Havashire

Canis lupus

Last updated: March 11, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© iStock.com/Alika Obrazovskaya

Both of the Havashire’s parent breeds were very popular among the upper classes.


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Havashire Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Havashire Locations

Havashire Locations

Havashire Facts

Fun Fact
Both of the Havashire’s parent breeds were very popular among the upper classes.
Temperament
Affectionate, loyal, charismatic, and spunky
Diet
Omnivore

Havashire Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Fawn
  • Red
  • Black
  • White
  • Tan
  • Brindle
  • Multi-colored
Skin Type
Hair
Lifespan
13 to 15 years
Weight
12 lbs

Havashire as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
Low
Separation Anxiety
High
Preferred Temperature
Warm climate
Exercise Needs
High
Friendly With Other Dogs
High
Pure bred cost to own
$500 to $1,500
Dog group
Toy
Male weight
8-12 lbs
Female weight
6-11 lbs

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The Havashire’s parent breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and Havanese, were favorites of upper class owners in the United Kingdom and Cuba, respectively.

The Havashire is a small and cuddly lapdog that was bred from a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Havanese. It is a relatively newer hybrid creation and was most likely developed at the beginning of the 21st century. Both parent breeds are toy dogs with different origins. The Yorkie is a graceful and elegant long-haired toy dog with a working-class origin from northern England. This dog was originally supposed to be a vermin hunter in mills and factories, but it later became a favorite of the British nobility. The Havanese, named after Cuba’s capital city of Havana, was a favorite lapdog of the country’s upper classes. It is a member of the Bichon family of dogs.

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Despite being a 50/50 hybrid of two different breeds, the Havashire will not inherit an exact mix of features; it may be more like one parent than another. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know exactly what it will inherit ahead of time. This dog usually features a short muzzle, a highly expressive face, floppy ears, and dark rounded eyes. The double-layered coat of fur tends to be smooth, silky, and elegant. It also comes in a huge array of different colors, including red and black, tan and black, fawn, brindle, solid white, black, and a multi-colored mix.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning A Havashire

Pros!Cons!
Sociable
The Havashire gets along very well with all kinds of people.
Stubborn
The Havashire may inherit a slight stubborn streak from its Yorkshire parent.
Intelligent
This dog will learn quickly from its owner.
Highly Energetic
Some dogs may have a large amount of energy that needs to be worked off every day.
Affectionate
This is great for people who want a cuddly lapdog.
Demands Attention
This dog will take up a lot of time from its owner.
Grass, Lying Down, Puppy, Alertness, Animal

Very small and thin-framed, Havashires should be handled with care.

©iStock.com/mheim3011



Size And Weight

The Havashire is a very small toy dog with a thin and frail frame. It is a good idea to handle these dogs with care.

Height (Male)9 to 12 inches
Height (Female)8 to 11 inches
Weight (Male)9 to 12 pounds
Weight (Female)6 to 11 pounds

Common Health Issues

The Havashire may inherit any number of different health problems from its two parent breeds, including deafness, epilepsy, skin allergies, eye conditions, cancer, and some heart problems. It’s also vulnerable to some developmental disorders of the bones and joints, including Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (when the blood flow is interrupted to the hip joint, causing the bone to break apart) and patellar luxation (essentially, an out-of-place knee cap).

Health and Entertainment for your Havashire

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The chances of these conditions ever arising can be minimized with proper breeding, but it isn’t possible to completely eliminate all risks. That is why you should schedule regular checkups at the vet for examinations and tests. If the dog remains healthy throughout its life, then it can have a lifespan of 12 to 14 high-quality years. In summation, here’s a list of the most common health problems:

  • Skin Allergies
  • Deafness
  • Eye Conditions
  • Heart Diseases
  • Cancer

Temperament

Animal, Animal Hair, Beauty, Brown, Canine - Animal

The Havashire can be spunky and energetic or mellow and quiet.

©iStock.com/Alika Obrazovskaya

The Havashire is an upbeat, happy-go-lucky dog with extraordinary loyalty and fondness for its owner. Temperamentally, this dog can reside anywhere on the spectrum between the spunky and energetic terrier group and the mellower and quieter Havanese, but its full personality may not become apparent until the dog has fully matured. Due to its small size and quiet nature, the Havashire makes an excellent apartment dog, as long as it receives enough time outdoors to roam around freely. Owners should always strive to involve this dog in family activities. If it doesn’t receive enough attention and love, then it might develop some anxious behavior and undesirable traits.

How To Take Care Of The Havashire

Despite its small size, the Havashire will require a great deal of time and effort to care for. At least some prior experience with dog ownership is recommended before deciding to bring this mix home. If you have any other questions or concerns about dog ownership, then you should consult with your vet.

The Best Dog Food For Havashires

A full-grown Havashire should ideally eat about a cup of high-quality dry food mixed in with some wet food per day. The exact amount will, of course, depend on the dog’s age, size, and activity level, but it should have a healthy amount of lean proteins mixed with fats and carbohydrates. Since small breeds may have the tendency to gain weight, you should not leave out more food than is necessary.

Since Havashires can develop heart conditions, it’s important for owners to know about the link between dog food containing legumes and heart failure in dogs. Compare some legume-free dog foods.

At A-Z Animals, we believe the best dog food for Havashires is Instinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Dry Dog Food, Natural Kibble with Omegas + Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food.

Since this food is less processed than most, the wholesome protein from lamb, turkey, fish, and beef will keep your Havashire full and satisfied to prevent weight gain. There are no harmful legumes such as peas and lentils, and no wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives that can cause allergies. This natural raw blend kibble works wonders for dogs with food sensitivities and provides those probiotics and omegas your dog needs for working digestive and immune systems.

Check Chewy or Amazon for this product.

Best Nutrient-Rich
Instinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Dog Food
  • High protein dog food mixed with freeze dried raw toppers
  • Contains probiotics for healthy digestion and omegas for skin & coat
  • No corn, wheat, soy, potato, peas, lentils, by-product meal, artificial colors or preservatives.



Check Chewy Check Amazon

Maintenance And Grooming

The amount of time spent grooming this dog will depend on the length of the hair it inherits from its parents. If the dog has a longer coat of fur, then it will need daily grooming with a pin brush and comb to prevent matting and tangling. If it has shorter hair, then it will need to be groomed only a few times a week. Either way, the coat will need to be trimmed a few times a year, preferably by a professional groomer, though it’s possible to do it yourself.

Because of its tendency to develop dry skin, the Havashire should only be bathed with a mild shampoo whenever necessary to clean off strong dirt and grime. The dog’s coat should already produce natural oils that will keep it fresh and clean. Owners will also need to trim the nails and clean out the ears on a regular basis.

Training

The Havashire is an intelligent and eager-to-please dog that excels at all kinds of training, but first, you will need to overcome its slight stubborn streak. This will require a bit of a patient attitude on the part of its owner. The Havashire will need a strong leader who’s not afraid to assert control over the training process, but doesn’t get too loud or aggressive; this dog is very sensitive to changes in its owner’s voice. Positive reinforcement methods like treats and praise should work best to convince your dog to follow your commands. If you are struggling to train your dog, or it begins to show signs of anxiety or aggression, then you might want to contact a professional trainer to help you.

Exercise

Despite its small size, a full-grown Havashire is a voracious dog that’s just bursting with energy; it requires at least an hour of exercise every single day. Your dog should be satisfied with plenty of indoor activities, games, and playtime, but it will also need to spend some time outdoors on brief walks or just roaming around parks and yards. Fortunately, once its energy is spent, the Havashire will usually settle down and curl up on its owner’s lap. It may need some extra clothing or covering in colder weather.

Puppies

Havashire puppies are exuberant attention seekers with a high level of energy. In order to become well-behaved full-grown adults, they will require obedience training, house training, socialization, and, optionally, crate training within the first few months of their lives. These puppies are a bit notorious for their difficulty to house train, but a crate can assist with this. Once the dog becomes accustomed to the crate and regards it as a living space, the puppy will try to hold it in until after it’s been released from the cage. Puppy pads and paper training work less well for this type of dog.

Agricultural Field, Animal, Animal Body Part, Animal Ear, Animal Teeth

©iStock.com/Polhansen

Havashires And Children

The kind and gentle Havashire should get along with people of all ages. The only problem is its small and frail body might not tolerate rough handling from raucous kids. That is why it might do better to wait until the kids are older and calmer.

Dogs Similar To The Havashire

Besides the Havanese and the Yorkshire Terrier, the Havashire is most closely related to the following dogs:

  • Bichon Frise – As a member of the bichon family, this small white toy dog is very similar to the Havanese. This is a charming, intelligent, and cuddly companion with a big personality.
  • Corkie – As a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Yorkshire Terrier, the Corkie is a small, exuberant, and fun-loving companion dog with a long, dense, silky coat of fur. Like the Havashire, it is a little stubborn with obedience training but also very eager to learn and play.
  • Yorkie Bichon – Also sometimes known as a Borkie, the adorable Yorkie Bichon is a mixture between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Bichon Frise. It is friendly and intelligent but also has a strong mind of its own.

Famous Havashires

The Havashire is still a relatively unknown mix with a small following in the United States, but both of its parent breeds are very popular. The Yorkshire Terrier routinely ranks within the top 10 or 15 breeds in the country.

If you are still searching for a good Havashire name, then you might want to consider one of the following examples:

  • Luna
  • Cooper
  • Charlie
  • Bella
  • Lucy
  • Buddy
  • Oliver
  • Coco
  • Max
  • Sophie

View all 104 animals that start with H

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What's the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

X-Small
Small
Medium
Large
Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes
No
How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.
I want a cuddle buddy!
About average energy.
I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!
All energy levels are great -- I just love dogs!
How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?
About the Author

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

Havashire FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is a Havashire?

The Havashire is a small lapdog that combines some aspects of its two parent breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and Havanese. This mix has an upbeat, lively, intelligent, and loyal temperament.

How big does a Havashire dog get?

The Havashire grows no larger than about a foot at the shoulders. It also weighs no more than 12 pounds.

How often does a Havashire need to be groomed?

Depending on the length of the fur, the Havashire may need to be groomed as frequently as once a day.

What do Havashire dogs look like?

The Havashire is a small breed with short legs, a small to medium muzzle, an expressive face, floppy ears, and dark rounded eyes. The long and straight coat, which grows particularly long around the feet, is usually some combination of black, white, cream, brown, sable, and fawn.

How long do Havashire dogs live?

The Havashire has a lifespan of some 12 to 14 years on average.

What is the price of a Havashire?

The price of a Havashire can be anywhere between $500 and $1,500, depending on the pedigree of the dog and the quality of the breeder or organization from which you buy. Dogs from an excellent lineage will generally have a higher cost. If price is a concern, then you might want to consider adoption, since an adopted dog will generally cost less. However, trying to find a specific mixed breed hybrid from an adoption agency can be a little challenging.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. Doggie Designer, Available here: https://doggiedesigner.com/havashires/
  2. Wag Walking, Available here: https://wagwalking.com/breed/havashire

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