Brief history

The Coton De Tulear is an adorable dog breed that hails from the beautiful island of Madagascar and from the looks of it this dog has a Maltese and Bichon Frise as its relatives. This dog breed is proudly exported by the island and it came to be four hundred years ago. 

Rumour has it that the Coton De Tulear were pets who accompanied the elite ladies on long voyages at sea and they were found on the Madagascar beach after a shipwreck. This dog breed soon found solace in beautiful Madagascar. 

Years passed and Madagascar got a French visitor who took back some Coton De Tulears to France and focused on developing the breed further. This was in the ’70s and it wasn’t long until North America had some Cotons of its own courtesy of migration. 

Temperament

The Coton is a people pleaser. It lives for the affection of its master and hence it does all in its power to be in his/her good graces. They are generally happy dogs, boisterous in all their doings, however, they can develop separation anxiety when left unattended for long periods. 

They are smart breeds and are easy to train. Cotons bark ceremoniously, either at the sound of a doorbell or during playful activities. They are playful and are not hostile, hence they aren’t great as watch or security dogs either. 

Environment

This dog breed thrives in a loving environment. Apartment living suits them perfectly as they aren’t so much of farm dogs. On the other hand, they can still function in properties that have a yard, however, it needs to be fenced round to prevent him from straying. 

Cotons handle both weather extremities fairly well and they are well suited for novice owners. They’re fairly easy to train and do not require loads of activity so a house with proximity to the park may not be mandatory for this dog breed.

Exercise

Cotons do not have a need for an intensive workout or exercise session. They have fair energy levels and may just require casual walks every now and then. However, they are very playful and may just tire eventually, which is why they’re great for large families with loads of kids. 

However, in the event of non-exerted energies, cotons may become mouthy and chew up items within its reach. To avoid this, you can go for little exercises like fetch as they’re obedient dogs.

Grooming

Their ball of cotton fur mats easily and very often, hence daily brushing is recommended. The more often you brush the less likely he’ll need a shower. However, their white cotton-like fur makes dirt very visible hence they may need a bath weekly, bi-weekly or monthly depending on the dirt levels. 

Whitening shampoos are recommended for dogs with white fur. Pat your Coton dry after a shower and do not rub with a towel as his fur will easily knot. Your coton’s teeth should be brushed twice a week and his nails trimmed twice a month. Cotons are hypoallergenic dogs and they’re mostly for owners with allergies.

10 Frequently Asked Questions About the Coton De Tulear