Havapoo: Your Complete Guide

Looking for a sweet, cuddly pooch who won’t leave you covered in drool? Then the Havapoo — a cross between the Havanese and poodle — is sure to be the paw-fect pooch for your family.

Havapoos are playful, outgoing, and love nothing more than pleasing their owners. They typically grow up to  18 inches tall and weigh between 7 and 30 pounds. Most inherit the poodle’s dense, curled coat, though some take on the Havanese’s silky coat trait.

Below, we’ll give an overview of the Havapoo and answer a range of common questions about the breed, covering topics like their history, temperament, appearance, and energy level.

A Quick Look at Havapoos

We’ll start off with a few quick facts about this lovable mix before delving into further detail.

What Is the History of Havapoos?

The Havapoo is a cross between the Havanese and poodle (either standard, miniature, or toy). This mix has likely existed for a long time, but breeders first began intentionally breeding Havanese and poodles together in the 1980s, when designer breeds were becoming increasingly popular.

It’s possible that breeders were trying to produce a dog that had the Havanese’s affectionate, playful temperament, but was less susceptible to health issues.

Havanese are originally from Cuba and were developed to be ideal family companions, while poodles are native to Germany and were bred to be water dogs. Both parent breeds are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), but the Havapoo, like all mixed breeds, hasn’t received official recognition.

What Do Havapoos Look Like?

Havapoos can vary drastically in appearance, with some inheriting more traits from one parent breed than the other. With that said, most Havapoos inherit the poodle’s curly, coiled coat and the Havanese’s physique. Havapoos have an alert expression and come in several colors, including white, fawn, black, and red.

What Size Is a Havapoo

Havapoos typically grow up to 18 inches tall and weigh between 7 and 30 pounds. Though, the exact size can vary depending on whether the Havapoo is crossed with a standard, miniature, or toy poodle.

Havanese and miniature poodle crosses typically reach 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh around 10 pounds, while those mixed with toy poodles only grow up to 10 inches tall. Havanese and standard poodle mixes are usually over 15 inches tall and weigh around 20 to 30 pounds.

What Is a Havapoo’s Coat Type?

The Havapoo can either have a poodle-like coat that’s dense, curly, and coarse in texture, or a Havanese-like double coat that’s silky, light, and wavy. Both coat types are considered hypoallergenic because they shed minimally.

A Havapoo’s coat comes in a wide range of colors, including white, black, brindle, fawn, cream, tan, and apricot. The coat is usually either one solid color or a combination of two colors.

What Is a Havapoo’s Temperament?

Havapoos are outgoing, playful, and active pups who are loyal to their family. They get along well with other dogs and can adapt to a range of environments, though some can be vigilant around strangers.

Are Havapoos Affectionate?

The Havapoo is incredibly affectionate and loves nothing more than cuddling up by his favorite human’s side. While some Havapoos can be wary around strangers, they generally warm up quickly and are sociable dogs.

Are Havapoos Good With Kids?

Havapoos are great with kids of all ages thanks to their nurturing, patient, and playful nature. However, these pups have fragile bodies and can’t tolerate roughhousing. Young children should be taught to play with them carefully to prevent injuries.

Havapoos who inherit more traits from their poodle parent may also be sensitive to loud noises, so children should be discouraged from shouting or yelling while playing.

Are Havapoos Good With Other Animals?

Havapoos generally get along well with other dogs, though some inherit the poodle’s prey drive and may chase small animals. Socialization and training from an early age can help keep their prey drive at bay and ensure they grow into outgoing, sociable adults.

Are Havapoos Aggressive?

Havapoos are rarely aggressive and aren’t prone to snapping, growling, or resource guarding. However, like any breed, Havapoos can exhibit aggressive behavior if their needs aren’t met or they don’t receive proper socialization and training.

Aggression can be overwhelming to navigate, but you don’t have to battle it alone — we have plenty of online training guides that can teach you how to tackle aggressive or undesirable behavior. You can also reach out to a Dog Academy trainer in your city for in-person assistance.

Do Havapoos Bark a Lot?

While they aren’t as talkative as huskies, Havapoos do bark frequently when they’re excited, anxious, bored, or want to grasp your attention.

Training can help curb excessive barking, though it’s important you also teach your pup other (healthier) ways to express his emotions and needs. For example, you could teach him to ring a bell when he needs to go potty.

Are Havapoos Intelligent?

Havapoos are incredibly intelligent dogs who are always up for activities that put their brain to good use. They’re also alert, curious, and sensitive to the emotions of those around them. Due to these traits, Havapoos excel as service dogs and are often used to assist those with mental or emotional disabilities.

Are Havapoos Easy to Train?

Havapoos are easy to train because of their high intelligence and eagerness to please. They can pick up commands quickly and can even master complex tricks like playing dead. Havapoos also tend to be agile like their poodle parent, which makes them great candidates for agility training.

Havapoos respond best to positive, reward-based methods. Never use punishment-based training measures, especially with Havapoos — these dogs are incredibly sensitive and harsh approaches can cause them to lose trust in you and become anxious.

Are Havapoos Energetic?

Havapoos have a moderate energy level and need around 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day to stay happy and healthy. Exercise can be in the form of walks, hikes, runs, and active games like fetch. They’re also fun-loving dogs and benefit from several play sessions throughout the day.

Are Havapoos Good Apartment Dogs?

Havapoos are adaptable and can happily live in apartments as long as their exercise needs are met. They can also be easily trained not to bark excessively, meaning they won’t disturb other neighbors in the apartment block.

Are Havapoos Good Watchdogs?

Havapoos aren’t great watchdogs. While they can be protective and vigilant around strangers, their small size isn’t likely to ward off any threats. They are also easily startled and tend to hide rather than jump into action.

Are Havapoos Good Service Dogs?

The Havapoo makes an excellent service dog because of his gentle nature, high trainability, and ability to sense his owner’s mood. While his small size means he can’t help with physically-demanding tasks like pulling wheelchairs, he can help with tasks such as retrieving medical items, flashback interruption, and tactile stimulation.

Havapoos also excel as emotional support animals (ESA), since their affectionate temperament can provide reassurance and comfort to individuals struggling with disabilities.

How to Care for a Havapoo?

Havapoos are easy to care for and make ideal first pets for families. However, they do have high grooming needs and are prone to health problems such as bloat and cataracts.

Havapoos need frequent exercise, a nutritious diet, and twice-yearly vet checkups to thrive.

Do You Need to Groom a Havapoo?

Havapoos’ coats are prone to tangles and require regular brushing — at least twice per week — to keep the fur in good condition.

It’s a good idea to take Havapoos to a professional groomer once a month to ensure any tangles and mats are properly dealt with. They should also be bathed once every four to six weeks (or after messy activities).

Do Havapoos Shed?

The Havapoo rarely sheds and is considered a hypoallergenic breed, making him a suitable option for allergy sufferers.

However, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a genuine hypoallergenic dog — all pups trigger allergies to some extent, it’s just that some breeds cause stronger reactions than others due to their dander or shedding frequency.

What Should a Havapoo Eat?

Most adult Havapoos require ½ to 2 cups of kibble per day, split into two separate meals, with the exact portion size depending on size, activity level, and metabolism. Havapoos should be fed nutrient-rich small or medium-sized dog food, with a protein content of around 15% to 20%.

What Health Problems Do Havapoos Have?

Havapoos are a relatively healthy mixed breed, though they are prone to the health conditions that affect their parent breeds, such as bloat, hip dysplasia, cataracts, thyroid issues, and skin conditions. A lot of these health issues can be prevented (or managed effectively) with regular vet checkups, a healthy diet, and frequent exercise.

How Long Do Havapoos Live?

Most Havapoos have an average life expectancy of 10 to 18 years. Their exact lifespan can vary depending on factors like activity level, diet, and whether they suffer from any health conditions. With proper care and good lineage, most pups lead long, healthy lives.

Are Havapoos Expensive?

The Havapoo is a popular designer breed. Due to high demand, puppies typically cost between $1,000 and $1,500, though factors like lineage and breeder can affect the price. The monthly cost of owning a Havapoo is typically between $60 and $150, which accounts for expenses like kibble, grooming supplies, treats, and waste bags.

How to Find a Havapoo Breeder?

You can find Havapoo breeders through dedicated Facebook pages, word-of-mouth, or by visiting local dog events. Do keep in mind though that Havapoos aren’t eligible to be shown in dog shows, so you won’t have much luck searching there.

Finding a reputable Havapoo breeder can be difficult. Unfortunately, many people have exploited the popularity of this mixed breed to make a quick buck and don’t follow ethical breeding practices. A reputable breeder will provide you all the necessary health documents and allow you to see the pups interact with their mother. They will also be able to answer the following questions thoroughly:

• How many puppies are there? Ask this question twice to double-check that they say the same amount.
• How old are the puppies? Reputable breeders will only let you take the puppies home if they’re at least eight weeks old.
• Can I see where they were bred? The breeding conditions should be well-maintained, hygienic, and safe.
• What is the mother’s age and how many litters has she had? The mother must be at least a year old and have produced no more than four litters in her life.
• Have the puppies’ parents been checked for health conditions? The breeder should have screened the parents for any health conditions that they’re susceptible to.
• What is the vaccination schedule? Most puppies get their first round of vaccinations when they’re 6 to 8 weeks old.

There are plenty more factors to consider when choosing a breeder. While we can’t cover everything here, the AKC do have a helpful in-depth guide on how to find a responsible breeder and what red flags to watch out for.

Can You Adopt a Havapoo?

Adult Havapoos can sometimes be found in rescue shelters, with adoption fees typically in the range of $50 to $250. However, this is fairly rare, and Havapoos that do appear in shelters are adopted quickly due to high demand.

Your best bet is to speak to dedicated poodle or Havanese rescue organizations and see whether they currently have any Havapoo mixes under their care.

Are Havapoos Purebred?

No, the Havapoo is not a purebred dog — he’s a mix between the Havanese and the standard, miniature, or toy poodle. The Havapoo isn’t officially recognized by the AKC, among other breed clubs, and also isn’t allowed to enter most dog shows.

Are Havapoos Good for New Dog Owners?

Havapoos are a great fit for first-time dog owners because they’re easy to train, gentle, and get along well with children. They’re also relatively healthy and can adapt to a range of environments.

However, Havapoos do still require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day to thrive, so they aren’t ideal for new dog owners who lead busy, hectic lifestyles.

Is a Havapoo the Right Dog for Me?

The Havapoo makes an excellent family companion, but he isn’t suitable for every household. There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether or not the Havapoo is a good fit for you:

Havapoos are the right dog for people who:

• Can exercise, play, and train a dog daily
• Want a hypoallergenic breed
• Live in apartments
• Want a pup that gets along well with children and/or other dogs
• Require an emotional support animal or service dog

Havapoos aren’t suitable for people who:

• Want a watchdog
• Have loud, boisterous young kids
• Own small pets like rabbits and birds
• Lead busy lifestyles
• Can’t exercise a dog for around 30 to 60 minutes every day

Keep all these things in mind when considering whether or not to add a Havapoo to your life. Doing your research and thinking about what you’re looking for in a dog will help you decide if the Havapoo is right for you!