Coton de Tulear

Other names: Coton, Cotie

Coton de Tulear

A dog made of cotton : that’s what you appear to get when you open the box on your brand new Coton de Tuléar puppy. These silky, fluffy dogs are happy little critters : intelligent, playful, adaptable, they love the company of children and other animals.
The Coton is of Madagascar heritage, hence the French name, since Madagascar was a colony of France from the 1880s up until 1960. The Coton was inducted as the "Royal Dog of Madagascar" in the 17th century, at which time nobody outside of the royal family was permitted to keep one. It still retains that title today, although non-royals are now welcome to keep one, and the breed has been ‘international’ since French tourists began exporting them in the 1960s.

Key facts about the Coton de Tulear

Life expectancy :

9

21

14

16

Temperament :

Affectionate Playful Intelligent Hunter

Size :

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Origins and history

Tulear (now mostly known as Toliara) is a port town on the island of Madagascar, 200 miles from the coast of Africa. The island was colonised for nearly a century by the French, and their language is still common there today, especially among the so-called elites. Hence the name of this ‘cotton dog of Tulear.’
The deep pre-history of the Coton de Tuléar is somewhat blurry. In some places it is asserted that the hound evolved as a feral creature after a crate of Euro-pups from a shipwrecked merchant boat washed up on the island and mated with local strays, as Euro-brats are wont to do. Others suggest the dog’s ancestors arrived on the island under more formal conditions, as the Bichon-type dogs of international traders, who then interbred and evolved into this fluffy little superstar.
Anyway, at some point during the 17th century, the ruling "Merina" tribe adopted the breed for themselves, forbidding regular islanders from keeping Cotons, so that the creature soon became known as the "Royal Dog of Madagascar," a title by which she is still informally known today. And indeed she was exclusive also to the island, having evolved there, and did not find her way abroad until the 1960s, when she became popular in France. She wasn’t recognised by the UK Kennel Club until 1990.
Today, her fine hair and keen price tag have caused her to be associated with elements of high glamour. The likes of Barbra Streisand, Debra Messing, Glenn Close, Jane Fonda, and Catherine Zeta-Jones have taken Cotons as companions, while she has graced her own postage stamp in her native Madagascar.

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs

Section

Section 1 : Bichons and related breeds

Physical characteristics of the Coton de Tulear

  • Coton de Tulear
    Coton de Tulear
  • Coton de Tulear
    Coton de Tulear
  • Coton de Tulear
    Coton de Tulear
  • Coton de Tulear
    Coton de Tulear
  • Coton de Tulear
    Coton de Tulear

    Adult size

    Female : Between 9 and 11 in

    Male : Between 10 and 12 in

    Weight

    Female : Between 7 and 11 lb

    Male : Between 9 and 13 lb

    Coat colour

    Type of coat

    Eye colour

    Brown

    Description

    Looking somewhat luxurious for her long soft hair, the Coton de Tuléar is most known for the white-cotton appearance by which she gets her name. Her dark round eyes and nose and petite silhouette give the impression that her fur is just a disguise over the top of a living, breathing teddy bear. Her tail tends towards perky.

    Good to know

    You can tell the Coton apart from similar breeds by the distinctive arch in her back.

    Temperament

    • 100%

      Affectionate

      The Coton de Tuléar is a quiet creature but she will let you know if she loves you, as she probably will.

    • 100%

      Playful

      She is a particularly playful one ; you may have spotted one of these softies pattering about on their hind legs before, since that is their number one party trick.

    • 66%

      Calm

      The Cotie is generally calm and relaxed but by no means antisocial ; indeed, she can become boisterous when she senses she has an audience.

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      Intelligent

      Witty and engaged, the Coton de Tuléar keeps her eye on what’s going on around her and learns quickly.

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      Hunter

      Despite her exotic origins, this dog has no genetic memory of the hunting life; neither lemurs nor geckos, aye-ayes nor crocodiles should fear the chase of the Coton, particularly if they should encounter her on her hind legs.

    • 100%

      Fearful / wary of strangers

      Although close to her family, the Coton is a people-person in general and will greet strangers with licks and tricks.

    • 33%

      Independent

      This breed thrives on human company and hardly heeds any appeal to conduct its own explorations or research. However, you will usually find the Coton de Tuléar to be a free-thinker ; and the female more independent than the male.

      Behaviour of the Coton de Tulear

      • 33%

        Tolerates solitude

        This dog loses her sense of purpose when her people are absent. She is built like a teddy-bear for a reason : she desires to be taken everywhere with you and subjected to regular hugging and boops.

      • 66%

        Easy to train / obedience

        She’s intelligent and enjoys company and treats, but can also be stubborn and grow bored of the pedagogic progress. Use compliments rather than punishments when training the Coton de Tuléar, always be patient, and this dog has great potential for continued education – the realm of tricks and agility.

      • 100%

        Barking

        A couple of warning barks when she requires your attention for one reason or another will usually satisfy this dog’s need to vocalise.

      • 33%

        Tendency to run away

        She’s a loyal homebody, but may wander off if understimulated, so fencing must be adequate to retain her.

      • 66%

        Destructive

        She can do more damage than you might think, and will take the opportunity to do so if she feels abandoned or undervalued. Treat her with love and attention and your slippers should remain intact.

      • 33%

        Greedy / Gluttony

        This little bear is no glutton, indeed she tends towards pickiness in her eating habits if anything.

      • 33%

        Guard dog

        The only house this dog is fit to guard is a dollshouse during play. She is too loving and sociable to see an intruder as anything other than a potential friend ; and even if she were to err towards vigilance, the intruder would hardly be troubled by this pint-sized fluffball.

      • 100%

        First dog

        As long as the first-time owner has the discipline, resilience, and resourcefulness to see the Coton’s sometimes tricky education through to completion, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t take on this friendly and manageable pup.

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        Lifestyle

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          Coton de Tulear in a flat

          The Coton is an ideal flat dog. She is not suited to outdoor living, and – although she requires adequate daily exercise – is not ‘too much’ for a small urban space.

        • 66%

          Need for exercise / Sporty

          Moderate. Daily walks and a game of fetch are a good start. She also needs intellectual stimulation, so training and tricks can supplement her daily workout.

        • 100%

          Travelling / easy to transport

          She’s holdall-sized and mellow-to-go ; pack her up and off you go.

          Compatibility

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            Coton de Tulear and cats

            She’s more a people-person than a cat-person, but will tolerate and even enjoy the society of cats so long as she is acclimatised to them from a young age.

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            Coton de Tulear and dogs

            The Coton de Tuléar gets on just fine with dogs (especially if well-socialised during pup hood) and will value the company of a canine roommate if she is to be left alone for a period of time.

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            Coton de Tulear and children

            She and the children should both have a lot of fun together in good safety, so long as she is not aggressively handled – for the Coton de Tuléar is more delicate than, for example, a Labrador Retriever, for whom wrestling is a breeze.

          • 100%

            Coton de Tulear and the elderly

            Playful and alert without being large or overbearing, the Coton de Tuléar can make a good companion for an older person who can provide the attention, training, and moderate exercise that this dog needs.

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            Price

            The average price for a Coton de Tuléar dog is between £910 - £1180.

            The Coton de Tuléar can cost around £30 - £40 per month to feed and maintain.

            Grooming

            Despite her flamboyant looks, grooming a Coton de Tuléar doesn't need to be time-consuming. Brush her regularly, going deep into the fur, and apply conditioner as you go. Some choose to trim the dog’s hair severely so they can actually see the little creature, and those that keep her fur full-length may need to cut around the eyes or ears from time to time. Check her ears regularly for infections or dirt.

            Shedding

            She does not shed unduly ; however, there’s a lot of hair on that dog to start with, so it’s only common sense that you’ll come across a strand or two during the day.

            Nutrition of the Coton de Tulear

            Nothing special to report; good quality dog food appropriate to her size, health, and physical routines should see her right.

            Health of the Coton de Tulear

            Life expectancy

            14-16 years, maybe longer.

            Strong / robust

            The Coton may be a toy dog, but she is no more delicate than her build and energy levels suggest. She shouldn’t live outdoors, but can certainly handle outdoors conditions for stretches at a time.

            Withstand heat

            She is neither particularly suited not unsuited to hot weather, but should be afforded the comforts demanded by every dog in the summer: constant access to shade and fresh, cool water.

            Withstand cold

            The Coton will not grumble at short periods spent outdoors in cold weather, particularly since her coat is so layered and luxurious.

            Tendency to put on weight

            Being a little dog and keen with it, she may pile on the pounds if her portions are beyond adequate to her daily energy expenditure levels.

            Common illnesses

            There are no particular illnesses to which this dog is especially prone.

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