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Crested Havanese (Chinese Crested & Havanese Mix) Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Personality & Facts

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By Emma Braby

Crested Havanese (Chinese Crested & Havanese Mix)

Height: 9 – 12 inches
Weight: 8 – 12 pounds
Lifespan: 13 – 17 years
Colors: Black, cream, white, apricot, chocolate, fawn, red, brindle, or a combination
Suitable for: Those seeking a small companion dog, families with older children, those seeking a lower shedding dog, active families
Temperament: Affectionate, people-oriented, friendly, enthusiastic, sensitive

The Crested Havanese is the curious canine mix of the Crested Chinese and the Havanese. He is also known as the Chinese Silk Dog or the Crestnese. Still, whatever name you call him, he is an affectionate dog who is very people-oriented.

Just like most designer dogs, very little is known about when he first came to be. But it’s likely that he came about at the end of the 20th Century when the love of designer dogs kicked off. What is for certain is that this cute mix is becoming very popular with families.

The Crested Havanese is a perfect option for those that cannot decide between his parents. With this guy, you have the best of both worlds. He is funny, lively, and affectionate, and he makes a fantastic companion.

But as with all dogs, certain traits about him aren’t suited to every family. He is a toy-sized dog who is not suited to families with young children. And he is also an anxious pooch who needs a lot of company, and without it, he can become miserable.

So, let’s find out everything there is to know about him and if he is the one for you.

Divider 1Crested Havanese Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Firstly, the Crested Havanese is a people person, and he loves to be involved with all the fun. This is an excellent canine trait, but what it does mean is that he hates to be left alone. Being left alone for more than a few hours will be an anxious time for him. So, if you and the family are out for most of the day, he isn’t the dog breed for you. If you do have the time for him, he’ll be very appreciative, and reward you with happiness and fun entertainment all day long.

Secondly, he needs a family who is considerate and caring for his needs. Being a small toy-sized dog, he can break limbs easily, so his family needs to be gentle with him. It would also be wise to invest in doggy steps or ramps so that he doesn’t have to jump from great heights that most dogs can. His family also needs to protect him from the elements and always be attentive to his needs. Especially if he has any hairless spots on his body. His Chinese parent is almost completely hairless, so there is a chance that the Chinese Havanese could be too. UV rays and hairless pooches aren’t a good mix. His small frame is another reason why he should only live with a family with older children, not young ones. Young children will treat him like a toy, which can easily lead to breakages.

Thirdly, for a toy dog, he is fairly energetic, and he is not a typical lapdog. So, he needs to be homed with a reasonably active family who can keep this boy entertained and stimulated.


Temperament & Intelligence of the Crested Havanese

The Crested Havanese is a sweet little doggo who has a zest for life. If his needs are met, he is a happy-go-lucky pooch who is delighted to do anything, just as long as it is with you. He is affectionate with his family and craves the comfort of his human pack.

He is fun and frolics around without a care in the world. He will do anything to receive praise from his master, always looking to please. If you are looking for a companion who you can play with for hours, this is the pooch for you.

He is a sensitive soul and prefers a scheduled routine where he knows what to expect. If you are planning on going on vacation, moving house, or experiencing any kind of stress in the home, he isn’t going to like it. If your family likes to vacay a lot, you might want to get a more tolerant breed.

A big appeal of the Crested Havanese is that he is not yappy like many other toy breeds. And he doesn’t feel the need to get overprotective either. This polite pooch knows his manners and is welcome anywhere.

Just like both of his parents, the Crested Havanese is an intelligent dog. His intelligence, combined with his eagerness to please, makes him an excellent option for the first-time dog owner who wants a trainable little pooch.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Yes, the Crested Havanese is a good option for most families. He needs an older family who knows how to handle him (no young children please), and a family that can spend most of their time with him.

His chosen family will need to be considerate of his delicate needs and more sensitive nature. Although he is rambunctious and happy to play, he is a fragile soul who needs someone to keep an eye on him.

Being a tiny pooch, he is suited to homes of all sizes, and he would happily live in an apartment too. The cozier, the better!

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

As long as the Crested Havanese is socialized well as a pup, he will get along with all other pets. There is a “but” here, though, and because the Crested Havanese is a sensitive soul, he can be timid with the unknown.

This means that he might not be very sociable at first, and he will need a slow introduction to any new family pets. Or if he is the newbie to the family, you’ll need several pre-meets with your already resident animals to make sure he is comfortable with them.

Once he has worked the other pets out, he’ll settle in just fine. Most of us have a socially awkward friend, and the Crested Havanese is the canine version.

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Crested Havanese:

If you’re confident that this sweet boy is the dog breed for you, you’ll need to take note of his following day-to-day needs.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Crested Havanese will only need around 1 cup of food every day to keep him satisfied. Neither of his parents are particularly greedy dogs, so you shouldn’t have to worry about this guy becoming overweight.

He should eat a high-quality kibble that provides him with a well-balanced diet. A balanced diet means high-quality protein, healthy carbohydrates, omega fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Always feed him life-stage appropriate food, and be sure to find a kibble small enough so that he can eat it with ease.

Because he is so small, there is a higher chance of him suffering from hypoglycemia. This is essentially low blood sugar. For this reason, you should look to feed him little and often to keep his little body topped up. If you are in any doubt, speak to your vet about it.

Exercise 🐕

The Crested Havanese needs around 45 minutes of exercise every day for him to stay happy and healthy. He is a peppy little creature and can keep up with most of the things you’d like to do.

Being intelligent, he’d appreciate a mixture of activities throughout his week. Be considerate of his tiny frame, and don’t be too vigorous with him.

If the Crested Havanese has bald spots, be sure to cover these with a jacket of some sort to protect him from UV rays, rain, or sharp thorns that will scratch and irritate his skin while out exercising.

If it is hot and the jacket is too much, just take him out early morning and late in the evening when it is a little cooler. Doggy suncream is also advisable for those areas that you will not be able to cover, such as his face.

Training 🦮

The Crested Havanese needs a lot of socialization when he is young, but not because he is a yappy or rude pooch. Socialization for this guy will be more about increasing his confidence so that he isn’t too timid.

Introducing him to unfamiliar animals and humans slowly is vital, as well as exposing him to different sounds such as the vacuum cleaner or the loud sidewalk.

Make sure every experience is a positive one, and reward him with treats and lots of praise when he has been a good boy. Slow and steady positive reinforcement training is the way to go with the Crested Havanese.

The Crested Havanese is an anxious dog who is sensitive to change, and a great way to alleviate this is to crate train him. Purchase a crate that will offer him a safe space, and fill it with a comfy mattress-style bed and blankets. It’ll reduce his anxiety when you have to leave him, and give you peace of mind that he isn’t destroying the place as payback for leaving him.

Thankfully, being intelligent and a people pleaser, he should pick up your commands quickly. This is why he is a good option for a first-time dog owner.

Grooming ✂️

This guy has a relatively simple brushing routine. If he has hair, it is likely to be short and silky, needing very little in the way of brushing. A brush once a week will suffice to keep him looking healthy, and fresh, and to remove dead hair.

If he has bald spots, these aren’t going to need brushing, obviously. But they will need daily moisturizing and regular bathing to prevent the blackheads that his Chinese parent is prone to. The hair tufts he does have will need regular brushing depending on how long it is.

When it comes to this guy’s coat, you need to use your common sense as it’s not a one size fits all approach. It is also dependent on his Chinese parent’s coat and the genes that he inherits. If you’re in any doubt, be sure to speak to your vet, who can offer you tailored advice.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Crested Havanese is a relatively healthy dog. Just like any other pooch, he has his fair share of health concerns that he could inherit from either parent breed. So, be sure to make yourself familiar with them and the associated symptoms to look out for.

Minor Conditions
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Cardiac concerns
  • Deafness
Serious Conditions
  • Patellar luxation
  • Eye conditions

Male vs. Female

When it comes to the personality of the Crested Havanese, the most influential factor is his training and the environment that he lives in. Much more than his gender.

The only real difference between them is that males are usually on the larger end of the height and weight scale compared to females. But because they are so tiny anyway, the size difference isn’t that significant.

Divider 5

3 Little-Known Facts About the Crested Havanese

1. The Crested Havanese is a fussy pooch.

This sensitive sweetie is also very particular when it comes to his food. If you find that he doesn’t look that impressed with his kibble, adding low-sodium chicken broth will release the flavors and entice him. Or you could try adding wet food to the mix too.


2. To have hair, or to not have hair, that is the question.

The Crested Havanese might have short hair that covers his entire body, or he might have bald patches like his Chinese parent. If he starts with bald spots as a pup, it is likely they will stay bald.


3. The Crested Havanese can be a shy dog.

Despite both of his parents being outgoing, this guy is known to be a little sensitive. Take things slowly, and you’ll be rewarded with lots of love.

Parent Breeds of the Crested Havanese
Image Credit: Pixabay

Divider 3Final Thoughts

So there you have it, everything that you need to know about the Crested Havanese is all of his sensitive and sweet glory. He is a fun and loving pooch who makes a fantastic companion for many families. Just be sure that you are the right family for him.

If you can provide him with everything that he needs, he will reward you with plenty of doggy cuddles, kisses, entertainment, and companionship.


Featured Image Credit: Pikist

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