A bright, funny little cross between Cuba's national dog and a small Poodle, made to be somebody's shadow.
Designer crosssmall breedHavanese and Toy or Miniature PoodleParent profiles checked
About this profile: the Havapoo is a cross, also known as the Poovanese, not a recognised breed with a standard. Size, lifespan and care figures here are estimates drawn from our full profiles of the two parent breeds, the Havanese and the Poodle, and individual dogs vary more than purebreds do. That variation is normal for a cross and is stated plainly rather than hidden.
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The Havapoo crosses the Havanese, a sturdy and trainable toy breed with a comedian's timing, with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Owners usually get a cheerful, clever companion that learns quickly, plays hard in short bursts and then wants a lap. Of the small Poodle crosses, this is one of the sturdier and more outgoing, because the Havanese was always a robust little dog rather than a fragile one.
The cross grew with the wider Poodle cross wave of the 2000s, particularly in the United States, where the Havanese itself was still becoming known. There is no standard and no registry: coat can come out silky and wavy like the Havanese or curlier like the Poodle, and adult size depends heavily on whether the Poodle parent was a Toy or a Miniature, which is worth asking any breeder directly.
Havapoos are social, observant and pleased with themselves in the best way. They tend to greet the world as friendly until shown otherwise, learn tricks quickly for an audience, and follow their people from room to room. The same attachment that makes them charming makes long daily absences hard for them, and under socialised puppies can become barky, so early, wide socialisation and calm independence training both matter.
Energy (3/5)
Trainability (4/5)
Grooming needs (4/5)
Shedding (1/5)
Barking (3/5)
Good with children: Good with children
With other dogs: Good with dogs
With strangers: Friendly with strangers
Apartment life: Well suited
Coat: A soft, wavy or loosely curled coat that sheds very little, from the combination of the Havanese silk and the Poodle curl.
Colors: Almost any color: white, cream, black, brown, silver and parti-colors all appear, following the Havanese rainbow.
Comb through two or three times a week or keep a short clip, because the coat mats behind ears and under collars first. Clean the face gently, check ears weekly and keep up dental care, as small mouths crowd teeth.
Thirty to forty five minutes a day of walks and play is the typical need. Havapoos are game for longer weekend outings than many toy crosses, thanks to the Havanese build, but they are not jogging partners and hot weather should shorten every session.
A professional clip every six to eight weeks keeps most pet coats manageable. Between clips, comb to the skin, not just over the top, and keep the hair around the eyes trimmed so the dog can see out and the skin stays dry.
This is one of the easiest small crosses to train: both parents are bright, food motivated and eager to be involved. Short, cheerful sessions teach house rules fast. Put early effort into recall, a quiet cue for barking, and being left alone calmly for gradually longer periods.
Havapoos fit flats, houses and family life with older or younger children, provided the company pattern suits them. They are a strong choice for owners who work from home or can arrange daytime company, and their portable size makes them easy travellers.
About $10 per month for a typical 12 lb adult eating roughly 0.7 cups a day of a standard quality food ($1.60 per lb). Full breakdown in our food expense calculator.
Plan 30 to 45 minutes a day of walks, play and training. Under exercised dogs of most breeds invent their own projects, and they rarely pick good ones.
Estimated US range $33 to $58 per month for accident and illness cover, estimated from the parent breeds' published ranges on this site; see the insurance estimator and the insurance guide.
On the monthly figures above, a typical adult year runs to about $120 for food and $396 to $696 for insurance, before routine vet care, grooming and gear. Year one costs more: vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, a crate, bedding and training all land at once.
How weight typically builds with age for this cross, estimated from the parent breeds' sizes.
| Stage | Age | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | 8 weeks | about 1 to 4 lb |
| Puppy | 4 months | about 3 to 8 lb |
| Puppy | 6 months | about 4 to 12 lb |
| Young | 9 months | about 5 to 16 lb |
| Young | 12 months | about 6 to 18 lb |
| Adult | Full grown | 7 to 20 lb (typical range) |
| Senior | From about 8 years | Healthy weight stays in the adult range; watch for slow gain or loss |
Growth figures are estimates interpolated from the adult weight ranges of the two parent breeds, following the size class growth pattern used across this site. Cross puppies vary more than purebred puppies; steady growth matters more than hitting any single number, and your vet's growth checks come first.
Puppies need wide socialisation, short play sessions and early grooming habits. Adults are cheerful, adaptable companions who stay playful well into middle age. Long lived like both parents, seniors benefit from weight control, joint friendly exercise and regular dental and eye checks.
Ask for health testing from both family trees: hip, patella, eye and hearing screening on the Havanese side, where the breed club recommends BAER hearing tests, and eye, patella and DNA screening on the Poodle side.
Health notes summarise the conditions the two parent breeds' profiles and breed guidance most often flag. They are general information for choosing and caring, not a diagnosis or a substitute for your vet. Parent profiles: Havanese and Poodle.
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A typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years. Both parent breeds are comparatively long lived, and weight control, dental care and buying from health tested parents give a dog the best chance of reaching the top of that range.
Food for a typical adult runs about $10 a month at a standard quality tier, and accident and illness insurance is estimated between $33 and $58 a month in the US, based on the parent breeds' ranges. Try the full cost calculator for a complete year one and yearly picture.
Good with children. As with every breed, supervise dogs and children together and teach children to respect the dog's space.
Plan on 30 to 45 minutes a day, split between walks, play and training games. Puppies and seniors need gentler, shorter sessions.
Very little. The Havanese coat sheds minimally and the Poodle coat barely at all, so most Havapoos are among the lowest shedding small dogs. Allergy sufferers should still spend time with adults of the cross first.
Most pet Havapoos land between about 7 and 20 lb. The Poodle parent's size decides most of it: Toy crosses stay tiny, Miniature crosses can reach the top of that range. Ask the breeder which size of Poodle was used.
Yes. They are friendly, sturdy for their size and playful without being overwhelming, and they usually get on well with children and other dogs when socialised early.