Havanese vs Old English Sheepdog: Which Suits Your Home?

The Old English Sheepdog outweighs the Havanese by a wide margin — 60-100 lbs and 20-24 inches tall against 7-13 lbs and 8-11 inches — putting it solidly in the large-breed category while the Havanese stays small. It's not the extreme gap you'd see against a giant breed, but it's still a four-to-eightfold difference in weight.

The Havanese needs less exercise on paper — Low (2/5) against the Sheepdog's Moderate (3/5) — though both tie at Moderate (3/5) energy level, meaning both stay reasonably active indoors. An Old English Sheepdog's herding background means its "moderate" exercise need often shows up as a desire to patrol and shepherd family members around the house, not just physical activity.

This is a battle of high-maintenance coats. The Havanese rates High (4/5) for grooming; the Old English Sheepdog rates even higher at Very High (5/5), reflecting a dense shaggy double coat that mats quickly without regular brushing. Shedding follows the same pattern — Low (2/5) for the Havanese versus High (4/5) for the Sheepdog — so budget real time or real money for coat care either way.

Apartment suitability strongly favors the Havanese, Very High (5/5) against the Sheepdog's Low (2/5) — a dog built to herd sheep across open fields doesn't naturally settle into 700 square feet. Barking ties at Moderate (3/5) for both. Neither tolerates being alone especially well, though the Sheepdog's Low (2/5) edges out the Havanese's Very Low (1/5) by a single point.

The Havanese rates higher on both trainability (High 4/5 vs Moderate 3/5) and first-time-owner suitability (Very High 5/5 vs Low 2/5). The Sheepdog isn't hard to train exactly, but its size and herding instincts mean sessions need more structure and consistency than a first-timer might expect going in.

Kids favor the Old English Sheepdog at Very High (5/5) against the Havanese's High (4/5), matching its reputation as a gentle, playful family dog. The Havanese pulls back ahead with other dogs (Very High 5/5 vs High 4/5), and the two tie on friendliness to strangers at High (4/5) each, though the Sheepdog's watchful streak may make that friendliness take a beat longer to show.

The Havanese lives noticeably longer — 13-16 years against the Sheepdog's 10-12. Three conditions overlap between them: hip dysplasia, cataracts, and hypothyroidism, worth mentioning at vet checkups regardless of breed. The Sheepdog's list adds primary ciliary dyskinesia and bloat, the latter a real risk for deep-chested large breeds that the Havanese doesn't share.

Cost level ties at High (4/5) for both, but the dollar ranges tell a slightly different story: $80-160 monthly for the Havanese against $110-240 for the Sheepdog, and $1,200-2,300 versus $1,700-3,200 in year one. Grooming bills are the likely culprit — a Very High (5/5) grooming need for a dog this size adds up fast at a professional groomer.