Best Dog Food for Havanese

As dog owners, all we want is for our fur babies to remain in good health. Our dogs are essentially our children, and just like with kids, all you want is for your dog to be happy and healthy.

The key to happiness in your dogs is food. It is your dog’s food that supplies them with the energy and nutrients that they need to live an active lifestyle where they can run around and play for hours on end.

It is food that is also the key to your dog remaining healthy as all of their nutrients will come from the dog food

But the dog food market is incredibly saturated, and this can make it very difficult to know which is the best for your furbaby. That’s why we’re here to help with this handy guide to the best dog foods on the market for Havanese dog foods.

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide which is full of all the information you need to know about feeding your Havanese. So with no further ado, let’s get started. 

In a hurry?

If you want to buy dog food for your Havanese in a hurry, we would recommend the Wellness Core RawRev Grain-Free Small Breed Dog Food.

This dog food has an excellent formula and is packed with ingredients and features which are guaranteed to let your Havanese live a happy and healthy lifestyle, including:

• Bite-sized kibble is easy for small dogs to chew.
• Optimal protein with minimal calorific content.
• Enhanced with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, probiotics, and glucosamine for full-body health.
• Includes real, freeze-dried turkey in the recipe. 

Best Overall: Wellness Core RawRev Grain-Free Small Breed Dog Food

Our favorite dog food for Havanese dogs is the Wellness Core RawRev grain-free small dog food. We love this dog food because it is designed with small breeds in mind.

From its nutrient-dense kibble which is designed to be easy to chew, to its high protein but minimal calorie content, it is the perfect option for your Havanese.

Its kibble is mixed with freeze-dried turkey to ensure your dog gets natural, high-quality protein in every meal. It is made in the USA and supplemented to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients they need.

From omega fatty acids for their fur to antioxidants and probiotics for their digestive and immune health. From taurine for their heart to glucosamine for their bones and joints, it is clear this is the best option available for your Havanese.

Pros

• High protein, nutrient-dense kibble is easy for smaller breeds to chew
• Kibble mixed with freeze-dried turkey for excellent quality, natural protein
• Optimal protein levels and calorie content to support high energy small breeds without causing them to gain weight 
• Packed with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, and lots more for full-body health 
• Made in the USA with high-quality ingredients
• Contains taurine to support your dog’s heart

Cons

• No notable drawbacks

Runner Up: Instinct by Nature’s Variety Small Breed Dog Food

Another excellent option for Havanese dogs is the Instinct by Nature’s Variety small breed dog food. This is a great option if your dog is fussy as you can choose between beef, chicken, or duck flavor, all of which use real meat as the main ingredient.

This food is high in protein and combines this with grain-free kibble to provide your dog with a balanced diet.

The food is then enhanced through probiotics and omegas for gut and skin health, glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, and calcium and phosphorus for strong teeth and bones.

With all of this, and the fact it is suitable for all life stages, this is clearly one of the best options available. 

Pros

• Choose between beef, chicken, or duck flavor 
• Combines high-quality protein with grain-free kibble for a well-rounded meal
• Made with calcium and phosphorus for strong teeth and bones
• Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints 
• Suitable for Havanese dogs of all life stages, puppy through to senior 
• Includes probiotics and omegas for gut and skin health 

Cons

• No notable drawbacks 

Alternative: Merrick Classic Small Breed Dog Food

We also love the Merrick Classic Small Breed dog food if you have a Havanese dog. This food only comes in one flavor but is a guaranteed hit with your dog as it uses real-deboned chicken as the main ingredient.

The food is made of 54% natural protein, and 46% vitamins and grains to give your Havanese a balanced diet. It has a small kibble design which is enhanced through vitamins and minerals.

These include Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin, and glucosamine and chondroitin for your dog’s joints and hips. With all common allergens excluded from the recipe, this is definitely one of the best dog food options on the market. 

Pros

• Uses real-deboned chicken as the main ingredient
• Contains Omega 3 and 6 Fatty acids for healthy skin and coat 
• Small kibble design is perfect for smaller breeds, like the Havanese
• Excludes common allergens from its recipe 
• Includes glucosamine and chondroitin for your dog’s joints and hips 
• 54% protein and 46% grains and vitamins so you know what you are feeding your dog 

Cons

• The bag does not have a sealing factor to keep the food fresh

Alternative: Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Dog Food

You should also consider the Purina Pro Plan small breed dog food if you are a Havanese owner. This recipe uses natural meat as the main ingredient to supply your dog with high-quality, natural protein, but you can choose whether it comes from chicken or lamb.

It is also available in a variety of different sizes allowing you to trial the food with your dog before investing in a larger bag.

This natural protein is contained in bite-sized kibble which will be easy for your Havanese to chew and is enhanced with probiotics for your dog’s immune and digestive health.

With all this in mind, it is clear that this is one of the best options available for your Havanese.

Pros

• Available in chicken or lamb flavor
• Purchase in 6lb, 8lb, or 34lb bags
• Formulated with high protein to meet the energy needs of small dogs
• Uses real chicken as the first ingredient for natural protein
• Fortified with probiotics for immune and digestive health
• Bite-sized kibble is the perfect size for small breeds to chew

Cons

• Most dogs seem to prefer the chicken flavor

Alternative: Cesar Puppy Classic Loaf Dog Food

Finally, we would recommend the Cesar Puppy Classic Loaf dog food. This is actually a puppy food, but it is highly recommended for smaller breeds like Havanese dogs.

It comes in chicken and beef, or lamb flavor and is crafted without grains or filler so your dog gets only the best. It is made in the USA and uses American-bred meat as the main ingredient.

It provides your dog with a complete balanced diet and is enhanced with vitamins and minerals to ensure full-body health.

With all of this and the fact that it can be used as a meal or as a food topper, this is definitely one of the best dog foods available for your Havanese. 

Pros

• Choose between chicken and beef or lamb flavor 
• Crafted without grains or filler so your dog gets only the best
• Complete and balanced recipe for a healthy diet
• Enhanced through the use of vitamins and minerals 
• Makes a great meal on its own or a good food topper for dry kibble 
• Made in the USA with real-US chicken as the first ingredient

Cons

• The individual packets can be tricky to open at first

Best Dog Food for Havanese – Buyer’s Guide

Finding the right dog food for your Havanese can be a difficult task. Our dogs are our children and you want to ensure that they always remain happy and healthy, and food is the key to this.

We’ve put together this quick buyer’s guide which is full of everything you need to know about feeding your Havanese. So if you want to find out more about feeding your dog, keep reading. 

Avoid at ALL Costs!

Before we look at the different ingredients you should look for in your dog’s food, let’s take a look at the ingredients that you should avoid. These ingredients could lead to bad health in your Havanese, which is something you do not want to happen. 

The first thing you should watch out for is raw meats. A raw diet has become popular for dogs, but it is more appropriate for some dogs than others.

For your Havanese, you should avoid raw ingredients at all costs. Most raw foods aren’t healthy for your dog, especially raw meats as these are so prone to going bad.

Feeding your dog raw food is likely to lead to stomach bugs and problems in your Havanese, and can also be damaging for their teeth, so you should avoid them at all costs. 

You should also avoid dog foods that are high in sugar as these can also be damaging for your dog’s dental health, and can also be linked to diabetes and other conditions.

Your dog’s internal organs are very similar to your own so you should avoid foods that are unhealthy for humans when looking for dog food.

Finally, you want to avoid anything artificial. As you will have observed in human foods, there are an endless amount of artificial flavorings, colors, and preservatives added to food to make them last longer and look nicer.

These additives are unhealthy for humans, and they are also unhealthy for your dog so you should avoid them at all costs. 

Ingredients to Look For 

Now that we’ve covered the ingredients that you should avoid, let’s look at the ones that you should look for in your dog’s food. As we have mentioned, the key to your dog’s health and happiness is a balanced diet.

The different food types that combine to make a dog’s balanced diet, are very similar to a human’s balanced diet, so let’s take a look at what you should search for. 

The main ingredient in most dog foods is protein. Protein is normally sourced from real meat, so as dog food is ‘meat’ flavored, it’s unsurprising that this is often the key ingredient.

Some dog food manufacturers will use poor quality or bad meat, so you should always look for a reputable brand that uses real meat.

When you look at the ingredients list of the dog food, protein or meat should make up about 50% of the formula. Fats are also essential for your dog’s diet, and a lot of this will also be found in the meat that provides your dog with protein.

Havanese are highly active dogs so you need to give them a good amount of fats in their diet to ensure they have the energy to remain active. Ideally, you should feed your dog fats that have come from fish oils or real meat to ensure they remain healthy. 

As well as protein and fats, there are some other food groups that you will need to include in your dog’s food for them to have a balanced diet. The other main food group you need to include is carbohydrates.

As human beings, we love carbohydrates, we love bread and we love pasta, and there is nothing better than a meal that is solely constructed with carbohydrates.

Just like us, dogs love carbohydrates, although perhaps not quite as much, so you should ensure your dog’s meal includes carbohydrates. In excess, carbohydrates can be bad for you, but they are essential in giving your dog the energy that they need to live an active lifestyle.

Ideally, carbohydrates should make up about 25% of your dog food formula and usually comes from vegetables, beans, and grains.

Finally, your dog’s food should contain fiber and vitamins.

Fiber is essential for your dog’s gut health, and vitamins and minerals are essential to supplement your dog’s diet. From eyesight to skin and coat, through to your dog’s bones and joints, vitamins are essential for them to remain healthy all over. 

Portioning your Dog’s Food

Finally, let’s take a look at how you should portion your dog’s food. As Havanese is a small breed of dog, their portions of food will be very different from larger breeds of dog.

The amount that your dog should eat will change throughout their lifetime, so let’s take a look at how you should portion food for your Havanese depending on their life-stage.

As Havanese dogs are small when they are fully grown, they are even smaller when they are puppies which will impact the amount they should eat.

When they are puppies, Havanese dogs will be too small to consume large amounts of food. So you should feed them small amounts in a regular pattern to ensure they get all the nutrients that they need to grow big and healthy.

Once your Havanese reaches 12 months, they will become an adult and so you should alter their feeding pattern to accommodate this new life stage.

Once your dog becomes an adult, the food that you buy will come with portioning advice. This advice is tailored to the ingredients in that specific brand, so you should follow the portioning advice given by the company.

Most Havanese, and small dog-specific, recipes will have lots of protein with a limited amount of calories to ensure that they have the energy they need without running the risk of becoming overweight. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed my Havanese dog human food?

Although it can be tempting to give your Havanese dog human food, especially when they beg for it, you should try and avoid doing so.

Human food does not have the nutrients that your dog requires to grow and remain healthy, and feeding them human feed could impede their growth and wellbeing.

Once your puppy is fully grown it is okay to add some human food to their meals as long as it is in moderation. You should never feed your dog human food exclusively, it should always be mixed with dog food to make a balanced meal. 

Why do Havanese dogs lick so much?

All dogs lick. Any dog owner will be able to vouch for how much dogs lick. But if you have a Havanese dog you might have observed that they lick more often than other breeds.

The main reason that dogs lick is to show affection to you, their person. The action of licking causes your dog to release pleasurable endorphins into their bloodstream.

These endorphins make your dog feel calm and provide them with comfort. So your dog licking is not a bad thing.

Havanese dogs may lick more often than some other breeds but this is not a cause for concern, it is simply your dog’s method of showing affection to you. 

What is the healthiest food to feed your dog?

The healthiest dog food for your dog will be a brand that provides them with lots of different nutrients, and more importantly, a balanced diet.

You should look for food that contains lots of protein from real meat, as well as fiber and carbohydrates to give your dog the energy to fulfill their active lifestyle.

The best dog food will contain a combination of these key ingredients while also being yummy for your furbaby.