Coton De Tulear

by Amy Tokic

Published: September 11th, 2013

About Coton De Tulear

Weight

8-13 lb

Lifespan

14-16 years

Group

AKC Non-Sporting Group

Best Suited For

Families with children, singles, seniors, apartments, houses with/without yards

Temperament

Lively, playful, intelligent, affectionate

Comparable Breeds

Bichon Frise, Maltese

Height

9-12 inches

Coton de Tulear Basics

Sweet-natured and sporting a cottony-soft coat, the Coton de Tulear is a delightful companion that will happily become your shadow. Always ready to amuse you with its clownish and entertaining antics, the Coton wants nothing more than to please and be with you at all times.

Armed with a sweet temperament and super cute appearance, the Coton de Tulear is as happy with other animals as it is with people. Your Coton will become attached to you and won’t want to leave you side. He will adapt quickly to your household and lifestyle needs, making him the perfect dog for a variety of people. An indoor dog, he’s also a wonderful pet for apartments and condos. Please read on to learn about this fascinating breed.

Sweet-natured and sporting a cottony-soft coat, the Coton de Tulear is a delightful companion that will happily become your shadow.

Origin

The Coton de Tulear can trace its roots to the island of Madagascar more than three centuries ago. Some say that the Coton’s arrival in Madagascar in due to a shipwreck that had the breed onboard. Named for its cotton-like coat, as well as the seaport city of Tulear (known today as Toliara) in Madagascar, the Coton would accompany ladies on sea voyages and were also used to catch rats on these ships. Known as the “Royal dog of Madagascar,” it was owned by gentry and common folk alike.

In the 1970s, several Cotons were brought to France where their quickly gained popularity. They soon made their way to North America, but are still considered a rare breed.

Pedigree

Several hundred years old, many experts believe that the Coton de Tulear shares ancestry with the Maltese, Bichon Frise, and Havanese.

Food / Diet

It’s important to feed your Coton de Tulear small, dry kibble from the start. Check the bag to see that the food includes high quality ingredients. Depending on what food you buy, your Coton will need about 3/4 cup of kibble daily, divided into two meals.

The Coton de Tulear is a real people-pleaser and he’ll want to please you when it comes to training.

Training

The Coton de Tulear is a real people-pleaser and he’ll want to please you when it comes to training. Because this breed is intelligent, you’ll find that your Coton picks up on basic training quickly. Use positive training techniques and be sure to reward him with praise, play, and treats. After the basics have been mastered, move on to other challenges, such as agility training, doggy dancing and tracking exercises.

Although they are easily trained, the Coton can have issues picking up the finer points of house-breaking. Crate training will help your dog learn where it’s okay to do his business.

Weight

A small breed, the Coton de Tulear weight ranges from 8 to 13 pounds.

Temperament / Behavior

Happy and boisterous, the Coton de Tulear wants nothing more than to please his people. He’ll form strong bonds with his family, which means he can’t be separated from them for too long. This can lead to separation anxiety.

Your Coton can be quite clownish. They can walk on their hind legs and often cock their heads to one side when listening. This is also a vocal breed – your Coton will talk to you with grunts and growls, and likes when you carry on a conversation with him.

Even though they look like fluffly, delicate stuffed animals, Cotons are hardy dogs that like to rough-and-tumble. And because of his small size (and his sea-faring past), he enjoys travel.

The Coton loves kids of all ages. He’ll play happily play with children – catch is a favorite pastime. This breed also gets along well with other animals in the household or that he meets at the dog park.

Common Health Problems

The Coton de Tulear is a relatively health breed. There are a few issues seen in this breed, but they are not widespread. These include Neo-Natal Ataxia, Luxating patellas, Hip Dysplasia and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Life Expectancy

The Coton de Tulear has an average lifespan of 13 to 16 years.

Exercise Requirements

The Coton de Tulear’s exercise needs aren’t excessive. A daily walk will suffice his needs. He also loves to play, so expect him to bring you a toy for a fun-filled game of fetch. He can play indoors or out, as long as he’s in a fenced-in yard. This dog works well in smaller spaces, as long as you’re playing with him and taking him out for walks.

Happy and boisterous, the Coton de Tulear wants nothing more than to please his people.

AKC

The Coton de Tulear is being recorded in the AKC Foundation Stock Service. The AKC provides this service to allow purebred breeds to continue to develop while providing them with the security of a reliable and reputable avenue to maintain their records. FSS® breeds are not eligible for AKC registration. Several of the FSS breeds are approved to compete in AKC Companion Events and AKC Performance Events.

Coat

The Coton de Tulear’s coat is cotton-like, and should be long, soft, supple and dense. It can grow to be 4 inches in length, once they reach adulthood.

The main color on this breed’s coat is white, with slight shadings of grey or red-roan (mixture of white and fawn hair) on the ears. Many puppies are born with black or brown markings on their faces and bodies. These markings usually fade to grey or light-brown after about 2 years. However, black or brown patches can remain quite dark throughout the dog’s life.

The Coton doesn’t shed much, but will need to be brushed three or four times a week. This will help cut down on matting.

Puppies

Your Coton de Tulear puppy will be absolutely adorable. But that’s no reason why you should let him always have his way. Start socialization and training early, so your Coton can adapt to new situations and learn who the leader in your household is. Since this is a small dog, children should be careful when around these puppies.

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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The dreaded nail clippers – a source of stress and occasional doggy drama in our home as well as for many dog parents. You see, our youngest pup, Lucifer, and I have been on quite the journey to conquer his fear of nail trimming. If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, you know the struggle all too well!But fear not, because in this article, I’m sharing our personal tale of progress and a toolkit of tips we’ve picked up along the way to help overcome your dog’s fear of nail clipping.So, let’s swap nail-trimming anxiety for confidence and cooperation, one paw at a time.Why Does My Dog Hate Nail Trims?The first step to overcoming a fear of nail trims is understanding why the sight of nail clippers is a source of anxiety for your dog. After all, the clippers themselves aren’t frightening or intimidating.For many dogs, the fear of having their nails cut is rooted in a desire to protect their paws. This is a survival instinct, as they need their paws to survive in the wild, both to escape predators and be able to catch food. They haven’t been taught that the process of having their nails cut or their paws handled isn’t going to cause harm.If your dog was previously okay with having their nails trimmed and suddenly changes their mind and lashes out when you try, this is a sign of trouble. Have you recently cut your dog`s nail and accidentally nicked the quick of the nail? If so, your dog may associate the experience with the pain and discomfort they felt at that moment.This could also indicate that your dog feels pain in their leg or paw. Watch for other signs of distress or discomfort, like lameness, limping, or excessively licking the area. If you suspect your dog is in pain or if your dog has shown a behavior change that you can’t otherwise explain, contact your veterinarian. They can run the tests necessary to help diagnose the problem and recommend ways to provide effective pain relief.For us, with Lucifer, we are overcoming a reaction due to previous pain. He suffered injuries to his front paws before he was rescued and adopted out to us as a puppy. While we have worked with specialists to help him heal and move on from these injuries, he is still more protective of his paws and dislikes having them handled. What Happens if You Wait Too Long to Cut Dog Nails?Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed and cared for is an integral part of grooming. How often you need to trim their nails will vary, depending on their breed, age, and lifestyle. Some dogs will naturally wear down their nails from walking and running on rough surfaces, as they would in the wild, while others don’t engage in these activities frequently enough to keep up with nail growth.When a dog’s nails become overgrown, they interfere with their ability to stand and walk properly, reducing traction and potentially causing injuries in their feet and tendons. This is because the nails contact the floor before their paw pads. Over time, this can also lead to long-term injuries, deformities in the paw or leg, or arthritis. This can also cause older dogs to slip and fall due to losing traction and unsteadiness on their feet.

Can I Use Human Hair Shampoo to Wash My Dog?

Making sure your pet’s hygiene is up to standards is an important thing, but you have to be careful about how you go about it. There aren’t a lot of important rules to consider when doggo baths are considered, but you should pay special attention to the type of shampoo that you use. If you are all out of pet shampoo, and you are thinking that a little bit of human shampoo won’t make a difference – think again. Using human hair shampoo on your dog is not recommended, and the reasons for this are many, including negative effects on your pet’s overall health and the quality of their skin and coat. Here’s what you should know before you reach for your shampoo when bathing your pooch.Why You Shouldn’t Use Human Shampoo On DogsThe first and foremost thing you have to consider is pH balance. Human shampoos are formulated to match the pH level of human skin. However, that level is totally different for dogs. Because of this, human shampoo can greatly disrupt the natural pH levels of a dog’s skin, ultimately leading to rashes, irritation, and skin diseases. And the same goes for the ingredients in that shampoo.  Dog shampoos have totally different ingredients compared to human shampoos. The latter has many chemicals that are considered too harsh for dogs. Dogs are prone to skin allergies and sensitivities, and some of the ingredients in human shampoos could make these issues much worse. The allergies can also be triggered by the strong fragrances of human-grade shampoos, which dogs can’t really stand. You should also take into account that a dog’s coat and human hair are totally different. While human shampoos are meant to lather well on hair, they’ll be too soapy for dogs. Rinsing out human shampoo from a dog can be a challenge, and a lot of chemicals can stay trapped in the coat and absorbed through the skin. Ultimately, all of this can leave your dog’s coat damaged, their skin irritated, and their health vulnerable to viruses and skin-borne infections. 

Can You Prevent Joint Pain in Dogs?

As dogs near their golden years, different health issues tend to pop up – sometimes completely out of the blue, and sometimes a little less unexpectedly. One of the more common health problems dogs experience as they age that can be predicted fairly easily and as such prevented on time are joint issues. Providing proper support for your dog while they are still young and agile can dramatically improve their quality of life later on, so it pays to start thinking ahead when it comes to joint health, especially if your pet is in a high-risk group for developing this type of problem (large breed dogs, working breeds, highly active dogs, etc). Here’s what you need to know to make sure your pet doesn’t suffer from joint pain in their senior years.5 Crucial Steps to Prevent Joint Pain in DogsWhile some factors contributing to joint pain are beyond our control, there are different proactive steps we can take to support our pet's joint health:#1 Maintain a Healthy WeightJust as in humans, obesity in dogs exacerbates joint strain and can accelerate the onset of joint problems. A balanced diet will go a long way in helping your pet maintain a healthy weight, so strive to ensure they are getting only quality food that is based mostly on protein and doesn’t contain unhealthy fats and too many fillers such as soy or corn.#2 Provide Regular ExerciseModerate, low-impact exercise helps keep joints limber and muscles strong. However, be mindful of your dog's limitations, as pushing them too far can end up being counterproductive. Activities like swimming and walks are excellent choices, just make sure to tailor the pace to your pet’s capabilities.#3 Quality Supplementation Providing a diet rich in essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin, supports joint health. However, even when feeding a good quality kibble, it’s not always feasible to rely on your pet’s diet alone to be enough to provide all of these joint-nurturing ingredients in the right ratio. This is where dog joint supplements come in to enrich your pet’s diet with specific nutrients. 

Do Dogs Experience Grief?

Anyone who has ever shared their heart and home with a dog can attest to how deep the emotional connection we form with our best friends is. It is this bond that makes saying goodbye so difficult. But are we the only ones experiencing this pain?If you have recently experienced the passing of a pet or family member and noticed your dog acting a little differently, you may be wondering – Do dogs experience grief, too?In this article, we will dig into the truth about canine emotions and canine grief. This includes understanding what grief means to your dog, learning to recognize the signs that they may be mourning and tips for helping your best friend navigate this difficult time.Do Dogs Experience Grief or Mourning?The short answer is yes, dogs do grieve the loss of a person or animal in their lives. In a 2022 study led by Dr. Federica Pirrone, a veterinary physiologist at the University of Milan, 86% of dog owners reported that they saw a change in behavior in their surviving dog after losing a companion.Our dogs form close bonds with one another and with us. This can be seen both in wild dogs, with the relationships that exist between pack members, as well as the domesticated dogs of today.While they can’t tell us how they are feeling (although we wish they could), dog parents often witness physical and behavioral changes that indicate something is “off” for their dog following a loss. This occurs when a family member (human or pet) passes or even if a family member moves away like a child moving out of the family home.Recognizing that our dogs also go through a grieving process allows us to take steps to help our beloved furry friends deal with this difficult time.

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