The Havanese Poodle mix, often called the Havapoo, the Poovanese, the Havadoodle, or the Island Mini Doodle, is a cross between a Poodle and a Havanese. This hybrid is a loveable, adoring dog that is perfect for families or even single individuals looking for a great companion. They’re popular for their charming disposition and adorable looks, and since they’re fairly small dogs, they’re suitable for nearly any housing situation. Of course, before you decide this is the right hybrid for you, take a closer look at their history, temperament, appearance, health, grooming needs, and more.
Origin and History
The Havanese Poodle Mix is a hybrid dog that was probably created sometime within the last 10-20 years in the United States. Designer dogs continue to be a very popular trend, particularly with celebrities, and this particular mix has become quite popular and well-known. Although we don’t know a lot about the origins or history of this mixed breed, we can understand the Havapoo a bit more by looking more closely at the parent breeds.
The Havanese breed traces back to Cuba, when settlers from Spain brought along small dogs that were bred with the island dogs, creating the Havanese breed. During the 1800s, these dogs became quite popular with richer individuals in Cuba, and eventually they became popular with European nobles as well. Unfortunately, they became less popular by the end of the century and nearly disappeared. The last of this breed was brought to America after 1959 when Cubans began fleeing to America. It has taken decades to reestablish the breed.
Originally, the Poodle comes from Germany where it was bred to be a waterfowl hunter and retriever. Through the years, three different sizes were bred, including the Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodle. All three sizes of Poodles, including the Toy Poodles are considered Poodles. Today they are thought to be one of the smartest dogs, and they’re easy to train and make great companion dogs.
Appearance
The Havanese Poodle Mix is a fairly small dog that generally weighs between 15 and 40 pounds and stands somewhere between 8 and 15 inches tall. Usually they look a lot like the Havanese, but their coat often has the Poodle curl. Their eyes are generally brown, and their coat can be long or medium and curly to wavy. Some of the most common coat colors seen on the Havapoo breed include salt and pepper, black, white, brown, cream, gray, and golden.
The Havapoo Temperament
You can expect a Havanese Poodle Mix to be very friendly and happy. These dogs are full of energy, they love to play, they’re outgoing, and very smart. They’re also very loving and affectionate, and they prefer to spend plenty of time with the family. Since they are so smart, they tend to be inquisitive and curious by nature. The Havapoo mix is wonderful with kids, particularly because they are so playful, but they may be a better fit for older kids. They do well with other dogs and small animals, although they do need to be socialized early.
Usually the smart Havanese Poodle Mix is quite easy to train, and they really want to please their master. To make sure training is successful, it’s important to use positive reinforcement. Never be harsh with these dogs. They respond very well to encouragement, positive tones, and praise. You should begin training this hybrid as soon as you bring him home. As long as you’re patient and gentle, your Havapoo will do well with house training, obedience training, and even crate training.
Grooming
You’ll love the fact that the Havanese Poodle Mix sheds very little, so you won’t need to worry about a lot of cleanup. However, you still need to brush their coat several times a week to prevent matting and tangling. Only bathe your Havapoo when needed to avoid drying out the natural oils on their skin. You should check their ears once a week for irritation and infection and they can be wiped clean with a vet-approved ear cleaning solution. It’s also important to brush your dog’s teeth 2-3 times a week to prevent any dental problems and doggie breath. Nails will also need trimmed if they aren’t worn down naturally, and you can learn to do this on your own or simply have it done by a professional groomer.
Working Roles
These small dogs are generally not used for any working roles. However, the Havanese Poodle Mix does make a wonderful companion dog for individuals and families.
Health
The Poodle has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, while the average life expectancy for the Havanese is 14-15 years, so you can expect the Havanese Poodle Mix to have an average life span of between 12 and 15 years. Although these dogs are generally healthier than their parent breeds, it’s possible your Havapoo to end up with some of the health issues of the parent breeds, which may include:
- Epilepsy
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cancer
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Addison’s disease
- Juvenile renal disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Bloat
- Dry skin
- Eye disorders
- Cushing’s disease
- Patellar luxation
- Heart problems
- Deafness
- Von Willebrand’s disease