How much does it cost to buy a havanese dog?

The havanese are a gorgeous, happy little breed and a joy to be around.  But before you take the plunge and buy yourself one, it would be very wise to look into the costs first.

Havanese dogs are generally expensive to buy and relatively expensive to care for too.  So to give you a fuller picture, this article covers not only how much havanese dogs are to buy, but also the cost of looking after them too.

And we’re also going to look at why the cost of the dog shouldn’t be your first or sole consideration.

Average cost of a havanese puppy

The average cost of a purebred Havanese puppy is around $1,000-$1,500.  Like we said, expensive.  But that doesn’t mean to say that you can always expect to pay over $1000 for a havanese.  There are a number of different factors that can affect cost.

Sometimes you can get a havanese from just $700, while other times you can be asked to pay up to $2,500.

The most significant factor to affect the cost is the dog’s breed quality, in that the finer the quality, the higher the price tag.

What are the factors that can affect the cost of a havanese dog?

Here (in no particular order) is the long list of factors that can potentially affect the cost of a havanese dog:

• Age of the dog 
• Location bought from
• Experience of the breeder
• Any apparent health issues
• Pedigree & genetic history
• Any obvious blemishes or marks
• Exotically colored fur or rare looks
• AKC certification status of the breeder

Some of these factors will have a stronger influence than others, and we’ll try to cover some of the more significant aspects.

Pedigree, genetic history and any potential health issues

It’s the breed quality that most significantly affects the dog’s cost.  The finer the breed quality, the higher the price tag.  But despite paying more money for a purebred, you may find that a purebred can also cost more in terms of treating any of their potential health issues.

For more detailed information on how the pedigree and genetic history may potentially lead to Havanese specific health issues, please take a look at https://www.buyhavanese.com/.  The website provides specific and helpful advice about buying purebred Havanese dogs, including what questions you need to be asking the breeder before you buy.

Age of the dog

Many people like to get their havanese when it’s just a pup, between the ages of 5 to 8 weeks.  By this point in time, the puppy has been weaned off it’s mom’s milk and is in prime position to quickly adjust to a new home environment with a new family.  Furthermore it’s also easier to house train at this age.

So because of the popularity for this particular age group, breeders will set a higher price tag for this age.  The price then comes down as the dog ages.

Concerns raised by cheap price tag

If you see a havanese for sale for under $700, then this should raise alarm bells.  If a havanese is going for as cheap a price as this, then it’s a strong indication that it may not be a purebred.

If the dog is a mixed breed, this could have (perhaps at times significant) implications for the dog’s genetic history, and then in turn any possible health issues they may have to contend with.

And that brings us onto our next section.

Should you buy a Purebred Havanese?

If you want to get yourself a show dog, then you will need to get a purebred show quality havanese.  And the appearance of the dog becomes of much importance in this instance.

If you’re buying a show dog, then if the pup has any qualities that might make it anything less than show quality, such as blemishes etcetera, then you won’t be getting value for money regardless of what the cost price is.

On a similar note, if you’re looking for a havanese with a very particular or rare look, such as one with exotically colored fur or eyes, then the breeder is very likely to push their price up accordingly.

Similarly, if your intention is to become a breeder yourself, then you should settle for nothing less than a purebred.

If on the other hand however, you’re simply looking for a companion, for yourself or for the family, then pure breeding isn’t anywhere near as important, so long as you can be assured that you’re not being conned.  Don’t pay purebred prices if the dog is not purebred. 

So, if it’s just a fun pet you’re interested in, there’s no need to be adamant about getting a purebred, and you should certainly check out any mixed breeds if you’re not sure you can afford to buy purebred.

It’s worth noting at this point that mixed breed dogs tend to develop a mix of their parent’s personality traits so they may not always exactly behave like a purebred Havanese or have the same temperament.

Cost of caring for a havanese

Here’s a quick rundown of everything you’ll else you might need to pay for at some point once you’ve bought your havanese (in no particular order):

• Dog toys
• Dietary expenses
• Pet sitters/boarding
• Puppy training
• Grooming expenses
• Veterinary care
• Preventative maintenance
• Emergency expenses

The above list covers a number of different things.  There are a few things in there you may never have to pay for if you decide to handle them yourself, such as puppy training or dog sitting.  

Also the grooming is something you could do yourself, if that might be of interest to you, check out our post on “How to groom a havanese” available on this link.  However, it’s worth noting at this point that most groomers will offer you a discount for frequent visits.

Some of the other costs are rather small.  You won’t need to get expensive dog toys, though you will need one or two for when the dog is left alone for an hour or two.  And the dietary costs are small with it being such a small dog.

Veterinary care and emergency expenses however are a whole other matter.  You will have to pay for licensing and vaccination shots for example.  And there are a number of common health issues in havanese, such as dysplasia, deafness, eye problems and heart defects.  An annual wellness checkup might cost you around $200-300, and to include dental checkups and lab work, you may have to pay additional costs on top of that.

Depending on the particular needs of your pup, you could also be spending upwards of $100 every year on preventive medication and supplements.  Emergency expenses should not be overlooked either.  Even an emergency that doesn’t require surgery can cost thousands of dollars.

To that end, it may be worth considering getting pet insurance.  There are loads of different pet insurance plans available on the market today, with some offering really good value for money.  If you decide to go down this route, please be sure to read the fine print, so you know exactly what is covered and what isn’t.

Why the cost of the dog shouldn’t be your first or sole consideration

Dogs are a lifetime commitment.  And in addition to making great demands on your wallet, a havanese will also make great demands on your time and attention.

A havanese dog can often suffer from separation anxiety and become incredibly unhappy if they are left away from their owner or family for too long.  And whilst some havanese may suffer from this more than others, you should not really invest in a havanese unless you can wholeheartedly say that you won’t ever leave them for more than fours at time.

Furthermore, in addition to simply spending time with your havanese, despite being a small looking lap dog, you will also need to take the dog for a walk every single day.  And if you want to maintain a full coat on the dog, then you may find you’ll have a lot to do in the way of grooming it.  For a full rundown of this, please see our blog post on “Are havanese dogs high maintenance?” which is available on this link.

Conclusion – The answer to “Is it worth it?”

A havanese dog can really make an excellent pet for a retired couple or a stay-at-home parent.  And now that we’ve covered the various costs so thoroughly, you should now know whether you can both afford to buy a havanese, and whether you can afford to adequately care for one.

So if you can afford all the financial costs involved, including caring for the havanese, and you can commit to being a good, caring dog owner, then buying a havanese is absolutely worth it.

If you’re simply looking for a pet rather than a show dog, and you find the purchase cost quite steep, then it’s worth considering taking on a cute little mixed breed.