How to Choose a Havapoo Puppy

If you have been researching small dogs and keep coming back to the Havapoo, there is a very good reason for that. This breed has a way of stopping people in their tracks. They are charming, bright, deeply affectionate, and wrapped in a soft, wavy coat that looks like something out of a storybook. But choosing a Havapoo puppy well takes more than falling in love with a photo. It means understanding the breed, knowing what to look for in a breeder, and making sure the puppy you bring home has been given the start in life they deserve.

At Havana Luxe Pups, we have raised Havapoo puppies with intention and care since 2017. We want every family who finds their way to us to feel informed, confident, and genuinely excited. This guide covers everything you need to know to choose a Havapoo puppy the right way.

What Is a Havapoo?

Social & Affectionate

The Havanese brings warmth, loyalty, and natural attunement to emotions, creating a deeply connected companion.

Smart & Trainable

The Poodle contributes intelligence, quick learning, and eager-to-please responsiveness to positive training.

Adaptable Lifestyle

Perfect for apartments or houses, active families or quieter adults, with children or other pets when properly introduced.

Long-Term Companion

With a lifespan averaging 12 to 16 years, this is the beginning of a meaningful, lasting relationship.

Why the Havapoo Is Such a Remarkable Companion

The best way to understand the Havapoo is to look at what each parent breed brings to the mix. The Havanese is a centuries-old companion breed developed in Cuba with one purpose: to be the ideal family dog. They are social, gentle, deeply affectionate, and naturally attuned to the emotions of the people around them. The Poodle, often ranked among the most intelligent dog breeds in the world, adds quick thinking, trainability, and a low-shedding coat that has made Poodle mixes popular with allergy-sensitive families for decades.

Put those two breeds together and you get a dog that is both warm-hearted and sharp-minded. Havapoos pick up commands quickly, respond beautifully to positive reinforcement, and are sensitive enough to read the mood of a room. They carry themselves with a playful, joyful spirit that is genuinely infectious.

three little red puppies cuddling on a blue couch

Why Breeder Quality Matters Even More with Designer Breeds

Because hybrid dogs like the Havapoo are not governed by AKC breed standards and registration in the same way purebreds are, it is even more important to evaluate what a breeder is actually doing. The popularity of Doodle-type dogs has attracted a wide range of breeders, and not all of them are doing the work that produces a healthy, well-adjusted puppy.

A responsible Havapoo breeder health tests their parent dogs. They socialize their litters from the earliest weeks of life. They raise puppies in a clean, enriched environment where human interaction is a daily constant. They are transparent about their practices, available to answer questions, and genuinely invested in where their puppies go.

At Havana Luxe Pups, every parent dog in our Havapoo program goes through comprehensive DNA health testing and OFA certification before they are ever part of a litter.

Our Health Testing Standards

We want to be straightforward about one thing you will encounter while shopping: puppy brokers. These are businesses that source puppies from various places and resell them, sometimes with impressive-sounding warranties that stretch to ten years or more. Those warranties typically contain enough clauses, conditions, and exclusions that filing a claim becomes a frustrating and often fruitless process. A clear, honest guarantee from a breeder who raised the puppy themselves and stands behind their work is worth far more. Our health guarantee at Havana Luxe Pups is two years, covers genetic defects, and is written so you can actually understand it.

Essential Health Testing for Havapoo Parents

OFA Hip Certification evaluates hip joint structure to screen for dysplasia. OFA Patella Certification screens for luxating patellas, one of the most common orthopedic concerns in small breeds. CAER Eye Examination screens for heritable eye conditions including cataracts, retinal folds, and persistent pupillary membranes. BAER Hearing Test screens for congenital deafness through neurological evaluation.

Comprehensive Genetic DNA Screening

We use genetic DNA screening on all of our parent dogs because it provides the clearest possible picture of what each dog may carry genetically. This testing identifies markers for dozens of inherited conditions. This is one of the most important investments a breeder can make, and it is something we do without exception. You can look up OFA certifications on the public database at ofa.org.

How Socialization Shapes a Havapoo’s Personality

Health testing protects your puppy’s physical wellbeing. Socialization builds their emotional foundation. A Havapoo raised in a thoughtful, enriched environment during the first weeks of life develops into a far more confident, adaptable, and settled adult than one raised in isolation or minimal stimulation.

At Havana Luxe Pups, our puppies are raised in our home as part of our family from day one. Our three boys are actively involved in daily puppy care, which means our Havapoo puppies are comfortable with children by the time they ever meet yours. We begin early neurological stimulation shortly after birth, which research has shown to have lasting positive effects on a puppy’s stress tolerance, cardiovascular health, and adaptability throughout life.

3 newborn puppies snuggled on soft blanket

Questions to Ask Any Havapoo Breeder

You want specifics: OFA hips, patellas, eyes, hearing, and comprehensive DNA testing for genetic disease markers. Ask for documentation.

A CHIC number you can look up at ofa.org is the clearest proof that the testing was done and properly recorded.

The Poodle side of the cross matters just as much as the Havanese side.

It should be clear, specific, and easy to understand.

Expect a vet exam, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, and full health records at minimum.

Frequently Asked Questions About Havapoos

In almost every case, yes. The Havapoo is one of the most adaptable small dogs you will find. They do beautifully in apartments and larger homes, with active families and quieter ones. The one consistent need they have is time with their people.

They are wonderful with children. Both the Havanese and Poodle are known for their gentle, patient, people-oriented natures, and the Havapoo inherits both. Our puppies are raised alongside our own children from birth.

No dog is completely hypoallergenic, but the Havapoo is genuinely one of the best choices available for allergy-sensitive families. They inherit the low-shedding coat from both parent breeds.

Regular grooming is part of the Havapoo lifestyle. Their wavy to curly coat needs brushing several times a week, and professional grooming every four to six weeks.

Havapoos are genuinely bright dogs, and training them is one of the real joys of owning this breed. They pick up commands quickly and respond enthusiastically to positive reinforcement.

Our Havapoos typically range from 8 to 15 pounds as adults. Because size depends on the specific parents, asking your breeder about both parent dogs gives you the clearest expectation.

What Going Home Looks Like With a Havana Luxe Pups Havapoo

When one of our Havapoo puppies goes home, they are ready in every way. They have been examined by our veterinarian, received age-appropriate vaccinations, been dewormed, and microchipped. Families receive complete health records, documentation of parental health testing, written care guidance, and a nutrition starter package. Our two-year health guarantee covering genetic defects comes with every puppy, written clearly so you know exactly what it covers.

We welcome in-person pickup at our Illinois location and offer hand delivery through trusted transport partners for families who cannot make the trip to us. Our relationship with our families continues long after pickup day.

red Havapoo pup with greenery in background

Ready to Find Your Perfect Havapoo?

We would love to hear from you. Whether you have your heart set on a Havapoo or are still exploring your options, reach out and let us help. This is exactly the kind of conversation we love having. There is nothing we enjoy more than helping a family find a Havapoo puppy who is going to be a perfect fit for their home and their life.