Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Havanese: Introduction
- Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese: Overview
- Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese
- The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese
- Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese
- Temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Havanese
- Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Havanese
- Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Havanese
- The Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Havanese
- Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Havanese
- Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese
- Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Havaneses?
- Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Havanese?
- Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Havaneses Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Havaneses Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?
- Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Havanese?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Havaneses?
- Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Havanese
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Havaneses?
- How Kid-friendly are Flat-Coated Retrievers and Havaneses?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Havanese
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese. Which One is a Better Pet?
Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Havanese: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese
Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese: Overview
A very important difference between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Havanese is a small-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Flat-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.
Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Flat-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 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Havanese |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Height | 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder | 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 55 to 70 pounds | 7 to 13 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $1350 | $2180 |
| Price Range | $1150 – $1800 | $1700 – $2750 |
| Temperament Score | 92.0 percent | 81.8 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 94 | 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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese
Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are most different:
The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese
The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese.
Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Havanese
The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Havanese.
This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 11 Havaneses.
Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Havanese
The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Havanese puppy is $2180. The price of the Havanese typically ranges from $1700 – $2750. However, the price of a Havanese can be as low as $600 and as high as $4550. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 647 Havanese puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Havanese is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.
| Flat-Coated Retriever | Havanese | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1350 | $2180 |
| Price Range | $1150 to $1800 | $1700 to $2750 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and Havanese. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many Havanese puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Havaneses
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy or the Havanese puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Havanese
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Havaneses are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Flat-Coated Retriever named Clarence that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Clarence on pefinder.com.
Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Havaneses are also available for adoption. For example, Harley is a Male Havanese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Havaneses like Harley that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Kaluha is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also Ted In Norcal – Applications Closed, an adorable Male Havanese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Havaneses that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Popularity of Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever
Popularity of Havanese
| Year | Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank | Havanese Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 94 | 25 |
| 2014 | 92 | 25 |
| 2015 | 86 | 24 |
| 2016 | 89 | 23 |
| 2017 | 96 | 23 |
| 2018 | 91 | 24 |
| 2019 | 104 | 22 |
| 2020 | 102 | 24 |
Health Problems of Flat-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 Flat-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 Havanese is prone to more genetic health problems than the Flat-Coated Retriever.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Havanese than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.
3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 4 tests are recommended for the Havanese.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in Havaneses.
Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems
Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retrievers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Havaneses here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
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:
The table below lists the common health problems in Flat-Coated Retriever and in Havanese and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese:
| Disease | Flat-Coated Retriever Rank | Havanese Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid problems | 28 out of 115 dog breeds | 20 out of 115 dog breeds |
| Patella problems | 85 out of 145 dog breeds | 59 out of 145 dog breeds |
| Elbow problems | 129 out of 144 dog breeds | 55 out of 144 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 129 out of 182 dog breeds | 111 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Hips problems | 172 out of 198 dog breeds | 123 out of 198 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 |
| Advanced Cardiac problems | Not Common | 38 out of 71 dog breeds |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | Not Common | 70 out of 159 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Havanese?
Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Havaneses adapt very well to apartment living.
Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Havanese
Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.
Havaneses do not like to be left alone.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Havaneses are very good for new dog owners.
Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese
Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Havaneses do have a very low tendency to drool.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Havaneses?
Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.
Havaneses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Havanese?
Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.
Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Havaneses Tolerate Cold Weather?
Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Havaneses can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Havaneses Tolerate Hot Weather?
Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.
Havaneses can tolerate hot weather.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.
Havaneses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Havanese?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.
Havaneses are very easy to train.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Havaneses?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Havaneses are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Havanese
Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Havaneses?
Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retrievers and Havaneses?
Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Havaneses get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Havanese?
Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.
Havaneses get along very well with other dogs.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Havanese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Havanese to other breeds:
Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds
Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Bulldog Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter Flat-Coated Retriever versus Giant Schnauzer Flat-Coated Retriever versus Papillon Flat-Coated Retriever versus King Shepherd Flat-Coated Retriever versus Morkie Flat-Coated Retriever versus Yorkipoo Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Bernard Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Staffordshire Terrier Flat-Coated Retriever versus Siberian Husky
Havanese Versus Other Dog Breeds
Havanese versus Boston Terrier Havanese versus Clumber Spaniel Havanese versus Dogo Argentino Havanese versus Shetland Sheepdog Havanese versus Akita Chow Havanese versus Sussex Spaniel Havanese versus Norfolk Terrier Havanese versus Maltese Havanese versus Miniature Pinscher Havanese versus Morkie
Conclusion: Flat-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Havanese better suits you and your family.