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View 4 More +The Havanese is a loving and energetic pooch that makes a great addition to any family. Classified by the AKC as a toy dog, this breed is also known by names like Havana Spaniel, Bichon Habanero, Spanish Silk Poodle, and Havana Silk Dog.
While Havanese dogs are expensive, they aren’t as costly as to be beyond the budgets of middle-income pet parents. However, besides the upfront price of purchasing one, there are numerous costs associated with owning this lapdog, including food and supplies, vet, grooming, and other miscellaneous fees.
On average, this breed is likely to cost between $700 and $2,000, with first-year expenses amounting to nearly $3,000. Let’s dive into how much a Havanese will cost, covering as much as possible about what you should expect to pay from acquiring pups to maintaining a fully grown dog.
Havanese Dog Price: One-Time Costs
There are expenses involved regardless of whether you receive a Havanese as a gift from a friend or relative, adopt one from a rescue shelter, or purchase from a breeder. These one-time costs include vet and registration fees along with the dog’s food, utensils, toys, and grooming essentials budget.
While Havanese pups and mature dogs aren’t high maintenance1, they require significant attention, proper nutrition, constant grooming, and exercise. Initial medical costs include vaccination shots or any neutering and spaying. Plus, you’ll need to deworm and offer tick and flea medication, especially if it’s a rehomed dog.
Other one-time costs include a bed for your Havanese to lie down on and a crate for going on trips. You may also invest in collars, harnesses and leashes, a dog license, and microchipping services, the total of which may set you back close to $1,000.
Free Havanese
If you’ve found an owner that can no longer take care of their Havanese, then you’re in luck as you could pay nothing as the initial purchase cost. Sometimes, owners whose females give birth to an unexpectedly large litter will need to find homes for the extra puppies.
However, whether you’re not being charged a single cent to acquire the Havanese, you’ll part ways with the one-time as well as continual maintenance costs for the dog. Besides these setting-up expenses, there could also be charges for medical exams and procedures, as well as training, socialization, registration, or licensing by a recognized kennel club.
Adoption
- $150–$1,000
You can give a needy Havanese a happy home through adoption, and the price you’ll pay varies depending on which agency you’re using to adopt your pet. Costs will range from almost free to a thousand plus dollars, especially since shelters charge maintenance fees for such purebred dogs.
Remember, you’ll probably only find mature Havanese dogs for adoption2, so you’ll need to ascertain if you’re getting a purebred or a crossbreed when you’re getting puppies. Typically, shelters will charge between $300 and $900 if the adoptable canine is fully vaccinated, dewormed, spayed, or neutered, but otherwise, they may drop the price as low as $150.
Breeder
- $1,500–$2,500
No breeder of purebred Havanese puppies will let them go for less than $1,500, and when you come across one who does, always think twice. That’s because such breeders are unscrupulous and unregistered, and they run inhumane puppy mills that produce unhealthy puppies.
Some prices for Havanese puppies can go beyond the $2,500 mark depending on pedigree, availability, and the breeder’s reputation or experience.
Havanese Dog Price: Initial Setup and Supplies
- $100–$750
The prices for initial setup and supplies depend on the essentials you choose to buy and the quality of the products you purchase. Costs may also go down if there are items you already have or if you receive them from the breeder or previous owner.
Since not every item is needed right away, you can make do with the necessary items that’ll give your new Havanese a comfortable transition.
List of Havanese Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $25–$45 |
| Spay/Neuter | $145–$550 |
| X-Ray Cost | $150–$550 |
| Ultrasound Cost | $300–$600 |
| Microchip | $55–$105 |
| Teeth Cleaning | $200–$350 |
| Bed/Tank/Cage | $45–$150 |
| Nail Clipper (optional) | $10–$25 |
| Brush (optional) | $10–$30 |
| Litter Box | $35 |
| Litter Scoop | $10–$45 |
| Toys | $30–$100 |
| Carrier | $50–$90 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $15–$75 |
How Much Does a Havanese Cost Per Month?
- $305–$915 per month
Food costs make up the most significant expense when you’re raising a Havanese, but the exact amount depends on the quality of the products you buy. Combined with treats, meals for your dog will set you back nearly $100 or more a bag, although these lap dogs aren’t heavy eaters.
Apart from food, there are also monthly vet visits along with health insurance premiums to consider for your Havanese. You may also decide to improve your dog’s training and socialization with professional help or take it to a groomer since this breed requires a great deal of brushing and grooming regularly.
Some factors that impact the monthly cost of Havanese upkeep include the dog’s age and overall health, plus your availability for grooming, exercising tasks, and training.
Health Care
- $85–$150 per month
In terms of healthcare, several factors come into play when calculating the overall monthly cost of vet visits, certain procedures like vaccination shots, and spaying or neutering. For instance, while some are one-off costs, they may feature during the first month you bring your dog home and add up to your bill substantially.
As such, overall healthcare costs for your Havanese decrease after the first few months, especially if you settle on affordable medical insurance coverage. Procedures to expect include essential vaccines, deworming, and flea protection, along with fecal matter exams.
Food
- $90–$175 per month
Food prices vary depending on quality, your location, and where you shop, but there are a wide variety of commercial options available. Although Havanese don’t eat much, they require the best nutrition so that you can save on vet bills since they’ll have an overall healthier life.
You can buy the more expensive food brands for your Havanese since the quantity needed is less than for a larger breed. Feed your dog at least ½ to 1 cup of meals every day so that it stays energetic and reduces the chances of health problems like obesity.
Grooming
- $0–$210 per month
Due to their double-thick coats that are susceptible to tangling, Havanese require regular grooming and brushing to keep their fur knot-free. The silk dog variety for which your pooch is a member requires more intricate bathing and brushing to keep up with their appearance.
You can groom your dog to save professional expenses if you have the time, especially if you already have the grooming essentials. However, a monthly visit to a groomer ensures that you’re not leaving out any aspects of care, such as fur trimming and nail clipping.
When you go with the professional groomer option, you can expect to pay $50 to $70 per session, which calculates to over $200 a month. The overall monthly cost will also depend on the procedures being done on your Havanese, as services like nail clipping or shampooing may cost more.
Medications and Vet Visits
- $60–$120 per month
Your Havanese will require several vet visits initially to complete its vaccinations, parasite treatments, and any spaying or neutering. After this, your monthly expenses will reduce depending on the overall health of your dog and if or not you have insurance coverage.
Vet visits will also cost more depending on your dog’s age, the medical procedure being performed, and the clinic’s location or the reputation of its practitioners. Expect your monthly medication bill to fall anywhere between $50 and $100 or slightly above after the initial vet visit.
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Pet Insurance
- $15–$150 per month
Pet insurance for your Havanese will bring down the cost of healthcare and medical treatment surreptitiously, depending on which coverage you choose. You will pay less than $15 a month for most policies, allowing you to make significant savings on your monthly dog maintenance bill.
If you don’t have pet insurance, it makes sense to have some money set aside for any medical or health-related emergencies. However, for a purebred dog like the Havanese, it’s better to have coverage as this breed is susceptible to several genetic disorders and ailments.
Environment Maintenance
- $30–$60 per month
It’s cheaper to care for your Havanese’s environmental requirements as opposed to other breeds or pets since they don’t require items like scratching posts or litter boxes. Your pet generally does their delicate business outside or during your daily walks, and all you have to do is pick up after them, especially if you live in an urban area.
For instance, you’ll purchase poop scoops and plastic bags to handle their feces, which you’ll replace either monthly or after a few months. As such, your environmental expenses for the Havanese can’t exceed $50 or $60 a month, depending on the quality of the products you buy.
| Poop scoop | $15–$35/month |
| Plastic poop bags | $5–$25/month |
Entertainment
- $25–$50 per month
Spending time with your dog and taking walks outdoors is sufficient entertainment for your Havanese if you have the time. But if you are away a lot or can’t take your pet with you, you’ll purchase a few toys to keep them entertained, although many of these constitute one-time or yearly purchases.
It’s ideal to buy a couple of balls or Frisbees for your Havanese, and you can subscribe to a toy box service that delivers new toys each month. While some products will set you back more than $50, the number of playthings to keep this lapdog occupied isn’t much. You won’t need to replace these items monthly, so expect your expenses to amount to less than $25 each month.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Havanese
- $305–$915 per month
Owning the pint-sized Havanese can be costly to some. Besides the initial vet visits and first-month costs, you can provide for this pooch with a budget of less than $300 monthly.
If you can handle grooming and shop for affordable pet insurance, especially when your Havanese pet is of sound health, your monthly maintenance budget will amount to a little over $300. These pups have basic recurring expenses, and once you’ve covered food, preventative medication, and grooming, the rest won’t chip into your wallet for that month.
Havanese Dog Price: Additional Costs to Factor In
Some extra costs may sometimes crop up after you’ve budgeted for all other essentials. You may need to microchip your dog, which is a requirement in some states, and this sets you back between $25 and $55, while a license costs around $15.
Exercise and training can prove time-consuming, and a professional is required, while if you’re traveling away from home for vacation, you’ll need a pet sitter. Besides pet sitters, an excellent alternative that takes your Havanese off your hands on short notice is a daycare that fosters your pet for a couple of days.
You may also pay for kennel club certification for your purebred pooch, which is recommended but isn’t necessary—it allows you to enter it into competitive events and dog shows. Unforeseen costs can also take the form of emergency medical or pest protection for your Havanese, especially if they contract transmitted ailments, worms, or fleas.
If your dog destroys household items while playing around your home, these will need replacing, and additional behavioral training may be required.
Owning a Havanese on a Budget
Havanese aren’t expensive dogs to maintain, seeing as their small size and eating habits mean you’ll spend less compared to other larger breeds. Other costs of owning these dogs include expenses that you can’t control, such as medical bills and pet insurance.
If you’re on a budget, you can cut down Havanese-related expenses with a few tricks, including making homemade dog food like veggies and meat, especially if you buy these in bulk. Invest in high-quality upkeep essentials, toys, and other products that last longer to ensure you aren’t replacing them often, ultimately saving you money.
Take on grooming responsibilities instead of hiring a professional and delegating pet sitting to relatives or friends to further save on Havanese expenses. Regular vet visits, along with affordable pet insurance, ensure your maintenance bill for this pet is manageable.
Saving Money on Havanese Care
You can save money within the aspects of Havanese care that are under your control, such as feeding, grooming, exercising, and pet sitting. With a few essentials and some time, groom your dog regularly to keep their fur shedding and knotting under control, and you may also clip their nails.
Besides that, spending time with your Havanese ensures they’re getting the exercise they need, which saves on expensive toys to mentally stimulate your pet. As an intelligent dog, you can also train and socialize with this breed easily, especially when you interact with them closely and while involving treats.
Conclusion
Being aware of how much Havanese will cost puts you in better shape to address any additional expenses that show up within the month. Your pet is a long-term investment, and you’ll pay more at the beginning and toward the end of its lifespan, but most of these are one-time purchases.
Efficient budgeting and pet management will ensure that your monthly Havanese expenses don’t run into the thousands, and with smart spending, they will not break the bank. Groom your dog and choose affordable pet insurance to offset one-off vet charges. You can spend as much time playing and training your pooch to save on professional fees and toy costs.
Featured Image Credit: Sandra Huber, Shutterstock
