Chow Chow or Havanese? On paper they differ most on good for first-time owners, and on the scales Chow Chow is the heavier at 45–70 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Chow Chow and Havanese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on good for first-time owners and good with other dogs, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Havanese rates 5/5 against 4/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Between Chow Chow and Havanese, good for first-time owners is what separates them, and Havanese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Chow Chow if the dog will be alone during the working day and you want a dog that is more watchful with visitors.
Choose Havanese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and you do not want a standing grooming appointment.
| Feature | chow chow | havanese | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 45–70 lbs | 7–13 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 8–11 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 9–15 years | 13–16 years | havanese |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Grooming need | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Shedding | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | havanese |
| Energy level | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | havanese |
| Good for first-time owners | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | havanese |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Very low (1/5) | chow chow |
| Trainability | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Good with other dogs | Low (2/5) | 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 | Thick double coat | Long, silky | Equal |
| Origin | China | Cuba | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$250 | $80–$160 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,600–$3,000 | $1,200–$2,300 | Equal |
A Chow Chow outweighs a Havanese by a wide margin - 45 to 70 pounds against 7 to 13, with nearly a foot of height between them at the shoulder (17-20 in vs 8-11 in). This isn't a close call: the Chow is a solid, thick-coated medium dog, the Havanese a genuine lap-sized toy breed. If floor space and furniture wear factor into your decision, the size gap alone should settle a lot of it.
Neither dog will drag you out for daily runs - the Chow sits at a low 2/5 for both exercise need and energy level, and the Havanese isn't far off at 2/5 exercise and a moderate 3/5 energy. The practical difference shows up in play style: the Havanese's extra energy tends to come out in short bursts of indoor activity, while the Chow is content to observe from a dog bed.
Both breeds ask a lot of your grooming schedule - Chow at 5/5 (very high), Havanese close behind at 4/5 - but shedding tells a different story. The Chow's thick double coat rates 4/5 (high) for shedding, while the Havanese's long silky coat rates just 2/5 (low). Expect regular brushing either way; expect noticeably more hair on your couch with the Chow.
Both handle apartment life reasonably well on paper - Chow rates 4/5, Havanese 5/5 - and barking is tied at moderate (3/5) for each. The real split is being left alone: the Chow tolerates solo time at a moderate 3/5, while the Havanese drops to a very low 1/5. If your schedule means long stretches away from home, that gap matters more than the apartment score does.
The Chow Chow scores low (2/5) on both trainability and first-time-owner suitability - this is not a beginner's dog, and its independent, reserved temperament (versus the Havanese's affectionate, adaptable nature) explains why. The Havanese rates high (4/5) on trainability and very high (5/5) for first-timers. If this is your first dog, the data points firmly toward the Havanese.
With kids, it's close - moderate (3/5) for the Chow, high (4/5) for the Havanese - but the gap widens with other dogs and strangers, where the Chow scores low (2/5) on both and the Havanese scores very high (5/5) and high (4/5) respectively. A Havanese is built for a busier household; a Chow does better as the one dog in a quieter one.
The Havanese lives longer on average - 13 to 16 years versus 9 to 15 for the Chow - and both breeds share hip dysplasia, cataracts and elbow dysplasia on their health lists. The Chow's list also carries entropion, glaucoma, bloat and diabetes; the Havanese's adds patellar luxation, deafness and liver shunts. Neither is risk-free, but the Havanese's added years are worth noting.
Monthly costs run higher for the Chow ($120-$250) than the Havanese ($80-$160), and that gap carries into the first year: $1,600-$3,000 for the Chow against $1,200-$2,300 for the Havanese. Both land in the same overall cost tier (4/5, high), but in raw dollars the Havanese is the lighter bill.
Chow Chow weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 9–15 years; Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years. The two diverge most on good for first-time owners, good with other dogs and shedding and 3 other rated axes. They are level on barking, cost level and exercise need, 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.
Considerably - a Chow can weigh 5 to 10 times what a Havanese weighs, 45-70 lbs vs 7-13 lbs, and stands close to a foot taller at the shoulder.
The Chow, by a clear margin - it rates high (4/5) for shedding against the Havanese's low (2/5), even though the Havanese needs slightly more frequent grooming sessions for its coat type.
The Havanese is (very high, 5/5); the Chow is not (low, 2/5). The Chow's independent, reserved streak makes it a harder dog to train without prior experience.
Both do reasonably well on paper (Chow 4/5, Havanese 5/5), but the Havanese struggles far more with being left alone (1/5 vs the Chow's 3/5), which matters more in a small space than square footage does.
The Havanese, at $80-$160 a month against the Chow's $120-$250, and $1,200-$2,300 vs $1,600-$3,000 in the first year.
Yes - both appear on lists for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cataracts. The Chow adds entropion, glaucoma, bloat and diabetes; the Havanese adds patellar luxation, deafness and liver shunts.
The Havanese, typically 13-16 years against the Chow's 9-15.
For most households, the Havanese - it trains more easily (4/5 vs 2/5), gets along with other dogs and strangers, and needs less experience to raise well. The Chow suits someone specifically wanting an independent, low-key dog and willing to work with a stubborn streak.
$120-$250 for a Chow Chow, $80-$160 for a Havanese - the Chow's heavier coat and higher food volume push its bills up.
Very little from either - both rate low (2/5) for exercise need. The Havanese carries slightly more everyday energy (3/5) that shows up as indoor zoomies rather than a need for long walks.
The Havanese, typically 13-16 years, compared to 9-15 years for the Chow Chow - a gap of up to several years.
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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