Havanese vs Weimaraner: Which Suits Your Home?

Havanese or Weimaraner? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Weimaraner is the heavier at 55–90 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Havanese and Weimaraner 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 Weimaraner, 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 weimaraner if...

Choose Weimaraner if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine and you want a dog that is more watchful with visitors.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	havanese	weimaraner	Winner
Size class	small	large	Equal
Weight	7–13 lbs	55–90 lbs	Equal
Height	8–11 in	23–27 in	Equal
Lifespan	13–16 years	10–13 years	havanese
Exercise need	Low (2/5)	Very high (5/5)	havanese
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Very low (1/5)	weimaraner
Shedding	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Energy level	Moderate (3/5)	Very high (5/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
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)	High (4/5)	Equal
Good with kids	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Good with other dogs	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	havanese
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	havanese
Cost level	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	weimaraner
Coat	Long, silky	Short and sleek	Equal
Origin	Cuba	Various	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$80–$160	$110–$240	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,200–$2,300	$1,700–$3,200	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

Line them up and the Weimaraner looks like it belongs to a different species. At 55-90 lbs and 23-27 inches, it dwarfs the 7-13 lb, 8-11 inch Havanese -- a weight difference that can run past 80 lbs at the top end. The Weimaraner's short, sleek coat and lean frame read as pure working gundog; the Havanese's long, silky coat reads as pure companion.

Energy and exercise

The Weimaraner rates 5 out of 5 for both exercise need and energy level -- a dog built for full days afield, not a stroll around the block. The Havanese sits at 2 out of 5 for exercise and 3 out of 5 for energy, content with short walks and indoor play. An under-exercised Weimaraner is a genuinely difficult housemate; an under-exercised Havanese is just a bit restless.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming runs opposite to what the coats suggest at a glance: the Havanese's long hair rates 4 out of 5 for grooming need, while the Weimaraner's short coat rates a minimal 1 out of 5. Shedding is tied at 2 out of 5 for both, low for each. If brushing and trims aren't your thing, the Weimaraner is far less upkeep despite being the bigger dog.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

Barking is tied at moderate, 3 out of 5, for both breeds. Apartment suitability is not: the Havanese rates 5 out of 5, the Weimaraner just 1 out of 5, a direct consequence of its exercise load. Both breeds share a 1 out of 5 rating for tolerating time alone -- the Weimaraner in particular attaches hard to its people, and separation anxiety is listed on its health profile, not just as a behavioral note.

Training and owner experience

Trainability is tied at 4 out of 5 for both breeds -- each learns readily. Where they split is first-time-owner suitability: the Havanese rates 5 out of 5, the Weimaraner 2 out of 5. A Weimaraner's combination of size, drive, and a headstrong streak asks for an owner who's handled a strong dog before.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

With kids, both breeds rate 4 out of 5. The Havanese pulls ahead with other dogs, 5 out of 5 versus the Weimaraner's 3 out of 5, and with strangers, 4 out of 5 versus 3 out of 5. The Weimaraner tends to be more selectively social -- devoted to its own household rather than instantly warm to every new dog or face.

Health and lifespan

The Havanese's 13-to-16-year lifespan runs well past the Weimaraner's 10-to-13. Hip dysplasia is the one condition both lists share. Past that they don't overlap: the Weimaraner's risks include bloat, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, and von Willebrand disease, all more serious large-breed concerns, while the Havanese's list runs to eyes, thyroid, and allergies.

Cost to keep

The Weimaraner costs more in every dollar figure given -- $110-$240 a month and $1,700-$3,200 in year one, against the Havanese's $80-$160 and $1,200-$2,300. Yet the overall cost rating still favors the Havanese as costlier, 4 out of 5 versus 3 out of 5, which points to grooming bills mattering as much as raw food and vet spend in that score.

Havanese vs Weimaraner at a glance

Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years; Weimaraner weighs 55–90 lbs and lives 10–13 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, exercise need and grooming need and 3 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, barking and good with kids, 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

How much bigger is the Weimaraner?

Considerably -- 55 to 90 lbs versus the Havanese's 7 to 13 lbs, and 23 to 27 inches tall against 8 to 11 inches. It's not a close comparison in size.

Which sheds more?

Neither, on paper -- both are rated 2 out of 5, low shedders. The Weimaraner's short coat also needs almost no grooming, 1 out of 5, while the Havanese's long coat needs regular attention, 4 out of 5.

Is the Weimaraner right for a first-time owner?

Not really -- it rates 2 out of 5 for first-time owners against the Havanese's 5 out of 5. Its size and very high exercise need call for someone who already knows how to manage a strong, driven dog.

Does either do well in an apartment?

The Havanese does, rated 5 out of 5. The Weimaraner rates 1 out of 5 -- its 5-out-of-5 exercise need just doesn't fit small indoor spaces.

What's the cost difference?

The Weimaraner runs $110-$240 monthly and $1,700-$3,200 in year one; the Havanese runs $80-$160 and $1,200-$2,300. The Havanese still rates as the pricier breed overall once grooming is factored in.

Do they share health risks?

Only hip dysplasia overlaps between the two lists. The Weimaraner's remaining risks -- bloat, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, von Willebrand disease -- are distinct large-breed issues the Havanese doesn't share.

Which handles alone time worse?

Both score the lowest possible 1 out of 5 for tolerating being alone, and separation anxiety is explicitly listed as a Weimaraner health concern. Neither breed suits an owner gone all day.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which fits a smaller home better?

The Havanese by a wide margin -- 5 out of 5 for apartment suitability against the Weimaraner's 1 out of 5.

Costs

What's the first-year cost gap?

Roughly $500 to $900 more for the Weimaraner: $1,700-$3,200 versus the Havanese's $1,200-$2,300.

Training

Which is easier to train?

They're tied at 4 out of 5 for trainability -- the harder question here is exercise and space, not trainability.

Health

Which breed lives longer?

The Havanese, 13 to 16 years against the Weimaraner's 10 to 13 -- a gap of roughly 3 years.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Havanese breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Havanese before deciding.
Weimaraner breed guide – The same for Weimaraner, 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.
Weimaraner vs German Wirehaired Pointer – German Wirehaired Pointer sits closest to Weimaraner, 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.
Weimaraner health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

Cost

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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