Irish Terrier vs Havanese
Compare Irish Terrier and Havanese side by side and get a clear picture of what sets the breeds apart. Explore differences in size, weight, temperament, activity level, and other key traits to more easily decide which breed best fits your lifestyle and circumstances.
Characteristic
Irish Terrier
Havanese
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
44 – 50 cm
23 – 27 cm
Weight
11 – 15 kg
4 – 8 kg
Life expectancy
13 – 15 years
14 – 17 years
Child friendly
5/5
3/5
Energy level
4/5
2/5
Intelligence
4/5
3/5
Trainability
2/5
4/5
Health
4/5
4/5
Grooming needs
3/5
5/5
Shedding
1/5
1/5
Barking level
4/5
3/5
Aggressiveness
3/5
1/5
Characteristics
Irish Terrier
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Stubborn
Medium
Havanese
Easy to train
Small
Summary
About Irish Terrier
Medium, athletic terrier with a wiry red coat, low shedding when properly groomed. Intelligent, energetic, and independent, needing daily exercise and mental stimulation. Deeply loyal and people‑oriented, a keen watchdog, with strong prey drive and sometimes challenging with other dogs.
About Havanese
The Havanese is Cuba’s national toy breed, a sturdy, lively companion with a long, silky, low‑shedding coat. Affectionate and people‑oriented, it suits families, apartments or houses. It needs regular grooming, daily walks, play, mental stimulation, and dislikes long periods alone.
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