Havanese vs Lhasa Apso
Side by side
Havanese
Lhasa Apso
Adult weight
3.2–5.9 kg (7–13 lb) (breed club figure)1
5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (estimated: the AKC breed page's 12-18 lb, one range for both sexes)
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes3
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Exercise
A modest amount
Class
Lap dog
Companion
Which suits you
Size
The Lhasa Apso is larger on average: about 6.8 kg (15 lb) as an adult, against 4.6 kg (10 lb) for the Havanese.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Havanese sheds through the year, the Lhasa Apso moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Havanese: keen to work with you; Lhasa Apso: decides for itself) and on affection (Havanese: a lap or leaning dog; Lhasa Apso: affectionate on its own terms).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
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.
Lhasa Apso
Companion & toy · Small
In temperament the Lhasa is confident and self-possessed, and quick to warn of anything unfamiliar.
Breed traits
Day to day
Havanese
Lhasa Apso
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Havanese
Lhasa Apso
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Decides for itself
Around the home
Havanese
Lhasa Apso
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The Lhasa Apso grows to the heavier adult, about 6.8 kg against the Havanese's 4.6 kg. The Lhasa Apso's weight is not a published figure.
Havanese
Lhasa Apso
More comparisons
Compare the Havanese with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Havanese breed page. ↑
- 2
- 3Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 4
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- 8Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 9Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 10American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 11
Parts of this page were written by AI ·