Small14.5 yr avg
Havanese
AKC · Toy
View breedComparison
Havanese vs Rottweiler
Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.
At a glance
Side-by-side
The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.
Small
Havanese
Lifespan14.5 yrrange 14–15
SizeSmall
Weight7–13 lb3.2–5.9 kg
Height8.5–11.5 in21.6–29.2 cm
Senior at8 yrgeriatric at 12
AKC groupToy
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding2/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs5/5
Giant
Rottweiler
Lifespan10.6 yrrange 10–11
SizeGiant
Weight80–135 lb36.3–61.2 kg
Height22–27 in55.9–68.6 cm
Senior at5 yrgeriatric at 8
AKC groupWorking
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding3/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs3/5
Health
Common health issues
Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.
Havanese
- High prevalencetypical onset ~5 yr
Periodontal Disease
Description and veterinary guidance for Periodontal Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr
Hypothyroidism
Description and veterinary guidance for Hypothyroidism land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~6 yr
Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram)
Description and veterinary guidance for Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Rottweiler
- High prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr
Elbow Dysplasia
Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Description and veterinary guidance for Osteochondritis Dissecans land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Synthesis
Which is right for you?
Lifespan differs substantially — Havaneses typically outlive Rottweilers by about 3.9 years (14.5 vs 10.6 years).
Size gap is meaningful: the Havanese is small and the Rottweiler is giant. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.
Both breeds have similar energy requirements — roughly 45 minutes of daily activity keeps either satisfied.
Havaneses rate higher for household-with-kids compatibility (5/5).
Both carry 1 high-prevalence breed-specific health risks — see the health section above for condition-by-condition detail.