Home / Breeds / Compare / Havanese vs Coton de Tulear
Cuba's national dog is a sturdy, cheerful little companion with a springy step and a comedian's timing. The Coton de Tulear is a tiny companion breed from Madagascar, developed to be close company for people, a role dogs have filled for thousands of years. This page puts the two side by side on the numbers that actually differ: size, exercise, grooming, what each costs to keep, and the health tests a breeder should show you.
The biggest gap is shedding: the Coton de Tulear is rated 3 of 5 against 1 of 5 for the Havanese.
The next biggest gap is energy: the Havanese is rated 3 of 5 against 2 of 5 for the Coton de Tulear.
The third gap worth noting is trainability: the Havanese is rated 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the Coton de Tulear.
| Havanese | Coton de Tulear | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Toy | Non-Sporting |
| Origin | Cuba | Madagascar |
| Height | 8.5 to 11.5 in | 8.5 to 12 in |
| Weight | 7 to 13 lb | 7.5 to 13 lb |
| Lifespan | 14 to 16 years | 12 to 17 years |
| Coat | Long, silky, lightweight coat that insulates rather than overheats. | Medium-to-long, fluffy, cotton-like coat. |
| Temperament | Happy, outgoing, funny and devoted | Affectionate, cheerful, gentle and people centered |
| Energy | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Trainability | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Shedding | 1 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Barking | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| With children | Good with children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | Good with dogs | Good with dogs |
| With strangers | Friendly with strangers | Friendly with strangers |
| Apartment fit | Well suited | Well suited |
| Daily exercise | 30 to 45 min | 30 to 45 min |
| Food per month (model) | $10 (0.9 cups a day) | $10 (0.9 cups a day) |
| Insurance per month (model) | $40 to $70 | $27 to $51 |
| Monthly total (model) | $50 to $80 | $37 to $61 |
| Yearly total (model) | $598 to $958 | $442 to $730 |
| Lifetime total (model) | $8,367 to $15,322 | $5,300 to $12,404 |
| Breeder health tests | 6 recommended tests | 6 recommended tests |
| Health watch | Generally healthy and long lived. Watch for hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, eye problems and heart murmurs. The breed club recommends BAER hearing tests, eye and hip screening. | A generally healthy little breed; patellar checks and eye screening are the routine standard. Ask to see health test results for both parents before you commit to a puppy; a good breeder will offer them before you ask. |
Havanese: scores 16 on the first-time-owner rule (trainability weighted double, then calmer energy, grooming and barking), against 15 for the Coton de Tulear.
Havanese: matches the Coton de Tulear on the apartment rating ("Well suited") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks: barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Havanese: matches on the children rating and edges ahead on trainability and stranger friendliness.
Havanese: sheds less, rated 1 of 5 for shedding against 3 of 5 for the Coton de Tulear. Shedding is only a proxy for loose hair in the home; no breed is allergen-free.
Coton de Tulear: runs about $16 a month less than the Havanese on modeled food plus insurance ($49 against $65 at the midpoints).
The five verdicts on this Havanese and Coton de Tulear page follow published rules: first-time owner = 2 x trainability + (6 - energy) + (6 - grooming) + (6 - barking); apartment = the apartment rating, then barking, exercise and weight; children = the children rating, then trainability and stranger friendliness; allergy = lowest shedding, then grooming; budget = the lowest monthly modeled total. Level scores are declared ties.
The published breeder panel for the Havanese lists 6 recommended tests; the Coton de Tulear panel lists 6. 1 test area appears in both panels.
Listed for the Havanese and not in the Coton de Tulear panel: BAER hearing test (program elective); Cardiac evaluation (program elective); Elbow evaluation (Kennel Club Best Practice); Eye examination (by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist); Patellar luxation evaluation (OFA).
Listed for the Coton de Tulear and not in the Havanese panel: Cardiac exam; DNA panel; DNA test; Ophthalmologist evaluation; Patella evaluation (OFA).
Full panels: Havanese health testing and Coton de Tulear health testing.
On the modeled figures the Havanese costs more month to month: about $65 a month at the midpoint of food plus insurance, against $49 for the Coton de Tulear. Run across the lifespan ranges, the model gives $8,367 to $15,322 for the Havanese and $5,300 to $12,404 for the Coton de Tulear. These are planning estimates, not quotes.
They are level: both plan on 30 to 45 minutes a day, and energy is rated 3 of 5 for the Havanese against 2 of 5 for the Coton de Tulear.
The Havanese sheds less, rated 1 of 5 for shedding against 3 of 5 for the Coton de Tulear. Coat notes for the Havanese: Long, silky, lightweight coat that insulates rather than overheats.
Not equally. The Havanese is the better fit for an apartment: it matches the Coton de Tulear on the apartment rating ("Well suited") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks, barking, then daily exercise, then size.
The Havanese rates higher for trainability at 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the Coton de Tulear. Temperament notes describe the Havanese as: Happy, outgoing, funny and devoted
Both published panels run to 6 recommended tests. The lists are compared in full in the health testing section above; ask to see current results for the parents, not just the puppy, whichever breed you choose.
Choosing between more than two? Open the comparison tool and put up to four breeds side by side, or read all written breed comparisons.
Breed facts for the Havanese and the Coton de Tulear follow the standards and club guidance summarized on each breed profile. Cost figures are modeled estimates for planning, labeled with their basis, and are not quotes or veterinary advice. Health test panels are the recommendations published by the breed clubs and CHIC, as set out on each breed's health testing page.