01Summary
In a paragraph
If you only have 30 seconds.
The Havapoo is a cross between a Havanese and a Toy or Teacup Poodle without FCI recognition and without a binding breeding standard. Coat, size, and temperament vary considerably from litter to litter. Anyone planning for this dog decides on a genetic mix, not a defined breed type. This demands realistic expectations, careful examination of parent dogs, and consistent training from the start.
02Introduction
What makes the Havapoo special
The Havapoo is a non-FCI recognised crossbreed from Havanese and Toy Poodle, hypoallergenic and suitable for city living, withers height 20–30 cm.
03Profile
Key facts and suitability
- Origin
- USA
- Original purpose
- Companion dog (Havanese × Toy Poodle)
- height at the withers
- 20–30 cm
- Weight
- 2–6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 Years
- Coat type
- Gelockt
- Minimum exercise
- 20 min/day
- Puppy price
- 1'200–2'500 CHF
- Waiting period
- 6 months
- Sports
- Obedience · Tricks
04Temperament
How the Havapoo shows up in everyday life
When returning home, a Havapoo usually reacts with obvious joy in greeting; the need for bonding of both source breeds is high. Anyone who spends several hours out of the house daily without a care solution will notice this quickly: Many Havapoos develop restlessness, vocalisation, or destructive behaviour when regularly isolated.
In everyday life, the internal axis is clear: The need for social contact is high, the need for exercise moderate. This means concretely that 45 to 60 minutes of active exercise daily are sufficient, but closeness to the primary caregiver is not a bonus, but a basic requirement. A Havapoo that is physically stimulated but socially isolated is not a balanced dog.
On the external axis, a different picture emerges: Towards strangers, the Havapoo usually behaves openly and sociably; this value is high in both source breeds. Visitors are rarely perceived as a threat. This does not mean, however, that every Havapoo automatically functions stress-free in busy environments. Early socialisation determines whether the openness towards strangers remains stable or is overlaid by insecurity.
Compatibility with other dogs is often good, but varies depending on socialisation and individual temperament. A pronounced prey drive is not in the foreground, but can occur depending on the Poodle proportion and line.
The Havapoo needs regular mental work; search games, trick training, or simple nose work prevent learning readiness from discharging in undesirable directions. Anyone who offers this combination of closeness, moderate exercise, and mental enrichment obtains a cooperative, attentive companion dog.
05Needs
What this breed needs daily
The Havapoo needs 45 to 60 minutes of active exercise daily, divided into two to three sessions. Pure walks are sufficient; intensive endurance exertion is not required. More important than the distance covered is the quality: Sniffing, exploring, and free movement on safe terrain promote mental balance more than monotonous laps on a lead.
Mental stimulation is equal in importance to physical exercise. Trick training, nose work, search games, or simple fetching exercises cover the need for mental work. Two to three short training sessions per week (10–15 minutes each) are sufficient to maintain learning readiness and prevent boredom.
The need for social contact is the most critical factor in keeping a Havapoo. The breed tolerates being left alone for a maximum of two to three hours, provided this has been carefully built up. Longer absences without a care solution lead to separation stress in many individuals. Anyone who is regularly away from home all day needs a reliable care structure, such as a dog sitter, day care, or a second primary caregiver in the household.
Grooming represents a distinct time commitment: brushing several times a week and professional clipping every 8 to 12 weeks are not optional extras, but mandatory elements. Mats form quickly and cause skin irritation.
Training requires consistency and positive reinforcement from the start. The willingness to cooperate is high, but it is not fostered by coddling, rather by clear, reliable structures.
Exercise
Low
mental work
Medium
Social needs
High
training
Easy
07Quick Check
08Suitability
Who this breed is suitable for – and who it isn't
✓Matches
The Havapoo suits individuals or families who spend a large part of the day at home or can organise a reliable care solution. Specifically: households with home office workers, retirees, or part-time employees with flexible daily routines benefit from this dog's strong bond orientation.
Families with children aged approximately 8 years and older are suitable if the children are trained in handling small dogs and consistently respect the dog's need for retreat. The external openness towards strangers facilitates daily life with changing visitors.
Keeping a Havapoo in an apartment is possible, provided daily exercise and social closeness are ensured. A garden is not essential, but regular access to green spaces or a dog park supports mental and physical stimulation.
First-time owners are suitable if they are willing to attend a supportive dog training school and implement training consistently. The Havapoo's readiness to learn facilitates the start, but it does not replace clear leadership.
Individuals who value low-shedding coats should examine the specific puppy and both parent dogs for coat structure before purchase; no guarantee exists.
×Doesn't match
The Havapoo does not suit individuals who are regularly away from home for 6 or more hours daily and cannot organise a care solution. The high need for social contact is not a trait that can be balanced by occasional compensation.
Anyone looking for a dog with a clearly defined character, stable size, and predictable coat structure should consider an FCI-recognised breed with a binding standard. The genetic variability of the Havapoo is not a disadvantage per se, but a reality that requires realistic expectations.
Anyone who equates external openness towards strangers with a low need for social contact is mistaken: A Havapoo that greets visitors friendly still requires an intense bond with its primary caregiver. These two axes are independent of each other.
Households with very young children under 5 years should consider the physical fragility of small Havapoo individuals; uncoordinated handling can lead to injuries.
Individuals who regard grooming as a negligible effort underestimate the actual time requirement. Anyone not willing to brush several times a week and regularly visit a dog groomer risks matting and skin problems.
10Line reality
Show line, working line, breeder market
The Havapoo has no recognised breeding lines in the sense of FCI working lines, show lines, or field trial lines. As a non-standardised hybrid breed, the institutional basis for such differentiation is lacking.
In practice, however, factual differences exist depending on the Poodle line used: Crosses with Miniature Poodles (withers height 35–45 cm according to FCI standard) generally result in larger, more active individuals with a more pronounced drive to work. Crosses with Toy Poodles (under 28 cm) tend towards smaller, calmer dogs with a stronger lap dog character.
Backcrosses (F1b: Havapoo × Poodle) are marketed by some breeders with the aim of increasing the Poodle proportion and thus raising the probability of a low-shedding coat. Whether this goal is achieved is not genetically guaranteed.
Anyone acquiring a Havapoo should explicitly ask the breeder about the Poodle line used and the generation (F1, F1b, F2), as this information significantly influences the size, coat type, and energy level of the puppy.
11Health · Reality
What you need to plan for medically with your Havapoo
The Havapoo can inherit diseases from both parent breeds. In Havanese, patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and heart diseases (mitral valve insufficiency) are documented. In Toy Poodles, epilepsy, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, and sebaceous adenitis also occur. A study by the University of Bern (2019) on the health of hybrid dogs shows that crosses without systematic health screening of parent dogs do not exhibit a statistically significantly lower disease rate than purebred dogs.
Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years, depending on size, line, and living conditions. Smaller individuals tend towards the upper end of this range.
Recommended preventive examinations include: eye examination (PRA screening) for both parent dogs before breeding, patella assessment by a vet, dental check from the 6th month of life (dental misalignments are common in small breeds), and annual heart auscultation from the 5th year of life.
The risk of being overweight is moderately increased: small dogs with a high need for social contact are often given treats as a substitute for enrichment. According to a survey by the German Animal Welfare Federation (2022), around 35% of small dogs in Germany are overweight. Regular weight checks at the vet (at least once a year) and calorie-conscious feeding are therefore relevant.
Without health certificates for the parent animals (eyes, patella, heart), a serious assessment of the health risk of a puppy is not possible.
12Structured data
Health by the numbers
Prone to diseases
Patellar luxation, eye problems
Recommended health tests
Patella screening, eye examination
13Myths ↔ Reality
What is often said incorrectly about this breed
Five myths, five realities, five sources.
„The Havapoo is suitable for allergy sufferers because it hardly sheds.
The coat structure varies considerably depending on the combination of parent dogs and generation. Even with low shedding, dogs produce allergens via saliva, urine, and skin flakes (Can f 1). Suitability for allergy sufferers is not genetically guaranteed and should be verified before purchase through direct contact with the specific puppy.
„As a hybrid breed, the Havapoo is automatically healthier than purebred dogs.
The so-called hybrid vigour (heterosis) does not occur automatically. If parent dogs are used without health testing, breed-typical diseases of both source breeds (such as patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, or dental misalignments) can be passed on to the offspring. Without breeding approval and health screening, the crossbreed offers no health advantage.
„The Havapoo is a low-maintenance beginner dog without much effort.
The curly to wavy coat requires regular brushing (several times a week) and professional clipping every 8–12 weeks to prevent matting. In addition, there is a high need for social contact: The Havapoo tolerates long periods of solitude poorly. Anyone who underestimates training and grooming risks behavioural problems and skin irritation.
„Havapoos always have a calm, balanced temperament.
Temperament depends on the individual parent dogs, socialisation, and upbringing. Poodle traits can lead to pronounced activity and high enrichment needs; Havanese traits to strong attachment orientation and separation anxiety. A general character description is not possible for a non-standardised hybrid breed.
„The Havapoo always stays small, it is a true lap dog.
The final size varies depending on the Poodle line used, ranging from approximately 20 to 33 cm at the withers and 3.5 to 11 kg in weight. Puppies from Toy Poodle crosses can become significantly larger than expected. Without a binding standard, there is no guarantee for a specific final size.
14animal welfare
The animal welfare perspective
Breeder market, designer versions, animal shelter reality — what no one writes in the puppy ad.
The Havapoo is one of the best-selling designer hybrids in the German-speaking region. This demand has led to a significant backyard breeder market. Puppies are offered via classifieds portals, social media channels and specialised websites, often without proof of health tests for the parent animals, without insight into the rearing conditions and without advice on keeping.
The main problem lies in the discrepancy between marketing promises and reality. Characteristics such as "suitable for allergy sufferers", "easy to care for" and "always friendly" are not genetically guaranteed. If these expectations are not met (the coat does shed, the dog develops separation anxiety, the size exceeds expectations), Havapoos end up in animal welfare organisations disproportionately often. Animal welfare associations in the DACH region have reported a significant increase in surrendered hybrid dogs of this category since the 2010s.
A specific problem concerns breeding for extreme smallness: Toy Poodle crosses with very small Havanese are sometimes marketed as "Micro" or "Teacup" Havapoos. Such individuals carry an increased risk of organ problems, bone fractures and neurological disorders. No reputable breeder uses this term.
Adoption via animal welfare organisations is an equally valid option. Havapoos and similar hybrid dogs are available in shelters and foster networks, often already assessed character-wise and with a known history. Those open to an adult dog often gain more planning security than when buying a puppy with unknown genetic traits.
Anyone who buys a puppy bears responsibility for the demand they create. Health certificates for both parent animals, personal inspection of the rearing conditions and transparent communication with the breeder are not additional services; they are the minimum standard.
15Costs · Transparency
What this breed realistically costs
The purchase price for a Havapoo puppy from reputable breeding in the DACH region is between 1,200 and 2,500 EUR. Offers under 800 EUR on classifieds portals often come from backyard breeding without health screening. A significantly higher price alone is not a quality indicator; verifiable health certificates for the parent animals are decisive.
Annual living costs are approximately 1,800 to 3,200 EUR depending on size and grooming needs. This includes: high-quality food (400–700 EUR/year), professional grooming every 8–12 weeks (approx. 50–90 EUR per session, i.e. 500–1,000 EUR/year), basic equipment, toys and accessories.
Vet costs vary greatly. Annual preventive care including vaccinations and parasite prophylaxis costs an average of 200–400 EUR. In the event of illnesses such as patellar luxation (surgery: 1,500–3,500 EUR) or eye diseases, individual costs can rise significantly.
Dog liability insurance costs from approx. 40–80 EUR/year for small dogs. Health insurance ranges between 30 and 120 EUR/month depending on the tariff and is particularly recommended for hybrid dogs without health guarantees for the parent animals.
16Puppy search
What you need to consider when choosing a breeder
- A reputable breeder allows personal inspection of the rearing environment and introduces both parent dogs.
- Health certificates — at least eye examination (PRA), patella assessment, and heart auscultation — must be available for both parent dogs.
- Anyone who does not show these documents or refuses a visit is ruled out as a contact.
- As the Havapoo is not an FCI-recognised breed, there is no breeding association with binding standards.
- This increases the duty of care when purchasing: ask about the generation (F1, F1b, F2), the poodle line used, and the rearing concept.
- Puppies should be handed over at the earliest at 8 weeks of age and must be demonstrably socialised.
- Adoption through animal welfare organisations, foster home networks, or breed-specific rescue stations is an equally valid alternative.
- Adult Havapoos from rescue are often easier to assess character-wise than puppies with unknown genetic traits.
- Be cautious of offers on classifieds portals without the possibility of inspection, with very young puppies (under 8 weeks), or with shipping options.
- These features indicate puppy mill breeding.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Havapoo
Is Havapoo suitable for beginners?
Havapoo is considered suitable for first-time dog owners.
Is Havapoo a family dog?
Havapoo is considered suitable for families with good socialisation and species-appropriate care.
How much exercise does Havapoo need?
At least around 20 minutes of exercise per day.
Does Havapoo suit an apartment?
With enough exercise and enrichment, Havapoo can also be kept in an apartment.
What is the size and weight of Havapoo?
Fully grown, Havapoo reaches about 20–30 cm at the withers and weighs around 2–6 kg.
What is the life expectancy of Havapoo?
The life expectancy of Havapoo is approximately 12–15 years.
Is Havapoo suitable for allergy sufferers?
Havapoo is considered relatively hypoallergenic. There’s never a guarantee — test direct contact beforehand.
Which diseases are common in Havapoo?
Patellar luxation, eye problems
17Breed clubs
Official breed clubs in DACH
19Related
Similar breeds – and their differences
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Does this breed suit you?
Small, hypoallergenic companion dog. Suitable for city living, gentle, eager to learn.