COTON DE TULEAR

History and characteristics

Cottons of Tulear, cotons, are originally from Madagascar. Some say, these little dogs were used to distract the crocodiles while people crossed the rives and from that some of these little dogs are still easily splashing the water with their paws. Too large a water bowl, and you might get a flood in your floors.

These cotons are small sized family dogs. Cotons are captivating little white dogs with a buffy cotton like fur. Cotons hardly loose any hair and it doesn't smell typically "doggy". Cotons also are not so allergenic, because they don't usually flake as much as most dogs. It takes daily about ten to twenty minutes to keep the fur beautiful and without any tangles.

Cotons keeps the stress away. They are unbelievably nice natured and they are devoted to their own people. They are energetic dogs that will find joy from every season. Cotons usually live a long life, age approximately 16 years. Too much refined cotons can have some health problems, but not as much as breed refined longer. When you are buying a coton you should check the breeder, what health checks they do with their dogs before they start planning to make puppies.

Probably the most important characteristic in cotons is its behaviour. Cotons are intelligent, easy to train and loving, loyal to their human family. Cotons are lively, brisk and vivid companions. Coton also loves food. Coton doesn't get angry easily, so it's also suitable to the family with little kids. Cotons rarely bark without reason, but they surely allert you with barking, if it notices someone in their own yard or when the doorbell rings. Cotons are little carefull with stranges and it may take awile to make new friends.

When you sit, little coton can crawl into your lap or comes to rest nearby. Cotons wants to be near their owners all the time and follow them around the house or the yard. Cotons are peaceful, have a healthy self-esteem, which also enjoys other pets' (dogs or cats) and kids' attention. Cotons comes along with much larger pets, too. These are little dogs with a large ego. Cotons can smile and often does. They are happy, beautiful, friendly, small sized, clowny and healthy balls of joy. Coton keeps its puppyish joy through its life, often walking with its back legs, jumping and hurrying from place to place keeping little grunting sounds. When cotons are not having any attention, they just happily go into sleep.

Coton de Tulear is like a miniature Old English Sheepdog, eyes covered with fur. Cotons weight about 5-7 kg and are about 30 cm in height. Most cotons are mainly white, but the ears can be champaign, brown, grey or cream by colour. Cotons are born either whole white or with white base with a champaign or black in the ears and some in tricolour. Spots of colour can be in other than in the ears, but these spots usually disappears totally or at least fades when the dog ages. Browns fades to cream, black into grey. Usually these colours are fading so much the adult dog seems to be totally white.

Adult coton doesn't drop its fur around your house. Loose hairs are mainly waiting in the fur for you to remove them. Most cotons doesn't loose practically a hair, if the dog is castrated. Loosing of hair happens mostly when the dog is having some hormonal changes. Though you can't expect totally to keep the hair away from your house, all dogs drop some.

Cotons fur is relatively easy to handle compared to some other long haired breeds. Fur is easy to keep stylish and beautiful with a daily brushing. Cotons fur is soft and it should be looking windblown and natural. Show-cotons fur should not be cut or trim in any way. Only places acceptable to cut are these paws.

Coton de Tulear is a joy of the family. It most surely will bring the smile into their owners faces and takes their heart - completely! Coton is a pet for all ages.