Havapoo Grooming Guide: Haircuts, Brushing & How Often to Groom

The Havapoo (also called a Poovanese or Havadoodle) is a cross between a Havanese and a Toy or Miniature Poodle: a small, cheerful, people-loving companion, usually 7 to 20 pounds, with a soft coat that can be silky and wavy like a Havanese's or springy and curly like a Poodle's. That coat sheds very little, which owners love, but it means loose hair stays in the coat and tangles. Without regular brushing and a haircut every few weeks, a Havapoo mats fast.

What kind of coat does a Havapoo have?

A Havapoo can inherit the Poodle's tight, springy curls, the Havanese's long, silky, wavy hair, or anything in between. Most have a soft, fluffy, wavy coat that keeps growing and sheds very little, and the hair behind the ears, under the legs and on the chest tangles faster than any other part. Because shed hair gets caught in the coat instead of falling on the floor, it twists into tangles, especially where the coat rubs: behind the ears, under the collar or harness, in the armpits, between the back legs and on the tail. The face hair grows long too, and it can poke the eyes and hold moisture that causes tear stains.

Coat type, more than breed name, is what decides how often a dog needs a bath, a brush or a haircut. Individual dogs vary, so treat the schedule below as a starting point and adjust it to your dog's coat, lifestyle and how quickly it tangles.

How often should a Havapoo be groomed?

Most Havapoos need a professional haircut every 4 to 6 weeks. Shorter cuts can stretch closer to 6 to 8 weeks; longer, fluffier styles need the shorter end. Between visits, brush and comb 3 to 4 times a week (daily if you keep the coat long), bathe every 3 to 4 weeks, wipe the eyes and face every day, trim nails every 3 to 4 weeks and brush the teeth several times a week. Small breeds like the Havapoo are prone to tartar and gum problems, so ask your vet to check the mouth at the first visits; the teeth matter as much as the coat; see How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth.

How to brush a Havapoo (line brushing)

Brushing only the top of a soft, wavy coat makes it look fluffy while mats form underneath. Line brushing reaches the skin, one section at a time:

1. Mist the coat lightly with a detangling spray or water. Brushing a dry coat breaks the hair and creates static and frizz.
2. Start at a back leg. With one hand, push the hair up so you can see a line of skin.
3. Brush the hair below the line down and out with a slicker brush, using light, short strokes. Don't press hard: a slicker on thin skin can cause brush burn.
4. Move the line up a little and repeat over the legs, body, chest, ears and tail.
5. Comb the face gently with a small fine comb, working away from the eyes.
6. Finish with a metal comb. If the comb glides from skin to tip everywhere, you're done. If it catches, go back to that spot.

Check behind the ears, the armpits, under the collar or harness and between the back legs every time; these are where Havapoos mat first. A small tangle can be worked out with your fingers and a comb; anything tight against the skin is a job for a groomer, never for scissors at home. More help in How to Get Mats Out of Dog Hair and Best Brush for Your Dog.

Want this method on paper? Mango's Between-Visits Brushing Guide ($14.99, printable PDF) walks through the brushing method step by step and how to catch tangles before they turn into mats, and Mango's Starter Kit ($19.99) adds a week-by-week grooming calendar.

How to bathe a Havapoo at home

1. Brush and comb out every tangle before the bath. Water tightens small tangles into mats.
2. Use lukewarm water and wet the coat all the way to the skin.
3. Lather with a gentle dog shampoo, squeezing it through the coat instead of scrubbing in circles, which tangles a wavy coat.
4. Use a tearless dog shampoo or a damp washcloth on the face, and keep water out of the ears.
5. Rinse until the water runs clear, then apply a dog conditioner and rinse again. Conditioner makes the next brush-out much easier.
6. Dry completely with a cool blow dryer while you brush the coat straight. Air-dried wavy coats curl up and tangle at the roots.

Always use a shampoo made for dogs; human shampoo is formulated for a different skin pH. Give a treat at the end so bath time stays positive.

Do Havapoos shed?

• Shedding level: Low. Most Havapoos shed very little hair onto the floor, but the hair they lose stays in the coat, which is why they mat.
• Puppy coat change: somewhere around 6 to 12 months, many Havapoos swap their soft puppy fluff for an adult coat. During those weeks the coat can mat almost overnight, so brush daily.
• Not hypoallergenic: no dog is fully allergen-free. A low-shedding coat may bother some allergy sufferers less, but it's not a guarantee.

To plan brushing, baths, haircuts and the puppy coat change week by week, Mango's Grooming Calendar & Checklists ($7.99, printable PDF) maps it out so nothing slips between grooms.

Havapoo haircut styles

Because the coat grows continuously, a Havapoo can wear almost any cut. The same styles work for male and female dogs; choose by how much brushing you can do at home.

• Teddy bear cut: the most popular Havapoo style. About 1 to 2 inches all over, with a full, round face and fluffy legs. Brush 3 to 4 times a week. See Teddy Bear Cut.
• Puppy cut: one even length, usually about 1 inch, that's easy to keep tangle-free. A great choice for busy families. See Puppy Cut.
• Short summer cut: half an inch or shorter on the body for hot weather or a dog that mats easily. A Havapoo doesn't have a double coat, so a short cut is fine, but use sunscreen for dogs or a shirt if the skin shows.
• Top knot: longer hair on the head tied up out of the eyes, with a shorter body, popular on curlier, Poodle-type coats.
• Long, silky Havanese look: on straighter coats some owners grow the body and ears out long, the way Havanese are shown. It looks sweet, but the ears need a comb-through every day or two; trimming them to the same length as the face is the low-maintenance option.
• Face options: a round "teddy" face, a shorter clean face, or a longer face with a trimmed "visor" over the eyes. Whatever you choose, keep the hair between the eyes short.

Not sure which name to give your groomer? Types of Dog Haircuts shows them side by side. To keep any of these cuts looking fresh between grooms, Mango's Between-Visits Brushing Guide ($14.99, printable PDF) covers the brushing routine and tangle checks, and Mango's Starter Kit ($19.99) adds the grooming calendar so you know what's due each week.

Eyes, tear stains and ears

Many Havapoos get reddish-brown tear stains under the eyes. Wipe the area gently once or twice a day with a soft damp cloth, keep the hair between the eyes short and dry the face after meals. Sudden heavy tearing, squinting or a red eye needs a vet. More in Dog Tear Stains. Check the ears weekly: floppy, hairy ears trap moisture and warmth, so Havapoos can be prone to ear infections. Look for redness, smell or brown discharge, dry the ears well after baths and swims, and ask your vet before removing any hair from inside the ear canal.

Fitting the routine into your week

Pick three or four set days for a full line brush, for example Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and do a 1-minute face wipe and teeth brush every day. Book the next haircut before you leave the salon so the 4 to 6 week rhythm doesn't slip, and give a full brush-out the day before each appointment so the groomer can keep the length instead of shaving out mats.

Tools you'll need

• Slicker brush for line brushing
• Medium and fine metal comb to check for tangles
• Small fine-tooth comb for the face
• Detangling spray or diluted dog conditioner
• Gentle dog shampoo, dog conditioner and a cool blow dryer
• Nail clippers or a grinder
• Dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste

Tools from the Pawradise shop: Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush · Stainless Steel Grooming Comb (2-Pack)

Common Havapoo grooming mistakes

Havapoo grooming FAQ

This guide offers general grooming information. For skin, ear or coat problems that don't improve, talk to your veterinarian. More Pawfile breed guides.