Behavior
Malinois or Havanese - how different are these two, really?
About as different as this site compares - opposite ends on size, exercise need, and apartment fit, though both share a low 1/5 tolerance for being left alone.
Belgian Malinois vs Havanese: Which Suits Your Home?
Belgian Malinois or Havanese? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Belgian Malinois is the heavier at 55–65 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Belgian Malinois and Havanese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and good for first-time owners, 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. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Quick verdict
Between Belgian Malinois and Havanese, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Havanese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose belgian malinois if...
Choose Belgian Malinois 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 | belgian malinois | havanese | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | large | small | Equal |
| Weight | 55–65 lbs | 7–13 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 22–26 in | 8–11 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 11–15 years | 13–16 years | havanese |
| Exercise need | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | havanese |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | belgian malinois |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | 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 | Very low (1/5) | Very high (5/5) | havanese |
| Tolerates being alone | Very low (1/5) | Very low (1/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | belgian malinois |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Good with other dogs | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | havanese |
| Friendly to strangers | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Short, dense | Long, silky | Equal |
| Origin | Belgium | Cuba | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$250 | $80–$160 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,800–$3,500 | $1,200–$2,300 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
This is the largest size gap in the entire lineup: the Malinois runs 55-65 lbs and 22-26 inches, while the Havanese tops out around 13 lbs and 11 inches. A full-grown Havanese could be carried around in a bag; a Malinois cannot. If physical scale matters to your decision, this comparison answers itself before you get to temperament.
Energy and exercise
The Malinois wants 5/5 exercise; the Havanese sits at 2/5, low, with a 3/5 energy level that's more lap-dog lively than working-dog driven. Don't read low exercise need as no exercise, though - the Havanese still needs regular activity, just nothing close to the Malinois's daily demands.
Grooming and shedding
The Havanese needs more grooming, 4/5 versus the Malinois's 2/5, driven by a long, silky coat that mats without regular brushing. Shedding runs the other way, though only slightly - low (2/5) for the Havanese against moderate (3/5) for the Malinois. Neither dog is a wash-and-go breed on both counts simultaneously.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Havanese is about as apartment-suited as this site rates any breed, 5/5, against the Malinois's 1/5. The one place they match is tolerance for being alone - both rate 1/5, the lowest score given, so a Havanese's small size doesn't mean it's fine home alone all day. Barking is tied at moderate (3/5) for both.
Training and owner experience
The Malinois trains a notch sharper, 5/5 versus the Havanese's 4/5, but the first-time-owner gap flips hard in the Havanese's favor: 5/5 versus 1/5. The Havanese's intelligence is easy to direct toward basic obedience and tricks; the Malinois's needs a job and an experienced hand to stay useful rather than restless.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Havanese rates higher with kids (4/5 vs 3/5), other dogs (5/5 vs 3/5), and strangers (4/5 vs 2/5), matching its affectionate, adaptable, lively temperament. The Malinois's protective intensity works against it in a socially open household, where the Havanese's outgoing nature needs far less supervision around people and other pets.
Health and lifespan
The Havanese actually outlives the Malinois on average, 13-16 years versus 11-15 - a meaningful gap given how much smaller it is. Five conditions overlap: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, thyroid-related issues, ear infections, and allergies. The Havanese's distinct risks include patellar luxation, cataracts, deafness, and liver shunts - none of which appear on the Malinois's list.
Cost to keep
The Havanese is notably cheaper to keep despite a tied cost-level rating of 4/5 for both: $80-160 monthly versus $120-250 for the Malinois, and $1,200-2,300 versus $1,800-3,500 in the first year. Smaller size generally means smaller food and medication costs, and that shows up clearly here.
Belgian Malinois vs Havanese at a glance
Belgian Malinois weighs 55–65 lbs and lives 11–15 years; Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, good for first-time owners and exercise need and 4 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, barking and cost level, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is the Havanese than the Malinois?
Dramatically - the Havanese tops out around 13 lbs and 11 inches, while the Malinois runs 55-65 lbs and 22-26 inches. This is the widest size gap in this comparison batch.
Does the Havanese need much exercise?
Less than the Malinois by a wide margin - 2/5 versus 5/5 - but it's not a zero-exercise breed. Its energy level rates a moderate 3/5, so regular activity still matters.
Can a Havanese be left alone during the workday?
Not comfortably - it rates 1/5 for tolerating being alone, the same low score as the Malinois. Its small size doesn't change the fact that it's an affectionate breed that wants company.
Which is cheaper to own?
The Havanese, clearly - $80-160 a month versus $120-250 for the Malinois, and $1,200-2,300 versus $1,800-3,500 in the first year, despite both carrying the same 4/5 cost-level rating.
Which lives longer?
The Havanese, at 13-16 years versus the Malinois's 11-15 - notable given how much smaller, and often shorter-lived, toy breeds can be.
Do they share health risks?
Five conditions overlap: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, thyroid-related issues, ear infections, and allergies. The Havanese also carries risks not listed for the Malinois, including patellar luxation, cataracts, and liver shunts.
Is the Havanese a good first dog?
Yes - it rates 5/5 for first-time owners, the same as its apartment-suitability score, against the Malinois's 1/5 on both measures.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
Which is cheaper to keep?
The Havanese, by a real margin - $80-160 monthly versus $120-250 for the Malinois.
Training
How much exercise does the Havanese need versus the Malinois?
Much less - 2/5 for the Havanese against the Malinois's 5/5, though it still needs regular daily activity, not none.
Health
Which lives longer?
The Havanese, at 13-16 years versus 11-15 for the Malinois.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Belgian Malinois breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Belgian Malinois before deciding.
- Havanese breed guide – The same for Havanese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Belgian Malinois vs German Shorthaired Pointer – German Shorthaired Pointer is the closest breed to Belgian Malinois 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.
- What Belgian Malinois costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Havanese health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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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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