Designer Breed Icon
  • Activity Level: moderate
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  • Shedding Level: low
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  • Grooming Level: high
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  • Trainability: high
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  • Good for Novice Owners: moderate
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  • Adaptability: high
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  • Kid/Pet Friendly: often
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  • Prey Drive: low
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  • Watchdog: aware
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  • Average Size: Small
  • Average Lifespan: 12-16 years
  • Registered?: other

Havashu Dog Breed Information

Overview

Temperament

Adaptability

Health

Owner Experience

Grooming

Activity Level

Size

Life Span

Did You Know?

The Havashu is a cross between a Havanese and a Shih Tzu. These little dogs are affectionate and bond closely with their families. They tend to make fantastic family companions.

Although they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by other notable canine registries. American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Designer Breed Registry, and more all recognize the Havashu.

Havashu are affectionate dogs that thrive on attention. They bond closely with their families and love nothing more than spending time with them. As long as they are well-socialized and trained, they tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets.

They even tend to be open and friendly with strangers. They tend to alert bark on occasion, but do not tend to bark excessively unless they have been unintentionally trained into it. It’s not a bad idea to train your dog to stop barking early on, especially as you continue to socialize them, to keep barking from becoming a nuisance.

The Havashu is a highly adaptable dog. Although they are energetic and do not like to be left alone, they adapt well to apartments as well as larger homes. They do well in most climates, but are sensitive to heat and may need to bundle up with some winter dog products when it’s cold outside.

Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Havashu include patellar luxation, heart disease, and bladder stones. Good breeding practices make a big difference.

Reputable breeders should be screening their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health of both parents and about any tests or clearances that have been done.

Havashu are intelligent dogs that pick up on things quickly and tend to be people pleasers. They are relatively easy to train, but they can have a stubborn streak.

For the most part, they are a good fit for owners of all experience levels. But, you may want to be prepared to enroll in puppy training classes to help you keep training consistent and focused to overcome any stubbornness.

Havashu have a long-silky coat that sheds a little, if at all, year-round. They don’t shed much, but you will need to brush their coat daily to remove tangles and prevent mats. Visits to the groomer every 4-8 weeks are recommended to keep this dog’s coat healthy and looking great.

In addition to coat care, you will also need to take care of your Havashu’s nails, ears, and teeth. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Ear checks weekly with careful ear cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections.

As a small dog breed, the Havashu is prone to developing dental disease. This makes good dental care early and throughout your dog’s life even more important. Daily brushing and cleanings at the vet when needed are a good foundation.

Although the Havashu is small, they have a lot of energy. These little dogs are very playful and are often described as fun-loving dogs that would play non-stop if they were allowed to do so. They are also known for becoming hyperactive when they don’t have an outlet for their energy.

Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for this little dog. But, they will likely be up for more activity if you are. Just make sure you are building in some breaks to make sure they are not overheating and keeping things low-impact until puppies finish growing and developing.

A fully-grown Havashu usually stands 8-12 inches tall and weighs 8-15 pounds.

Havashu generally live for 12-16 years on average.

The Havashu is also sometimes called a Hava-Tzu or Havatzu.