Breed Profile – Coton De Tulear

General Information

The Coton de Tulear developed on the Island of Madagascar and is still the island's national dog. The Coton's ancestors were brought to Madagascar in the 16th and 17th centuries aboard pirate ships. The Coton is always balanced and highly compatible with other members of his own breed. His hunting instincts, remnants of a time when the breed had to fend for itself, are still very much alive. It is said that Cotons had to hunt small wild animals in order to survive on their native Madagascar, and that they even formed small packs. He is a genuine harum-scarum, brimming with light-heartedness and energy. His small feet will carry him around with the swiftness of a weasel. Bright and cheerful, the little Coton will jump into your arms or sit in front of you, wagging his tail, his black eyes sparkling from under the fringe of hair on his forehead. Or he may bounce across the yard on his hind legs, launching himself high into the air. All in all, the Coton is an extremely lovable, affectionate housemate that considers himself an important member of your family…and he shows it!

« Back to Top

Physical Characteristics

The Coton is a charming breed of small dog, weighing between about 4 kg (8.75 lb) and at maximum 6 kg (13.25 lb). Most remarkable are the breed’s dark, round, vivid eyes that sparkle from under the long facial hair like two black jewels. This is a small bundle of fluff with both style and charm, seen most often in nearly pure white. The Coton’s hair is long and soft, the white often interlaced with shades of biscuit, bluish-gray or brownish-gray. It is fairly lavish, like cotton, more fluffy than silky, and occasionally slightly wavy.

White: Pups that are born pure white experience a color change towards pale yellow after a few days. These markings may remain forever or may even become slightly darker. Dogs like this will eventually be pale champagne-colored.

Ginger: This color is the least desirable. It will lighten only slightly with time and leave large dark ginger-colored markings (this is unsuitable as per the FCI breed standard).

Dark brown: Resulting from a mixture of dark brown and black hairs, this is my favorite color. It normally changes into almost white in mature specimens, but is actually a very pale yellow, visible only in bright sunlight or under strong artificial illumination. You should therefore check the undercoat of such pups; at an age of two months, when the pups are ready to leave their kennel, you will be able to recognize that these markings are becoming lighter.

Black: This is the most difficult color, as it can turn out to be the best if it later turns into a pure white or, conversely, the worst if it stays black or becomes gray. Black markings or a mixture of white and black hairs that produce gray spots, usually on the ears, are tolerated under the FCI standard as long as they do not destroy the overall appearance of a white dog; they are undesirable, however.

« Back to Top

Health and Training

Verbal scolding (firm, not yelling) or clapping your hands may be all that is required to call him to order. If this does not help, more drastic measures may be necessary. For example, if your intention is to keep your Coton from jumping on a chair, you can seize him by the ruff the moment he jumps up. Holding him up, you would then scold him with a very firm "No." The moment he tries to repeat his mistake, you would repeat the same procedure until he eventually associates his behavior with the punishment that follows, and therefore stops the undesirable behavior. Likewise, praise is always in order for proper behavior. Another bad habit in the Coton is his tendency to beg for food. It cannot be emphasized enough that constant nibbling is the major cause of obesity in dogs and can lead to severe health problems. Don’t let your Coton’s pleading eyes cause you to lose your resolve; do not "reward" him with food when he begs, as this will make him think that begging is good behavior. Make sure that everyone in the family knows and follows this rule.

Potential Bad Habits in the Coton

Every single breed of dog can develop bad habits as well as good ones, and the former may not be what we as owners find tolerable. For example, despite his short legs, the Coton is very much able to jump up and play on chairs and upholstered furniture. Even low tables may be scaled with considerable skill. Normally, the dog will have his own "furniture" in the form of a crate, basket or dog bed, and he needs to be taught, without any misunderstanding, what his domain is.

The Coton De Tulear with Children

It is always a pleasurable experience to see that children meet animals with a display of natural, unprejudiced trust. Children just seem to love petting and playing with animals…and kids most often wish for a dog as a companion. Parents must be conscious of their responsibility, toward both their children and the new canine member of the family, if they eventually give in to their kids’ begging and take in a little four-legged companion. The children must be made to understand that a dog is everything but another toy, that the dog is a living being that needs love and feels pain just like they do. The children also must be taught that a dog needs structure and periods of rest in his day-to-day life.

The entire family must be aware of the fact that this little clumsy ball of fluff will soon turn into a full-grown dog, and that the dog’s need for care, love and attention is something that lasts from puppyhood throughout his entire life. The children in the household should therefore be entrusted with smaller tasks, such as feeding, brushing and taking the dog for walks.

« Back to Top

Other Information

Gender Differences

It is always advisable to make a decision about the gender of your dog before setting out to acquire one. The sex is obviously of much greater importance for a future breeder than for a pet owner. In principle, it can be stated that dogs and bitches do not differ substantially with regard to their nature. Both are equally friendly and affectionate. With dogs being more dominant, though, they usually require a firmer hand than bitches. Most bitches experience their first season (heat cycle) between six and ten months of age. From then on, unless the bitch is spayed, the seasonal cycles will occur every six months, with some variation being normal. A season usually lasts for about 21 days in total. The onset of a season is marked by a visible swelling of the vulva in conjunction with a discharge of bloody mucus. As the cycle progresses, the bloody discharge subsides, first becoming pale rosy and then clear. This is usually the case between days 10 and 15. This is also the best period of time if the bitch is to be mated.

If no mating is planned, you need to be extra careful during the bitch’s heat cycle in preventing her from coming into contact with a male dog. Obviously, the bitch is now particularly attractive to any male dog. In order to prevent the bitch from being mated unintentionally, she should always be kept on leash during walks (for any dog’s safety, male or female, the dog should always be on leash during walks, regardless of the time of year!). Pet shops offer protective "panties" that keep the bitch clean during her season, but these offer little protection from a determined male dog. Male dogs usually mature between seven and nine months of age. They then also begin to delineate their territories with scent marks, which come in the form of a few drops of urine here and there. Once a young male dog begins to show this behavior, the owner should be conscientious about training his dog to not lift his leg wherever and whenever he wants to.

« Back to Top