How Much Food Should a Havanese Eat Per Day? (Explained!)

Havanese dogs love to exercise and are super active. They need a proper and balanced diet to keep up their energy levels. Finding a well-balanced diet can be difficult.

Many pet owners accidentally feed too much or don’t feed enough. How much is too much or how much is too little? We’re here to solve your problems.

How much food should a Havanese eat per day?

A typical-sized Havanese should have around 404 calories of raw food per day. This could be divided into two meals. ½ to 1 cup a day should be enough if they prefer dry food. The number of calories required can vary depending on the size and health condition of the dog.

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Before putting the food into the bowl, check the calories and ingredients from the package. This can help you figure out the carb to protein ratio. Health conditions play a role too.

Some senior Havanese dogs need fewer calories due to underlying health issues whereas other dogs will need more because they have more energy. Every dog is different when it comes to food intake.

It’s the owner’s responsibility to figure out what’s best for their dog. Keep the portion sizes consistent.

Measuring the calorie intake will help you maintain your dog’s digestive health and weight. Overfeeding your dog makes them gain weight which leads to joint problems and other health problems.

A good rule of thumb is to feed 2 to 4% of the pet’s body weight. (adults)

Havanese Puppies:

Havanese puppies need twice the amount of an adult Havanese dog of the same weight. Very young Havanese puppies should be fed 3 to 4 times per day but for older puppies, twice a day is fine.

For a puppy, more calories are needed because they need to continue to grow. For a 6 pound puppy, 465 calories a day is recommended. As they grow into adults, slowly reduce the calorie intake.

Adult Havanese:

The National Research Council of the National Academies has stated that an active adult Havanese that weighs 10 pounds needs about 404 calories a day on average. Two meals a day should be fine but no more than three is suggested.

Raw food diet for Havanese:

The diet should mainly contain Protein and Fat. Make sure the bones are not too hard and big. They should be edible for your pet. You can follow the following diet for your Havanese.

Raw Food Category	Examples
Meat(80%)	Brisket, Fillet, Heart, Lung, Cheek, Trachea, Fish, Egg.
Bone(10%)	Bone Broth. Poultry Carcass, Lamb, Pork Ribs, Poultry Necks, Poultry Legs, Poultry Wings, Pigs Trotters.
Organ Meats(5%)	Liver, Brain, Kidney, Pancreas, Testicles, Spleen, Bull Fries.
Grade A vegetables and fruits	Broccoli, Pineapple, Cucumber, Watermelon.
Vitamins and Minerals	Vitamin A, B, C, D, Magnesium, Calcium, Fibre, Protein, Iron, Zinc, Omega, Potassium.

You can also feed other supplements such as Turmeric paste, fish oil, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar. The chart below can help you understand how much raw food to feed your dog.

Age of dog (In weeks)	Amount of raw food to feed
7 to 10 weeks	8% to 10% of body weight
10 to 16 weeks	7% to 8% of body weight
16 to 20 weeks	6% to 7% of body weight
20 to 24 weeks	5% to 6% of body weight
24 to 36 weeks	4% to 5% of body weight
36 to 56 weeks	3% to 4% of body weight
56 to 86 weeks	2.5% to 3.5% of body weight
68 and above (Adult)	2% to 3% of body weight

How many times a day should a Havanese eat?

Havanese puppies need to have more meals per day when compared to adult Havanese dogs. This is because puppies are still in the developing stage and need lots of nutrients to grow.

If you have a Havanese puppy, you should start with 3 meals a day until they grow up and have their fixed schedules. Do not overfeed them. It’s easy to overfeed a dog. If you do, they will begin to have health issues. Any dog will eat all day if given the option.

If you have an adult Havanese dog, two meals a day should be enough. Once in the morning and once in the evening is appropriate. Each meal should be around 200 calories.

What is the best food to feed a Havanese?

The best food to feed Havanese dogs is dog food. There is nothing that can top that. This is because dog food companies have spent decades perfecting the balance of nutrients and all the other ingredients needed to keep a dog healthy.

Your dog’s food should mainly contain animal protein such as fish and meats. This should be at least 50% of the meal. The remaining 50% should be carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. It is easy to overfeed your small Havanese dog. This is why you should keep it balanced.

Feed your dog chicken breast, clean fish such as salmon and cod, turkey with no skin and bone, and cooked shrimp. Do not feed processed beef and pork, and avoid spice. It can be bad for your dog’s tummy.

What can Havanese dogs not eat?

If you have a Havanese puppy, never give them human food. This is because they are still developing and their digestive system is still weak.

The same rule applies to Havanese baby dogs. Do not feed them your food. It’s different for Havanese adults but there are some exceptions.

Most fruits and vegetables are dangerous for Havanese dogs. They are carnivores and should eat meat mostly. Raisins, grapes, and cherries can lead to serious issues for your dog. Avocados can make their stomach upset too.

Do not let your Havanese have seeds from plums, apples, or peaches. They can release toxins into your pet’s body. But fruits and vegetables such as carrots, green peas, blueberries, and coconuts are completely fine for your Havanese to consume.

Nuts are harmful too, especially macadamia nuts. All nuts except peanut butter are bad for your Havanese. The worst ones are hickory nuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios.

We all have heard to not feed our dog chocolate. This is extremely dangerous and the same applies to other sugary substances such as candy and sweet snacks.

Why won’t my Havanese eat?

The most common reason is boredom. Nobody likes eating the same thing every day so it is not unusual if your Havanese doesn’t want to eat. There might be nothing wrong with the diet or food either.

Another reason is incorrect ingredients and diet. Many Havanese have sensitive stomachs and can’t tolerate some types of food. They can be allergic to some too. Kibble contains many ingredients that you are not aware of.

Check the ingredients properly because your dog might be intolerant of some protein sources and ingredients.

Other reasons are related to the environment, exercise, and health conditions. Many dogs don’t like to eat unless they feel safe. They might feel uncomfortable because of certain places, people, or smells.

You can try moving the food bowl and see if they eat. The right environment is necessary and make sure your dog does not feel uneasy.

Exercising and staying active are essential for every dog. Your dog doesn’t have to exercise a lot but a little exercise is needed. Without proper exercise, your dog will require less energy which will result in a low appetite.

If your Havanese is particularly not playing around or moving around often, then this could be an issue.

Unfortunately, food refusal is a sign of underlying health problems. If your Havanese is not eating and has symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting then it’s time to see the vet. Regular check-ups are necessary.

Are Havanese picky eaters?

Many people think that Havanese are picky eaters because they don’t finish the entire bowl of food. But that’s not the case. They just have a different appetite compared to other breeds and like to eat slowly with small bites and nibbles.

Since they are a small breed, their food requirement is also very small.

The Havanese Fanciers Association (HFA) likes to refer to this as “quirky” instead of picky. Havanese dogs like being around their owners a lot. This is why they might not be interested to eat when they are with you.

Some Havanese dogs can get fussy with their food. This could be because of allergies, dental disease, parasites, vaccination issues, infection, and other health problems.

They can also get picky suddenly if they swallowed something they shouldn’t. Check with the vet if your Havanese keeps losing weight.

Why does my Havanese eat grass?

It’s completely normal if your Havanese eats grass. They are probably just bored and playing. However, there can be poisonous plants and insects that your dog might accidentally eat. Many lawns contain pesticides as well, so be careful of that. Your pet can get stung by a bee too.

Another reason could be a tummy ache. If you notice that your dog is eating grass frantically in an extreme manner, it’s time to put a stop to it. Although there is no proper explanation for why dogs eat grass when they have an upset tummy, it is said that it brings relief from the pain.

Accidental poisoning from harmful plants can lead to illness and even life risk if ingested. Make sure not to use chemicals in your pet’s play space. Keep the play space free of pesticides, poisonous plants and be there to supervise them if possible.

A balanced diet is important whether you are feeding them homemade meals or commercial dog food. Always read the labels properly before feeding your dog.

There is no fixed way to feed a dog. You can feed them commercial kibble, kibble, home-prepared food, natural or raw. It is up to you. And remember, Havanese dogs are not fussy, they are just quirky!