Havanese and Coton de Tulear

Bichon FriseBichon Frise

All members of the Bichon family are complete extroverts, a joy to live with and well suited to modern society. Members of the Bichon family are comparatively recent additions to the pure breed dog world, resurrected from virtual extinction. With controversy surrounding their ancient history, a few facts are presented here in the hope that the typical coat of each variety will not be dissipated by modern show ring grooming techniques.

The Little Barbet

Small BarbetSmall Barbet

On the left is a drawing of a 'Little Barbet' or Bichon which French Georges Buffon described as the combination of the small sized ancient French water dog, the Barbet, and the Spirit Lion dog of China. In 1760 Buffon was the first to call these dogs 'Bichons' when he described them as 'mongrels between a small Spanish dog and a little Barbet'[5]. Remembering the French and Spanish borders were forever changing over the years, the Little Barbet certainly forms the basis of the entire Bichon family.

History of the Havanese

'The Havanna Breed' 1768'The Havanna Breed' 1768

Like the Bichon Frise, the Havanese of Cuba developed from the BarBichon of Tenerife. During the 1500 - 1600's, these little dogs were carried by Spanish ships which transported merchants who took metal and spices half way around the world to trade them in South America's 'New Spain', Cuba. Here this small dog was called the 'Blanquito de la Habana' but in Europe it became known as the 'White Cuban'. By the late 1700's there were crosses with the Toy Poodle as they became the pampered house dogs of the wealthy Cubans who owned large estates.

The Havanese becomes a Pure Breed

From 1953 - 1959 a Civil War known as the Cuban Revolution stifled Cuba's economy and plunged the country into poverty. So some of the once pampered Havanese dogs were evicted and became street dogs. Others were gifted to the servants of the wealthy land owners when their estates were abandoned. But many wealthy Cuban owners travelled to Florida, USA taking their precious dogs with them. So sufficient numbers survived for an American, Dorothy Goodale to use the 1963 FCI Breed Standard and develop them as a pure breed. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1999. The first two arrived separately in Australia in 2000, a dog from USA followed by a bitch from the Netherlands[2].

History of the Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear of Madagascar also developed from the BarBichon of Tenerife. During the 1500's these small dogs were carried by Spanish ships which transported traders and possibly also pirates. They sailed south and turned east to the Islands of Mauritius and Reunion. By the late 1600's through to the early 1700's, pirates ruled the eastern coast of Madagascar. But by the 1700's one of Madagascar's ethnic tribal groups, established the first kingdom which extended from Tulear to the north. Later the trade was in African slaves in Tulear, a city on the west coast of Madagascar, which gave these dogs their name 'Coton de Tulear.' Here the dogs' cotton-like coats attracted the attention of the native Malagasy tribes where they were exchanged as gifts to the tribe elders and given the name 'the 'Royal Dog of Madagascar'.

The Coton de Tulear becomes a Pure Breed

BarBichons 1759BarBichons 1759

But during the 1800's the French took control of Madagascar and so many of these 'cotton coated' BarBichon type dogs were taken back to France that they are became rare in Madagascar. As Malagasy breeders had no pedigrees, exports were given sufficient documentation to prove they were 'pure bred' and exported. As Madagascar is such a poor country, with the price of a puppy around three years wages for the average Malagasy, these exports almost completely depleted the supply of 'pure bred' Coton de Tulear from the Island of Madagascar.

The Coton de Tulear becomes a Pure Breed

Madagascar StampMadagascar Stamp

Because he was the 'Royal Dog of Madagascar', the President of the Canine Society of Madagascar wished to preserve him. So in 1970, he submitted a request to the FCI for pure breed recognition of the 'Coton de Tulear', together with a proposed Breed Standard.

European (Belgium) Cotons 1998European (Belgium) Cotons 1998

By this time the Coton had captured the imagination of the Europeans. From the original Madagascan imports, the French developed the Coton into the breed we know today. In 1987 there was a revisions to the original Madagascan Breed Standard with more alterations in 1995 and 1999, the latter being in use by the FCI today. The family group on the left is from the founding Belgium 'of Woodland Cottage' kennel of Micky Ceriez was taken in 1998. The Coton was recognized by the AKC in 2014, and first brought into Australia in December 2015[3].

The Bichon Frise, Havanese and Coton de Tulear Today

All 3 of these breeds were bred purely as as companions although the Coton is more protective of its family than the other two. The main difference between these three is their coat. The 'soft corkscrew curls' demanded by the Bichon Frise Breed Standard are brushed out and this presentation is generally accepted in today's show rings. But if the coat is parted, evidence of these curls is seen by soft crinkles in the coat which look something like a crinkle cut potato crisp viewed in profile which enables the coat to stand off the body and be trimmed and shaped[4].

Bichon Frise Havanese Coton de Tulear
Coat The coat of the Bichon Frise should be fine and silky, with soft corkscrew curls. It should not be flat or corded, and should measure around 7-10 cm in length. It may be presented untrimmed or have muzzle and feet tidied up. The soft, flat or wavy topcoat is very long - 12-18 cm [4.5-7 ins] in an adult dog, which may contain curly strands. Sometimes it is a double coat with a woolly undercoat. There should be no trimming of the body coat but the feet may be tidied up. 


As the Coton's name suggests, its dense, profuse coat should have the texture of cotton. It may be slightly wavy but it is very soft and supple and never hard or rough.


Colour Pure white coat. It is preferable that the skin has dark pigment with black, blue or beige markings. The Havanese is rarely completely pure white. It may be fawn or tan in its different shades or with a slight blackened overlay, black, havana-brown, tobacco colour or reddish brown. It may also come with patches of any of the above mentioned colours. The Coton is basically white. There may be a few slight shadings of a mixture of white and black or fawn hairs on the ears. These shadings are also tolerated but not preferred on the body if they do not alter the general appearance of white coat.
Height Height: Less than 30 cm (11.8 ins), smallness being highly desirable. Height: 23 to 27 cms [9 -10.5 ins]
Tolerance from 21 to 29 cms [8-11.5 ins]

Males : 26-28 cm (10 - 11 in)
Females : 23-25 cm (9 - 9.8 ins). Both with tolerance of 2 cm above and 1 cm below.

Bichon FriseBichon Frise HavaneseHavanese

Coton de TulearCoton de Tulear

Head Proportions The skull is definitely longer than the muzzle The skull should be approximately the same length as the muzzle The skull should be a little longer than the muzzle than the Bichon
Skull The skull is flat but can look round because of the trimming of the hair The skull is broad and flat but looking from above, rounded at the back and almost straight and square on the other three sides. The slightly rounded skull is rather wide in relation to its length
Stop Slight with the hollow between the eyes just visible Moderately marked Slight
Muzzle The lips should be tight, fine and like the nose, completely black Narrowing slightly towards the eyes but not snipey with nose colour black or brown, consistent with the coat colour Straight with fine tight lips with nose colour consistent with the coat colour
Eyes The fairly round eyes should be dark with dark eye-rims. They should never be too big, almond shaped, obliquely set or show any white. The almond shaped eyes are quite big, brown in colour and as dark as possible with a kind expression. The eye rims must be dark brown to black. The  dark, lively eyes are rather rounded and set wide apart. The rims of the eyelids should be well pigmented with black or brown according to the colour of the nose.
Ears The ears are set relatively high but fall along the cheeks forming a discreet fold which raises them slightly. They are covered with long hair fringes. The ears are set relatively high but are raised by a discreet fold before they fall along the cheeks. They have a discreet fold and end in a lightly rounded point. They are covered with long hair fringes. Their pendulous, triangular shaped ears are high set on the skull and carried close to the cheeks. They are covered with white hair or with some traces of light grey or fawn hairs.
Mouth Normal scissors bite Normal scissors bite Normal scissors bite but may also have a reverse scissors bite.
Bichon FriseBichon Frise HavaneseHavanese Coton de TulearCoton de Tulear
Neck Fairly long and carried proudly Of medium length One fifth the length of the body
Forequarters The well-boned forelegs should be straight and parallel, lean & of good bone structure. The distance from the ground to the elbow must not be greater than that between the elbow and the withers. The lean, straight forelegs should have good bone and be not greater in length than the distance between the elbow and the withers. Well laid shoulders and straight forelegs approximately the length of the upper arm
Hindquarters The thighs should be broad and well-muscled, with well bent stifles and hocks well let down. The Havanese should have moderate angulation The Coton has strongly muscled hindquarters and vertical hocks. There may be dewclaws present.
Body The Bichon has a body the same length as its height at withers. The chest is well developed and the brisket deep and the topline straight. The loin should be broad, well-muscled, and the croup slightly rounded. The Havanese has a body length slightly longer than its height at withers. The ribs are well sprung and the topline is straight with a slight arch over the loin and a noticeably inclined croup. The Coton has a body longer than its height at withers. The ribs are well sprung and the back strong. But he has a very slightly convex topline and arch over the loin, which gives him a oblique croup.

Feet Small and rounded with toenails preferably black Slightly elongated in shape Small and round with tight toes and pigmented pads
Tail The slightly low set tail of the Bichon is normally carried high, curling gracefully over the back, but never tightly curled. Although it should not actually touch the backbone, the hair should always fall on to the back. The Havanese's tail is carried high and is furnished with long, silky feathering. It may have either a hook at the end or preferably is carried rolled over the back. The Coton has a low set tail set as an extension of the spinal column. At rest, it reached the hock but on the move it is carried gaily curved over the back pointing towards the withers.
Gait Although not specified, one would expect a Bichon should move with balanced reach and drive. The Havanese has a strikingly light-footed, elastic gait. The  forelegs move with a free stride, the hind legs giving them the drive to move in a straight line. The Coton has a free, flowing movement, without covering a lot of ground. Its unusual topline should be retained on the move.

References and Further Reading

[1] Richard G Beauchamp, 'The Truth About Bichons' Published by The American Cocker Magazine, Midway City CA 92655-1030 USA ISBN 0-9623515-1-2 Chapter 1 'History of the Bichon Frise' Pages 9 - 15

[2] Kathryn Braund, 'The Joyous Havanese' Self Published Chapter 2 'History of the Present Day Hananese and its Ancestors' Pages 9 - 17.

[3] Kris Forke, American Coton Club

[4] John Hutchinson, 'the Bichon Frise - A Comprehensive Study' Chapter 2 Published by Slattery Media Group Australia ISBN 978-1-921778-28-5 Discussion of the Bichon Frise Page 27

  • Book Review by Jane Harvey - 'The Bichon Frise - a Comprehensive Study' by John Hutchinson Published in Dog News Australia (Top Dog Media Pty Ltd Austral NSW) Issue 4 January 2018, Page 10
  • Also published in 'VicDog Magazine' (Victorian Canine Association Inc.,) Vol 88 September No 9 Page 14

[5] Virginia T Leitch 2nd Edition revised and updated by Dennis Carno - 'The Maltese Dog' Published by IIVS, International Institute of Veterinary Science, New York 1970 Chapter 11 'The origin and development of the Maltese Dog' Pages 5 - 46

[6] Maureen Reynolds, "Our Dogs" Supplement, the A to Z of Breeds', February 12th, 2021, Page 22


top