Havachon Play: Engaging the Energetic Fluffball

If the Great Pyrenees is the stoic mountain guardian, the Havachon (a mix of Havanese and Bichon Frise) is the bouncy, tireless circus performer. This designer breed is built for companionship, charm, and spirited bursts of activity. Their history, rooted in lapdog companionship, means they thrive on interactive play that involves their family, requires clever thinking, and allows them to show off their joyful personality.

Unlike the Pyr, who prefers to conserve energy and observe, the Havachon is ready to go—any time, anywhere. The best games for Havachon play capitalize on their high intelligence, agility, and powerful desire for attention.

🤸 High-Energy & Agility Games: The Joyful Jester

Havachons are surprisingly athletic for their size. They love quick, interactive games that engage their bodies and their desire to please their owners.

1. Indoor Fetch and Chase

Since they are small, Havachons are perfect for indoor games, especially when the weather is bad.

How to Play: Use small, lightweight balls or soft plush toys. A Havachon loves to run in quick, tight circles, so a hallway or large room is ideal. Use high-pitched, encouraging sounds to celebrate their speedy returns.
Why Havachons Love It: This fulfills their need for high-burst exercise and is intensely interactive. Their reward is the owner’s focused attention and praise, which they crave.

2. Tunnel and Obstacle Courses

Their small size and surprising agility make them great candidates for simple home agility work.

How to Play: Set up a mini obstacle course using pillows for jumps, blankets draped over chairs to create tunnels, or empty cardboard boxes to weave through. Teach them to run the course using treats and a clear cue word.
Why Havachons Love It: It’s a fantastic way to burn off energy while providing mental stimulation and satisfying their curiosity. It keeps them engaged and focused on a task with their favorite person.

3. The “Gotcha” Game

This is a playful, gentle game that reinforces trust and their love of being handled.

How to Play: While the Havachon is playing, gently and quickly tap them and say “Gotcha!” or “Tag!” This is less about catching them and more about surprising them and rewarding them with a quick cuddle or tickle, then letting them run off again.
Why Havachons Love It: It’s an opportunity for brief, affectionate contact followed by a burst of excited chase, which reinforces the strong bond they have with their family.

🧠 Smart Games: Training and Tricks

Havachons are highly intelligent and excel in obedience and tricks. They thrive when they are learning and showing off their skills.

4. Trick Training Progression

Instead of running out of ideas, keep their mind sharp by continually raising the bar on trick difficulty.

How to Play: Start with basics like “sit” and “stay,” and quickly move to fun tricks like “spin,” “weave,” “play dead,” or even stringing two tricks together. Always end a session with a trick they know well for a successful conclusion.
Why Havachons Love It: It satisfies their eagerness to please and their intellectual need to solve problems. They love the praise and the delighted reactions they get from their humans when they perform a new skill.

5. Find the Treat/Toy (Scent Work)

Like the Pyr, the Havachon benefits from scent work, but they engage in it with far more speed and excitement.

How to Play: Have your Havachon stay (or put them out of the room) while you hide small, high-value treats or their favorite toy under pillows, behind a curtain, or beneath an overturned laundry basket. Release them with a “Find it!” cue.
Why Havachons Love It: It’s a focused activity that utilizes their nose and their brain, leading to a huge payoff (the treat/toy) and a high dose of owner praise. It can be played entirely indoors.

🧸 Key Considerations for Havachon Play

Avoid Rough Play: While they are sturdy, their small bones and joints must be protected. Avoid games that involve shaking, hard wrestling, or excessive jumping from high surfaces.
Manage Barking: Since they are alert barkers, use short, successful play sessions to provide an outlet for their energy. A bored Havachon is a loud Havachon. If they bark during play, redirect their excitement to the task at hand.
Focus on You: Their greatest reward is your attention. Keep the sessions short (5-10 minutes is plenty) and intense, giving them your full focus. This ensures the play is mentally satisfying and deepens your bond.
Vary the Games: To keep their quick minds stimulated, rotate their toys and the games you play. They thrive on novelty and will quickly master and tire of the same old routine.