Skip to Content

Havapoo Dog Breed Info: Havanese Poodle Mix

Havanese Poodle Mix

What is a Havapoo Dog?

Heritage: 

Havanese Poodle Mix

Other Names:

Hava-Poo, Island Mini Doodle, Havadoodle, Havanoodle, Havanesepoo, Havanesedoodle, Poovanese, Havanese Poodle Mix

Popular Doodle LOVE Doodles T-Shirt

Havanese Poodle Mix Breed History

Havanese Breed History:

The Havanese is a part of the ancient Bichon family, a group of small, white dogs.  The Havanese is fairly similar to the Bichon Frise (descendent of the Poochon) and the Maltese (descendent of the Maltipoo).

These small dogs were bartered with all over the world.  They were mainly owned by nobles, as these small dogs that did not participate in any useful work were what set the royals and nobles apart from the lower social classes.

The Havanese is specifically from Cuba.  The Havanese is named after Cuba’s capital, Havana.  Originally brought to Cuba from either Spain or Italy, these dogs were very popular among upperclass Cubans.  This breed was refined in the 300 years that it was in Cuba. 

Poodle Breed History:

While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago.  In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl.  The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever. 

Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe.  To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France.  The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.

While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred.  The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog.  Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”

Havapoo Breed History:

Like other poodle mixes such as the Pooshi and Doxiepoo, the Havapoo breed is relatively new.  The big craze during the 1980s and 1990s was mixing Poodles with other dog breeds to create new hybrids that had decreased amounts of shedding, and had less effect on allergy sufferers.  This started small, but grew rapidly over time.  The Havapoo was a part of the tail end of this movement.

The Havapoo breed became a popular mix in the 2000s, when they were originally bred.  They are known for having two hypoallergenic parents, making them a common choice amongst allergy sufferers alongside other doodle varieties such as the Shih Tzu Poodle Mix, the Schnauzer Poodle Mix, and the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Poodle Mix.

Havanese Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming

How Big Do Havapoos Get?

Havapoos are bred from the Havanese which is a smaller dog, standing 8-11 inches in height and weighing between 7-13 pounds.  The other parent, the poodle, could be either a miniature poodle or a toy poodle.  The size of the Poodle parent would affect the size of the Havapoo.

The toy poodle stands around 10 inches in height and weighs around 15 pounds.  The miniature poodle is around 15 inches tall, and weighs closer to 20-25 pounds.

If the Havanese is mixed with a toy poodle, it will range in size from 8-12 inches in height and weigh between 7-15 pounds.  If the Havanese is mixed with the miniature poodle, you can expect a slightly larger size, weighing in at 15-30 pounds and standing between 12-15 inches in height. 

Read More: Havapoo Size Full Grown: How Big Do Havapoos Get? (Toy & Mini)

Havapoo Dog Breed Coat & Grooming:

Because both their parent breeds are non-shedding, the Havanese Poodle Mix is better in this regard than many other doodle breeds.  Havapoos require brushing weekly in order to avoid matting or tangling of their fur.

You should also plan on bathing a Havapoo monthly, however lighter colored Havapoos may need washed more frequently.  As a whole, Havapoos generally smell good and don’t produce unpleasant odors.  After bathing, ensure you dry the insides of their ears to avoid excess water that could cause infections.

Nail length is also important with Havapoos—you should expect to trim their nails every 3-4 weeks to keep them healthy and prevent them from unintentionally scratching people. 

Related: Havapoo Haircuts: Top 6 Grooming Styles (with Photos!)

Are Havapoos Hypoallergenic?
Do Havapoos Shed?

Yes, the Havapoos is hypoallergenic!  Both the parent breeds of the Havanese Poole mix are considered hypoallergenic, so when mixed together their offspring are also hypoallergenic.  This makes the Havapoo a great choice for allergy sufferers.

The Havapoo should not shed either.  Havapoos have long, quick-growing hair, but it does not shed which is why is requires frequent grooming.

Havanese Poodle Mix Health & Wellness

Havapoo Dog Breed Lifespan:

You can expect to enjoy the company of your Havapoo puppy for around 13-15 years! 

Havapoo Dog Breed Common Health Concerns:

Another positive aspect of mixed breeds is that they often have decreased risk of passing on genetic disorders to their offspring.  However, that doesn’t mean that Havapoo puppies won’t develop any health problems.

Some health issues that Poodle Havanese Mix dogs are prone to include cataracts, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia.  There is also a possibility of developing deafness, Leggs-Calves Perthes Disease and sometimes even some heart problems. 

Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Havanese Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality

Havapoo Dog Breed Behavioral Traits:

The Havanese Poodle Mix is a great family dog.  They’re friendly, loyal, and very lovable.  They seem to have inherited the best parts of both the Poodle and the Havanese.  They’re intelligent and are easy for even first-time dog owners to train.  They do require regular mental stimulation to avoid them getting bored and engaging in destructive behaviors to subside that boredom.

While not aggressive, they may give off a warning bark if someone is approaching.  Generally, they’re not known for being yappy dogs.  They’re good family dogs, but due to their small size, some caution must be taken with young children because they sometimes can unintentionally play with them too rough.  Overall, this breed can be categorized as a happy-go-lucky kind of dog!

Havapoo Dog Breed Activity Requirements:

Don’t let their small size fool you—Havapoos are full of energy and require daily exercise.  Expect to spend close to an hour or more everyday having your dog engage in physical activity.  Walks, jogs, and fetch are all great ways to get them an adequate amount of exercise.

In addition to physical activity, mental activity is good for this breed.  Having them learn new tasks and tricks can be a great way to exercise their brain. 

Havanese Poodle Mix Pictures

Havapoo Dog
Photo courtesy of @theteddybeardog on Instagram.
Havapoo Breed of Dog
Photo courtesy of @poma_hava_poos on Instagram.
Poodle Havanese Mix
Photo courtesy of @ellie.the.havapoo on Instagram.

Alternative Breeds to the Havanese Poodle Mix