Can A Havapoo be Left Alone?

Havapoos have successfully emerged as one of the most popular, and sought-after dogs in the world. 

The Havapoo has gained amazing traction over the years with it’s undeniable charm, and adorable personality. Can you own a Havapoo if you have work or school? Can a Havapoo be left alone?

However, without many documents, tracing the origin of the Havapoo is quite challenging. Although, it is widely believed that the breed came into existence roughly 20-30 years ago, and upon looking further back at it’s heritage, the Havapoo actually carries pretty historic roots.

As for the parent breeds, the Havenese came from Cuba and the Standard Poodle is believed to have come from Germany (though it’s the national dog of France). 

But both breeds have often been associated with royalty, and the elites for many generations. As in both Cuba and France (where these two breeds predominantly reside), many famous historical figures were owners to one of them. 

• Famous Havanese puppy parents include Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, and Queen Victoria
• The famous Poodle breed dog owner club – Sir Winston Churchill, Pablo Piccaso, and Walt Disney

So, at least in terms of the Havapoos two parent breeds, it certainly has some pretty historic ties. 

What Makes A Havapoo a Social Dog?

The Havapoo is a relatively new designer dog that does not carry an overly detailed history, but is generally recognized by the ACHC (American Canine Hybrid Club) under the name Poovanese.

Havapoos are renowned for being extremely gentle, friendly, and easy-to-train. Making them ideal for any family, couple, or person in search of a furry companion. 

They are particularly popular amongst elderly couples because they love to spend time with people, but need to have an owner that has enough spare time to keep the pup entertained.

It is a cross between a Havanese and a Poodle (often a Toy Poodle), both of which are very friendly, very smart, and a relaticely little dog. Both parent breeds are toy breeds, and so an average Havapoo will be of similar stature, ranging between 9-12 inches tall, and 7-15 pounds. 

They are very delicate dogs that come with a wide range of coat possibilities from curly to wavy, with a mid-long coat length. 

Due to the Poodle lineage, the Havapoo is often another non-shedding dog, but as such will need to be brushed or combed weekly to remove all loose hair, and keep their coat nice and healthy.

Havapoos quite simply get along with everyone from kids, to grandparents, even to other dogs. They are genuinely outgoing, and love nothing more than to spend time with their family.  

Can Havapoo Be Left Alone? 

The simple answer to this question is NO, Havapoo dogs are companion dogs that can not be left alone for extended periods of time.

Havapoos are a companion breed, meaning that they are specifically bred to not be living alone. 

The pros to this are that they constantly exude extremely social, and friendly behavior towards their loved ones. 

However, one downside to having a dog that is this reliant on human interaction, is that they are more prone to developing serious separation anxiety, and loneliness. 

For a lot of dogs that are similarly dependent on human interaction, and do not do well on their own, they can still typically be left alone for a certain duration of the day. However, Havapoos are even more sensitive to being left alone, so much so that they can generally only handle 2-4 hours alone. 

Separation anxiety in dogs is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, and Havapoos are among the most prone to this condition. 

It’s paramount that as a pet-owner you take the time to understand the difference between your dog being occasionally upset, or having anxiety as a result of real stress. 

Keep an eye out for behaviors that take place when you’re not there, such as;

Even though exercise generally isn’t a concern, as Havapoos expend much of their energy simply running around outside for 20-30 mins.

The primary concern is the social ramifications of leaving a Havapoo by themselves. 

Many still are under the impression that they can simply leave toys, or puzzles around the house to keep them occupied. And while this may help, Havapoos are bred to be around humans all the time, and so if you separate yourself from the Havapoo for more than 3-4 hours (at the most), you are likely to end up with one stressed out pooch. 

Havapoos are among the most sociable, intelligent, and friendly dogs you will ever find. 

But if you try to remove these aspects from their life (via leaving for 8 hours at a time), you are likely to end up with highly stressed out (and probably destructive) Havapoo. 

If you are the type of person who is going to be away from home for long periods of time, or are hoping to get a dog that can withstand 6-8 hours on their own. 

Then 100% DO NOT get a Havapoo. 

How long can a Havapoo puppy be left alone for?

When it comes to Havapoo puppies there are far more considerations, especially because the younger the dog, the more they are going to rely on you for simple things. 

As with any puppy, Havapoo puppies require a lot of attention and love, and can therefore not be left alone for more than 1 hour per month of age. 

As a general rule of thumb this method is recommended, meaning that if you have a 3-month-old Havapoo, you should not leave them alone for more than 3 hours. And you simply follow this formula, never surpassing the recommended 3-4-hour max isolation time no matter the age.

Even for a fully grown Havapoo, they should never be left alone for more than 4 hours MAX!

While the Havapoo’s bladder isn’t too much of a concern, since they can hold it if necessary (though not recommended). The main concern is that if left alone for several hours, they will probably get very lonely, which could potentially turn into destructive behavior, or serious separation anxiety. 

And Havapoo puppies are even more susceptible to these tendencies.

Tips for leaving a Havapoo alone

While Havapoos should never be left alone for extended periods of time, there will most definitely be scenarios where you may have to leave them alone. Even if it’s only for a few hours at a time. 

If you do run into this dilemma, you are likely left wondering how you should do about doing so, and what steps to follow to allow your dog to be left alone. 

Be aware that for any of these solutions, they are all temporary, as no Havapoo should theoretically be left alone under any circumstances. 

But if you must, make sure that you:

Ask a family member or friend to take care of the Havapoo

If you notice that there is a certain family member or friend who comes by the house often, that your Havapoo seems to always cuddle up next to. 

Then by all means call them up, and have them watch over your Havapoo dog for a few hours. This is generally the best way to keep your Havapoo happy, as you’ll simply be replacing yourself with somebody else the pup already knows and trusts. 

Hire a professional dog sitter!

Another solid option if your friends and family are busy, is to hire a professional who specializes in taking care of dogs for the time their owners are away. 

There are so many tremendous dog sitters scattered throughout the globe, but it is widely recommended that you interview them beforehand, and of course check their reviews before hiring. 

Install a Pet Camera 

Pet Cameras are essential regardless of you being gone all day, or even just for 30 minutes. You can typically mount them almost anywhere in your home, and most you can simply control/monitor with your smartphone. 

This way you will know when the dog is playing, sleeping, or looking disgruntled. It’s a safe way to make sure that you are always aware of any potential threats, or dangers that could be present if you’re not around. 

Play with them before you leave!

Also, if you are going to leave for 3-4 hours at a time, try to take the time to play with them for roughly 30 minutes or so before you leave. 

This way not only are you giving them the affection and attention they need, but you will also most likely tire them out in the process. Meaning they’re likely to just sleep for the while you are gone. 

A lap dog/companion dog still needs bursts of exercise and plenty of sleep.

Leave the TV/Radio on 

Many dog owners also recommend leaving a radio station or TV show on that the dog will find enjoyable or relaxing. 

You obviously don’t want anything too loud or aggressive as to not stress the dog out. But if you know they like to fall asleep to a certain sound, or enjoy having the voices from a TV show running in the background. Then definitely take advantage of this. There are even a multitude of free videos on YouTube that are specifically designed to keep your dog mentally stimulated, and engaged for hours.

Leave them with a plethora of games/puzzles

Obviously this shouldn’t be the only step you take, but one of the most important parts of leaving a Havapoo alone for a few hours, is making sure they have enough toys/games available. 

Havapoos are very intelligent, and rely heavily on human interaction. While it will be impossible to replicate these aspects, do your best to find certain toys the dog is drawn to, and leave them with enough entertainment, even for the little while you are gone. Trust me, they will get bored easily. 

Make sure they have a safe space (crate)

It is also essential that you create a safe space for the dog (generally their crate), so that for the 3-4 hours you are gone, they will at least have a place they know is safe. 

Obviously, the entire house is safe, but it’s important for the dog to feel like they have a spot all to themselves that is comfortable, and 100% safe from intruders.

Conclusions 

Havapoos are tremendously affectionate, caring, and spectacular companions under nearly any circumstances. There’s a good reason why they can be seen next to a gentle elderly couple, or a rambunctious young child. 

The Havapoo breed are so adaptable, and happy to sit next to just about anyone or anything, so long that they are given the adequate amount of love, and attention. They are a companion dog (and very friendly aka “a poor guard dog”). 

In general, it is for this reason that Havapoos should not be left alone for more than 3-4 hours at a time where possible. Once fully grown a 8 hour stint is manageable – but do not let this become a 7 days a week habit.