Havanese vs Pekingese
Compare the Havanese to the Pekingese. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Havanese and Pekingese.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both the Havanese and Pekingese are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
- Children - The Havanese is very child friendly. The Pekingese does okay around kids, but is not as tolerant as the Havanese.
- Grooming - Both breeds have high grooming requirements, but the Havanese is slightly easier to groom between the two.
- Barking - The Pekingese bark/howls frequently. The Havanese has an average level of barking.
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| Breed Name | Havanese | Pekingese |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | Yes | No |
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 8-11 in. | 6-9 in. |
| Weight | 7-13 lb | 7-14 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Cuba | China |
| Origin Year | 1800 AD | 20 BC |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | No |
| Medium Yard | No | No |
| Large Yard | No | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 50°F to 75°F | 55°F to 75°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | Low-Medium |
| Exercise Required | Medium | Low |
| Top Running Speed | 12 mph | 12 mph |
| Strength | Low | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium | Medium |
| Shedding | None-Low | High |
| Dander | Low | Medium |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Havanese | Pekingese |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | Yes |
| Family/Pack | Yes | No |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Below Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Very Low |
| Guarding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Herding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Hunting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Watch | Very Low | Average |
| Breed Name | Havanese | Pekingese |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Brachycephalic Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Cataracts | Yes | Yes |
| Chondrodysplasia | Yes | No |
| Cleft Palate | No | Yes |
| Cryptorchidism | No | Yes |
| Deafness | Yes | No |
| Distichiasis | No | Yes |
| Ectopic Cilia | No | Yes |
| Ectopic Cilia | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Entropion | No | Yes |
| Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Heart Murmurs | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Hydrocephalus | No | Yes |
| Intervertebral Disk Disease | No | Yes |
| Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca | No | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | Yes | No |
| Mitral Valve Disease | Yes | Yes |
| Patellar Luxation | Yes | Yes |
| Portosystemic Liver Shunt | Yes | No |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Havanese | Pekingese |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Silky | Yes | No |
| Wavy | Yes | Yes |
| Straight | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Long | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Black & Silver | Yes | No |
| Black & Silver Brindle | Yes | No |
| Black & Tan | Yes | Yes |
| Black & Tan Brindle | Yes | No |
| Black Brindle | Yes | No |
| Blue | Yes | No |
| Blue Brindle | Yes | No |
| Chocolate | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Brindle | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Sable | Yes | No |
| Cream | Yes | Yes |
| Fawn | Yes | Yes |
| Fawn Brindle | Yes | Yes |
| Fawn Sable | Yes | Yes |
| Gold | Yes | No |
| Gold Brindle | Yes | No |
| Gold Sable | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | No |
| Red Brindle | Yes | Yes |
| Red Sable | Yes | Yes |
| Silver | Yes | No |
| Silver Brindle | Yes | No |
| Silver Sable | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | Yes |
| Biscuit | No | Yes |
| Gray | No | Yes |
| Gray Sable | No | Yes |
| Light Red | No | Yes |