Bichon Frise vs Havanese

A Bichon Frise
Photo: Heike Andres
A Havanese
Photo: J.Castro

Side by side

Bichon Frise
Havanese
Adult weight
5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (breed club figure)1
3.2–5.9 kg (7–13 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 24.1–29.2 cm; females 24.1–29.2 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.5 years3
Median 14.5 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Companion & toy5
Companion & toy6
Coat
Curly coat5
Long coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Daily brushing
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Cushing's syndrome (much more likely); Torn cruciate ligament in one knee (more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Lap dog
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Bichon Frise is larger on average: about 6.8 kg (15 lb) as an adult, against 4.6 kg (10 lb) for the Havanese.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Havanese lives longer: a median of 14.5 years, against 12.5 for the Bichon Frise.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Bichon Frise holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Havanese sheds through the year.
Grooming
The Havanese needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Bichon Frise needs brushing a few times a week.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Bichon Frise: friendly with everyone; Havanese: sticks close to its people) and on independence (Bichon Frise: cooperative, with its own ideas; Havanese: keen to work with you).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Bichon Frise
Companion & toy · Small

In temperament the Bichon is cheerful, sociable and quick to learn, qualities that suited its years as a performer.

Havanese
Companion & toy · Toy

In temperament the Havanese is lively, playful and affectionate, and closely attached to its household. It learns quickly and readily picks up tricks, which may explain its old circus work.

The Bichon Frise page →The Havanese page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Bichon Frise
Havanese
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Bichon Frise
Havanese
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Bichon Frise
Havanese
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Bichon Frise grows to the heavier adult, about 6.8 kg against the Havanese's 4.6 kg.
Bichon Frise
Havanese
02.557.5102m4m6m9m12m18m
02.557.5102m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Bichon Frise with
Bichon Frise vs MalteseBichon Frise vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Toy PoodleHavanese vs MalteseHavanese vs Lhasa ApsoBichon Frise vs Shih TzuAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·