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| A rare member of the Bichon family, the Coton de Tulear (co-tawn day to-lee-are) is from the island of Madagascar where they were once considered so precious that only the royalty and the nobility of the island were allowed to own one. Their life span is 16-19 years. Character Cotons have a sweet and loving personality, and are a devoted companion for all ages. They are energetic and clownlike, yet docile and affectionate at other times. They are slow to anger and have never been known to bite a human. The Coton will alert you if a stranger approaches. Size and Weight Male size: 11 - 12 5/8 inches maximum, 9 7/8 iches minimum Female size: 9 7/8 - 11 inches maximum, 8 5/8 minimum Male weight: 8.8 -13.2 lb.'s Female weight: 7.7 -11 lb.'s "The weights are proportional in relation to the size but must not exceed the maximum" These figuers are based on FCI standard. Appearance Coton de Tulears have a sweet, cuddly, teddy bear look with dark round expression-filled eyes, they resemble something like a miniature sheepdog. Coat and Grooming Cotons have a fine, slighty wavy coat that has a cottony texture and is 4-6 inches long. It's dry, wind-tossed coat is said to be more like hair than fur and has no doggy odor. Cotons shed little so it is an excellent choice for those who suffer from allergies, or for those who don't want dog hair everywhere. Their coat is one of the easiest to maintain of any of the long-haired breeds. Cotons need to be brused and/or combed once or twice a week once they reach adulthood. The most effective technique used to groom a Coton is 'line brushing.' Between the ages of 6-9 months the adult coat will begin to come in. It is then recommended that the dog be brushed daily or every other day until the adult coat is fully in at around 12 months. Coloring Cotons are predominately white but some will have color that can be yellow, a mixture of yellow and black, or a dusting of black that gives the appearance of grey. Some Coton pups are born with heavy markings on the head and on the body, but these marking will fade with the emergence of the adult coat leaving only a dusting of color, 'notably on the ears are tolerated'. It is disqualification for an adult show dog to exhibit strong dark markings of brown/yellow or black. Exercise While the Coton loves to romp and play outside with their owners they are best suited to stay indoors and should never be left outside unsupervised. Because they only need a moderate amount of exercise, they are great for apartment dwellers. Exotic Origins A romantic legend of the Coton's beginnings states that there were once small white dogs that were the companions of sailors back in the 15th or 16th century. Their sailing ship was caught in a terrible hurricane and was sunk off the coast of Madagascar. The only surviors of this doomed ship to swim ashore were the little white dogs. These dogs then bred with the local terriers of the island. Over the years they emerged what we now know today as the Coton de Tulear. |
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