Best puppy food for a Havanese
A Havanese puppy is a small, sociable companion breed from Cuba, usually settling somewhere around 3-6kg as an adult, with a long silky coat and a cheerful, playful temperament that does not need much land underfoot to be happy. A small-breed puppy food with easily managed kibble and controlled calories suits the breed far better than a food built for a larger, more physically demanding dog.
Feeding a Havanese
A toy breed
An adult Havanese typically weighs 3–6 kg, so a healthy Havanese eats a small amount — often under 100g of dry food a day compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A toy breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 13–16 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
How much should a Havanese weigh?
Adult 3–6 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.5–1.1 kg | 18% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 0.9–1.8 kg | 30% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 1.8–3.5 kg | 59% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 3–6 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a toy breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Havanese
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Havanese's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
A small companion breed, not a working one
Havanese were bred as companion dogs rather than for any physical job, and their exercise needs reflect that — plenty of play and mental stimulation, but nowhere near the energy expenditure of a working or sporting breed. That matters for food, because a puppy formula pitched at a high-energy large breed will simply deliver more calories than a Havanese puppy is burning off.
The breed's small size also means it reaches adult weight considerably sooner than a larger dog, so the window where a genuine puppy food matters is shorter, and getting the portion size right during it counts for more relative to the dog's overall size.
What to check on a small-breed puppy food
Look for a food labelled for small or toy breeds, with a small kibble size that suits a Havanese's compact jaw, and a clear puppy or growth life-stage statement on the label rather than an all-life-stages formula. Feeding guides are calculated for the specific recipe's calorie density, so use the one printed on your chosen food rather than a generic figure.
Because Havanese are a long-coated breed, some owners also look at whether a food supports skin and coat condition, though this comes down to the individual dog and coat rather than being a universal requirement of the breed.
Moving to adult food
Most small breeds are close to adult size by around nine to twelve months, and the specific packaging on your puppy food will usually confirm when to switch for that formulation. Do it gradually over about a week, mixing the new food with the old in increasing amounts.
Watch your puppy's body condition rather than a calendar date — a Havanese that still looks lean and is growing steadily can stay on puppy food a little longer without any issue, while one filling out ahead of schedule is worth discussing with your vet alongside a review of portions.
Common questions
- How much should I feed a Havanese puppy?
- Start with the feeding guide printed on your specific food, since it is calculated for that recipe's calorie content, then weigh your puppy every couple of weeks and adjust the amount based on how they are growing rather than sticking rigidly to the guide.
- Does a Havanese need a special coat-friendly food?
- Not necessarily. Coat condition depends on several things beyond diet, including grooming and genetics, so a good-quality small-breed puppy food is the priority, with skin and coat support as a bonus rather than the main deciding factor.
- When should a Havanese puppy move to adult food?
- Typically somewhere around nine to twelve months, in line with most small breeds, though the specific guidance on your puppy's food is the best reference. Switch gradually over about a week rather than all at once.
- Are Havanese prone to being fussy eaters?
- Some small breeds can be pickier than larger dogs, partly because they need less food overall, so any one meal feels like a bigger part of their day. A consistent routine and a food genuinely suited to their size usually helps, and it's worth speaking to your vet if fussiness comes with weight loss.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.