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Havanese vs Welsh Springer Spaniel: Which Suits Your Home?

Havanese or Welsh Springer Spaniel? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Welsh Springer Spaniel is the heavier at 35–55 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Havanese and Welsh Springer Spaniel 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 2/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.

Quick verdict

Between Havanese and Welsh Springer Spaniel, 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 shedding is a problem in your house.

Choose welsh springer spaniel if...

Choose Welsh Springer Spaniel 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	welsh springer spaniel	Winner
Size class	small	medium	Equal
Weight	7–13 lbs	35–55 lbs	Equal
Height	8–11 in	17–19 in	Equal
Lifespan	13–16 years	12–15 years	havanese
Exercise need	Low (2/5)	High (4/5)	havanese
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	welsh springer spaniel
Shedding	Low (2/5)	Moderate (3/5)	havanese
Energy level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Apartment suitability	Very high (5/5)	Low (2/5)	havanese
Good for first-time owners	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	havanese
Tolerates being alone	Very low (1/5)	Low (2/5)	welsh springer spaniel
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)	High (4/5)	havanese
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	havanese
Cost level	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	welsh springer spaniel
Coat	Long, silky	Medium, straight and water-resistant	Equal
Origin	Cuba	Various	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$80–$160	$100–$200	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,200–$2,300	$1,400–$2,900	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

The Welsh Springer Spaniel sits solidly in medium territory -- 35 to 55 lbs and 17 to 19 inches -- a step up from the Havanese's 7 to 13 lbs and 8 to 11 inches but nowhere near the largest sporting breeds. Its medium, water-resistant coat sheds a moderate 3 out of 5, versus the Havanese's low 2 out of 5 for its long silky coat.

Energy and exercise

The Welsh Springer rates 4 out of 5 for both exercise need and energy level, a field-bred dog that wants real daily activity. The Havanese rates 2 out of 5 for exercise and 3 out of 5 for energy -- a fraction of the workload. Not the extreme gap you'd see against a working retriever, but still a dog that needs more than a Havanese-length walk.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming actually favors the Welsh Springer slightly: it rates 3 out of 5 against the Havanese's 4 out of 5, despite the spaniel's longer, water-resistant coat. Shedding runs the other way -- 3 out of 5 for the Welsh Springer against 2 out of 5 for the Havanese. Expect more loose hair around the house with the spaniel, but somewhat less brushing time overall.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

Barking is tied at moderate, 3 out of 5, for both. Apartment suitability isn't close: the Havanese rates 5 out of 5, the Welsh Springer 2 out of 5, reflecting its higher exercise need. The Welsh Springer does edge out the Havanese on tolerating time alone, 2 out of 5 versus a rock-bottom 1 out of 5 -- still not good, but slightly less clingy.

Training and owner experience

Trainability ties at 4 out of 5 for both breeds. First-time-owner suitability doesn't: the Havanese rates 5 out of 5, the Welsh Springer a more middling 3 out of 5. A new owner can likely manage either, but the spaniel's exercise needs and its reserve around strangers ask for a bit more consistency in handling.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

Both breeds rate 4 out of 5 with kids. The Havanese has the edge with other dogs, 5 out of 5 against the Welsh Springer's 4 out of 5, and clearly with strangers, 4 out of 5 versus 3 out of 5 -- the spaniel's own temperament profile flags it as reserved with strangers, which the Havanese's outgoing nature doesn't share.

Health and lifespan

Lifespans sit fairly close -- 13 to 16 years for the Havanese, 12 to 15 for the Welsh Springer -- a smaller gap than in most of these comparisons. The two share three conditions: hip dysplasia, ear infections, and hypothyroidism. The Welsh Springer's list adds epilepsy and glaucoma, while the Havanese's remaining risks lean toward joints, allergies, and deafness.

Cost to keep

Both breeds carry a moderate-to-high cost profile: the Havanese rates 4 out of 5 overall against the Welsh Springer's 3 out of 5, though the spaniel's dollar figures run slightly higher -- $100-$200 monthly and $1,400-$2,900 in year one, versus the Havanese's $80-$160 and $1,200-$2,300.

Havanese vs Welsh Springer Spaniel at a glance

Havanese weighs 7–13 lbs and lives 13–16 years; Welsh Springer Spaniel weighs 35–55 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, exercise need and good for first-time owners. They are level on barking, good with kids and trainability, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.

Frequently asked questions

How different in size are they?

Meaningfully but not drastically -- the Welsh Springer runs 35 to 55 lbs and 17 to 19 inches, roughly three to four times the Havanese's 7 to 13 lbs and 8 to 11 inches.

Which sheds more?

The Welsh Springer, rated 3 out of 5 versus the Havanese's 2 out of 5. The Havanese needs more brushing time despite shedding less, since its coat is longer.

Is either good for a first-time owner?

The Havanese is the safer pick, rated 5 out of 5 to the Welsh Springer's 3 out of 5. The spaniel isn't a hard dog to raise, but its exercise needs and reserve with strangers ask a bit more of a new owner.

Does either fit an apartment?

The Havanese clearly does, at 5 out of 5. The Welsh Springer rates only 2 out of 5 -- its 4-out-of-5 exercise need is the limiting factor, not its size.

What does each cost?

The Havanese runs $80-$160 monthly and $1,200-$2,300 in year one. The Welsh Springer runs a bit more, $100-$200 and $1,400-$2,900, despite carrying a slightly lower overall cost rating.

Do their health risks overlap?

Yes, more than most pairings -- hip dysplasia, ear infections, and hypothyroidism appear on both lists. The Welsh Springer additionally carries epilepsy and glaucoma risk.

Which is friendlier with strangers?

The Havanese, rated 4 out of 5 against the Welsh Springer's 3 out of 5. The spaniel's temperament profile explicitly notes it as reserved with strangers, which tracks with the lower score.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which is the easier home fit?

The Havanese, for apartment living especially -- 5 out of 5 versus the Welsh Springer's 2 out of 5.

Costs

What should I budget monthly?

$80-$160 for a Havanese, $100-$200 for a Welsh Springer -- a modest but real gap.

Training

How much exercise does the Welsh Springer need?

High -- 4 out of 5 on both exercise need and energy level, well above the Havanese's 2 and 3.

Health

Which lives longer on average?

The Havanese, 13 to 16 years versus 12 to 15 for the Welsh Springer, though the gap is smaller than in most Havanese comparisons.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

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

Related guides

Guide

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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