Havashire

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.

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

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.

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).

The chances of these conditions ever arising can be minimized with proper breeding, but it isn’t possible to 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 16 high-quality years.

Temperament

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

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 tend 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.

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 it tends 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 regularly.

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 in house training, 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 crate. Puppy pads and paper training work less well for this type of dog.

Havashires And Children

The kind and gentle Havashire should get along with people of all ages. The only problem is that its small and frail body might not tolerate rough handling from raucous kids. That is why it might be 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.