Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier" Compare Havanese and Maltese. Which is better: Havanese or Maltese or West Highland White Terrier?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Havanese	Maltese	West Highland White Terrier
Origins	Cuba	Italy	Scotland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Companion Dogs	Companion Dogs	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	23	33	42
Reviews	5	2	1
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Other Names	Bichon Havanese, Bichon Habanero, Havanese Cuban Bichon, Bichon Havanais, Bichon Havanês, Havaneser, Havanezer	Maltese Dog, Maltese lion dog	Poltalloch Terrier, Roseneath Terrier, White Roseneath Terrier, Westie (or Westy)
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996 as a Toy breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 as a Toy breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Terrier breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Bichons and related breeds section.	Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Bichons and related breeds section.	Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Small sized Terriers section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club United Kennel Club Havanese Club of America	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Club Espanol De Terriers
Price	$900-$1200	$600-$800	$900-$1200

General Appearance - Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier

Size	Small	Small	Small
Weight	7-13 pounds (3-6 kg)	6.5-9 pounds (3-4 kg)	Male: 15-22 pounds (7-10 kg), Female: 13-16 pounds (6-7 kg)
Avg. Weight	10 pounds (4.5 kg)	6.7 pounds (3.5 kg)	Male: 18.5 pounds (8.5 kg), Female: 14.5 pounds (6.5 kg)
Height	8-11 inches (21-29 cm)	Male: 8-10 inches (21-25 cm), Female: 8-9 inches (20-23 cm)	Male: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm), Female: 9-11 inches (23-28 cm)
Avg. Height	10 inches (25 cm)	Male: 9 inches (23 cm), Female: 8.5 inches (21.5 cm)	Male: 11 inches (27.5 cm), Female: 10 inches (25.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier

Coat	Soft Wavy Woolly Flat Long	Feathered	Dense
Colors	Black Reddish-Brown Fawn White Havana Brown Tobacco	White	White
Grooming	Average: The Havanese requires average grooming effort.	Average: The Maltese requires average grooming effort.	Advanced: The West Highland White Terrier requires a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	Havaneses shed none to minimal.	Malteses shed none to minimal.	West Highland White Terriers shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier

Temperament	Affectionate Gentle Playful Companionable Intelligent Responsive Sturdy Lively Amiable Charming	Active Easygoing Intelligent Responsive Docile Gentle Playful Sweet Tempered	Affectionate Courageous Friendly Independent Alert Intelligent
Intelligent Rank	Average: Havanese's has average obedience intelligence.	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one.	Average: West Highland White Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Havaneses are very easy to train.	Malteses are quite easy to train.	West Highland White Terriers are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Havanese is a highly playful breed.	Malteses, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The West Highland White Terrier is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Havaneses are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Malteses are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	West Highland White Terriers are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	Havaneses need a lot of social interaction.	Malteses need a lot of social interaction.	West Highland White Terriers are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The Havanese rarely barks.	High: The Maltese is a very vocal breed.	High: The West Highland White Terrier is a very vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	Havaneses are good watchdogs.	Malteses are average watchdogs.	West Highland White Terriers are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Havaneses strongly protect their territory.	Malteses strongly protect their territory.	West Highland White Terriers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Havanese has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Maltese has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The West Highland White Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Havaneses have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Malteses have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	West Highland White Terriers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Havaneses tend to escape less than other breeds.	Malteses are not the biggest explorers.	West Highland White Terriers have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Havaneses have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Malteses have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	West Highland White Terriers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly	Havaneses are very apartment-friendly dogs.	Malteses are very apartment-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Havaneses adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Malteses adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	West Highland White Terriers adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Havaneses tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Malteses tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	West Highland White Terriers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier

Stranger Friendly	Havaneses are stranger friendly dogs.	Malteses are very stranger friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Havaneses are very kid-friendly dogs.	Malteses are kid-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Havaneses are very cat-friendly dogs.	Malteses are very cat-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Havaneses are very dog-friendly dogs.	Malteses are very dog-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Havanese is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Maltese is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No West Highland White Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Havaneses are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Malteses are usually recommended for elderly people.	West Highland White Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Havaneses are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Malteses are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	West Highland White Terriers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Havaneses are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Malteses are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No West Highland White Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Havanese breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Maltese breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really West Highland White Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier

Health Issues	The Havanese is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Maltese is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Very healthy dog breed.
Health Problems	Cataracts Chondrodysplasia Deafness Elbow Dysplasia Heart Murmurs Hip Dysplasia Legg-perthes Disease Mitral Valve Disease Patellar Luxation Portosystemic Liver Shunt	Collapsed Trachea Hypoglycemia Patellar Luxation Portosystemic Liver Shunt Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Reverse Sneezing White Dog Shaker Syndrome	Atopic Dermatitis Cataracts Craniomandibular Osteopathy Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy Hyperplastic Dermatosis Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Legg-perthes Disease Patellar Luxation Pulmonary Fibrosis White Dog Shaker Syndrome
Life Expectancy	14-16 years	15-18 years	12-16 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes	Yes
Energy Level	Havaneses have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Malteses have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	West Highland White Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Havaneses exercise need is very minimal.	Malteses exercise need is very minimal.	West Highland White Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Havaneses sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Malteses sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	West Highland White Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	1/2 to 1 cup dry food a day.	Recommended daily amount: 1/4 to 1/2 cup of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1/2 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Average.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers warm weather	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The West Highland White Terrier can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Low The Havanese has a low chance of bad smell.	Medium The Maltese has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The West Highland White Terrier has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Havanese is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Maltese is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The West Highland White Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Havanese vs Maltese vs West Highland White Terrier

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	1-9 puppies, average 4	3-5 puppies	2-5 puppies
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