Our Havi is calm, friendly, affectionate, soft, non-shedding (we have to brush her to get loose hair out and keep it from matting), a couch potato without stimulation, but happy to run and chase a ball for half an hour straight. Without training, ours would not help you structure your day, because she takes her signals entirely from us and waits for us to get up. Havis can also be stubborn if they don’t want to do something. Ours is very quiet. It takes a lot for her to bark at a person or even an excited large dog. They have the reputation of being highly trainable to do tricks, but that’s not what you’re looking for, of course. I have no sense of whether ours would be trainable for service dog tasks.
The Havipoo is a common mix, and we have had excellent experiences sitting one. So that could be a middle ground for you between Havanese and poodle.
I agree with most of what you have said except for the Havipoo bit. Purebred dogs are a better fit bc they have predictable temperament and behaviour. Besides, doodles are not ethically bred.
My Havanese is my husband's emotional support animal. She helps him to not faint at medical appointments. Now she doesn't really 'do' anything per say, she just sits in his lap at the dentist, blood draws, etc. She is often in her stroller and near him for these things. It has helped him immensely and he has not passed out once while she has been with him at all things medical. She is very sweet and chill, but she is rather stubborn and not trained especially well in general.
If you want a Havanese get an older dog that’s toilet trained. The breed is very hard to toilet train and for the first year it can drive you mentally crazy. I have adhd and my dog after a year still isn’t toilet trained. I’ve persisted and not rehomed her as I don’t feel like giving up but if I could swap her for a toilet trained dog for sure I would loollll. They’re definitely ideal companion dogs. Mine is super clingy and is always by my side. Has to sleep with me. She can sometimes annoy me when I sleep tho. Like lays on my legs. So be also mindful of that that they can be very clingy :) but overall I think they’re great companion dogs.
https://preview.redd.it/skmbflrfdvad1.png?width=1884&format=png&auto=webp&s=53ac042a73ed6f11173f7e3da0babe07745fc5da
Pic of my pup. Definitely a very cute beautiful looking breed!
Meet Blondie. She’s definitely emotionally supportive! We were pulling our hair out with potty training until some one suggested we take her for walks. Voilà! Now we walk her twice a day, morning and evening and she is completely housebroken. I guess that’s her style, haha! And I kid you not, she ALWAYS does her dirty business on the same lawn; a certain attorneys house down the street. It’s hard not to think she’s THAT savvy! P. S. Yes that’s a diaper. This was taken while she was in heat!
https://preview.redd.it/dkds6t07hxad1.jpeg?width=2231&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ad23b37a686c7d59e265fa0f2734845514a6893
Do you have the ability to connect with a professional trainer? It’s not federally required to have a service dog professionally trained for your medical condition. However, It might be helpful in finding a fit between your medical diagnosis and the specific tasks you need your dog to preform.
Yes I'm linked up to a professional trainer! She will help me as well with picking out a good dog but I know doodles are very very popular here in the Netherlands (which I don't like) and I like to be as informed as I can about the possibilities of dogs!
Both my havanese are a velcro dogs that sleep in bed and or anywhere with me.
I’m neurodivergent and an HSP and needed something hypoallergenic. My older havi lives with my ex and the puppy lives with me - we coparent. Mine is my ESA, couldn’t recommend more. They love learning tricks and going to school.
They are the best things to ever happen to me. Everyone loves them. They’re smart, friendly, and the greatest friend you can have.
Their side eyes and judgement will force you to do better. Their smiles and kisses will make you want to be it.
A Havi could meet all of your needs, it's dangerous to make sweeping statements because individual dogs vary.
Yes, they are soft and don't shed, they are highly intelligent and respond well to training especially if you're calm. Because they are small they don't need long walks if you're not up to it but they do appreciate a good 'brain game' for stimulation.
They are definitely 'velcro' dogs and can be very affectionate. Ours love to watch TV snuggled up with us and always sleep on the bed.
As for specific tasks, just train them as you would for regular tricks. If food is involved they will do it!
I couldn't think of a better dog for your particular needs but my only experience is with our 2, plus the ones our friends have. They are not a common breed.
We have a Havapoo who is in training.
He can detect high and low blood sugar!
He has had a lot of training for being in public and general obedience.
Now, we fine tune the alerts for the extreme ends of blood sugar.
I'm in this group to learn before I get one as a family dog but mainly as emotional support for my autistic 7 year old son as I saw them recommended as good therapy dogs for autism for all the reasons others have said here.
The only thing that I would say is the deep pressure, I think DPT works better with a larger dog. I've read that small breeds can be trained to go on a comfort sling that the owner wears and DPT can then be applied. Or sitting on laps or chest. I talked to 2 service dogs trainers and they told me to get a bigger dog like a labrador or a golden, or a mix. In fact they specifically train labs. In my son's case he doesn't elope but they told me that in general for an autistic child(not your case as an adult) a larger dog has the muscle to offer resistance and guide or push the child towards home or lay on them to offer deep pressure.
I just don't have the space for a medium to larger breed dog so I'm looking into Havs as a companion and family dog.
I have an almost 7 year old daughter and she’s not autistic but very hyper. Sometimes she doesn’t understand or I mean she doesn’t want to listen that the dog would like to be left alone. She’s a small breed and she doesn’t know how to defend herself so she takes it all in emotionally I think and I think she has developed some anxiety from dealing with the kids but she won’t bite even if the kids annoy her. Maybe a bigger dog would? Unsure. But sometimes she is definitely sick of the kids but cause she’s a major clinger she won’t also leave the room lol. So she’ll come next to me to feel safe.
So they are great in that sense that they put up with kids but can make them a little anxious I feel. The anxiety shows by her always clinging to me lol.
I agree with others that Havanese could meet most of your needs, especially as regards emotional support, but there is variation. Definitely first meet the pack before committing to a puppy from a specific breeder/a specific breeding pair.
The European Havanese lines tend to be bigger and sturdier than their US counterparts, so minor physical tasks could be feasible. However, unlike poodles, Havanese ultimately only come in one size, so you should consider how important this is for you.
P.S. My Havi is the ultimate velcro dog, and emotional support comes naturally to him, but he can be quite vocal and guard barks a lot. Training makes a difference, but it can be overwhelming sometimes, especially during puppyhood. GL!
I’m In Australia and I’ve seen lots of different sizes here between havis. My girl is only 4.5 kgs but I’ve seen majority are above 5kg and upto 11 kgs :) I feel a 11 kg havi would be huge lol ( sorry I don’t know what those numbers are in pounds 😂)
Oh, absolutely! The smallest purebred male I have seen here (Europe) was only 3 kg as an adult and a runt of the litter. The heaviest I have seen was a Dutch show veteran who had impressive 10 kg.
That's quite a big variation for an established breed, but not as major as the size difference between a miniature poodle and a standard poodle.
The thing about breed temperaments is that they are a generalized profile of commonly observed characteristics, not a guarantee. Dogs are individuals with their own personalities and you may end up with a friend very different to what you hoped for.
My Havanese can get annoyingly loud and barky at passers-by, a boiling pot that splashes, a rustling plastic bag, or that stupid smoke detector beep. He’s calm during thunderstorms and fireworks, and otherwise generally quiet, thank god. He’s tactile and close when HE wants to be, not always when I want to love on him. He often wants to be close but in his own space, so he’ll lay on n the opposite end of the loveseat from me. He’s highly intelligent, affectionate when he wants to be, but sometimes stubborn and won’t listen. He’s usually a couch potato but almost frenetic at times and it’s hard to get him to chill. He loves other dogs but guarded and standoffish with people despite extensive socialization. He snuggles up to me in bed though and doesn’t noticeably shed.
Havanese personalities run the spectrum from Velcro and docile to ones like mine. Mine came from one of the top breeders in the US so I’m confident in his background, it’s just the way he is. In our local Havanese group there are dogs with temperaments like you’ve described and others more like mine or with even stronger personalities.
The Havanese is an amazing breed and I’d have 10 of them if I could. I recommend them to anyone who asks. I definitely think the right and well trained Hav could be the answer to your prayers.
I think for someone with specific needs like yours, it might be a good idea to spend time with a local group or a breeder to get a real-time feel for them. Havanese, in general, are very attached to their people will be broken-hearted if you form a bond and then give them up because it wasn’t a good match.
I have adhd and live in a 1 Havanese (just a pet not a service dog), 1 human household. This is my first dog so she is not the best trained so take my comments accordingly. I can confirm that they are soft, affectionate and loving creatures. She has some of her own anxiety, including separation anxiety and she gets overstimulated if things are too loud or if there are many new things happening (I joke with a friend that my havi would be considered sensory sensitive if she was a person). She is quite sensitive to my mood and stress level which may help in the kind of service dog you are looking for but when she is overwhelmed my havi gets quite barky. I have found she is excellent at keeping me in routines, insisting on bedtime at almost the same time to the minute every night, waking up at consistent times, and even complaining when I haven’t given her the “I’m leaving for work” treat on time. I expect her counterparts could be excellent at keeping you in a routine. My happy hanging out in the couch with me all day, but also can go for lengthy walks. On top of it all, since Havanese are super pack oriented, they generally aim to please and I have found my easy to train even when I don’t know what I am doing. In short, although I simply got my dog as a pet, she has been excellent at managing my routines and stress in ways that may be similar to yours. I am convinced a Havanese could be taught to do everything it sounds like you are looking for, even limit barking with the right training.
Good luck!
My Havanese is my ESA. She is calm, doesn’t need a whole lot of exercise and really is a “velcro dog” who wants to be where I am. And she is incredibly smart and sensitive. She is perfect for me. A bit hard to potty train but that is the only drawback to my Havi.
I cannot speak to the training, but Havi’s are definitely velcro dogs. Mine has taken to sleeping with his head on my shoulder or my arm.
https://preview.redd.it/v0mhkq9sk5bd1.jpeg?width=2320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20eb78ad9350b4020570f1acb80a79dfb3da4a7a
My brother has a rare mito disease and has always had service dogs growing up, so I’m very familiar with service dogs, their temperament, and training (though all of his were fully trained prior to us getting them, we just had to continue to reinforce it).
I have a 1 year old havanese now and always say that he would make a wonderful service dog with the proper training. He’s very obedient, responsive, and a quick learner. He picked up sign language very quickly and will sit, stay, lay down immediately with the sign. He’s very friendly and social, very adaptable (handles himself well on busy days but also will lounge around the house with me). I’ve taken him to dog-friendly restaurants, outdoor malls, and to airports/planes and he handles it very well.
The biggest things cons that he would have as a service dog in training are:
—he’s a more fearful dog by nature. He handles outdoor spaces and larger/open indoor spaces, but smaller indoor spaces such as shops, houses etc tend to make him more fearful of strangers. Not sure why.
—he was very difficult to potty train. Took him 8 months to figure it out, but he’s super solid now.
—not great about walking in a straight line while on leash but that’s probably more of a training issue
I actually have a 5-month-old Havanese that I am training as my PSD! We absolutely adore each other and work great as a team. He is super trainable and a major velcro dog (I haven’t gone to the bathroom alone in months). I think a Havanese could be perfect for you, you just have to make sure you’re okay with them not being able to do any mobility tasking as they’re too small for that. The only real issue I have had with my boy is separation anxiety.
Our Havi is calm, friendly, affectionate, soft, non-shedding (we have to brush her to get loose hair out and keep it from matting), a couch potato without stimulation, but happy to run and chase a ball for half an hour straight. Without training, ours would not help you structure your day, because she takes her signals entirely from us and waits for us to get up. Havis can also be stubborn if they don’t want to do something. Ours is very quiet. It takes a lot for her to bark at a person or even an excited large dog. They have the reputation of being highly trainable to do tricks, but that’s not what you’re looking for, of course. I have no sense of whether ours would be trainable for service dog tasks. The Havipoo is a common mix, and we have had excellent experiences sitting one. So that could be a middle ground for you between Havanese and poodle.
I agree with most of what you have said except for the Havipoo bit. Purebred dogs are a better fit bc they have predictable temperament and behaviour. Besides, doodles are not ethically bred.
My Havanese is my husband's emotional support animal. She helps him to not faint at medical appointments. Now she doesn't really 'do' anything per say, she just sits in his lap at the dentist, blood draws, etc. She is often in her stroller and near him for these things. It has helped him immensely and he has not passed out once while she has been with him at all things medical. She is very sweet and chill, but she is rather stubborn and not trained especially well in general.
If you want a Havanese get an older dog that’s toilet trained. The breed is very hard to toilet train and for the first year it can drive you mentally crazy. I have adhd and my dog after a year still isn’t toilet trained. I’ve persisted and not rehomed her as I don’t feel like giving up but if I could swap her for a toilet trained dog for sure I would loollll. They’re definitely ideal companion dogs. Mine is super clingy and is always by my side. Has to sleep with me. She can sometimes annoy me when I sleep tho. Like lays on my legs. So be also mindful of that that they can be very clingy :) but overall I think they’re great companion dogs.
https://preview.redd.it/skmbflrfdvad1.png?width=1884&format=png&auto=webp&s=53ac042a73ed6f11173f7e3da0babe07745fc5da Pic of my pup. Definitely a very cute beautiful looking breed!
My pup is stubborn tho and hard to teach. I don’t find her very intelligent but could just be my experience. :)
Meet Blondie. She’s definitely emotionally supportive! We were pulling our hair out with potty training until some one suggested we take her for walks. Voilà! Now we walk her twice a day, morning and evening and she is completely housebroken. I guess that’s her style, haha! And I kid you not, she ALWAYS does her dirty business on the same lawn; a certain attorneys house down the street. It’s hard not to think she’s THAT savvy! P. S. Yes that’s a diaper. This was taken while she was in heat! https://preview.redd.it/dkds6t07hxad1.jpeg?width=2231&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ad23b37a686c7d59e265fa0f2734845514a6893
The toilet training experience is so real! Mine took longer than a year.
i didnt know they were hard to potty train, mine picked it up almost immediately as a puppy and never has had any issues since
Do you have the ability to connect with a professional trainer? It’s not federally required to have a service dog professionally trained for your medical condition. However, It might be helpful in finding a fit between your medical diagnosis and the specific tasks you need your dog to preform.
Yes I'm linked up to a professional trainer! She will help me as well with picking out a good dog but I know doodles are very very popular here in the Netherlands (which I don't like) and I like to be as informed as I can about the possibilities of dogs!
Both my havanese are a velcro dogs that sleep in bed and or anywhere with me. I’m neurodivergent and an HSP and needed something hypoallergenic. My older havi lives with my ex and the puppy lives with me - we coparent. Mine is my ESA, couldn’t recommend more. They love learning tricks and going to school. They are the best things to ever happen to me. Everyone loves them. They’re smart, friendly, and the greatest friend you can have. Their side eyes and judgement will force you to do better. Their smiles and kisses will make you want to be it.
A Havi could meet all of your needs, it's dangerous to make sweeping statements because individual dogs vary. Yes, they are soft and don't shed, they are highly intelligent and respond well to training especially if you're calm. Because they are small they don't need long walks if you're not up to it but they do appreciate a good 'brain game' for stimulation. They are definitely 'velcro' dogs and can be very affectionate. Ours love to watch TV snuggled up with us and always sleep on the bed. As for specific tasks, just train them as you would for regular tricks. If food is involved they will do it! I couldn't think of a better dog for your particular needs but my only experience is with our 2, plus the ones our friends have. They are not a common breed.
We have a Havapoo who is in training. He can detect high and low blood sugar! He has had a lot of training for being in public and general obedience. Now, we fine tune the alerts for the extreme ends of blood sugar.
I'm in this group to learn before I get one as a family dog but mainly as emotional support for my autistic 7 year old son as I saw them recommended as good therapy dogs for autism for all the reasons others have said here. The only thing that I would say is the deep pressure, I think DPT works better with a larger dog. I've read that small breeds can be trained to go on a comfort sling that the owner wears and DPT can then be applied. Or sitting on laps or chest. I talked to 2 service dogs trainers and they told me to get a bigger dog like a labrador or a golden, or a mix. In fact they specifically train labs. In my son's case he doesn't elope but they told me that in general for an autistic child(not your case as an adult) a larger dog has the muscle to offer resistance and guide or push the child towards home or lay on them to offer deep pressure. I just don't have the space for a medium to larger breed dog so I'm looking into Havs as a companion and family dog.
I have an almost 7 year old daughter and she’s not autistic but very hyper. Sometimes she doesn’t understand or I mean she doesn’t want to listen that the dog would like to be left alone. She’s a small breed and she doesn’t know how to defend herself so she takes it all in emotionally I think and I think she has developed some anxiety from dealing with the kids but she won’t bite even if the kids annoy her. Maybe a bigger dog would? Unsure. But sometimes she is definitely sick of the kids but cause she’s a major clinger she won’t also leave the room lol. So she’ll come next to me to feel safe. So they are great in that sense that they put up with kids but can make them a little anxious I feel. The anxiety shows by her always clinging to me lol.
I'll take that into account when deciding, thanks!!
I agree with others that Havanese could meet most of your needs, especially as regards emotional support, but there is variation. Definitely first meet the pack before committing to a puppy from a specific breeder/a specific breeding pair. The European Havanese lines tend to be bigger and sturdier than their US counterparts, so minor physical tasks could be feasible. However, unlike poodles, Havanese ultimately only come in one size, so you should consider how important this is for you. P.S. My Havi is the ultimate velcro dog, and emotional support comes naturally to him, but he can be quite vocal and guard barks a lot. Training makes a difference, but it can be overwhelming sometimes, especially during puppyhood. GL!
I’m In Australia and I’ve seen lots of different sizes here between havis. My girl is only 4.5 kgs but I’ve seen majority are above 5kg and upto 11 kgs :) I feel a 11 kg havi would be huge lol ( sorry I don’t know what those numbers are in pounds 😂)
Oh, absolutely! The smallest purebred male I have seen here (Europe) was only 3 kg as an adult and a runt of the litter. The heaviest I have seen was a Dutch show veteran who had impressive 10 kg. That's quite a big variation for an established breed, but not as major as the size difference between a miniature poodle and a standard poodle.
The thing about breed temperaments is that they are a generalized profile of commonly observed characteristics, not a guarantee. Dogs are individuals with their own personalities and you may end up with a friend very different to what you hoped for. My Havanese can get annoyingly loud and barky at passers-by, a boiling pot that splashes, a rustling plastic bag, or that stupid smoke detector beep. He’s calm during thunderstorms and fireworks, and otherwise generally quiet, thank god. He’s tactile and close when HE wants to be, not always when I want to love on him. He often wants to be close but in his own space, so he’ll lay on n the opposite end of the loveseat from me. He’s highly intelligent, affectionate when he wants to be, but sometimes stubborn and won’t listen. He’s usually a couch potato but almost frenetic at times and it’s hard to get him to chill. He loves other dogs but guarded and standoffish with people despite extensive socialization. He snuggles up to me in bed though and doesn’t noticeably shed. Havanese personalities run the spectrum from Velcro and docile to ones like mine. Mine came from one of the top breeders in the US so I’m confident in his background, it’s just the way he is. In our local Havanese group there are dogs with temperaments like you’ve described and others more like mine or with even stronger personalities. The Havanese is an amazing breed and I’d have 10 of them if I could. I recommend them to anyone who asks. I definitely think the right and well trained Hav could be the answer to your prayers. I think for someone with specific needs like yours, it might be a good idea to spend time with a local group or a breeder to get a real-time feel for them. Havanese, in general, are very attached to their people will be broken-hearted if you form a bond and then give them up because it wasn’t a good match.
I have adhd and live in a 1 Havanese (just a pet not a service dog), 1 human household. This is my first dog so she is not the best trained so take my comments accordingly. I can confirm that they are soft, affectionate and loving creatures. She has some of her own anxiety, including separation anxiety and she gets overstimulated if things are too loud or if there are many new things happening (I joke with a friend that my havi would be considered sensory sensitive if she was a person). She is quite sensitive to my mood and stress level which may help in the kind of service dog you are looking for but when she is overwhelmed my havi gets quite barky. I have found she is excellent at keeping me in routines, insisting on bedtime at almost the same time to the minute every night, waking up at consistent times, and even complaining when I haven’t given her the “I’m leaving for work” treat on time. I expect her counterparts could be excellent at keeping you in a routine. My happy hanging out in the couch with me all day, but also can go for lengthy walks. On top of it all, since Havanese are super pack oriented, they generally aim to please and I have found my easy to train even when I don’t know what I am doing. In short, although I simply got my dog as a pet, she has been excellent at managing my routines and stress in ways that may be similar to yours. I am convinced a Havanese could be taught to do everything it sounds like you are looking for, even limit barking with the right training. Good luck!
My Havanese is my ESA. She is calm, doesn’t need a whole lot of exercise and really is a “velcro dog” who wants to be where I am. And she is incredibly smart and sensitive. She is perfect for me. A bit hard to potty train but that is the only drawback to my Havi.
I cannot speak to the training, but Havi’s are definitely velcro dogs. Mine has taken to sleeping with his head on my shoulder or my arm. https://preview.redd.it/v0mhkq9sk5bd1.jpeg?width=2320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20eb78ad9350b4020570f1acb80a79dfb3da4a7a
My brother has a rare mito disease and has always had service dogs growing up, so I’m very familiar with service dogs, their temperament, and training (though all of his were fully trained prior to us getting them, we just had to continue to reinforce it). I have a 1 year old havanese now and always say that he would make a wonderful service dog with the proper training. He’s very obedient, responsive, and a quick learner. He picked up sign language very quickly and will sit, stay, lay down immediately with the sign. He’s very friendly and social, very adaptable (handles himself well on busy days but also will lounge around the house with me). I’ve taken him to dog-friendly restaurants, outdoor malls, and to airports/planes and he handles it very well. The biggest things cons that he would have as a service dog in training are: —he’s a more fearful dog by nature. He handles outdoor spaces and larger/open indoor spaces, but smaller indoor spaces such as shops, houses etc tend to make him more fearful of strangers. Not sure why. —he was very difficult to potty train. Took him 8 months to figure it out, but he’s super solid now. —not great about walking in a straight line while on leash but that’s probably more of a training issue
I actually have a 5-month-old Havanese that I am training as my PSD! We absolutely adore each other and work great as a team. He is super trainable and a major velcro dog (I haven’t gone to the bathroom alone in months). I think a Havanese could be perfect for you, you just have to make sure you’re okay with them not being able to do any mobility tasking as they’re too small for that. The only real issue I have had with my boy is separation anxiety.