Havanese Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

What is a Havanese?

A small companion breed from the Bichon family. The Dogs Australia standard describes “a sturdy little dog, low on his legs, with long abundant hair, soft and preferably wavy”, with a lively, elastic movement. It says the breed comes from the Western Mediterranean and was developed in Cuba, and that the old Cuban bloodlines disappeared, with descendants surviving in the USA. Dogs NSW places it in the Bichon family with the Bichon Frise, Maltese and Lowchen.

From the Dogs Australia Havanese standard (FCI Standard No 250, effective in Australia from 1 January 2000), read 11 November 2026.

Should you adopt or buy a Havanese?

If it has to be a Havanese puppy, a Dogs Australia registered breeder who can show health results is the reasonable route, because purebred Havanese are rare across the rescues we aggregate. If what you want is a small, affectionate, low-shedding companion rather than this exact breed, rescue is the faster path: small dogs and small crosses are listed regularly, they come vet checked, desexed and microchipped for a published fee, and an adult's temperament is already on show.

Reference figures: the RSPCA NSW, RSPCA Victoria and RSPCA ACT fee pages, read 11 November 2026. Reference only, not a quote. Breeders and rescues set their own prices and change them, so check with them.

How much care does the Havanese coat need?

More than the size suggests. The standard asks for a very long, soft coat, shown untrimmed apart from the feet and a little tidying around the eyes and muzzle. Dogs NSW says that because most of the dead hair stays within the coat, matting is common, so regular grooming is needed, and that pet owners often choose to have the coat clipped short to reduce grooming time. It also suggests cleaning the corners of the eyes daily and checking the ears often.

A short pet clip is easier to keep comfortable, but it still means regular trips to a groomer. A matted coat is painful, so price grooming into the budget before you choose the breed.

Are Havanese hypoallergenic?

No dog is. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) says: “All dog breeds cause allergies, although some do not shed as much dander, and therefore less allergen is spread.” It also says the main source of dog allergen is saliva. Some breed sources, including the Dogs NSW profile, describe the Havanese as non-shedding and hypoallergenic; the same profile says it will still lose some coat in the brush and in its bedding. A low-shedding coat may help some people with milder allergies. It cannot remove the allergen.

If anyone at home has asthma or a dog allergy, see a doctor before you choose a dog, spend long, repeated visits with the actual dog, and read our guides to hypoallergenic dogs in Australia and dogs that don't shed.

Which health checks should a Havanese breeder show you?

Results for both parents. Dogs NSW says dedicated breeders health test hips and elbows, eyes, patellar luxation and cardiac, and calls the Havanese a relatively healthy breed. Dogs Victoria recommends asking breeders what health testing they do, and lists the conditions that can occur.

From the Dogs NSW and Dogs Victoria Havanese profiles, read 11 November 2026. A buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

Ask for the certificates themselves, with dates and each dog's name or microchip number; a verbal “they're all tested” is not a result. Dogs Australia also suggests asking whether your own vet can check the puppy before you buy. Our Havanese health issues guide covers the conditions in more depth.

What does a Havanese puppy cost?

There is no published guide price from an Australian Havanese club or from Dogs Australia. In November 2026 we read the websites of Havanese breeders that show membership of a Dogs Australia state body, leaving out listing and classified sites, breeders registered only with other registries, “contact us for pricing” pages and any price we could not confirm as current for 2026. None published a current price, so we cannot give a breeder figure.

So ask each breeder directly, and ask what the price includes: Limited or Main Register, desexing (or a desexing agreement), vaccinations, microchipping and the parents' health results. A high price does not buy health testing on its own.

What rescues publish, for reference:

Reference only, not a quote. These are the fees each rescue published when we read it; fees change and some dogs are priced individually, so check with the rescue. Adoption fees normally include desexing and microchipping, which you would pay a vet for after buying a puppy.

The purchase price is the smaller number over a dog's life. Grooming is a regular cost for this breed on top of food, insurance and vet care, so run it through the dog cost calculator and read our guide to cheaper vet care.

What do Havanese in rescue look like?

Purebred Havanese are rare across the rescues we aggregate. When one comes through it is usually an adult, and Havanese crosses may be listed under another small-breed name, so search widely. Our Sydney Havanese adoption guide covers why they come into rescue.

If the coat and size are what draw you, small low-shedding dogs of every type are listed by city here: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide. An adopted adult arrives with its coat grown in and its temperament on show, and the rescue will usually have had it vet checked, desexed and microchipped. Our guide to adopting a dog in Australia walks through the process.

How do Havanese scams work, and how do you check a breeder?

Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for popular breeds and pets that do not exist, and that if a pet is very cheap, it is likely a scam. It advises viewing the pet in person or on a video call. A Dogs Victoria fact sheet warns that ads may display microchip, source or membership numbers lifted from legitimate breeders. Havanese versions of the pattern to watch for:

• “Hypoallergenic” guarantees. ASCIA says all dog breeds cause allergies.
• “Teacup” or “toy” Havanese. The standard sets one size range, 23 to 27 cm with a tolerance of 21 to 29 cm, and treats size outside it as a disqualifying fault.
• “Registered” without saying with whom. Ask which body; papers from a registry outside Dogs Australia are not Dogs Australia papers.
• Health talk without paperwork. Ask for the parents' hip, eye, knee and heart results, with names that match the litter.

Confirm the breeder's membership with its state canine body, then check the state number every breeder must have: a breeder identification number in NSW, a Pet Exchange Register source number in Victoria, a supply number in Queensland or a DACO breeder number in South Australia. Look it up on the official register yourself and confirm it matches the seller and the microchip. Our puppies for sale guide sets out every state's scheme and what to do if you have already paid.

Is a Havanese the right dog for you?

It suits a home where someone is around much of the day and is ready for regular grooming. Dogs NSW describes moderate exercise needs, a dog that thrives on human companionship, and a sensitive breed that should be trained with positive methods. If long days alone are the norm, think hard about any companion breed. Our Havanese apartment living and companionship guide covers life in a unit, and the what dog breed is right for me quiz and adoption readiness check can help you decide.

Weighing other dogs too? Other adopt-or-buy guides cover the Bichon Frise, Maltese, Chinese Crested and Bordoodle.

Find a Havanese near you

Each page shows Havanese listed right now by rescues in that city, and each listing links to the rescue where you apply directly.

• Havanese for adoption in Sydney
• Havanese for adoption in Melbourne
• Havanese for adoption in Brisbane
• Havanese for adoption in Perth
• Havanese for adoption in Adelaide