Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate feeding guide for Havanese.
In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Havanese, how often to feed your Havanese, when to feed your Havanese, what foods to feed your French Havanese, what foods to avoid feeding your Havanese, and other questions you may have about your French bulldog’s nutrition.
You can read the article to the end or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.
- Havanese Nutritional Requirements
- Factors Affecting The Feeding of a havanese
- Havanese Feeding Amount
- Havanese Feeding Frequency
- Havanese Feeding Schedule
- What Food To Feed Your Havanese?
- What Food To Avoid Feeding Your Havanese?
- When To Transition Your Havanese From Puppy Food To Adult Food
- Why Is My Havanese Not Eating?
- Why Is My Havanese Always Hungry?
- Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding an Havanese
- Final Thoughts on Havanese Feeding Guide
Havanese are a small, cuddly, cute dog breed that originates from Cuba. They share some similarities with the Shih Tzu breed. Havanese are one of the most beloved pet breeds in the United States. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my personal experience working for a veterinarian.
Havanese are intelligent, agile dogs, and like most small breeds of dogs, they possess a sturdy, muscular frame. When it comes to their nutrition, it has to be the top priority for you as their dog parents. If fed the right nutrition on the right schedule, your Havanese will grow into a healthy, happy dog.
I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Havanese for curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem.
Let’s jump into the article.
Havanese Nutritional Requirements
Havanese are small size dogs that require the right nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.
Your Havanese meal when they are in their growing phase should majorly consist of 22-30% protein, adults 18-30% protein, 8% fats as puppies, and as adults 5% fats; fiber, carbohydrates, multi-vitamins, and minerals.
Your Havanese feed must contain vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system and bones. Its source of fiber should come from wholesome vegetables from broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and sprouts, while its source of protein must come from animal flesh like fish, chicken, turkey, beef, and organ meat. Its source of fat must come from vegetables and fish oil.
Nutritional Requirements of a Havanese Puppy
The diet of a Havanese puppy and adolescent should consist of 22–30% protein, 8% fat, and 6% fiber. The puppy stage is the growth stage, and their feed is usually packed with nutrients for growing muscles and bones. Because they are growing, their feeding frequency will be higher than at any stage.
Nutritional Requirement of an Adult Havanese
The meal plan for mature and adult Havanese should consist of 18–30% protein, carbohydrate, fat, and fiber. At this stage Havanese are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal, however, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage as Havanese are prone to obesity and will develop health complications because of their small size
Nutritional Requirement of a Senior Havanese
At this stage of your dog’s life, it is less active than at other stages. Your pet’s food at this stage of life should ideally consist of 18–25% protein, 5% fat, and fiber. Senior Havanese will need minerals and vitamins added to their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.
Factors Affecting The Feeding of a havanese
Some factors will affect the diet of your Havanese, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.
Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.
Size consideration
The average height of a Havanese dog, male or female, is 9 inches (23 cm) from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a Havanese is 7–14 pounds (3-6 kg).
Havanese are small dogs because both males and females are usually the same weight, and they will be fed the same number of calories.
Age consideration
In dogs, age is relative to activity, and the most active stage is the adult, whose feed contents are more protein and energy-giving nutrients, while a puppy’s feed is packed with more bodybuilding food for growth, and because of their faster metabolism, they are fed more times than other stages. As seniors, they are already done growing, so their calorie needs will be lower than in other stages.
Activity Level
Havanese are very active and agile dogs with sturdy and muscular frames, which necessitates a strict and high-quality diet in order to maintain this physical condition. Your Havanese should never feed on low-quality feed. You should avoid feeding your Havanese foods high in sodium and fat; these types of foods can make them obese and develop heart problems.
Health Consideration
Havanese are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.
Some health issues that affect your dog breed include heart disease, cataracts, retinal dysplasia, luxating patella, hip dysplasia, hip joint disorder, and elbow dysplasia.
Some of these health issues can be prevented or controlled by feeding your dog the right food and following strict guidelines when feeding them.
Some of these diseases can be triggered by feeding your Havanese low-quality feed. However, feeding your Havanese high-quality nutrition can help prevent the majority of them (the ones that are not genetic).
Havanese Feeding Amount
Your Havanese, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. According to nutritional requirements, the amount of food required by a puppy differs from that required by an adult.
On average, feed your puppy Havanese 0.50 to 1.1 cups of food that has 194 to 530 kcal per day; feed your adult Havanese 0.9 to 1 cup per day that has 267 to 371 kcal per day, according to their activity level; and feed your senior Havanese 0.75 to 0.8 cups per day that has 234 to 267 kcal per day.
I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.
How Much To Feed Your Puppy Havanese
For your puppy and adolescent to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.
A Havanese puppy should be given 0.5 to 1 cup of food per day that contains 194 kcal to 530 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:
| Age | Daily FoodQuantity (Cups) | Kilocalories(per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 2–3 months | 0.50 – 1 | 194 – 264 | 22 – 30% | 8% |
| 4 – 5 months | 0.8– 1.1 | 220 – 334 | 22 –30% | 8% |
| 6–8 months | 0.9 – 1 | 298 – 500 | 22 –30% | 8% |
| 9-12 months | 1 -1.1 | 334- 530 | 22–30% | 8% |
Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.
How Much Should You Feed An Adult Havanese?
The nutritional requirements in the meal of an adult Havanese are different than those of a puppy. The diet of a mature Havanese should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.
A mature and adult Havanese puppy should be given 0.9 to 1.1 cups of food per day that contains 0.9 to 1 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult Havanese to help you with their meal plan.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 1 –2 years | 0.9 – 1.1 | 267 – 477 | 22-30% | 8% |
| (3–6 years) | 0.9– 1 | 234 — 371 | 18-30% | 5% |
How Much Should You Feed Your Senior Havanese?
Senior Havanese are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain lesser quantities of calories, protein, and fat.
Geriatric Havanese are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.
Senior and geriatric Havanese puppies should be given 0.75 to 0.8 cups of food per day that contains 234 to 267 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.
The table below gives you some details about the meal plan for older Havanese.
However, you must still ensure that they get the essential nutrients they need.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 7 years and above | 0.75-0.8 | 234– 267 | 18-25% | 5% |
You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you gave them as an adult, only in a lesser quantity as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.
Havanese Feeding Frequency
Your Havanese’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Havanese:
How Often Should You Feed Your Havanese Puppy?
• During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals
How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Havanese?
You should feed your adult Havanese two times a day, with 12 hours of spacing between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.
How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Havanese?
You should feed your senior Havanese two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.
Havanese Feeding Schedule
• Havanese puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues
• Adolescent Havanese should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.
• Adult and Senior Havanese should also be fed in the morning and in the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.
As a general rule, you should feed your Havanese a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.
In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be heavily used as a reward when training your dog.
What Food To Feed Your Havanese?
The food you feed your Havanese should specifically cater to small breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.
The kind of food to feed your Havanese includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and biologically appropriate raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.
Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:
Dry Food: Dry dog or kibble is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein, and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.
Wet Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.
The BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.
What Food To Avoid Feeding Your Havanese?
We should take caution when giving whatever food we’re eating to our Havanese. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.
There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Havanese because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.
Human foods to avoid feeding your Havanese includes chocolates, coffee,gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.
The Fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Havanese include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.
You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.
When To Transition Your Havanese From Puppy Food To Adult Food
You should transition your Havanese puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10 to 12 months old.
Transitioning your adolescent Havanese from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food should contain more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements of that stage.
Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.
However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.
Why Is My Havanese Not Eating?
Your Havanese will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:
Illness, dental problems, teething, medication, separation anxiety, time of day, spoiled food, stress, and picky eaters
Havanese can be picky eaters, so don’t overindulge your pet with treats. If your Havanese is not eating or drinking, it may be a sign of an underlying illness, and you need to see the vet immediately.
Why Is My Havanese Always Hungry?
Your Havanese will be hungry if it is always active and engages in too much exercise. Other than that, dogs are just big eaters, and that is why they have to be trained properly and their feeding times scheduled.
An alternative reason may be if your dog is infected with worms; if your dog falls into any of these categories, that may be why they are always hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding an Havanese
Do Havanese Eat a Lot?
Can Havanese become vegetarian?
If you are taking your dog on a vegan diet, then you have to ensure that the meal contains the micronutrients that may not be present in a regular vegan diet.
You should consult your vet or pet nutritionist while planning your vegan meals to ensure your Havanese does not encounter any health complications.
Can Havanese eat bones?
However, you ensure that bones fed to your dog are deboned after two to three days to prevent infection. Some guidelines concerning this have been stipulated by the American Kennel Club.
What Human Food Can I Feed Havanese?
What Fruits and Vegetables Can I Feed My Havanese?
Should You Give Your Havanese Supplements?
Final Thoughts on Havanese Feeding Guide
Havanese are beautiful, playful show dogs that are sure to melt the hearts of their pet parents with their cuteness, but they have been fed the right type of nutrition in order for them to stay healthy. Pet parents should take extra measures to make sure their pup does not become overweight and their meal time is structured.
Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Havanese as a puppy, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they go on. It is also essential to know which foods are healthy and which are not.
However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Havanese, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.
