Full Grown Havanese: When, Size, Weight & More

The Havanese is an incredibly popular breed, often sitting within the top 25 most popular breeds in the United States. It has an extensive history and a very personable temperament that make it a great companion to most couples, singles, or even families. Pair that with the breed’s adorable appearance and small size, and you have the perfect dog for modern living.

But how quickly will the Havanese reach its full (albeit small) size? Will owners have to wait long before their new family addition is fully grown?

When Does a Havanese Stop Growing?

Like most toy breeds, the Havanese is a fast-growing breed. Similarly to the bichon frise, it will mature and age very quickly up until about two years old, and then the rate of maturation will slow significantly.

Small dogs tend to grow quickly, but age slower, than larger dogs. This benefits them in the long run and is the reason that smaller dogs tend to have much longer life expectancies. The Havanese, for example, have an average life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.

In terms of growth, this means that the Havanese tend to reach full size between 6 months old and 8 months old. In terms of maturity, however, the breed tends to hit maturity at around a year old. From there, they will continue to grow in intelligence and go through the usual stages of attitude from teenager to senior dog.

Havanese Size and Weight by Age

Within the first six months, owners will see a substantial amount of growth from their Havanese. The breed will be close to its full size by the end of the sixth month. Typically, they will grow a pound or two each month, meaning that in the first month they’re likely to weigh 1 to 3 pounds, in the second owners can expect them to weigh 2 to 3 pounds, and then 3 to 4 in the third month, 4 to 6 in the fourth month, 5 to 7 pounds in the sixth month and between 6 to 8 pounds in the sixth month.

I wrote more about how much a Havanese should weigh and what to do if it’s under/overweight here.

Within this time, they will also grow substantially in height. By the third month, most Havanese will measure between 4 and 6 inches tall, and by the sixth month, this will have doubled, with most Havanese measuring between 8 and 12 inches. By the end of the sixth month, many Havanese will have reached their full height.

In the following months, the breed will continue to fill out and may grow a few more inches. In the seventh month, a Havanese is likely to weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. This then increases to 7 to 12 pounds in month eight, and then 7 to 13 pounds for months nine, ten, and twelve. By the end of the first year, it is likely that the Havanese will have reached their maximum height and weight.

Full Grown Havanese Size and Weight

When fully grown, a Havanese will be between 7 and 13 pounds and will measure between 8 and 12 inches. It is this slight size that earned them their place in the toy breed category. There will, of course, be exceptions on either side of this average, but it is unlikely that the breed will differ greatly from these measurements.

How to Tell If Your Havanese Has Fully Grown

When raising a puppy, it can be hard to judge whether or not they have grown fully yet. But there are a few ways to tell if your Havanese has fully grown.

The first is to look at their paws. Dogs’ paws are often a way to judge how large a dog will become, and many puppies will look as if their paws are ‘too big’ for them until they are fully grown. If your Havanese’s paws appear the right size, they’re likely nearing fully grown.

You can also use their weight and height to help judge how much growing they might have left to do. This will also allow you to notice if there are any issues in their growth and is important to keep track of when it comes to feeding your growing puppy, too.

Finally, a dog’s appearance can often help to judge if they’re fully grown. With many breeds, characteristic traits often fall into place towards the end of their growth (ears standing on edge, curled tails, etc.), for the Havanese, this might be their curled tail or their long coat.

3 Reasons a Havanese Might Not Be Growing as Fast as Expected

If you do notice that your Havanese appears to be growing slower than you’d like, or slower than you’d expect, the first thing to do is to take them to the vet to confirm. They should be able to assess your puppy for any concerns or conditions. The most common causes of stunted growth are:

1. Hookworms/Roundworms

Hookworms and roundworms are internal parasites. They live within the intestine and attach themselves to the intestinal wall. Whilst there, they feed on the small blood vessels within the intestines and this can cause extreme anemia.

In puppies, this can also cause stunted growth. This occurs when the parasites are ingesting more nutrients and calories than the puppy is consuming, causing the puppy to display extreme hunger, but no or very little growth.

Other symptoms of worms include a pot belly, diarrhea, and a straggly, messy, and poorly maintained coat. Puppies can get worms from their mother, or from their environment via other dogs or through feces.

2. Portosystemic Shunt

A portosystemic shunt is a condition that is usually congenital, and it causes the blood vessel that carries blood to the liver to be cleaned to fail. This leads to contaminated blood entering the bloodstream and can result in a whole array of issues for the dog.

Owners may notice shunted growth, poor muscle development, seizures, disorientation, vomiting, and excessive urination. It is important that if any of these symptoms arise, owners take their puppy or dog to a vet as soon as possible.

2 Reasons a Havanese Might Be Growing Faster Than Expected

On the other hand, if you notice your dog growing faster than expected, it might be either of the two reasons below:

1. Too Many Calories

Just like humans, dogs need to eat well and not eat more than what they burn in order to maintain weight. Many owners assume that puppies will benefit from protein-rich, high-calorie dog foods while they grow, but this can actually do more harm than good.

Such foods may cause an increased rate of growth, but this can lead to pressure on the immature young skeleton, which can lead to health conditions later in life for the dog such as bowed legs, patellar luxation, and hip dysplasia.

2. Genetics

Sometimes, breeders are not entirely honest about a dog’s lineage. If your Havanese is growing too fast and neither you nor the vet can see a reason why, it may be caused by the presence of genetics from another breed somewhere in the lineage.

Small breeds, for example, are bigger than toy breeds, and so the presence of a small breed in a Havanese’s lineage may cause slightly faster growth.

Summary

Havanese, a well-beloved toy breed, are fast-growing and long-living companion dogs that will usually only ever reach a maximum of 12 inches tall and 13 pounds. This makes them the perfect dogs for apartment living, or for those who do not feel confident enough to handle larger breeds.

As puppies, the breed grows very quickly, and will likely reach their full size within 8 months. They should be fed the right food and the right amount, even when growing, in order to maintain the safest growth rate and to prevent any health conditions from arising down the road.

Havanese growing too fast or too slow should be taken to the vet for a check-up to ensure that they are not suffering from hookworms or roundworms, and to eliminate the possibility of serious conditions such as a portosystemic shunt.