| The Coton de Tulear (pronounced co-tawn-day-two-lee-are) is a rare breed. The Coton earned it's name from it's cotton like coat and from the port city of Tulear also known as Toliara, in Madagascar. Madagascar is an island located off the east coast of Africa, not far below the equator. Port Tulear is on the southwestern coast of Madagascar. See map for more detail. Cotons are a small dog, typically weighing between 10 to 14 pounds. Most Cotons are all white, but can be Tri-Color as well. A Tri colored puppy will generally lose their color and turn all white except the tips of the hair usually on the ears. They are strictly a companion dog and are extremely devoted to their families. They have a natural desire to please their master, this gives them their devoted nature. I would NOT recommend a Coton as an appropriate breed for a family that is away from home most of the time.
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| History
The following is a copy of the history of the Coton de Tulear written by Cory Williams for the AKC's web site.
The history of the Coton de Tulear is poorly documented. But, the most popular belief is that they are descendants of dogs who survived an ancient shipwreck near the Madagascar coast. Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, and lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. The little white dogs who are believed to have swum ashore to the port of Tulear were Coton de Reunions; a breed that is now extinct. The dogs settled on the island and bred with the local terriers resulting in what we now know as the Coton de Tulear.
During the 17th century, the Merina, who were the ruling tribal monarchy in Madagascar closely controlled the breed. They forbid both coastal tribesmen and non-noblemen from owning the dog. The Coton became known as the “Royal Dog of Madagascar.” Later, conquering French colonists adopted the dog as well, and only those persons in the top echelon of society were allowed to own a Coton de Tulear. Political and economic crises in Madagascar now threaten the dog with extinction in its own native land.
Another version is that Cotons walked ashore on gangplanks in Saint Augustin’s Bay near Tulear during the pirate and slave trading days. Cotons are rumored to have been regular cargo between Reunion and Madagascar, along with other exotica.
The Coton was honored on a Madagascar postage stamp in1974. Also in 1974, Dr. Robert Jay Russell, a biologist studying Madagascar’s lemurs, sent Coton breeding stock to America. Three years later they were introduced in Europe. The dogs were enthusiastically received, and are quickly becoming one of the fastest growing rare breeds in America and Europe.
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Coats
A Coton's coat is hair, not fur, and fairly easy to groom although it does require frequent brushing. The coat stops growing at about four to six inches in length. A short cut is nice during the summer months, or if you are too busy for daily grooming. To keep mats away, I recommend brushing atleast three to four times a week. Brushing usually takes between 15 minutes to an hour depending upon how often you do it, and the thickness of your dog's coat. Because the coat is hair and not fur, there is the added benefit of very little or no doggy odor from your pet. You can also bathe them less frequently than a normal dog. My dogs have rolled in the dirt and left to dry and the dirt just falls out for the most part. Many people have said they are not allergic to Cotons . One of the best characteristics of a Coton's coat is that they shed very little, even though a Coton has a long coat. Under NO circumstances should a Coton become an outdoor dog.
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Personality and Appearance
Cotons are very intelligent dogs and are often easy to train if you spend the appropriate amount of time with them. They have round black eyes, and have the appearance of a smile. Their lips and nose are black, and they have a medium-length muzzle. Cotons are known for their wonderful temperament, with humans and other animals. Any breed can develop bad habits without proper guidance, but an intelligent owner can easily train their dog or puppy to adapt well to their particular living conditions. In my opinion, Cotons are the perfect dog, but they still are a dog, and one shouldn't have unreasonable expectations.
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| "I am Gabriel" |
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Cost
Cotons from a reputable are expensive. I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. They are well known for their fabulous characteristics and at times can be hard to find as they are rare. An important thing to remember is that your dog will be an integral part of your family for 16-19 years. Cotons live very long lives, and since health problems are not typical, the price is justifiable. In effect, you can not put a price on the joy you will receive from your Coton and the many years he or she will add to your family. Buying a cheap Coton from an disreputable breeder could very well cost you more in the long run if health issues arise.
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| Tango and Cha-Cha - 2 weeks old |
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Cost
Cotons from a reputable are expensive. I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. They are well known for their fabulous characteristics and at times can be hard to find as they are rare. An important thing to remember is that your dog will be an integral part of your family for 16-19 years. Cotons live very long lives, and since health problems are not typical, the price is justifiable. In effect, you can not put a price on the joy you will receive from your Coton and the many years he or she will add to your family. Buying a cheap Coton from an disreputable breeder could very well cost you more in the long run if health issues arise.
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Breed Clubs
There are several different breed clubs that you can belong to upon acceptance of your Coton. Most of the breed clubs offer a combination of newsletters, magazines, and chat groups that are interesting and informative, and much of the information is free online. Amazing Grace Coton puppies carry certified pedigrees from the United Kennel Club (UKC) or the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service (AKC-FSS), which is their registry for rare breed dogs. My dogs pedigrees can be obtained by emailing me personally with a request. I will not post my pedigrees online as often times puppy mills will use it as their own.
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