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Australian Shepherd vs Havanese: Which Suits Your Home?

Australian Shepherd or Havanese? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Australian Shepherd is the heavier at 40–65 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Australian Shepherd and Havanese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and exercise need, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Havanese rates 5/5 against 1/5. It is written for the decision rather than the breed history.

Quick verdict

Between Australian Shepherd and Havanese, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Havanese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.

Choose australian shepherd if...

Choose Australian Shepherd if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, you want a dog that picks up training quickly and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.

Choose havanese if...

Choose Havanese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and shedding is a problem in your house.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	australian shepherd	havanese	Winner
Size class	medium	small	Equal
Weight	40–65 lbs	7–13 lbs	Equal
Height	18–23 in	8–11 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–15 years	13–16 years	havanese
Exercise need	Very high (5/5)	Low (2/5)	havanese
Grooming need	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	australian shepherd
Shedding	High (4/5)	Low (2/5)	havanese
Energy level	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Apartment suitability	Very low (1/5)	Very high (5/5)	havanese
Good for first-time owners	Low (2/5)	Very high (5/5)	havanese
Tolerates being alone	Low (2/5)	Very low (1/5)	australian shepherd
Trainability	Very high (5/5)	High (4/5)	australian shepherd
Good with kids	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Good with other dogs	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	havanese
Friendly to strangers	Low (2/5)	High (4/5)	havanese
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	australian shepherd
Coat	Medium-length double coat	Long, silky	Equal
Origin	United States	Cuba	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$200	$80–$160	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,500–$2,800	$1,200–$2,300	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

An Australian Shepherd runs 40-65 lbs and up to 23 inches; a Havanese tops out around 13 lbs and 11 inches. You could carry a Havanese in a shoulder bag. That's not a minor sizing difference, it changes what kind of home, yard and daily handling each dog realistically needs.

Energy and exercise

The Aussie's exercise need sits at a maxed-out 5/5; the Havanese comes in at 2/5, low. An Aussie without a real outlet, running, herding drills, structured play, tends to get destructive or anxious. A Havanese is satisfied with a couple of short walks and some living-room play, a completely different daily commitment.

Grooming and shedding

Here the Havanese asks more of you: 4/5 grooming need against the Aussie's 3/5, because that long silky coat mats without regular brushing. Shedding flips the other way, Havanese rates a low 2/5, the Aussie a high 4/5. So you'll brush the Havanese more often but vacuum the house less.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

Apartment suitability couldn't be more different: 5/5 for the Havanese, 1/5 for the Aussie. Barking is a tie at moderate (3/5) for both. The one shared weakness is alone time, the Havanese actually scores lower here, 1/5 versus the Aussie's 2/5, so don't assume the small, apartment-friendly dog is fine home alone all day. It isn't.

Training and owner experience

First-time-owner suitability is a landslide for the Havanese, 5/5 against the Aussie's 2/5. Trainability favors the Aussie slightly, 5/5 to 4/5, but that edge doesn't offset how much easier a Havanese is to live with day to day if you've never owned a dog before.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

Both breeds do well with kids at 4/5, but the Havanese pulls ahead with other dogs (5/5 vs 4/5) and with strangers (4/5 vs the Aussie's low 2/5). If you host frequently or live somewhere with a lot of foot traffic, the Havanese's outgoing nature will make that easier than the Aussie's natural wariness.

Health and lifespan

The Havanese edges out the Aussie on lifespan, 13-16 years against 12-15. Both share hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, allergies and cataracts on their risk lists, so you're not avoiding those conditions by choosing the smaller dog, you're just facing them in a smaller-bodied patient.

Cost to keep

Cost level rates 3/5 for the Aussie and 4/5 for the Havanese, though the monthly dollar ranges actually favor the Havanese, $80-160 versus $100-200 for the Aussie. First-year costs run $1,200-2,300 for the Havanese against $1,500-2,800. Grooming appointments for that coat are the main line item pushing the Havanese's cost rating up despite the lower raw numbers.

Australian Shepherd vs Havanese at a glance

Australian Shepherd weighs 40–65 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, exercise need and good for first-time owners and 3 other rated axes. They are level on barking and good with kids, so those cannot decide it. In the table, a "winner" means easier for an ordinary household — not better. Size, coat and origin are recorded without a verdict. Because both breeds are scored the same way, the gaps are reliable even where the absolute numbers are rough.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Havanese really that much smaller than an Australian Shepherd?

Yes, a Havanese tops out around 13 lbs, while an Aussie can reach 65 lbs. That's roughly a five-to-one weight difference at the high end of each range.

Which breed sheds more?

The Aussie, rated 4/5 against the Havanese's 2/5. The tradeoff is grooming time, the Havanese's long coat needs more brushing even though it sheds less.

Which is the better first dog?

The Havanese, by a wide margin, it rates 5/5 for first-time owners against the Aussie's 2/5. The Aussie's drive and intelligence need an owner ready to give it a job.

Can either dog handle apartment life?

The Havanese can, easily, 5/5 for apartment suitability. The Aussie rates a 1/5 and genuinely needs space and a yard to do well.

What should I budget monthly?

Around $80-160 for a Havanese and $100-200 for an Aussie, with first-year totals of roughly $1,200-2,300 and $1,500-2,800.

Do these breeds share health issues?

Several, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, allergies and cataracts appear on both lists, so size doesn't buy you a clean bill of health with the Havanese.

Which dog tolerates being left alone better?

Neither does well, but the Aussie edges it slightly at 2/5 against the Havanese's 1/5. Don't get a Havanese expecting an independent dog just because it's small and apartment-suited.

Quick answers

View more answers

Behavior

Which breed suits most people better?

For a first dog in a smaller home, the Havanese wins easily; the Aussie is the right call only if you have space and time for serious daily exercise.

Costs

How do monthly costs compare?

The Havanese runs slightly cheaper at $80-160 versus the Aussie's $100-200, despite needing more grooming.

Training

How much exercise does each need?

The Aussie needs a 5/5, real daily work, while the Havanese is fine with a 2/5, a couple of short walks.

Health

Which breed lives longer?

The Havanese, at 13-16 years versus the Aussie's 12-15, a small edge, but a real one.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Australian Shepherd breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Australian Shepherd before deciding.
Havanese breed guide – The same for Havanese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Australian Shepherd vs German Shorthaired Pointer – German Shorthaired Pointer is the closest breed to Australian Shepherd on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
Havanese vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sits closest to Havanese, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
Australian Shepherd vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the other breed Havanese is most often weighed against.
Havanese health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

Comparison

Important reminder

Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.

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