Havanese vs Vizsla: Which Suits Your Home?

Havanese or Vizsla? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Vizsla is the heavier at 45–65 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Havanese and Vizsla and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and exercise 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. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.

Quick verdict

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

Choose havanese if...

Choose Havanese if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and your walking routine is modest.

Choose vizsla if...

Choose Vizsla if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, there are young children at home and you want a dog that picks up training quickly.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	havanese	vizsla	Winner
Size class	small	medium	Equal
Weight	7–13 lbs	45–65 lbs	Equal
Height	8–11 in	21–24 in	Equal
Lifespan	13–16 years	10–14 years	havanese
Exercise need	Low (2/5)	Very high (5/5)	havanese
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Very low (1/5)	vizsla
Shedding	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Energy level	Moderate (3/5)	Very high (5/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Low (2/5)	vizsla
Apartment suitability	Very high (5/5)	Very low (1/5)	havanese
Good for first-time owners	Very high (5/5)	Low (2/5)	havanese
Tolerates being alone	Very low (1/5)	Very low (1/5)	Equal
Trainability	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	vizsla
Good with kids	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	vizsla
Good with other dogs	Very high (5/5)	High (4/5)	havanese
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	havanese
Cost level	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	vizsla
Coat	Long, silky	Short, dense, rust-colored	Equal
Origin	Cuba	Hungary	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$80–$160	$100–$200	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,200–$2,300	$1,500–$2,800	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

A Havanese tops out around 13 lbs and stands 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder. A Vizsla can weigh 45 to 65 lbs and reach 21 to 24 inches -- a size gap of roughly 4 to 5 times the body weight. Havanese are true lap-dog scale; Vizslas are built like lean, athletic pointers, all muscle and long legs, closer to a small Labrador in mass than to a toy breed.

Energy and exercise

This is the sharpest divide in the whole comparison. Havanese exercise need sits at a 2 out of 5, and overall energy is moderate -- a couple of short walks and some living-room play covers it. Vizslas score a full 5 out of 5 on both exercise need and energy level; they were bred to run alongside hunters all day, and a bored Vizsla in a small space gets destructive fast.

Grooming and shedding

Both breeds are light shedders, rated 2 out of 5. But grooming effort diverges hard: the Havanese's long, silky coat rates 4 out of 5 for grooming need and typically wants regular brushing and trims. The Vizsla's short, dense coat rates just 1 out of 5 -- a weekly wipe-down is close to the whole routine.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

Havanese apartment suitability is rated 5 out of 5, the ceiling score, with moderate barking at 3 out of 5. Vizslas rate 1 out of 5 for apartment life -- that exercise need doesn't fit a small floor plan. Neither breed handles solitude well: both score a rock-bottom 1 out of 5 for tolerating time alone, so don't leave either one alone all day.

Training and owner experience

Havanese trainability rates high at 4 out of 5, and the breed is rated 5 out of 5 for first-time owners -- about as forgiving as it gets. Vizslas actually score higher on trainability, a 5 out of 5, but their first-time-owner rating drops to 2 out of 5. That gap is about intensity, not intelligence: a Vizsla learns fast but needs an owner who can match its drive.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

Vizslas edge ahead with kids at 5 out of 5 versus the Havanese's still-solid 4 out of 5, and they're rated 4 out of 5 with other dogs against the Havanese's 5 out of 5. With strangers the Havanese is friendlier at 4 out of 5 to the Vizsla's more reserved 3 out of 5 -- Vizslas tend to bond tightly to their own household rather than everyone who walks in.

Health and lifespan

The Havanese's projected 13 to 16 years beats the Vizsla's 10 to 14 by a meaningful margin. Both breeds share hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and ear infections on their health lists. The Vizsla's list is heavier on serious disease, though -- hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and cancer all appear, alongside epilepsy, where the Havanese's risks skew toward eyes, joints, and allergies instead.

Cost to keep

In raw dollars the Vizsla runs higher: $100-$200 a month and $1,500-$2,800 in year one, against the Havanese's $80-$160 and $1,200-$2,300. Yet the Havanese carries the higher overall cost rating, 4 out of 5 versus 3 out of 5 -- that's the grooming bill talking. Budget for professional trims with the Havanese and for food volume with the larger Vizsla.

Havanese vs Vizsla at a glance

Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years; Vizsla weighs 45–65 lbs and lives 10–14 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, exercise need and grooming need and 2 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone and shedding, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.

Frequently asked questions

Which breed is bigger?

The Vizsla, by a wide margin -- 45 to 65 lbs and 21 to 24 inches tall, versus the Havanese's 7 to 13 lbs and 8 to 11 inches. A grown Vizsla can outweigh a Havanese by 50 lbs or more.

Which sheds less?

They're tied on paper, both rated 2 out of 5 for shedding. The difference shows up in grooming labor instead -- the Havanese's long coat needs regular brushing and trimming, while the Vizsla's short coat needs almost none.

Is either good for a first-time owner?

The Havanese, clearly -- it rates 5 out of 5 for first-time owners against the Vizsla's 2 out of 5. The Vizsla is smart and trains well but its exercise demands and attachment to its people can overwhelm a new owner.

Can either live in an apartment?

The Havanese can -- it rates a full 5 out of 5 for apartment suitability. The Vizsla rates 1 out of 5; its very high exercise need needs a yard or serious daily mileage most apartments can't supply.

What will each cost me?

Expect $80-$160 a month for a Havanese and $100-$200 for a Vizsla, with first-year totals of $1,200-$2,300 and $1,500-$2,800 respectively. The Havanese's grooming needs push its overall cost rating above the Vizsla's despite the lower dollar range.

Do they share any health risks?

Yes -- hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and ear infections show up on both lists. Beyond that they diverge: the Havanese's remaining risks are mostly eyes and joints, while the Vizsla's include several cancers and epilepsy.

Which handles being left alone better?

Neither, really -- both score a bottom-of-scale 1 out of 5 for tolerating time alone. A Havanese left alone tends toward anxious clinginess; a Vizsla left alone tends to get destructive from pent-up energy. Long solo days are a bad fit for either.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which is the better all-around choice?

Depends on your space and schedule -- the Havanese fits apartment life and new owners, while the Vizsla needs room to run and an experienced, active household.

Costs

What's the monthly cost difference?

Havanese run $80-$160 a month, Vizslas $100-$200 -- close, but the Vizsla trends higher due to food volume for its larger frame.

Behavior

How much exercise does each need?

Havanese need is low, 2 out of 5. Vizsla need is very high, 5 out of 5 -- essentially opposite ends of the scale.

Health

Which breed tends to live longer?

The Havanese, at 13 to 16 years versus the Vizsla's 10 to 14 years -- a gap of about 2 to 3 years typical for small versus larger breeds.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Havanese breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Havanese before deciding.
Vizsla breed guide – The same for Vizsla, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Havanese vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the closest breed to Havanese on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
Vizsla vs German Shorthaired Pointer – German Shorthaired Pointer sits closest to Vizsla, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
What Havanese costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
Vizsla health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

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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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