How Much Does a Havanese Cost? 2024 Price Guide

The pint-sized, feisty, and adorable Havanese may have been named the national dog of Cuba, but they are a popular pooch in the United States too! They are friendly and intelligent dogs with an amazingly thick and long double coat. They have earned themselves the nickname, “Velcro dog,” due to their dedication and close bond with their owners.

Havanese dogs are fairly expensive animals to purchase and look after, so before bringing one home, it’s vital to budget accordingly beforehand. In this article, we look at all the expenses that you can expect with owning a Havanese, from the initial purchase to feeding and grooming.

 

Havanese Dog Price: One-Time Costs

Even if you’re lucky enough to bring home a Havanese for free or adopt a pup from a rescue organization, there are steep one-time costs involved regardless. You’ll need to budget for beds, food bowls, collars, and other essential accessories, which can add up to a large chunk of money overall. If you have already owned a dog before or still have a pooch at home, you may already have some of these items laying around, although the pint-sized Havanese will need accessories that are specially tailored to them.

Free Havanese

A free Havanese is a rare thing indeed, although you may have found an owner via word-of-mouth who can no longer look after their pup or weren’t aware of the responsibility that they were getting themselves into. There also may be a Havanese owner whose female had an unexpected litter of puppies that they need to find homes for.

Even if you do manage to find yourself a free Havanese, there are still going to be some relatively steep costs involved all the same.

Havanese Adoption

Adoption is a wonderful way to bring home a dog into your life and at the same time, give a dog in need a happy home. The price of adoption will vary depending on where you adopt your pooch—it can be free or at a very low cost. If you’re getting your Havanese from a rescue group, the cost can go up to several hundred dollars.

Bear in mind that it’s difficult to be sure that you’re getting a purebred Havanese when adopting, as there will likely be little information on the origin of your pup. Also, Havanese dogs are expensive, and owners are far more likely to sell them than give them away for free.

Havanese Breeders

In general, you won’t find a Havanese puppy from a breeder for less than $1,000. If you do, it should raise a few red flags because these dogs are probably bred in puppy mills, a practice that is not only inhumane but will also result in unhealthy puppies overall.

A Havanese costs between $1,000 and $1,500, but some prices are as high as $2,500. This price fluctuation can depend on many different factors, namely availability, pedigree, and the experience of the breeder.

Havanese Price: Initial Setup and Supplies

The price range for a Havanese may seem wide, but this is because initial setup costs can vary depending on several different factors. You may already have a few essential items at home or inherited them from the previous owner, and the price can fluctuate further depending on the quality of the supplies that you purchase. Not all of these supplies are essential right away, but you’ll need to buy most of them at some point.

List of Havanese Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Havanese Cost Per Month?

Your biggest monthly cost, as with any dog, is the cost of food. This can vary depending on the quality of food that you decide to feed them, as well as the treats and how many you choose. While these tiny pooches don’t eat much, you’ll want to give them the best quality food possible, which can easily go for up to $100 a bag or more, along with a few treats.

There will also be vet visits to think about, health insurance (if you decide to go for it), professional training and exercise costs (if needed), and grooming costs if you decide to send your Havanese to a professional groomer. These dogs do need a great deal of regular grooming and brushing, so most Havanese owners send their pooches to groomers occasionally.

Havanese Health Care Costs

The first year of owning your Havanese will be the most expensive in terms of health care, and you should budget around $100 per month just to be safe. Your puppy will need their initial vaccinations, multiple vet visits, spaying or neutering, and microchipping, all of which can add up substantially in the first few months. The good news is that healthcare costs for your Havanese will decrease substantially after the first year.

Dog Food Costs

There are a wide variety of commercial foods to give your Havanese, all of which vary greatly in price and quality. We recommend giving your pooch the best food that you can afford because this will give them a healthier life overall and save you money on vet bills in the long run. Luckily, Havanese dogs are small and don’t eat much, so it’s easier to buy more expensive, better-quality food than it is with larger breeds.

Dog Grooming Costs

Havanese dogs have thick, long, double coats that need regular brushing and grooming to stay knot-free. If you have the time, you can do this yourself and save the expense of professional groomers, and you’ll only need to buy grooming supplies once. If you decide to go with a professional groomer, you can expect to pay $40–$60 per session, depending on what’s being done. While it may be expensive, you can be sure your Havanese is getting the best treatment possible.

Medications and Vet Visits

In the first year, your Havanese will need several vet visits and their initial vaccinations, and they will likely also need parasite treatments. This can be difficult to estimate the exact cost for, but vet visits can cost anywhere between $50–$200, including medication, so around $1,000 for the year is a good ballpark estimate.

Pet Insurance Costs

We highly recommend getting pet insurance for your Havanese. You can expect to pay as little as $10 per month for basic health care, depending on the coverage that you choose, and this can save you a ton of money in the long run. At the very least, you’ll want to have savings put away in case of any medical emergencies, but basic insurance is so affordable that it makes sense to pay extra for a purebred dog like a Havanese.

Environment Maintenance

Luckily, dogs are much easier to care for in terms of environmental maintenance than other pets, like cats. They will generally do their business outside, and they don’t need litter boxes or scratching posts. If you live in an urban environment, you’ll need to pick up after your dog on walks, so you may need to purchase a poop scoop and plastic poop bags.

Havanese Entertainment Costs

Luckily, dogs, do not need much in the way of entertainment, and simply spending time outdoors with them every day is plenty. However, if you are away from home frequently, toys are a great source of entertainment. A few balls or a frisbee to play with your Havanese in the backyard are ideal. Some toys cost a few dollars and others cost hundreds of dollars, depending on what you choose, and all of them will need replacing at some point. For small dogs like the Havanese, even a ball will suffice, so the number of toys that you want to add to their collection is completely up to you!

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Havanese

Aside from initial purchases and the first year of vet visits, owning such a pint-sized pooch is not that expensive. Even when buying expensive food, opting for professional grooming, and adding in pet insurance, you can comfortably provide for a Havanese for $200 per month. If you decide to take care of grooming yourself and go for reasonable insurance, you can own one of these adorable pooches for under $100 a month.

Additional Costs to Factor In

As with any pet, there will always be extra costs to factor in that you may not consider in the beginning. Training and exercise may prove to be too time-consuming for you, and you’ll need a professional trainer or dog walker to help out, or you may want to go on vacation and need a dog sitter. It’s always a great idea to have savings put away for a rainy day, as owning a dog always has unforeseen costs!

Owning a Havanese On a Budget

With their small size, Havanese are not expensive dogs to look after, and most of the costs of owning them are largely out of your control, such as pet insurance and vet bills. You’ll want to feed them the best food that you can—we recommend not skimping on this one—because this will give them good overall health and potentially save you money on vet bills.

Saving Money on Havanese Care

The best way to save money on Havanese care is with the aspects that you can control. Grooming can be done with a few simple tools and dedicated time, and if you’re consistent, it won’t get out of control and require a professional. The same goes for exercise and training—professionals can cost a big chunk, and dedicating time to doing this yourself can save a substantial amount of money.

Lastly, you can save money on toys by entertaining your pooch yourself with regular play and interactive training, reducing the need for mentally stimulating toys.

 

Conclusion: Havanese Price

Owning any dog will cost you money, and being aware of the basic costs and any additional costs that may potentially crop up and budgeting for them are recommended. Remember that dogs are at least a 10-year investment, and you’ll be paying more toward the end of their life. It’s not just the purchase of the dog and their accessories that you need to consider. Vet bills can sometimes run into thousands of dollars, so insurance is a great idea. Luckily, feeding these tiny pooches is cheaper than many other dog breeds, and you can budget for better quality food as a result.

While it’s important to consider all the costs before bringing home a Havanese, we can confidently say that it will be worth every penny because these dogs are a joy to own!

Related Read:

• Teacup Havanese: Guide, Pictures, Temperament, & Traits
• Havana Silk Dog: Guide, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

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Featured Image Credit: Dorottya Mathe, Shutterstock