A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear is a small companion with a cotton-like coat and a typically lively, people-oriented manner. Introduce thorough brushing early and decide how to manage the adult coat before it becomes long and dense.
An everyday routine
Plan a daily mix of walks, play, and rest. The amount that works for a particular dog depends on age, fitness, experience, and temperament.
Coat care to plan for
Coat care is a meaningful part of the weekly commitment. Agree on a manageable trim or coat-care method with an experienced groomer and keep up with maintenance between appointments.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Coton de Tulear questions
Do Coton de Tulears shed?
Very little, and mostly in spring. The cost is brushing. Unless the coat is kept in a short clip, it needs daily brushing all the way to the skin, because hair that mats close to the body may have to be shaved off.
Are Coton de Tulears hypoallergenic?
No dog is completely hypoallergenic. The Coton is among the low-shedding breeds that can be a better fit for some people with allergies. Reactions vary from person to person, so spend time around a Coton before you commit.
How big does a full-grown Coton de Tulear get?
Males stand 10 to 11 inches tall and weigh 9 to 15 pounds, and females stand 9 to 10 inches and weigh 8 to 13 pounds. The Coton is a sturdy little dog that should never look fragile.
How long do Coton de Tulears live?
Cotons typically live 15 to 19 years, which is long even for a small breed. That is a breed-wide figure, not a prediction for one dog.
Do Coton de Tulears bark a lot?
Usually not. Cotons are at the quiet end of the barking scale and mostly bark to alert. What the breed is known for instead is talking. Cotons make unique vocalizations, including grunting, growly sounds to their people that are not really barking.
How do you pronounce Coton de Tulear, and where does the name come from?
The pronunciation is "Ko-Ton de Two-lay-air." Coton is French for cotton, after the soft coat, and Tulear is a port town in Madagascar, where these dogs were companions of the island's nobles. The breed reached Europe in the 1960s and the first Cotons were registered in the United States in 2014.
Are Coton de Tulear puppies always white?
Not always. The adult coat is white, with only slight light tan shading allowed, but puppies under 12 months may carry tan, brown, chestnut or grey patches on the head and body. Those colors can fade by about a year old. Black on the body is a disqualification in the show ring at any age.
How much exercise does a Coton de Tulear need?
A moderate amount. This is a fairly active dog that stays in good condition with daily walks at an easy pace plus some play, such as chasing a ball. A bored Coton can turn destructive, so attention from you and a supply of interesting toys matter as much as mileage.
