Havachon Temperament: A Sweet Lapdog Who Loves to Clown Around

by Calvin L.

The Havachon aka the Bichon Frise Havanese Mix temperament makes him a sweet dog with a protective streak who can be a bit stubborn at times.

The Bichon Frise Havanese Mix is a great family pet who gets along really well with both kids and other pets.

Table of Contents

Bichon Frise Havanese Mix Temperament and Personality

Temperament is everything when you’re looking for your next dog.

If you have children, you want to make sure you don’t get a dog who has no patience for children.

If you have other pets, you want to make sure the dog you’re interested in can handle living with other pets before you bring him home.

Here are some of the most important traits to know about the Bichon Frise Havanese Mix temperament.

He’s Twice the Clown

With parents like the Havanese and the Bichon Frise, it’s no surprise the Havachon is quite the little clown himself.

He loves getting your attention by any means necessary – even if that means doing something silly to grab your attention.

He’s a Great Lapdog

If you’re looking for a small dog who’ll be good for Grandma, the Havachon makes for a great lapdog.

They are quiet, lovey, and unaggressive, and they are incredibly loyal and affectionate to their owners.

They’re also okay with smaller living spaces, so if Grandma lives in an apartment, he’ll fit right in.

They do need a fair amount of exercise, so if Grandma can’t do it, you may have to stop by and help. (More on that later.)

He’s Actually a Decent Watchdog

Sure, he’s small, but that won’t stop the Havachon from alerting you when he thinks danger is nearby.

If someone he doesn’t know comes to the door, he’ll bark at them until you tell him, or he realizes, they’re okay.

Once they’re inside, he’ll watch them quietly, just to make sure they’re truly safe until they become more comfortable with that person.

He’s Independent

This confident little dude will strut around, letting you know “don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

However, you must train him early on to keep his independence in check.

Else, it could lead to stubbornness, which affects training, as well as his tendency to develop an “alpha dog” kind of attitude.

He’s Hates to Be Alone

Unfortunately, like most breeds out there, the Havanese will suffer from separation anxiety if you leave him alone for too long.

You either must find a way to include him in your daily activities, or someone must be home with him for most of the day.

If not, he’ll be upset at you, and he’ll find a way to take that out on your house.

The Bichon Frise Havanese Mix Appearance

Havachon Weight and Height

As far as the Havachon size goes, the maximum height of an adult Havachon falls between 10 and 15 inches tall.

A healthy Havachon weight range is between 10 and 17 lbs.

Havachon Colors

There is a wide variety of Havachon colors to chose from. His coat comes in nearly every color a dog’s coat can come in, including:

White
Cream
Golden
Tan
Brown
Grey
Black
Silver
Blue
Salt-and-pepper.

A Brief History of the Bichon Frise Havanese Mix Breed

For most designer dog breeds, their history remains unknown.

However, you can still get a good bead on the kind of temperament you may end up with by researching the dog’s parents.

For instance, the Bichon Frise’s history involves American soldiers bringing these French dogs back with them to the U.S. after World War I.

As for the Havanese, these dogs have a long history of acting as the beloved family pet, starting in the early 1500s in Cuba.

It is, therefore, no wonder that a cross between the two would be so family-friendly and companionable.

How Do You Train a Bichon Frise Havanese Mix?

The Havachon is, as mentioned above, an intelligent little dog. As a result, they are incredibly easy to train.

You can even train them to do tricks!

However, if you don’t establish early on that you are the pack leader here, not him, then he’ll take advantage of that and walk all over you. (Hence the “alpha dog” tendency mentioned earlier.)

Be persistent and consistent with his training and, if necessary, bring in a professional to help.

Never neglect training simply because you think your dog can’t be taught. There’s always a way to get through to him – even if you can’t seem to do so yourself.

What you don’t want is for bad behavior to go unchecked. The longer his bad behavior continues, the more it develops from a habit into a permanent behavioral issue.

How Do You Groom a Bichon Frise Havanese Mix?

The Havachon differs so much from dog to dog that it’s honestly impossible to give you an accurate picture of his grooming needs.

One thing you can be sure of, though, is that whether his coat turns out to be long or short, you’ll need to brush him regularly.

Experts recommend brushing the Havachon three times a week to keep his coat free of knots and mats – which also helps reduce shedding.

You should still bring your Havachon to a professional groomer about once every 6 weeks for a trim.

And while it’s important for all dogs, it is especially important that you take good care of the Havachon’s teeth. This is because his Bichon Frise parent has early tooth loss in their genetics.

You should start brushing your Havachon’s teeth as early as possible so he can get used to it.

You should also regularly check and clean your Havachon’s ears and claws to prevent infections.

You can also take a look at our Bichon Frise Grooming article for ideas on grooming your Havachon.

Staying Healthy: Havachon Health Issues

Some health concerns to be aware of with the Havachon include:

Eye issues
Congenital deafness
Heart problems
Hip Dysplasia
Patella Luxation
Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Of course, these are only some of the issues the Havanese can develop, but these are most of the major ones.

And, of course, there’s no guarantee that just because a breed can develop a condition that they actually will.

Helpful Dog Health Resource:

Note: Our Health is #1 Priority. It should be no different for your dog. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely dog from vigor and life. Help your friend make it to 14 yrs+ without pain and suffering.

Is the Havachon Hypoallergenic?

And, bonus, the Havachon like many Bichon Frise Mix is also what you’d consider “hypoallergenic,” so if you suffer from allergies, you should be relatively symptom-free around him.

Read our article to learn more about hypoallergenic dogs. You will also find over 30 allergy-friendly breeds to choose from.

What is the Havachon Lifespan?

In any event, the average Bichon Frise Havanese Mix's life expectancy is between 12 to 15 years. So if you help him stay healthy you will have many years of enjoying each other.

Exercise

As with most small dogs, the Havachon needs a fair deal of exercise because he has a lot of energy.

Taking him for a long walk each day is a good start, along with playing with him in the yard for a while.

Don’t just open the door to let him out back and think this is enough. He needs to be doing activities with his owner in order to be truly happy.

Plus, this is a great time for him to practice his tricks!

Read our article on why it's important to exercsie your dog daily. You will also find lots of good ideas and examples of exercise you can perform with your dog.

Finding the Perfect Bichon Frise Havanese Mix

When you add a Bichon Frise Havanese Mix puppy to your family, you must be careful who you trust.

It’s good to start with your local shelter if you’re interested in a designer dog breed.

This is because many people abandon dogs for whom they didn’t pay thousands of dollars, so you may have better luck finding what you want.

If you’d rather try to find a Bichon Frise Havanese Mix for sale from a breeder, you need to make sure you’re dealing with someone who’s aboveboard.

You can usually tell by the price of a Bichon Frise Havanese Mix sale whether you’re getting duped or not.

Bichon Frise Havanese Mix Puppies for Sale

The average Bichon Frise Havanese Mix price is very affordable, falling in the $300 to $800 range.

However, if the Havachon becomes the “breed of the moment,” so to speak, you can expect that price to skyrocket.

If not, then this is a good range to keep in mind when you start looking for a dog.

If someone’s trying to sell a Havachon for $2,000, and there’s no increase in the breed’s popularity, then you know you’re probably dealing with a crook.

Bichon Frise Havanese Mix Adoption and Rescue

If you want to adopt a Bichon Frise Havanese Mix puppy, you can find one through a local rescue organization or adoption center.

A Bichon Frise Havanese Mix for adoption will always cost less than one purchased from a breeder.

An adoption is ideal if you are interested in bypassing the puppy stage and getting an older dog.

Many people don’t want to put up with the chewing and other destructive behavior that comes from owning a puppy.

Bichon Frise Havanese Mix Breeders

Do your research online before you go with just any Havachon breeder.

Read the reviews to see what other people are saying about that breeder. Do their prices seem legitimate?

You also want to take note of the conditions the pups are living in when you visit the breeder. Are they safe and clean?

NEVER buy a dog sight unseen. You may see pups for sale on a breeder’s website, complete with a “Buy Now!” button. DO NOT buy now.

With designer dogs, a bad breeder may try to sell you a dog who is not comprised of the breeds they say the dog is.

And always make sure the dog is a First Generation mix before buying. Once you get into second, third, etc. generations, the more likely it is for the dog to have genetic issues.

Checkout our Complete Guide to Breeders:

We wrote the definitive guide on finding, selecting, and dealing with dog breeders. This will give you the smarts and confidence to save you money, time and heartache. Read On…

Looking for More Bichon Frise Mix-breeds?

If you did not find what you're looking for maybe our article on the Top Bichon Frise Mix will answer your question. Or you can check out each Bichon mix directly by clicking on the links below:

Calvin L.

Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.

Next post: The Pushon Temperament: The Friendliest Family Dog

Previous post: Bichon Frise Lhasa Apso Mix (La-Chon): Sweet But Stubborn