small Breed Dogs
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Coton de Tulear
Average Weight Males: 8.8-13.2 lbs (3.99 - 5.98 kg) 
Average Weight Females: 7.7-11 lbs. (3.49 -4.99 kg)
 Average Height Males: 10-12.5  inches (25.4 - 31.75 cm)
Average Height Females: 8.5 - 11  inches (21.6 - 27.94 cm)
Pronounced: KO-Tone  Dee   TOO-Lay-ARE
Group:  Miscellaneous
Life Span: 16 Years
Average Litter: 5
Origin: Island of Madagascar off the south east coast of Africa

Description

 The precious Coton de Tulear, often misspelled cotton de tulear are currently considered a rare breed by the AKC and for this reason are part of the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS), which registers rare breeds.

They are sweet, small and long haired, with a soft and fluffy coat that does feel like cotton. 

The eyes are rather rounded, dark and wide apart.  The ears hang down (pendulous) and are high set.

Color Information

The base color is always white, however there may be slight shadings of light gray or red roan on the ears.  He eyelids always match the pigmentation of the nose and are either black or brown.

Personality

Coton de Tulear dogs thrive on love and companionship.  They never grow tired of TLC.  Very lively and always ready to play, this dog seldom tires and likes to jump around to attract attention.  Very much an indoor dog, he is a wonderful watchdog, always on alert to let you know if people come close to the home.  He has very keen hearing and is very protective of his human family members and his house.

Origin & History

Small white dogs arrived in Madagascar, a small island of of the south east coast of Africa, in the 15th century via sailing ships heading to the West Indies.  Sometimes, women traveled on these ships and their little dogs accompanied them.  There is an undocumented story that some of these small white dogs survived a shipwreck near Tulear, a small seaport at the southern tip of the island.  These eventually bred with local dogs, creating this amazing breed that we know today.

The breed soon became a favorite of nobles and was called "the Royal Dog of Madagascar".  The Coton de Tulear has only been recognized since 1971, when a Frenchman began to establish the breed in France.  Considered very rare, the AKC has yet to officially recognized the breed, yet has entered this dog as part of the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS), which registers rare breeds.

Health

Coton de Tulear dogs are seldom ill and have a good average life span of 16 years.  Some health issues to keep an eye on are:
  • Neo-natal ataxia - Also called Bandera's syndrome, this is a seemingly inherited condition which often will strike a young puppy; causing uncoordinated movements and possible tremors.  It is neither progressive nor treatable.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy - An eye condition
  • Patella luxation - dislocation of the kneecap
  • Hip dysplasia - dislocation of the hip's socket and joint

Exercise

Enjoying a walk each day, this small breed dog does not mind playing in the rain or snow, but the coat must always be dried off very thoroughly.  Active and loving attention, a Coton de Tulear puppy or dog will always be ready to play a game.

Grooming

The coat should be gently brushed with a pin brush (without balls on the tips) 3 -4 times per week.  Particular attention should be paid to to coat care when the change from puppy to adult coat begins. At what age does a Coton de Tulear change from puppy coat to adult coat? At the age of 9- 14 months. 

The frequency of bathing is every 2 weeks and speical care should be taken to make sure that hypoallergenic, canine shampoo and conditioner is used.

Shedding

Shedding is very light and most hairs do not fall to the ground, as they simply fall back into the dog's coat. For this reason, brushing must be done as stated above or else the loose hairs will become tangled and form matts.

Care & Training

 This breed generally does very well with all types of training including housebreaking, command and behavioral if shown what to do in a loving and patience manner.       Owners - Click Here for More Detailed Information
             
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