Havapoo vs Cockapoo: Choosing Your Companion

During the second half of the 20th century, poodle hybrids Havapoos and Cockapoos were created. Due to their poodle parents, the two companion dogs are extremely similar, but their other halves make them different in some ways. Today we will compare and contrast Havapoos and Cockapoos. Let’s begin!

The 5 main differences between a Havapoo and a Cockapoo

There are mostly genetic differences between Havasupas and Cockapoos. Cockapoos are crossbreeds between a Cocker Spaniel and a Havanese, while Havapoos are crossbreeds between a Havanese and a Poodle.

A new breed of “hybrid” dog was created in the late 1900s in an effort to create a new, marketable dog for people across the country. Poodle hybrids like the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle were born from this breeding craze. Havapoo and Cockapoo also originated from that period! Toy poodles, mini poodles, and standard poodles are the most common poodle breeds. These poodles have been used to create hundreds of hybrids of different sizes.

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Using Havanese and poodle genes, the Havapoo is an offspring of the Havanese and poodle. Mini or toy poodles are generally used in Havapoos to create a smaller lapdog. A “maxi” Cockapoo can be created using a cross between a mini or toy poodle, but sometimes a standard poodle is used.

Both breeds share the same temperament and appearance aside from breed history. Moreover, hybrid dog breeds contain a greater variety of genetics because they draw from a wider pool of genes, which allows for more variation. In most cases, hybrids do not have official breed standards, only general descriptions.

See how they differ and how they are similar below!

Havapoo vs Cockapoo: Breed history and genetics

Havapoos are cross breeds between small and large Havanese dogs. Havanese are an ancient breed that originated in Cuba, where they got their name. To this day, they maintain their loving, docile nature that was originally bred to serve the ruling Cuban royalty. Along with the Bichon Frise and the Maltese, Havanese are considered part of the Bichon family.

Cockapoos are a cross between Cocker Spaniels and toy poodles. This can result in the “maxi” Cockapoo, colloquially referred to as a standard poodle. A Cocker Spaniel is considered to be one of the oldest sporting breeds in the world and is a good companion and sporting dog.

Havapoo vs Cockapoo: Size

In terms of size, Havapoos can weigh anywhere between 7 and 30 pounds, and they stand around 15 inches tall. The smallest Havapoo variants are toy poodles, which are the smallest poodle types. Although Havapoos are still quite small, the mini poodle fits the upper range for the breed.

Havapoos are often crossed with mini or toy poodles, resulting in the Cockapoo. Crosses weighing between 12 and 20 lbs and standing 14–15 inches high are called minis and toys. It is known as a maxi Cockapoo when standard poodle mixes weigh up to 65 lbs.

Havapoo vs Cockapoo: Appearance

Various colors of Havapoos are available, including black, white, brown, tan, gray, silver, and apricot. Moreover, they can be found with both dense and curly fur as well as long and silky fur. Poodles have dense and curly hair, while Havaneses have long and silky hair.

Colors and combinations of colors are almost endless with the Cockapoo. Furthermore, the length of their coats can vary depending on the genetics of their parents. The children often have a more prominent resemblance to one of their parents.

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Havapoo vs Cockapoo: Temperament

Known for its intelligence and gentleness, the Havapoo is an excellent lap dog or companion. Their owners generally describe them as loving, affectionate, and sensitive, and they do not mind strangers at all.

Due to its sporting dog heritage, the Cockapoo is also considered to be more active than the Havapoo. While they need more exercise and action than the royal lap-sitting Havanese hybrid, the docile mini or toy poodle cross would make a great family dog.