone for long periods.
This breed craves attention and is therefore prone to separation anxiety and destructive behavior when left alone and not regularly exercised. The Havapoos coat also needs extra attention to keep from knotting and matting. Daily brushing makes it easier to release tangles.
As a crossbreed, Havapoos come in many varieties, but all share a great affinity for their owners and an eagerness to love and be loved. If you appreciate cuddly companionship, and have time, love, and affection to give, then the Havapoo is for you.
Havapoos are energetic, fun-loving dogs who love to play outside, though they should never be unsupervised, nor should they be alone for long periods. This breed craves attention, and is therefore prone to separation anxiety and destructive behavior when left alone and not regularly exercised.
The Havapoos coat also needs extra attention to keep from knotting and matting. Daily brushing makes it easier to release tangles. As a crossbreed, Havapoos come in many varieties, but all share a great affinity for their owners and an eagerness to love and be loved. If you appreciate cuddly companionship, and have time, love, and affection to give, then the Havapoo is for you.
Click to see other breeds with similar traits:
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.
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:
AKC registered breeds are categorized into one of seven breed groups based on their characteristics and the role the breed was originally developed to fulfill, such as herding, hunting and guarding. Havapoo puppies are a hybrid crossbreed of the Havanese and the Poodle, as such, they are not recognized by the AKC or categorized into an official breed group.
A breed standard is a set of guidelines used to ensure dogs produced by breeders always conform to the specifics of the standardized breed. Crossbreeds, like the Havaapoo are not officially recognized by the AKC and therefore not subject to an official breed standard.
PuppySpot has a zero-tolerance policy for puppy mills or substandard breeding of any kind, so you can be sure that your puppy will be happy and healthy whether they have a breed standard or not.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 temperament is that of a friendly, playful, alert and intelligent canine. They have a sweet personality, are seldom quarrelsome and generally wish to please and spend time with their family as much as possible.
Caring for a Havapoo puppy is very similar to caring for a toddler or young child. You have to keep them entertained as well as safe and well fed. Like the Havanese, Havapoo puppies are very sensitive and crave human affection.
Like the Poodle, Havapoos also need regular grooming, exercise and mental stimulation if they are to grow up happy and healthy. Like most small breeds, Havapoo puppies have a tendency to bark when left alone for extended periods and at anything that enters their territory. Regular socialization and frequent exercise can help to curb stress, boredom and your puppy’s urge to bark.
Apartment and family living are no problem for these little charmers but they may be just a little too small for the dog park. Obedience training and crate training are no issue for a Havapoo puppy but it may take them a little bit longer to master housebreaking.
Despite the abundance of energy, many Havapoo puppies are often shy, opting to stay very close to their owners rather than playing with other dogs or venturing out on their own. New Havapoo owners should expect to spend lots of time with their new puppy.
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:
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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 Havapoo dogs get? Havapoo are a relatively new breed with few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between a Havanese and Poodle, you can expect Havapoos to be small - 10 to 11 inches at the shoulder - and no more than 18 to 20 pounds.
Do Havapoos bark a lot? Yes. Like most toy dog breeds, Havapoos are prone to bark as a warning, in self-defense, when they are excited, and when they seek attention. The best way to keep your Havapoo from barking is to ensure it feels safe; does not get too excited and by showering it with love and attention. The more you do that, the less your Havapoo will bark.
How long can a Havapoo be left alone? Havapoos are very active and highly sensitive and very likely to develop separation anxiety if left alone for more than a few hours.
Do Havapoos pick one person? As with most small companion dogs, Havapoos are very friendly and affectionate with family members but tend to grow especially close to one family member in particular. It's not uncommon for Havapoos to follow you from room to room just to enjoy your company.
Are Havapoo high maintenance? Havapoos are not generally considered high maintenance. They don’t eat much; need little exercise and are happy enough just hanging out with you.
Are Havapoos hyper? Like the Havanese and the Poodle, Havapoo are very social and have lots of energy, which is sometimes described as being “hyper.” Plenty of exercise and lots of love and attention can help to expel some of your Havapoos puppy’s excess energy.
Do Havapoo Puppies like to cuddle? Yes, in fact, you could say that Havapoo are bred to cuddle. As a toy dog, the Havapoo is bred for the sheer joy of its company, which includes lots and lots of cuddles.
How long can Havapoo Puppies hold their bladder? Small dogs, like the Havapoo, tend to have small bladders, which means they will have to go outside once every two to three hours.
What food is not good for Havapoo Puppies? It’s best to steer away from dog foods that contain artificial ingredients, preservatives and fillers like grain, wheat and brewers rice. Also avoid feeding your puppy from the table or anything that can be considered human food.
Do Havapoos have health problems? Like the Havanese and the Poodle, Havapoo are susceptible to a number of health issues that new owners need to know about, like Hip Dysplasia or Luxating Patella.
For this reason it is essential that prospective Havapoo owners buy from a responsible breeder - one can promise they will do their best to ensure your new family member is healthy from the moment they arrive home!
Is a Havapoo a good family dog? Yes! A Havapoo is a great choice for families. As a breed, they are affectionate, friendly, non-aggressive and adore companionship.
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.
Need help? Visit our Help Center where we answer all questions related to finding and preparing for your puppy’s arrival.
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Ruth R.
03/16/2023
Havapoo
Latte is our second puppy we got from PuppySpot and he is a beautiful, healthy new addition to our family. He is full of energy, loving, and just a bundle of joy. The overall process was very smooth. We were communicated to throughout the whole process and our questions were answered quickly. It is clear the breeder had already started training Latte has been a very fast learner. Overall, I highly rate PuppySpot.
Pamela P.
11/16/2022
Havapoo
My two puppies arrived in NV in perfect condition. We adore both of them. The breeder for one of the puppies even called to check on our baby. Puppy Spot, although expensive was worth every cent. Their service was outstanding in every respect. I highly recommend this company
Rhonda B.
11/03/2022
Havapoo
Great communication with directions on how to get ready for your new puppy, and boy mine is so cute, Think anyone who buys a puppy from puppy spot will be pleased.