Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Havaneses Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Havaneses Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Havaneses Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Havaneses Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Havaneses Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Havaneses Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Havaneses Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Havaneses Easy to Train?
- Do Havaneses Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Havaneses Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Havaneses have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Havaneses Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Havaneses Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Havaneses Playful? What is the Energy Level of Havaneses
- Conclusion on Havanese Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Havanese
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Havanese out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Havanese based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Havanese breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Havanese by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Havanese.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Havanese for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Havanese.
The summary table below shows the score of the Havanese for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 62.0 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 61.6 percent |
| Excitability | 45.2 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 42.5 percent |
| Prey Drive | 38.9 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 33.7 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 32.5 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 31.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 28.5 percent |
| Stubbornness | 25.3 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 22.3 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 22.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 20.7 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 11.4 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Havanese`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Havanese, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Havanese.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Havaneses Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Havaneses are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Havanese ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The Havanese ranks number 62 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 31.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 32.3 % |
| 60 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 32.3 % |
| 61 | Australian Kelpie | 32.0 % |
| 62 | Havanese | 31.5 % |
| 63 | Alaskan Husky | 31.3 % |
| 64 | Bullmastiff | 30.7 % |
| 65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 30.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Havaneses Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Havaneses are a little bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Havanese ranks low for aggression towards its owner.
The Havanese ranks number 79 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has an owner-directed-aggression score of 11.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit owner-aggressive just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Whippet | 11.6 % |
| 77 | Airedale Terrier | 11.5 % |
| 78 | Vizsla | 11.5 % |
| 79 | Havanese | 11.4 % |
| 80 | Golden Retriever | 11.2 % |
| 81 | Australian Kelpie | 11.0 % |
| 82 | Keeshond | 10.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Havaneses Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Havaneses are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Havanese ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Havanese ranks number 97 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a dog-directed aggression score of 28.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 94 | Portuguese Water Dog | 29.2 % |
| 95 | Shih Tzu | 28.9 % |
| 96 | Great Pyrenees | 28.8 % |
| 97 | Havanese | 28.5 % |
| 98 | Bichon Frise | 28.1 % |
| 99 | Dingo | 27.7 % |
| 100 | Labrador Retriever | 27.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Havaneses Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Havaneses are somewhat fearful of strangers.
This is because the Havanese ranks average for fear of strangers.
The Havanese ranks number 49 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a stranger-directed-fear score of 33.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat stranger-fearful just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Bearded Collie | 34.4 % |
| 47 | Border Terrier | 34.2 % |
| 48 | Greyhound | 33.7 % |
| 49 | Havanese | 33.7 % |
| 50 | Poodle (Miniature) | 33.4 % |
| 51 | Tibetan Terrier | 32.6 % |
| 52 | Great Pyrenees | 32.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Havaneses Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Havaneses are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Havanese ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Havanese ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a dog-directed-fear score of 42.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 43.3 % |
| 46 | West Highland White Terrier | 42.9 % |
| 47 | Whippet | 42.6 % |
| 48 | Havanese | 42.5 % |
| 49 | Bulldog | 42.0 % |
| 50 | American Bulldog | 41.9 % |
| 51 | Samoyed | 41.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Havaneses Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Havaneses are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Havanese ranks low for non-social fear.
The Havanese ranks number 87 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a nonsocial-fear score of 20.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Australian Cattle Dog | 21.2 % |
| 85 | Poodle (Standard) | 21.0 % |
| 86 | French Bulldog | 20.9 % |
| 87 | Havanese | 20.7 % |
| 88 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 20.2 % |
| 89 | Scottish Terrier | 19.9 % |
| 90 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 19.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Havaneses Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Havaneses are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Havanese ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Havanese ranks number 106 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a dog-rivalry score of 22.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 103 | Portuguese Water Dog | 23.3 % |
| 104 | Bouvier des Flandres | 22.6 % |
| 105 | Weimaraner | 22.4 % |
| 106 | Havanese | 22.1 % |
| 107 | Irish Wolfhound | 22.1 % |
| 108 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 21.7 % |
| 109 | Eurasier | 21.6 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Havaneses Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Havaneses are quite a bit easy to train.
This is because the Havanese ranks high for trainability.
The Havanese ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the trainability of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a trainability score of 74.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 76.0 % |
| 40 | Bouvier des Flandres | 75.8 % |
| 41 | Newfoundland | 75.1 % |
| 42 | Havanese | 74.7 % |
| 43 | Anatolian Shepherd | 73.6 % |
| 44 | Airedale Terrier | 73.5 % |
| 45 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 73.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Do Havaneses Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Havaneses are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Havanese ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Havanese ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a chasing score of 38.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Scottish Terrier | 40.0 % |
| 86 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 39.8 % |
| 87 | Chow Chow | 39.6 % |
| 88 | Havanese | 38.9 % |
| 89 | American Bulldog | 38.8 % |
| 90 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 38.4 % |
| 91 | Australian Kelpie | 35.7 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Havaneses Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Havaneses are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Havanese ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Havanese ranks number 44 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 61.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Schipperke | 62.4 % |
| 42 | Rottweiler | 61.8 % |
| 43 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 61.6 % |
| 44 | Havanese | 61.6 % |
| 45 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 61.5 % |
| 46 | Mastiff (English) | 60.9 % |
| 47 | West Highland White Terrier | 60.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Havaneses have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Havaneses are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Havanese ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Havanese ranks number 71 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a separation anxiety score of 32.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Rat Terrier | 33.5 % |
| 69 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 33.2 % |
| 70 | Bullmastiff | 33.1 % |
| 71 | Havanese | 32.5 % |
| 72 | West Highland White Terrier | 32.5 % |
| 73 | Bouvier des Flandres | 32.2 % |
| 74 | Alaskan Malamute | 31.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Havaneses Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Havaneses are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Havanese ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The Havanese ranks number 87 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has a touch-sensitivity score of 22.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Labrador Retriever | 22.9 % |
| 85 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 22.9 % |
| 86 | Scottish Terrier | 22.5 % |
| 87 | Havanese | 22.3 % |
| 88 | Australian Shepherd | 22.0 % |
| 89 | Dingo | 21.8 % |
| 90 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 21.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Havaneses Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Havaneses are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Havanese ranks average for excitability.
The Havanese ranks number 60 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has an excitability score of 45.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Poodle (Standard) | 46.1 % |
| 58 | Cairn Terrier | 45.7 % |
| 59 | Chinese Crested | 45.6 % |
| 60 | Havanese | 45.2 % |
| 61 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 45.2 % |
| 62 | Labrador Retriever | 45.0 % |
| 63 | Belgian Sheepdog | 45.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Havaneses Playful? What is the Energy Level of Havaneses
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Havaneses are somewhat energetic.
This is because the Havanese ranks average for energy level.
The Havanese ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 102 Havanese owners reported on the temperament of their Havanese in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Havanese has an energy-level score of 62.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Havanese are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Poodle (Miniature) | 62.8 % |
| 49 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 62.5 % |
| 50 | German Shepherd | 62.1 % |
| 51 | Havanese | 62.0 % |
| 52 | Old English Sheepdog | 61.8 % |
| 53 | Pomeranian | 61.5 % |
| 54 | Papillon | 60.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Havanese Temperament
The temperament of your Havanese comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Havanese is exposed to.
You cannot change your Havanese`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Havanese to.
Exposing your Havanese to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Havanese to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Havanese`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Havanese.
If you think the Havanese is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Havaneses cost and Havanese puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Havanese breeders in the United States and the prices of their Havanese puppies.