Havaton (Havanese & Coton de Tulear Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More

The Havaton is a mixed breed created by mixing a Havanese with a Coton de Tulear. These small dogs are hard to resist with their soft wavy hair and affectionate personality. It’s a great first pet and is suitable for large and small homes.

If you are thinking about getting one of these mixed breeds for your home but want to learn more about it first, keep reading while we discuss temperament, training, grooming, and more to help you make an informed decision.

Havaton Characteristics

Havaton Puppies

Havaton puppies are becoming more popular nowadays. Current demand for the parent breeds and distance to the breeder can affect the cost of your puppy. Luckily, its small size can help keep maintenance costs down.

When you have your puppy, you will likely need to get the dog spayed or neutered, and it will need to visit the vet several times in its first few years to get a series of vaccinations. You will also need to buy food, treats, toys, and other items for your pet on an ongoing basis.

Havatons tend to be loyal and playful dogs that will create strong bonds with their families, especially with children. Keep reading the Havaton's full care guide to know what type of care they need to grow into happy and healthy dogs.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Havaton 🧠

The Havaton is a breed that enjoys staying close to its owners, and you will usually find it under your feet or following close behind you. As long as it is in the company of people, it tends to be happy and playful but can quickly suffer from separation anxiety if you spend too much time away from home. When they get upset, they can bark, dig, and tear up the furniture.

It’s a great choice for children because they enjoy playing and rarely growl or bark. While not as smart as the Border Collie or German Shepherd, the Havaton should have no trouble learning several tricks and is a great problem solver.

Are These Dogs Good for Families 👪

Yes, as we’ve already mentioned, the Havaton gets along well with children and likes to be around people. It enjoys being part of family functions and can misbehave and become destructive if left out. Their small size allows them to live comfortably in a small city apartment, but they are just as at home in a large building. The only downside is that they're so friendly they are more likely to greet any intruder than scare them off.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets 🐶 😽

The Havaton gets along well with other pets and can happily cohabitate with other dogs as well as cats. It’s usually more worried about how much attention you and other family members are giving it than what the other pets are doing.

Things to Know When Owning a Havaton

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Havaton is a small breed but still requires high-quality food with plenty of protein. The best way to choose high-quality food is to look at the ingredients and choose a brand that lists real meat as the first ingredient. Chicken, turkey, salmon, and beef are great examples, but several others are available.

We also recommend looking for brands that contain probiotics to help balance your pet’s sensitive digestive system and omega fats that will help with brain and eye development as well as promote a healthy coat.

We recommend avoiding brands that contain chemical preservatives and artificial colors. Corn is mostly empty calories, and we suggest avoiding it when possible, to help your dog maintain its ideal weight.

Exercise 🐕

Your Havaton is an active breed, but thanks to its small size, it will get most of its activity by chasing you and other family members around your home all day. However, we recommend two or three short walks each day to ensure your dog doesn’t get lazy and put on weight, leading to health problems later in life.

Training 🎾

Your Havaton is smart enough to learn several tricks, and they are usually interested in learning but can occasionally wander off. We recommend holding short training sessions after one of your walks, preferably at the same time each day to get it into a routine.

Positive reinforcement in the form of treats and praise can help keep your dog interested in learning and never let them see you look disappointed, or they will lose interest in the sessions. Patience is critical to success because it can take several weeks for even a smart dog like the Havaton to learn a new trick and commit it to memory.

Grooming ✂️

Unfortunately, the Havaton will require daily brushing to keep their silky hair in top condition. Failing to brush your pet will quickly lead to painful tangles, knots, and mats that you need to cut out to remove. Besides daily brushing, you will need to check the ears frequently to ensure no problems are developing. The ears have poor ventilation, and wax and moisture buildups can occur, leading to ear infections.

Health and Conditions ❤️ 🏥

Minor Conditions

• Mitral Valve Disease - Mitral valve disease is another condition that can affect the heart of your Havaton. Dogs with this disease have weak heart valves that reduce the efficiency of the heart. Symptoms include the appearance of a heart murmur which often slowly transforms into congestive heart failure. Diuretics and other medications can help your dog manage the disease and improve heart function, but most dogs will require continuous treatment once diagnosed.

Serious Conditions

• Portosystemic Shunt - A portosystemic shunt is a condition where an abnormal connection occurs between a vein and one of its branches in the heart that allows some blood to bypass the liver, causing toxins to build up in the system. Symptoms of this condition include stunted growth, poor muscle development, and strange behavior like staring off into space. The most common treatments include diet control and antibiotics.
• Hip Dysplasia - Hip dysplasia is a condition that causes the hip joint to form incorrectly, and the bones can’t move smoothly within the joint. Most owners consider hip dysplasia a large dog disease, but it can affect any breed, including the Havaton, and its high energy level can wear down the bones of the hip joint just as fast as a heavy dog might. Symptoms of hip dysplasia include difficulty standing up from a resting position and difficulty climbing stairs and hills. Weight management and medication can help slow the progression of the disease, and many dogs can go on to live full lives.

Male vs Female

Since the Havaton is a mixed breed, the parent it takes after more will have a much larger effect on its size, appearance, and temperament than its sex. It’s also a relatively modern mixed breed, and much more information is needed before we start to see definable differences between males and females.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Havaton

1. 1. Havatons are often referred to as "Velcro dogs"

Much like their parent breed, the Havanese, Havatons are referred to as velcro dogs due to their strong desire to be near their owners at all times. This trait makes them especially loyal pets but can also lead to separation anxiety if they’re left alone for too long.

2. The Exact Timeline of Their Development is Unknown

The Havaton is a relatively modern breed, but their exact origins are not well-documented in terms of when and where cross-breeding began. However, intentional crossbreeding to create these sorts of hybrid dogs gained popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries so it's likely that the Havaton was first developed during this period.

3. 3. They Have Hypoallergenic Qualities

Given that both parent breeds are considered hypoallergenic, though there is not a fully hypoallergenic breed, the Havaton often inherits this trait. Their low-shedding coat produces fewer allergens than other breeds, making them a great option for people with mild dog allergies.

Final Thoughts

The Havaton is a small fuzzball that is fun to have around the home. Their small size is well-suited to apartment living, and they don’t require a lot of exercise each day to stay healthy. They enjoy being around family members, and they will continuously follow you around seeking attention. They're a good choice for children because they like games and are more tolerant than other small breeds of rough play.

They're intelligent, capable of learning tricks, and relatively healthy, especially compared to many pure breeds, with a long lifespan that often exceeds 12 years.

See also:

• Coton De Tulear vs Havanese: Which One Is Right For Me?

• Coton de Tulear vs Maltese: The Differences (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Lulub, Shutterstock