Great Dane or Havanese? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Great Dane is the heavier at 110–175 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Great Dane and Havanese and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and grooming 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.
Between Great Dane and Havanese, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Havanese is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Great Dane if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, there are young children at home and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
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.
| Feature | great dane | havanese | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | giant | small | Equal |
| Weight | 110–175 lbs | 7–13 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 28–34 in | 8–11 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 7–10 years | 13–16 years | havanese |
| Exercise need | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | havanese |
| Grooming need | Very low (1/5) | High (4/5) | great dane |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | havanese |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | great dane |
| 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) | great dane |
| Trainability | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | great dane |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | havanese |
| Friendly to strangers | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Cost level | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | havanese |
| Coat | Short, smooth | Long, silky | Equal |
| Origin | Germany | Cuba | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $200–$400 | $80–$160 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $3,000–$5,000 | $1,200–$2,300 | Equal |
A Great Dane runs 110 to 175 pounds and stands 28 to 34 inches at the shoulder. A Havanese tops out around 13 pounds and 11 inches. That's not a size difference so much as a different animal category -- a full-grown Havanese could nap in the crook of a Dane's front leg. Anyone weighing these two side by side is really asking whether they want a dog they can carry or one that could rest its chin on the kitchen counter.
Neither breed is a marathon partner. The Great Dane sits at moderate (3/5) exercise need -- long walks and yard time, not miles of running, since its joints and heart don't love hard pounding. The Havanese lands at low (2/5), happy with shorter walks and play sessions indoors. Both breeds are calmer than their size, or lack of it, might suggest, so this comparison won't turn on who needs the bigger yard.
This is where the two flip expectations. The Dane's short coat needs almost nothing -- grooming is rated very low (1/5) -- but it still sheds at a moderate (3/5) clip year-round. The Havanese is the opposite problem: long, silky hair rated high (4/5) for grooming demands, brushing several times a week to avoid mats, yet it only sheds at a low (2/5) level. Low-maintenance coat versus low-shedding coat are two different promises here.
The Havanese is built for apartment life, rated very high (5/5) for apartment suitability against the Dane's very low (1/5). But don't assume the small dog handles solo time better -- the Havanese actually scores worse tolerating being alone, at very low (1/5) versus the Dane's low (2/5), and it barks more too, moderate (3/5) against the Dane's low (2/5). A Havanese left alone in a quiet building can cause more noise complaints than the giant next door.
First-time owners fare very differently here: the Havanese rates very high (5/5) for beginners, the Great Dane low (2/5). Trainability tells a similar story -- high (4/5) for the Havanese against moderate (3/5) for the Dane. None of that means the Dane is hard to train; it's more that a 150-pound dog who hasn't learned manners is a bigger problem than a 10-pound one who hasn't.
With kids, the Dane edges ahead at very high (5/5) versus the Havanese's high (4/5) -- its patience is the trait most owners mention. The Havanese pulls ahead with other dogs, very high (5/5) versus high (4/5), and with strangers, high (4/5) versus moderate (3/5). Both are companionable breeds; the difference is more about who greets guests and who tolerates a toddler's grip.
The lifespan gap is the headline number: 7 to 10 years for the Great Dane against 13 to 16 for the Havanese, close to double. Both breeds carry some risk of hip and elbow dysplasia, but the Dane's list is otherwise a giant-breed roster -- bloat, dilated cardiomyopathy, Wobbler syndrome, bone cancer -- while the Havanese's leans toward smaller-dog issues like patellar luxation, cataracts, and allergies.
The Dane costs more on paper -- $200 to $400 a month and $3,000 to $5,000 in year one, against $80 to $160 a month and $1,200 to $2,300 for the Havanese -- driven mostly by food volume and larger-dose vet care. Both land in the upper cost brackets overall, so the Havanese's grooming bills and frequent small vet visits keep it from being a truly cheap dog to own.
Great Dane weighs 110–175 lbs and lives 7–10 years; Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, grooming need and good for first-time owners. Almost every rated axis separates them at least slightly. 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.
A lot -- a Great Dane can weigh 110 to 175 pounds and stand up to 34 inches tall, while a full-grown Havanese tops out around 13 pounds and 11 inches. You're comparing a giant breed to a small one, with nothing in between.
The Havanese, rated low (2/5) for shedding against the Dane's moderate (3/5). It still needs regular brushing to prevent mats, even though the hair it drops is minimal.
The Havanese is, rated very high (5/5) for first-time owners. The Great Dane rates low (2/5) -- not because it's aggressive, but because its size and moderate trainability mean mistakes are harder to manage.
The Havanese, rated very high (5/5) for apartment suitability against the Dane's very low (1/5). Just budget for more attention during the day, since the Havanese also tolerates being alone worse than the Dane does.
The Great Dane, by a wide margin -- $200 to $400 a month versus $80 to $160 for the Havanese, and roughly double the first-year cost. Food volume alone accounts for much of the gap.
Some. Both breeds carry a risk of hip and elbow dysplasia. Beyond that, their health profiles diverge sharply -- the Dane's risks are giant-breed problems like bloat and Wobbler syndrome, while the Havanese's are smaller-dog issues like patellar luxation and allergies.
The Havanese, by a wide margin -- 13 to 16 years compared with 7 to 10 for the Great Dane.
For most households, the Havanese is the easier all-around choice -- better with apartments, first-time owners, and longevity. The Dane wins if you have the space and specifically want a giant, gentle family dog.
The Great Dane, at $200-$400 versus $80-$160 for the Havanese.
The Great Dane, rated moderate (3/5) against the Havanese's low (2/5), though neither is a high-energy breed.
The Great Dane averages 7 to 10 years; the Havanese averages 13 to 16 years -- a substantial gap driven by size.
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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