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Havachon
Havachon Dog (Havanese and Bichon Mix)
Havachon life span
Havachon size
Havachon temperament
Havachon grooming
Havachon potty training
Havachon is a beatuiful mix between a Bichon Frise dog and Havanese dog breeds. Learn about Havachon pros and cons, get information about Havachon personality and grooming needs and find out how to properly care for your Havachon dog to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Havachon (Bichon and Havanese mix)
 What is a Havachon dog mix? Havachons are cross-breed dogs between the Havanese and the Bichon Frise. They are known to inherit the good-natured trait of the Bichon Frise and the sociable nature of the Havanese. Highly intelligent, friendly and curious, these dogs make great family companions, as they get well with people of all ages ranging from the young to the old.
Always ready to learn, these dogs will be eager to participate in training sessions while at the same time Bichon Havachon Mix dogs make great watchdogs. Their alert nature will make them bark loudly at the sight of any new individual or anything unusual around them.
Havachons are hypoallergenic which makes them a more suitable pet choice for allergy sufferers. Since Havanese Bichon mix dogs are small, they are suitable for people living in apartments, condos or in private homes. Havachons require moderate exercise activities and make great companions for people who love taking their pet for several daily walks.
Despite being small breeds, these pooches have sturdy bodies and adorable faces. Havanese Bichon Frise mix dogs have round skulls and intelligent dark brown eyes. With furry ears hanging on either side of their heads, Havachons have small black noses.
Havachon dogs feature a rectangular body with fairly short limbs. Havachon tail is densely furred and elegantly curves above the dog's back. Havachon dogs have coats that vary in texture depending on which parental side the dog leans towards. Havachons resembling the Havanese will have a wavy and silky in texture fur while those resembling the Bichon Frise will have a more curly and fluffy fur.
The length of the double coats varies from long to short, is silky soft and smooth to the touch. Havachon coat colors come in different shades which include white, black, grey, cream, pied, blue, silver brown or golden. Some Havachons will have two or three colors combined, while others, as they age, will have faded coats.
Havachons are hybrid designer dogs created from crossing Havanese and the Bichon Frise. Breeders are believed to have started mixing these two pure breed dogs in the last two decades. The main aim was to get a dog that has more desirable traits from both the parents while reducing the non-desirable traits. However, it all depends on luck of the draw in regards to traits that Havachon will inherit from the parent dogs.
Understanding Havanese and Bichon Frise breeds will give more insight into what to expect in terms of temperament and appearance from a Havachon dog.
Havanese dog breed
The Havanese breed originates from Cuba, where its ancestors were brought over in ships during the 1500s from the Tenerife island. Others that came along with the Havanese were the Bichon Frise and the Maltese. They were used as family pets and always won the hearts of many tourists. In 1959, these pups were almost getting extinct but luckily some tourists had carried them to America.
Bichon Frise dog breed
Bichon Frise has been around the Mediterranean region since the middle ages. Originating from Tenerife Island to Spain many would have them as family pets, even though their demand decreased in the 19th century. After several years they gained back popularity in the 1930s and were recognized by the American Kennel Club in the 1950s.
Havachon Variations
Havachons are designer dogs but professional breeders seem not interested in the long thread to the F7 multigenerational level. This is a level whereby high vigor hybrids are eliminated to create pure breeds that could be recognized by the American Kennel Club as pure breeds. However, almost all Havachons are either F1 or F2 generations. When broken down the hybrid goes as follows:
F1 = Crossing pure breed Havanese x Pure breed Bichon Frise
F2 = Crossing breeding two Havachons
F1B = Crossing Havachon x Bichon Frise
F2B = F1B X F1 (Crossing Havachon x Bichon Frise) X (Crossing pure breed Havanese x Pure breed Bichon Frise)
F3 = Crossing breeding two F2s
Two F3s Produces an F4 and the chain continues to F7, therefore all these generations in between are re-feed to as multi-generational breeds. At times toy Bichon Havanese pups may be offered to be crossbred further. Since these are already small dogs in size breeding them to smaller dogs can cause serious health conditions for the dog.
Havachon Life Expectancy
What is the average lifespan of a Havachon? Havachons will live to about 15 years, provided they are given proper care, including well-balanced diet in combination with a healthy lifestyle.
Havachon Size
How big do Havachon dogs get? Havachons are relatively small breeds with a height of 9 to 15 inches and weigh between 9 to 17 pounds. Female Havachons are smaller compared to their male counterparts.
Havachon Dog Temperament
Havachons temperament differs from one dog to the other depending on which parental genes dominate more in the dog, regardless of whether they come from one litter or not. Nevertheless, they will always be a mix of character traits of both parents in this designer dog.
Intelligent, playful and curious these pups tend to be headstrong but not dominant. Their friendly nature and moderate energy levels make them easy to train, as they also love being around their handlers more often. They will do well with agility and puzzle games which will help them burn the excess energy. Involve them in such and many other activities to keep them off destructive behaviors.
Like all other hybrid dogs, start socializing your pooches as early as possible. This will go along way in ensuring that they are well behaved and not hostile towards other pets, people or environments. Havachons will bark at the sight of a stranger, thus making them good watchdogs, but they soon warm up to strangers once they realize they pose no threat.
They will also raise an alarm in case of strange sounds to alert their owners. Expect also to be followed all-around your house, since these pups seem very clingy and will even be there while you're sleeping.
Havachons suffer from separation anxiety and so will hate to be left alone for long. They are not a good choice for owners who plan to spend long hours away from home, as this will only make them unhappy.
Besides resulting in destructive behaviors while alone, these pups will acquire bad habits that won't be easy to break off. Other than being friendly with people of all ages, these pups will adapt easily to urban life since they don't require many spaces.
Havachons have moderate energy levels which only means they don't need vigorous exercises. A daily 30 minutes' walk will be enough while incorporating other activities such as playtime sessions.
Going to the park will also play the trick, since these pooch's love participating in human activities. Out of their smart nature, these dogs will hate being left alone for long. Owners are advised to keep their minds stimulated to get rid of the boredom.
Involving them in activities like agility competitions, obedience training, swimming, fetch games or flyball will go along away in ensuring that their minds are always stimulated.
Havachons do generally well with children of all ages and will shower them with great affection. Nevertheless, early training and socialization should remain key to ensure that the dog gets familiar with the children around. Even so, the owner should train the kids on how to interact with the dog carefully and gently regardless of his age. Also, they should be taught on the dos and don'ts while playing around with the dog. In any case, no dog should be left to play along with kids under no supervision.
Havachons will also have no problem with the other pets in the homestead, including cats and other dogs. Even though these pups love to be showered with attention, they will still coexist properly with other house pets. In that case, they should also be early socialized to the other pets in the house.
Havachons puppies are very small and fragile. One will need to take extra care while handling them to avoid hurting them. Rough playing children should also be supervised while playing with the puppies since they can easily hurt them in the process.
Due to their adorable cuteness and fluffy doll-like appearance, they will still anyone's attention. However, let their cuteness not deceive you into delaying their early socialization training.
How to groom a Havachon?
Havachons grooming needs will depend on whether the dog is more of the Havanese or more of the Bichon Frise. Havanese have silky and smooth coats that grow to the ground if left unattended, while the BichonFrise coat is curly and grows more in height. Your pooch will take on either side or have a mix of both.
The good thing is that both parents of the Havachon are considered low shedders, thus making the Havachon a low shedder as well. But still, you will need to brush your Havachon three times a week to prevent mats and tangles from forming. The brushing will also help distribute natural oils around the dogs' coat to keep it healthy and shiny.
Bathe your Havachon every once a month or after any muddy activity using the recommended shampoos and conditioners required for your pooch. After the bathe, ensure that you rinse the Havachons coat thoroughly with clean water. This will help in getting rid of any excess products left on the coat, which may cause skin irritation or unnecessary itch.
After the rinse, take your time to blow dry gently your dogs' coat, since Havachons coat may naturally take a lot of time before drying. This may make the dog feel cold or uncomfortable in the process. Remember to also clean your dog's eyes every day to get rid of tear stains that may cause discomfort.
Also, clean the dogs' ears to get rid of any debris or pests that could be stuck inside. If in any case, you see moisture, excess wax or dirt that is accompanied by a bad smell, discharge or inflammation, then visit the dogs' vet. This will help prevent any possibilities of ear infections.
Clean your pooch's nails regularly at least once in a month. If any case you hear the nails clicking on the floor as the dog walks, then it's time to clip them. Although you shouldn't wait for that long before clipping, always check them in time, to keep your dog comfortable.
As a good rule of thumb, never forget to brush your pooch's teeth occasionally. One can use an enzyme toothpaste and a recommended dog toothbrush described by the dogs' vet. This will help your dogs' teeth stay healthy and maintain good oral health, while still preventing any build-ups and plaques.
Since also Havachons hair grows long its good that you plan on regular haircuts, to ensure that their coats look great anytime. If you don't have the know-how, then its advisable to get help from professional groomers.
Havachon training
Training a Havachon is far from being a chore since they are smart and willing to learn all the time. They love to learn new tricks while striving to please their masters at the same time. They pick fast on commands and will perform them to anyone who cares to watch.
However, this can be made much easier so long as the dog began training at a very tender age. Positive reinforcement and consistency will also go a long way in ensuring that you have a well-rounded dog.
Potty training a Havachon
Potty training the Havachon will not be so difficult. Even if the Havachon is easy to train, sometimes they can prove a little bit stubborn when it comes to potty training. All the same, you will need to be determined, strong-willed and practice a lot of patience and consistency.
Below are a few steps to follow to potty training your Havachon:
Begin potty training Havachon pup early: Housebreaking should begin as soon as possible while your dog is still a puppy. By the time the puppy gets to about 8 weeks they should be ready to start the potty training. Do not be deceived by puppies' cuteness to delay the process.
Pick a potty place for your pet. Once you have identified the potty place, be consistent with when the dog needs to go potty. For example:
When the Havachon dog wakes up from a nap or every morning
Every 15 to 20 minutes after the dog has eaten or drunk water
After every indoor or outdoor play session
Right before bedtime. Younger Havachon puppies will take about three months before they can be able to hold it in for long hours.
Pick potty readiness signals: Your Havachon will give you signs that they need to go potty. Be keen to observe these signs to avoid regular accidents. Potty readiness signals include:
Going to the door
Sniffing around
Walking around in circles
Whining
Barking
Pay attention, to these signs and quickly take Havachon pup outside to the potty place.
When potty training Havachon, use command words: Your chosen command words will help your Havachon relate the word to the elimination business. Such words could include "Go poop" or "Go potty". Once the dog does the business properly, you can use other cue words to appreciate him such as "Good dog!"
While at it, it's also good to offer your Havachon pooch some rewards for a job well done. Such kinds of treats include taking him on a short walk, offering him a toy to play with or treat him with some food. This will help your Havachon understand what is required and he or she will be happy to do potty where intended once the dog understands that if he does the deed in the right place, he gets rewarded for that.
Stick to business: Taking your dog to eliminate should not include playtime. Stick to the pooing business and avoid any kind of play, the dog gets done with the potty business. Lavish your dog with praise words immediately upon completion by praising the dog.
Clean accidents quickly: Accidents are bound to happen and especially when your Havachon dog is still young and can't hold it in for long. However, ensure that you clean up the mess as soon as possible to discourage your dog from pooing at that place once more. So long as the dog smells the poo on the floor, high chances are that he will try to poo at the same spot.
Avoid punishments: As a good rule of thumb, its advisable that you avoid yelling at the dog in case of any accidents, or whenever you catch the dog in the act. Instead, softly interrupt the dog, then take him outside to complete the business. Pulling his nose or punishing him will only make the dog afraid of you and weaken the bond between you two.
We hope that after reading this article about Havanese and Bichon Frise mix you are better prepared for taking of the responsibility of being a proud Havachon dog owner.
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