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Border Collie vs Havanese: Which Suits Your Home?

Border Collie or Havanese? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Border Collie is the heavier at 30–55 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Border Collie 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. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.

Quick verdict

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

Choose border collie if...

Choose Border Collie 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	border collie	havanese	Winner
Size class	medium	small	Equal
Weight	30–55 lbs	7–13 lbs	Equal
Height	18–22 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)	border collie
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	Low (2/5)	Very low (1/5)	border collie
Trainability	Very high (5/5)	High (4/5)	border collie
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	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	havanese
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	border collie
Coat	Medium double coat	Long, silky	Equal
Origin	United Kingdom	Cuba	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$180	$80–$160	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,500–$2,800	$1,200–$2,300	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

The gap here is almost comic: a Border Collie can weigh up to 55 pounds, while a Havanese tops out around 13. Height tells the same story -- 18-22 inches against 8-11. You could carry a Havanese in a tote bag; a Collie needs the back seat. If lap-dog scale matters to you, the Havanese is the only one of the two that qualifies.

Energy and exercise

Exercise need runs opposite to what the size suggests. The Collie is maxed out at 5/5 while the Havanese sits at a low 2/5 -- a short walk and some indoor play covers it. That's a huge daily-commitment gap: one dog wants hours of running and herding-style work, the other is satisfied being a companion underfoot.

Grooming and shedding

The Havanese actually asks for more grooming -- 4/5 versus the Collie's 3/5 -- because its long silky coat mats without regular brushing. Where it wins back the effort is shedding: low (2/5) against the Collie's moderate (3/5). Less hair on the floor, more time with a brush in hand.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

This is where the Havanese pulls way ahead: very high (5/5) apartment suitability versus the Collie's rock-bottom 1/5. Barking is a tie at moderate (3/5), so neither one is the quiet option. The Havanese's real weak spot is being alone -- it rates a very low 1/5 for tolerating solitude, actually worse than the Collie's low 2/5, so a long workday alone suits neither breed.

Training and owner experience

Both breeds train well -- the Collie tops the chart at 5/5, the Havanese close behind at 4/5 -- but first-time-owner suitability couldn't be more different. The Collie scores a very low 1/5, essentially a caution flag for new owners; the Havanese scores a very high 5/5, about as beginner-friendly as this comparison gets.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

Both breeds do well with kids (Collie 4/5, Havanese 4/5) but the Havanese noses ahead with other dogs, rated very high (5/5) against the Collie's high (4/5). It's also friendlier to strangers, 4/5 versus the Collie's 3/5. Socially, the Havanese is built for a busier household.

Health and lifespan

The Havanese lives longer on paper -- 13-16 years versus the Collie's 12-15 -- and both breeds share hip dysplasia, allergies, and eye issues on their lists. Past that overlap they split: the Collie carries neurological risks like epilepsy and cerebellar abiotrophy, while the Havanese's list includes patellar luxation, deafness, and liver shunts, more typical of a small companion breed.

Cost to keep

Despite its size, the Havanese isn't the cheaper dog day to day -- it rates high (4/5) on cost versus the Collie's moderate (3/5), driven by that grooming-heavy coat. But total dollars still favor the Havanese: $80-160 a month and $1,200-2,300 in year one, against the Collie's $100-180 and $1,500-2,800. Small dogs eat less, even when they need more salon time.

Border Collie vs Havanese at a glance

Border Collie weighs 30–55 lbs and lives 12–15 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 1 other rated axes. They are level on barking and good with kids, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Havanese really that much smaller?

Yes -- 7-13 pounds and 8-11 inches versus the Collie's 30-55 pounds and 18-22 inches. It's one of the largest size gaps on this site.

Which sheds less?

The Havanese, rated low (2/5) against the Collie's moderate (3/5). It still needs regular brushing to prevent mats, just not for shedding control.

Which is better for a first-time owner?

The Havanese, decisively -- it scores a very high 5/5 for first-time suitability, while the Collie scores a very low 1/5. The Collie's intelligence and drive are hard for a new owner to keep up with.

Does either dog do well in an apartment?

The Havanese does, rated very high (5/5). The Collie scores the lowest possible 1/5 and genuinely struggles without a yard or serious daily outlet.

What's the monthly cost?

$80-160 for the Havanese, $100-180 for the Collie. The Havanese costs less overall despite needing more frequent grooming, because it eats so much less.

Do they share health risks?

Some -- hip dysplasia, allergies, and eye problems appear on both lists. The Collie's other risks skew neurological (epilepsy, cerebellar abiotrophy); the Havanese's skew orthopedic and hepatic (patellar luxation, liver shunts).

Which handles being left alone better?

Neither, really. The Havanese scores a very low 1/5 for tolerating alone time, even worse than the Collie's low 2/5. Both breeds attach hard to their people.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which breed fits most households better?

The Havanese -- high apartment score, easy for first-timers, and lower daily exercise demand make it the lower-friction choice for most people.

Costs

What's the monthly cost gap?

Roughly $80-160 for the Havanese versus $100-180 for the Collie -- a modest difference given how different the dogs are.

Training

How much exercise does each need?

The Collie is maxed at 5/5; the Havanese sits at a low 2/5 -- a short daily walk is usually enough.

Health

Which lives longer?

The Havanese, at 13-16 years versus the Collie's 12-15.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Border Collie breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Border Collie before deciding.
Havanese breed guide – The same for Havanese, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Border Collie vs German Shorthaired Pointer – German Shorthaired Pointer is the closest breed to Border Collie 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 Border Collie 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.

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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