Breeds / Small
Havapoo puppies
The Havapoo is friendly, clever and quietly biddable, bred from two companion breeds and happiest close to their household. Moderate daily exercise suits them, and they are prone to separation anxiety when left for long.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Havanese and Poodle
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 3.2 to 6.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 7 to 15 lb
- Adult height 25 to 38 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Coat type Long wavy to curly
- Typical lifespan 14 to 16 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
About the Havapoo
The Havapoo crosses the Havanese, the only dog breed native to Cuba, with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Adults stay under 6.8 kg and stand roughly 25 to 38 cm, with a long, low shedding coat. Both parents were bred as companions and it shows: these are friendly, clever little dogs that follow their people from room to room and pick up training quickly when it is rewarded rather than drilled into them.
Moderate daily exercise, mostly walks and indoor play, is enough. Grooming means daily brushing and a professional appointment on a regular cycle, plus teeth cleaned several times a week because small mouths crowd and decay. The problem to plan for is time alone. Both parent breeds attach hard and this cross is prone to separation anxiety, so teach a puppy to settle by themselves long before real life demands it.
A cross, not a breed. A Havapoo is a cross, not a standardised breed, and no kennel club publishes a standard they could be judged against. The weights and heights above are typical of the dogs being bred rather than requirements. Litter mates vary, and any individual can favour the Havanese or the Poodle in coat, size and character. A first cross is less predictable in coat than a later generation backcrossed to a Poodle, and the Poodle variety used, Toy or Miniature, largely sets the adult size.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Havapoo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, graded on orthopaedic examination
- Legg Calve Perthes disease, diagnosed by hip radiographs in a young lame dog
- Progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, detectable by DNA test and annual eye examination
- Periodontal disease in the small jaw, found at annual dental examination
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip scoring radiographs
- Congenital deafness where white pigment is present, detectable by BAER testing
- Ear infections in the hairy ear canal, found on otoscopic examination
Your Havapoo puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Havapoo.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.2 to 6.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.8 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Havapoo
Previous: Havanese · Next: Hokkaido
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- petmd.com for adult weight and height
- petmd.com for life expectancy, coat type and health notes
- petmd.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings
- Health notes from Havapoo breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/havapoo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.