A Detailed Comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Havanese

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Havanese: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Havanese. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Havanese

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Havanese: Overview

A very important difference between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Havanese is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Havanese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Havanese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Havanese based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Havanese
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 7 to 13 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $1700 – $2750
Average Price No Data $2180
Temperament Score 91.7 percent 81.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 162 23

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Havanese. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Havanese is 91 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Havanese is a better pet than the Curly-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Havanese!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Havaneses adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are very easy to train.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Havanese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Havaneses weigh 7 to 13 pounds when fully grown. Havaneses are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Havanese Versus the Curly-Coated Retriever

    The Curly-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Havanese.

    This is because the temperament score for the Curly-Coated Retriever is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Havanese is 81.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 91.7 percent, the Curly-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 81.8 percent, the Havanese has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese by measuring the temperaments of 181 Curly-Coated Retrievers and 11 Havaneses.

    The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Havanese

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Havanese is more popular with dog owners than the Curly-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Havanese is 23 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Havanese

    Popularity of Havanese

    Year Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Havanese Popularity Rank
    2013 163 25
    2014 163 25
    2015 151 24
    2016 164 23
    2017 171 23
    2018 162 24
    2019 163 22
    2020 159 24

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Havanese

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Havanese.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Havanese.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 4 tests are recommended for the Havanese.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Havaneses.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.

    Havanese Health Problems

    Havaneses are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Havanese puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Havanese puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Havanese breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Havaneses for:

  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Havaneses here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and Havaneses

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Curly-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Curly-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 10 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 24 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 73 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 84 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 136 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Havanese Breed is Dentition Database problems.

    This is because the Havanese ranks 3 out of 49 dog breeds for Dentition Database problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 371 Havaneses, 106 of them had Dentition Database problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Havaneses, and how common these diseases are in Havaneses relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 3 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 18 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 20 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 38 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 55 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 59 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 70 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 111 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 123 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Curly-Coated Retriever and in Havanese and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese:

    Disease Curly-Coated Retriever Rank Havanese Rank
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems 1 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 10 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 24 out of 159 dog breeds 70 out of 159 dog breeds
    Hips problems 73 out of 198 dog breeds 123 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 84 out of 182 dog breeds 111 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 136 out of 144 dog breeds 55 out of 144 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 3 out of 49 dog breeds
    Baer Hearing Test problems Not Common 18 out of 21 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 20 out of 115 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 38 out of 71 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 59 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Havanese?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Havaneses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Havanese

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Havaneses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Havaneses are very good for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Havanese

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Havaneses do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Havaneses?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Havaneses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Havaneses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Havaneses?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Havaneses are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Havaneses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Havaneses can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Havaneses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Havaneses can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Havaneses get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Havanese?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Havaneses are very easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Havanese

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Havaneses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Havaneses?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Havaneses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Havaneses?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Havaneses get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Havanese?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Havaneses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Havanese vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Havanese vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Havanese vs Irish Setter.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Havanese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Havanese that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Havanese:

  • Bichon Frise (86 percent match with Havanese). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Bichon Frise.
  • Cavachon (84 percent match with Havanese). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Cavachon.
  • Bich Poo (85 percent match with Havanese). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Bich Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Havanese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Havanese to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Chow Chow     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwich Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Redbone Coonhound     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Berger Picard     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Irish Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Brussels Griffon     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Bearded Collie     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute     

    Havanese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Havanese versus Finnish Spitz     Havanese versus Akita Chow     Havanese versus Korean Jindo Dog     Havanese versus Pekingese     Havanese versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Havanese versus Cocker Spaniel     Havanese versus Chinese Crested     Havanese versus Miniature Schnauzer     Havanese versus Bracco Italiano     Havanese versus Gordon Setter     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Havanese. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Havanese better suits you and your family.