Coton De Tulear
“Coton” is the French word for cotton. Like the name suggests, the most conspicuous feature of the Coton de Tulear is its coat, which is cottony or fluffy rather than silky. It has a long topcoat. The fluffy hair covers the thin, lightly-muscled forelegs. Colors come in white and black, and white and tri-colored. (White is preferred by show breeders.) Some have slightly yellowish markings on the ears. Cotons are happy dogs that thrive on human companionship. Puppy kindergarten and obedience training are recommended. They should not be left unattended for long periods of time. They are extremely sturdy and versatile, excelling in all types of dog activities, from agility to therapy. The breed gets along well with other dogs, cats and children provided that proper socialization is given. The Coton de Tulear originates from the island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The breed derives its name from the French word coton, meaning "cotton," and from the Madagascan port of Tulear. Tulear was once a popular port of merchant ships sailing the Indian Ocean, and it is believed that around the 15th or 16th century, European merchants introduced various Bichon-type companion dogs to Madagascar. It is probable that the breed evolved from the interbreeding of those Bichon strains. It is presumed that because of their beauty and affectionate personality, these dogs were offered to the King and Malagasy nobles. In the 17th century, the Coton de Tulear was adopted by the ruling "Merina" tribal monarchy, and it was forbidden that anyone other than royalty own the breed. Thus became the breed's prevalent title of "Royal Dog of Madagascar." The Coton de Tulear was officially recognized by the AKC in 2014.
| Trainability: | 5 stars Easy Training: The Coton de Tulear is intelligent, making it a quick learner, but it can be a bit stubborn. It thrives on its master’s approval, so a praise-based approach, rather than punishment, should be employed. |
| Weight: | 12-15 pounds (5.5-7 kg) |
| 01: | Max |
| 05: | Jake |
| Litter Size: | 4-6 puppies |
| Origin: | Madagascar |
| 02: | Cooper |
| 04: | Oliver |
| Popularity: | 2022: #84 2021: #83 2020: #80 2019: #81 2018: #81 2017: #81 2016: #80 2015: #85 |
| Stranger Friendly: | 4 stars |
| Grooming: | 5 stars High Maintenance: The Coton de Tulear’s unique coat requires a substantial time investment. It must be brushed thoroughly each day and bathed several times a year. It should not be clipped. |
| Puppy Prices: | Average $1500 - $2500 USD Usually, the Coton de Tulear puppy price range is $1,500 to $2,500 for a standard quality dog. As for the purebred puppy price, you're looking at between $3,000 and $4,000. Pricing is going to depend on not only your area, but where the breeder lives, if shipping needs to be done, and if the parents are registered / champions or not. |
| 03: | Charlie |
| 09: | Sam |
| 10: | Louie |
| Dog Friendly: | 4 stars |
| Size: | Small |
| Type: | Purebred |
| Breed Group: | Non Sporting (AKC:2014) Companion (UKC) |
| Child Friendly: | 4 stars Good with Kids: This is a suitable breed for kids and is known to be playful, energetic, and affectionate around them. |
| Rank: | Boy Names |
| Shedding Level: | 2 stars Like poodles, they do not "shed", meaning they don't drop hair on furniture, carpeting, etc. They do lose hair; the texture of their coat causes the shed hair to be trapped in the coat. If not brushed and combed daily, the fur of this breed will mat up quickly and may require shaving. |
| 07: | Milo |
| Health Issues: | 3 stars Hypoallergenic: Yes |
| Name: | Coton De Tulear |
| Life span: | 14-16 years |
| Temperament: | Affectionate Intelligent Lively Playful Trainable Vocal |
| Watchdog Ability: | 3 stars |
| 06: | Cody |
| Adaptability: | 5 stars |
| Apartment Friendly: | 5 stars The Coton is good for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. |
| Cat Friendly: | 5 stars |
| 08: | Riley |
| Barking Tendencies: | 3 stars Occassional |
| Other names: | Coton, Cotie |
| Playfulness: | 4 stars |
| Colors: | White |
| Exercise Needs: | 3 stars Cotons like to swim and play. They enjoy wide open spaces and can follow their masters on horseback for many miles. They do well in various areas of dog sports, such as agility skills trials and catch. As active as they are, they will adapt well to the family's situation, so long as they are taken for a daily walk. |
| Height: | 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) |
| Intelligence: | 3 stars Ranking: #60 Full Ranking List |