Havanese vs Miniature Schnauzer: Which Suits Your Home?

Size numbers put these two closer together than most match-ups on this site, though the Miniature Schnauzer still runs heavier and taller — 11-20 lbs and 11-14 inches against the Havanese's 7-13 lbs and 8-11 inches. Neither will strain a leash, but if you want the smallest dog on the block, the Havanese wins by a few pounds.

The Miniature Schnauzer edges out the Havanese on exercise need (Moderate 3/5 vs Low 2/5), tracking with its terrier ancestry — it wants a job, or at least a brisk walk, more than the Havanese does. Energy level itself ties at Moderate (3/5) for both, so day to day they're similarly lively indoors; the real difference is how much outdoor activity each one needs to actually settle.

Grooming is a wash — both breeds score High (4/5), just for different reasons. The Havanese's long silky coat needs regular brushing to prevent tangles, while the Miniature Schnauzer's wiry double coat needs hand-stripping or clipping every few months. Shedding gives a slight edge to the Schnauzer at Very Low (1/5) against the Havanese's already-low 2/5, so allergy-conscious households will notice less hair specifically from the Schnauzer.

Both breeds score Very High (5/5) on apartment suitability, so square footage isn't the deciding factor. Barking is where they split: the Miniature Schnauzer rates High (4/5), a full point above the Havanese's Moderate (3/5), and its alert nature means it's quicker to sound off at hallway noise. Neither breed tolerates solo time well, but the Havanese's Very Low (1/5) rating is the more extreme of the two.

Trainability ties at High (4/5) for both breeds, and both are reasonable choices for a new owner, though the Havanese edges ahead at Very High (5/5) for first-timers versus the Schnauzer's High (4/5). The Schnauzer's terrier streak can mean more independent decision-making mid-session, which isn't a problem so much as a different flavor of stubborn-smart.

With kids, it's an even tie at High (4/5) for both. The Havanese pulls ahead everywhere else in this section — Very High (5/5) with other dogs against the Schnauzer's Moderate (3/5), and High (4/5) with strangers against Moderate (3/5). If your household includes a lot of other dogs or a steady stream of visitors, that gap is worth weighing.

These two share more health overlap than most pairs on this site: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, cataracts, and ear infections show up on both lists. The Havanese lives slightly longer on average — 13-16 years versus 12-14 — and the Schnauzer's list adds pancreatitis, diabetes, and kidney stones, worth discussing with a vet given the breed's tendency toward weight gain.

Cost level rates the Schnauzer slightly better (Moderate 3/5 vs the Havanese's High 4/5), though the dollar ranges are close enough to call a tie: $90-180 a month for the Schnauzer against $80-160 for the Havanese, and $1,300-2,500 versus $1,200-2,300 in year one.