Is the Havanese good with children?

Yes — the Havanese is known for being very good with children and makes an excellent family dog.

Does the Havanese shed a lot?

The Havanese has low shedding and is considered hypoallergenic.

How much exercise does the Havanese need?

With medium energy, the Havanese needs moderate daily exercise such as a good walk or two.

How long does the Havanese live?

The Havanese typically lives around 15 years.

Can the Havanese live in an apartment?

Yes — the Havanese is small and not overly vocal, so it adapts well to apartment living with daily walks.

Is the Havanese easy to train?

The Havanese learns quickly and enjoys the training process. Consistency, early socialization and reward-based methods work best.

Can the Havanese be left alone during the day?

The Havanese would rather have company and manages only brief spells alone. Build up alone time gradually and provide enrichment to prevent boredom.

Havanese: Temperament, Size & Care

Havanese characteristics

Trait	Rating	How common
Size	Small	24% of breeds
Energy level	Medium	—
Trainability	High	30% of breeds
Friendliness	Very High	22% of breeds
Good with children	Very High	—
Grooming needs	Very High	18% of breeds
Shedding	Low	26% of breeds
Barking	Medium	41% of breeds
Protectiveness	Low	24% of breeds
Adaptability	Very High	9% of breeds
Typical lifespan	15 years	—
Hypoallergenic	Yes	—

“How common” is the share of the 321 breeds we score that sit in the same band. Ratings describe the breed, not any individual dog.

Is the Havanese right for you?

The Havanese is a compact little dog that suits apartments and smaller homes well and needs little floor space. In terms of temperament, it has a reputation for being wonderfully tolerant with kids and is not a natural guard and greets visitors warmly. Day to day, the Havanese needs a solid walk or two a day plus some active play, which is the single biggest factor in whether it will suit your routine.

Exercise and daily routine

The Havanese needs a solid walk or two a day plus some active play. With medium energy and medium athleticism, a consistent daily routine keeps this breed physically and mentally satisfied. Skipping exercise is the most common cause of problem behaviour, so match the Havanese to a lifestyle you can realistically maintain.

Grooming, shedding and upkeep

The Havanese demands daily coat care plus professional grooming to stay in shape and drops very little hair. It is considered hypoallergenic, which — combined with its low shedding — makes it one of the easier breeds to live with for allergy sufferers.

Temperament and training

The Havanese learns quickly and enjoys the training process and barks a fair amount, usually for a reason. It would rather have company and manages only brief spells alone, so plan for company or gradual alone-time training if you work away from home. Early socialization and positive, reward-based training bring out the best in this breed.

What stands out about the Havanese

Most breed descriptions call everything “loyal and intelligent”. These are the ratings where the Havanese genuinely differs from the rest of the catalogue — the things worth knowing before you commit.

Adaptability: Very high — the Havanese adapts to changes of home and routine better than almost any breed here. Only 9% of breeds we score share this rating.
Grooming needs: Very high — the Havanese needs more coat work than almost any breed here — this is a standing weekly commitment. Only 18% of breeds we score share this rating.

What a week with a Havanese actually costs you

Exercise	About an hour a day of walking and play suits it.
Coat	Daily brushing plus regular professional grooming. Skipping it does not just look bad — coats in this class mat, and matting hurts.
Time alone	Wants company. Long days alone are where the problems start.
Noise	Average for a dog — it will bark at the door and at things it dislikes.

Where the Havanese fits — and where it does not

Each verdict below comes from the ratings in the table above, so you can check the reasoning rather than take it on trust.

Household	Verdict	Why
Apartment living	Good fit	Medium energy and medium barking travel well into a flat.
Families with young children	Good fit	Very high child tolerance, and sociable with people generally.
First-time owners	Good fit	High trainability without an unusually strong will makes the learning curve forgiving.
Homes with cats	Good fit	Low prey drive makes cohabitation straightforward in most cases.
Long working days	Depends	Low independence — this breed wants company and shows it when it does not get any.
Allergy households	Depends	Recorded as a low-allergen coat. No dog is truly hypoallergenic — meet the individual dog before deciding.

Guides the Havanese is ranked in

The Havanese earns a place on 21 of our lifestyle shortlists:

Perfect for

Apartment living
Families with children
Allergy sufferers
Social households

Things to consider

Daily grooming needed
Separation anxiety prone
Can be sensitive

Frequently asked questions

Is the Havanese good with children?: Yes — the Havanese is known for being very good with children and makes an excellent family dog.
Does the Havanese shed a lot?: The Havanese has low shedding and is considered hypoallergenic.
How much exercise does the Havanese need?: With medium energy, the Havanese needs moderate daily exercise such as a good walk or two.
How long does the Havanese live?: The Havanese typically lives around 15 years.
Can the Havanese live in an apartment?: Yes — the Havanese is small and not overly vocal, so it adapts well to apartment living with daily walks.
Is the Havanese easy to train?: The Havanese learns quickly and enjoys the training process. Consistency, early socialization and reward-based methods work best.
Can the Havanese be left alone during the day?: The Havanese would rather have company and manages only brief spells alone. Build up alone time gradually and provide enrichment to prevent boredom.

Havanese