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We admire them for their long, silky coats, but it takes a lot to keep the coat shiny and healthy. The Havanese dog breed is truly admirable with its strong affection, warm eyes, and deep loyalty.
But, there’s so much more to this purebred dog than being just a cuddly lap puppy. Even though they’re small in size, Havanese pups are highly active and energetic. From circus acts to sports competitions – they’ve got it all covered.
What keeps these tiny doggos running? What makes their sharp minds so pointy sharp? The answer is quite obvious: good food!
Getting the best dog food for Havanese is one of your biggest tasks to fulfill as a dog owner. You only want the best of the best. These almost-hypoallergenic dogs are healthy, but like many other dog breeds, they can be prone to some health issues. Those medical conditions can be improved but also aggravated with the use of certain dog food.
Havanese dogs need two meals of high-quality dry dog food a day. But, herein lies the problem. What kind of dog food to get? Is puppy food the same as adult food? What kind of ingredients should I pay attention to?
Your worries will be long gone after reading our ultimate list of the top 15 best dog food for Havanese.
| Name | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1. Holistic Select Small & Mini | 4.5 |
| 2. Wellness Complete Health | 4.6 |
| 3. Merrick Healthy Grains | 4.6 |
| 4. American Journey Salmon | 4.5 |
| 5. Taste Of The Wild | 4.6 |
| 6. Purina Pro Plan | 4.7 |
| 7. Victor Classic Hi-Pro | 4.6 |
| 8. Nutro Natural Choice | 4.8 |
| 9. Merrick Real Texas Beef | 4.3 |
| 10. Canidae Grain-Free PURE | 4.6 |
| 11. Wellness Core Grain-free | 4.6 |
| 12. Nature’s Logic Canine Beef | 4.2 |
| 13. HILL’S Science Diet | 4.7 |
| 14. Blue Buffalo Life Protection | 4.6 |
| 15. Instinct Raw Boost | 4.4 |
Havanese Dog Food Reviews
We’ll divide our list into three categories: puppy food, adult food, senior food, and the finest choice.
1. Holistic Select Small & Mini
Holistic Select Small & Mini
- Grain-free and gluten-free dog food
- Rich in antioxidants and omega-3 acids
- Supports the dog’s digestive system
- Quality ingredients for small dogs
Check price on Chewy
No, your chocolate Havanese shouldn’t eat chocolate for breakfast. He needs something like the Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Puppy Anchovy, Sardine, & Chicken Meal Recipe dog food, specially designed for small and mini size puppies. The delicious combination of both fish and chicken will make every puppy jump from joy every time he sees the familiar purple bag.
However, Holistic Select puppy food is not only tasty for your puppy but also carries many benefits. The all-natural recipe contains numerous sources of protein and healthy fats, which support lean muscle mass and provide hours-long concentration.
This dog food is grain-free and gluten-free but full of rich Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, taurine, and probiotics. Holistic Select dog kibble is one of the finest choices for your puppy because it offers a complete digestive health support system.
When you think of all the great ingredients that are a part of this food, like cranberries, pumpkin, papaya, cinnamon, ground flaxseed, and dried beet pulp, you’ll understand how much effort goes into this dog food.
For over 10 years, Holistic Select has been one of the finest choices. Give a scoop to your Havanese puppy, and it will become your dog’s favorite too!
2. Wellness Complete Health
Wellness Complete Health
- Small kibble perfect for small dogs
- Full of omega-3 and antioxidants
- Only natural ingredients
- Not grain-free
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We all want a complete and balanced diet for our Hav puppies. That’s exactly what Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal, & Salmon Recipe offers. Consisting of deboned turkey, chicken, and salmon, Wellness Complete kibble is rich in nutrients such as Omega fatty acids, DHA acids, vitamins, probiotics, proteins, and antioxidants.
What’s so great about this brand is that it contains no meat by products, artificial flavors, fillers, or preservatives. Only wholesome grains and top-notch protein sources get to go in this other purple bag on our list.
The Complete Health small breed recipe is a tiny kibble made of no less than 28% crude protein, 19% crude fat, and 4.25% crude fiber. Since the dog food has to satisfy a small dog’s energy needs, you can expect 489 kcal/cup on a fed basis.
This recipe has many hidden treasures. Did you know that some fruits and veggies can benefit your dog? You can find blueberries, spinach, and carrots as parts of this special formula.
Great dog food affects the dog’s coat, skin, energy, immunity, digestive system, teeth, gums, eyes, etc. If you want a healthy Havanese puppy, look no further than this listing.
3. Merrick Healthy Grains
Merrick Healthy Grains
- Raw coated kibble bites
- Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Homemade recipe
- Quality whole grains and premium chicken protein
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To get those sharp little engines running, your Havanese needs good fuel. What better choice than Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble Puppy Recipe Freeze-Dried Dry Dog Food! The first adult dog food on our list is packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, minerals, and vitamins like calcium, vitamin A, E, D3, etc.
Merrick Healthy Grains is truly what it claims to be: dry dog food made of whole grains to support a healthy digestive system. Dogs approve of this delicious raw flavor with a nice boost of high-quality proteins that come from real chicken meat.
What’s so great about this kibble is that it doesn’t contain fillers like potatoes, lentils, or peas. It’s only top-grade ingredients without any artificial flavor. Instead, it contains brown rice, oatmeal, and barley – the finest grains for a healthy tummy.
With each bite, your dog gets tiny bits of freeze-dried and crushed chicken pieces since every bit is raw-coated kibble. For over 30 years, this brand has been using a homemade recipe straight from their kitchen. It’s 100% American, 100% small-batch produced, and 100% excellent.
For a big bag of 22 pounds, you’ll have to pay $64.99, which is not much when you consider the quality.
4. American Journey Salmon
American Journey Salmon
- Packed with fibers and amino acids
- Made with fresh salmon
- The second ingredient is sweet potato, a superfood
- Good for sensitive stomachs
Check price on Chewy
Sometimes it’s good to have a veggie other than meat in your dog’s food. Sweet potatoes are one of those superfoods every dog enjoys. The American Journey dog food brand recognized the many benefits sweet potatoes carry, combined them with delicious fresh salmon, and the final result was Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.
Real, deboned salmon packed with a top protein and amino acids will give your Havanese puppy an extra boost of energy each day. This brand offers grain-free but also corn-free, soy-free, and wheat-free dog kibble.
Instead, it’s made of those delicious sweet potatoes, chickpeas, carrots, blueberries, and dried kelp. When you add fresh, raw salmon to the equation, you get only the best to fulfill your dog’s nutritional needs.
Ingredients rich in fiber promote a good digestive system, while the many vitamins and minerals work to establish a mighty immune system. Besides working wonders from the inside, American Journey Salmon kibble does miracles on the outside too. Salmon oil and flaxseed oil, along with DHA acid, keep the dog’s coat and skin looking healthy.
A bonus of this dry food is that it’s suitable for sensitive stomachs and easy to digest. The number of positive reviews from real buyers on Chewy says it all about this pet food.
5. Taste Of The Wild
Taste Of The Wild
- Real smoked salmon
- 32% animal protein
- Contains K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants
- Contains chelated minerals
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Have your Havanese puppy get in touch with nature and let it hear the call of the wilderness. Well, let’s be honest, Havanese dogs aren’t wild at all. As you already know, they come from Cuba, and the only wild thing about them is their activity level, which can go nuts from time to time.
That’s why your adult Havanese needs quality food with high protein levels, lots of carbohydrates to keep them running, and enough fiber to let them digest the kibble without problems. Here’s where Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food comes in handy.
With the first ingredient being real smoked salmon, Taste Of The Wild dry food is a grain-free recipe with no corn, wheat, artificial color, or flavors.
The brand uses many healthy fruits and veggies like blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, peas, and potatoes to give your dog an energy boost. The biggest advantage of this dog food is the high protein percentage of 32%! Good joints, bones, and lean muscles are guaranteed.
Taste Of The Wild contains K9 strain proprietary probiotics combined with antioxidants and prebiotics to ensure excellent overall health status and wellness. Perfectly designed even for little dogs like the Havanese, this dog food has chelated minerals, which means the minerals are easily attachable to proteins for higher absorption during digestion.
6. Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan
- 26% real chicken protein
- Optimal protein to fat ratio
- A savory flavor with a shredded texture
- Rich in probiotics
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New name, same quality. If you’re an experienced dog owner, you may notice something familiar about this dog food. What is now Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food was once Purina Pro Plan SAVOR. Nevertheless, the quality of the food remains the same.
Made with real chicken, which is the first ingredient, Purina Pro Plan has the ideal chicken protein to chicken fat ratio.
Even though this isn’t grain-free dog food, it’s still an excellent choice and will benefit your dog’s diet. Purina Pro Plan is rich in probiotics and makes those doggy bowels move like they’re planned to.
The kibble itself is a combination of hard kibble and tender, shredded bits of chicken for texture. It has a savory flavor, which dogs prefer, making this dry food one of the tastiest on the market (trust our words, but don’t try it yourself).
Any dog food containing 26% protein, vitamin A, Omega-6 fatty acids, and folic acid is a safe choice. The nutritional value of Purina Pro Plan is evidenced by many reviews on Chewy, making it one of the top sellers. Grab your 47-pound bag today!
7. Victor Classic Hi-Pro
Victor Classic Hi-Pro
- 88% meet protein, 10% gluten-free grains, 2% plant and veggies
- special VPRO formula
- Contains probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants
- Good for all life stages
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If you’re looking for a nutrient-dense formula that offers no additives and only good ingredients, then VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food is the one for you. This formula consists of an incredible 88% meat protein from only the finest beef, pork, and chicken meals.
The other 12% go to proteins from plants and veggies (2%) and proteins from gluten-free grains (10%). Although it’s targeted to small breed dogs in their adulthood, it’s suitable for growing puppies and pregnant and lactating females too.
Every dog formula that comes from the Victor brand starts with VPRO. But, what in the world is VPRO? It’s a special blend of expert-developed supplements, vitamins, and minerals developed to maximize your dog’s genetic potential. VPRO consists of selenium yeast, mineral complexes, probiotics, and prebiotics.
This well-balanced food will offer your Havanese enough energy to roam around all day and make the dog feel just… healthy!
8. Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Natural Choice
- Made with real chicken, no meat by products
- GMO-free, corn-free, soy-free
- Clean feed philosophy
- Actually tastes good
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Your pawtner deserves only the best. With Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, the best is guaranteed. If dogs could speak, they would probably tell us a) how much they love us, b) how awful their food tastes. While we can’t give them table scraps because that’s just wrong, we can offer them dog kibble that’s actually tasty!
Nutro Natural dog food claims to be delicious and has a high nutritional value at the same time. At the very top of the ingredients list is quality chicken, a high source of proteins, followed by omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids, and fibers.
Nutro Natural Choice is GMO-free, corn-free, soy-free, and free of meat by products. If it says it’s chicken on the bag, then you better believe it’s chicken. It can almost cluck! What’s so great about Nutro is that this food is fit for all dog sizes.
It’s rich in glucosamine and promotes good joint health to avoid diseases like Legg Perthes syndrome and hip dysplasia. With its crunchy texture, this dog food helps to control plaque.
Nutro Natural follows a “clean feed” philosophy. With every bite, your Havanese will be ingesting only the healthy stuff because not a single percent of this dog food consists of fillers and additives.
9. Merrick Real Texas Beef
Merrick Real Texas Beef
- Poultry-free, 65% deboned meat, 35% minerals, fibers, vitamins
- Healthy ingredients from local sources
- Soy-free, gluten-free, corn-free, wheat-free
- High omega-3 and omega-6 levels
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Good ol’ beef dog kibble. Lately, we feel like all of the dog food brands have switched to poultry and fish. Well, Merrick Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Adult dry dog food is the dog equivalent of a one-pound steak. This beefy food consists of an incredible number of 65% protein and healthy fat.
The main ingredient is, of course, deboned beef that comes from trusted local farmers. The beef protein builds muscle tissue and pumps up energy levels. The other 35% of this dog food goes to minerals, vitamins, and fiber (Iron Amino Acid Complex, vitamin E, flaxseed).
The levels of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are at the top, promoting healthy skin and shiny coats. Glucosamine and chondroitin are here to support hips and joints since those are weak spots for many dogs, including the Havanese. What this formula lacks are fillers. No soy, gluten, wheat, corn, or artificial preservatives. Only yummy beef, followed by sweet potatoes.
We have to pay tribute to Merrick’s homemade recipe. This company produces small batches of kibble in their own kitchen in Hereford, Texas. A family business every pet parent will appreciate for its apparent quality and devotion.
10. Canidae Grain-Free PURE
Canidae Grain-Free PURE
- 8 real food ingredients
- Suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- No artificial flavors or colors
- Special Canidae’s HealthPLUS blend of probiotics, antioxidants, and fatty acids
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Apparently, salmon is a favorite protein source for many dog food brands. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food is anything but limited.
With eight real food ingredients, this kibble will guarantee your dog a healthy and balanced diet. This simple, whole food recipe is suitable for sensitive dogs and helps curb obesity. We all know how important it is to keep our small and toy breeds on the healthy side of the scale.
The Canidae Grain-free PURE dog food is enriched with Canidae’s HealthPLUS blend of probiotics, antioxidants, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. No artificial flavors are added. No colors or preservatives either! It’s grain, soy, wheat, and corn-free, packed with the good stuff, including sweet potatoes, peas, flaxseed, numerous vitamins and minerals, as well as probiotics and prebiotics.
The natural flavor of this dog food is what all dogs love. Even more than wet food!
11. Wellness Core Grain-free
Wellness Core Grain-free
- Only premium turkey and chicken proteins
- Gluten-free, made with wholesome grains
- Consisting of numerous healthy fruits and veggies
- Rich in glucosamine
Check price on Chewy
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food is one of the finest poultry dog foods on the market.
This balanced kibble is grain-free and rich in high-quality proteins, including turkey, chicken, and salmon oil, as well as fruit and veggies like tomato pomace, spinach, carrots, broccoli, kale, blueberries, apples, peas, potatoes, lentils, and parsley.
This special formula is enriched with glucosamine, probiotics, antioxidants, taurine, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. It’s specifically designed to support lean body mass and muscle tone, healthy skin, shiny coat, and overall good health.
Wellness Core comes from a facility that also processes grains. But, this doesn’t mean all grains go into this recipe. This dog food is crafted with wholesome grains, without gluten and artificial flavors or colors.
You can rest assured your Fido is getting what it really needs. The amount of food your dog gets on a daily basis should be able to satisfy its energy needs and keep the brain working like clockwork.
With Wellness Core dog food, you can be sure you’re giving your dog everything other dog lovers would give: only the finest ingredients to keep your dog healthy all the way down to the top of their tail.
12. Nature’s Logic Canine Beef
Nature’s Logic Canine Beef
- 100% natural formula
- GMO-free, no chemically synthesized vitamins and minerals
- Contains minimum processed foods
- Contains low glycemic grass seed
Check price on Chewy
Nature’s Logic Canine Beef Meal Feast All Life Stages Dry Dog Food is truly a dog food for all life stages, but we prefer to recommend it for adult dogs. There are some excellent brands for senior dogs you’re about to see soon.
Nature’s Logic beef meal feast is a 100% natural dog food, rich in nutrients and highly palatable. The first ingredient in this lovely brown and red bag is beef from USA-located farms, followed by a selection of fruits and veggies.
This bag offers minimum processed foods like dried kelp, spinach, cranberries, and blueberries. Ingredients such as potatoes, lentils, corn, rice, soy, peas, wheat, or chemically synthesized minerals, vitamins, carrageenan, guar gum, or xanthan gum are not used in the formula.
This 100% natural kibble is even produced using 100% renewable electricity. Talk about sustainability! Another bonus from this brand is that they’re grain-inclusive, with non-GMO millet, a low glycemic grass seed. The MSG formula is also free of hydrolyzed proteins.
Want dog food packed with probiotics and enzymes? Give this natural dog food a try. Chances are, your Havanese dog will love having it, and your budget will approve.
13. HILL’S Science Diet
HILL’S Science Diet
- First ingredient is real chicken
- Rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, C, and fatty acids
- No artificial colors or flavoring
- Kibble fit for dogs over 7 years old
Check price on Chewy
Was your dog in bad shape? Did you perhaps adopt a rescue Havanese that needs good care? In just thirty days, your new doggo’s vitality will be restored.
With the use of Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, your dog will feel better from the inside and look amazing from the outside too.
Rich in omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E and C, and antioxidants, HILL’s Science Diet dog food offers a premium boost of energy and a great overall health condition.
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives were used in the production process. Only top-notch ingredients made the cut. Savory chicken meals, barley, and rice are the top three ingredients that make this dog food tasty and healthy.
Since this is a senior dog food, HILL’s Science Diet can be offered for dogs that are 7 years and older. This kibble is well-balanced and will make your dog’s old days a whole lot better.
What’s so amazing about this dog food brand is that they partner with dog shelters across the USA and provide food for many poor, abandoned souls waiting for their forever homes.
14. Blue Buffalo Life Protection
Blue Buffalo Life Protection
- Contains super 7 antioxidant-rich ingredients
- Good for sensitive stomachs
- Rich in L-carnitine
- Made with real meat
Check price on Chewy
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food has one of the best prices to quality ratios. This formula is designed especially for senior Havanese dogs that may suffer from sensitive stomach problems. No soy, no wheat, no corn, no artificial flavor!
Blue Buffalo Life Protection is protection for their entire life. Made with real meat, fruits and veggies, and whole grains, Blue Buffalo kibble is enriched with LifeSource Bits. What do LifeSource Bits mean?
This is a special blend of nutrients that have been packed with a Super 7 package of antioxidant-rich ingredients: apples, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, pumpkin, and spinach
The Blue Buffalo recipe contains high-quality protein from chicken meat and L-carnitine for good muscle mass. The kibble provides enough energy for your senior pup to last the whole day.
15. Instinct Raw Boost
Instinct Raw Boost
- Made with real chicken
- Contains freeze-dried bits of chicken
- Rich in DHA
- Packed with L-carnitine
Check price on Chewy
Last but not least on our list of best dog food for Havanese is this excellent senior food: Instinct Raw Boost Senior Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken & Freeze-Dried Raw Pieces Dry Dog Food. The uniqueness of this blend lies in the fact the bag contains high-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw bits of real chicken.
Raw food isn’t just good for dogs of any age. But, raw food combined with dog kibble is the ultimate combination. Senior Havanese dogs will be able to use all the benefits this food has to offer. Besides high-quality protein, Instinct Raw Boost is rich in natural DHA from chicken eggs, ensuring optimal calcium and phosphorus levels.
This is another dog food brand that is packed with L-carnitine. L-carnitine boosts metabolism and helps the dog digest the food, especially if he’s suffering from sensitive bowels.
Instinct Raw is grain-free, potato-free, corn, wheat, and soy-free dog food with zero traces of artificial colors and flavoring.
It may be on the pricier end, costing $69,99 for a 21-lb bag, but remember: senior dogs need special care and special food to ease their mature days. The cost of having a Havanese dog is not a minor one, but it gives a lot of pleasure.
FAQs
1. How much food does my Havanese need?
Each Havanese dog is different. But, there’s something these guys have in common: they’re all picky eaters! No rule is written in stone, but here’s what we suggest on how much you should feed your Havanese.
Havanese puppies should have 1/4 to a 1/3 cup of food per meal. Puppies grow fast, so make sure you serve them three meals a day. Their growth spurt will stop at around 12 months of age.
After their first year, you should decrease the amount of food to 1/2 cup per meal. Adult Havanese dogs should have two meals a day. Some dogs will eat less, and that’s just fine unless there are health complications. Others will eat up to two cups a day.
Senior Havanese pups are recommended to have the same amount of dog food, but it’s always best to watch your dog closely and listen to what he has to say.
If you think your Havanese is getting too much food, stop it right there because you’re risking obesity. Small dogs and obesity don’t go hand in hand. Especially not in the senior days. Since the Havanese has quite a long lifespan, make sure it’s a life worth living.
2. What to look for in a dog food brand
Finding the best dog food for Havanese is quite simple if you know which ingredients should be listed on the packaging.
Meat proteins are the biggest and most obvious ingredient since dogs are designed to eat meat and process meat protein. Those protein sources should be beef, pork, chicken, turkey, salmon and listed as the first ingredients on the label.
Fruits, veggies, and grains are secondary ingredients. They are natural sources of minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and fiber. Adding superfoods like sweet potatoes or kale to the recipe only enriches the kibble.
3. Is there anything I should avoid in dog food?
Some ingredients are masked so well you can almost miss them on the label. Meat by products are not something you should steer away from. In fact, you should run as far as you can! If we start listing what goes in such products, you’ll lose your lunch – enough about that.
Other ingredients you should avoid are artificial colors and dyes. These colors may stain your dog’s coat, feet, or even face, as well as cause severe allergies.
Even though the Havanese dog breed isn’t prone to allergies, it is better to be safe than sorry. Besides, nothing good comes from such ingredients.
4. Are there some dog foods I should avoid?
In this case, any publicity isn’t good publicity. Some dog foods shouldn’t find their way into your grocery cart. As such, they include meat-by products, artificial colors, and lack meat protein.
Brands like Purina Beneful, Pedigree, Kal Kan, Ol’ Roy by Walmart, and many others with similar ingredient lists shouldn’t be considered at all.
Amazon is an excellent source when it comes to buying dog food, but small businesses and less-known brands are even better. In case you don’t know where to start shopping, always visit Chewy first.