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Havanese vs Sloughi

Side-by-side comparison across all 14 AKC trait ratings, with a clear verdict on which breed fits which kind of household.

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The bottom line

Havanese vs Sloughi

You’re probably comparing a Havanese and a Sloughi because you want a dog that feels special, maybe even exotic, but that’s where the similarities end. One was bred to charm aristocrats on silk cushions, the other to outrun desert winds in silent pursuit of prey. This isn’t just toy versus hound. this is two entirely different philosophies of doghood. The Havanese is your forever clown, the dog that learns tricks just to make you laugh. At 10 pounds, they live for people. They’ll adapt to a studio apartment or a house with kids running wild, but leave them alone too long and they’ll chew your shoes out of loneliness. They’re not high-energy, but they want you involved. always. And that coat? Gorgeous, but it tangles like crazy. You’ll be brushing every other day, or paying a groomer every six weeks. The Sloughi is poetry in motion. lean, quiet, deeply sensitive. They bond fiercely with their person but won’t greet your guests with a wag. They need space to run, a tall, secure fence, and an owner who understands that “independent” doesn’t mean “untrainable.” They’re not aloof, just dignified. And they’ll break your heart with one soft look when you’ve been gone too long. If you’re a first-time owner or live in the city, the Havanese is your safer bet. But if you’re experienced, active, and crave a soulful, athletic partner, the Sloughi might just steal your breath. Here’s the real truth: the Havanese lives to love you. The Sloughi lets you love them. if you earn it. That difference changes everything.

Havanese
Sloughi
8.5–11.5 in
Height
24–29 in
7–13 lb
Weight
35–50 lb
14–16 yr
Lifespan
10–15 yr
$1.5–4.0k
Puppy price
$1.5–4.0k
#24
AKC popularity
#192

Trait-by-trait

Higher bar = more of that trait. Shedding, barking, drooling, grooming flipped for readability.
Affectionate w/ Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Shedding Level
Coat Grooming
Drooling Level
Good with Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
AffectionGood w/ KidsGood w/ DogsShedding LevelGroomingDrooling LevelGood w/ StrangersPlayfulnessProtectiveAdaptabilityTrainabilityEnergy LevelBarking LevelMental Stim.
Havanese Sloughi
Overlay

Where they diverge

Good with Strangers
Havanese is friendlier with strangers (3-point difference)
Havanese
Good with Young Children
Havanese is better with kids (2-point difference)
Havanese
Good with Other Dogs
Havanese is better with other dogs (2-point difference)
Havanese
Coat Grooming
Sloughi needs less grooming (2-point difference)
Sloughi
Playfulness
Havanese is more playful (2-point difference)
Havanese
The verdict

Choose the Havanese if…

  • Apartment dwellers
  • Seniors
  • Families with children
  • You value good with strangersHavanese scores noticeably higher.

Choose the Sloughi if…

  • Experienced sighthound owners
  • Active owners with running space
  • Those wanting a sensitive, loyal companion
  • You value shedding levelSloughi scores higher here.
Havanese Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Havanese home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
Get Your Guide
Sloughi Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Sloughi home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
Get Your Guide

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