GROUP 1 - TOYS

Brief History
The Coton de Tulear is named because of his coat, which resembles raw cotton, but also because he hails from the seaside town of Tulear, on the island nation of Madagascar, off the South East coast of Africa. He was once the preferred lapdog of nobles of Madagascar. These aristocrats were jealous guardians of their fluffy comic companions, even passing laws that prohibited commoners owning these dogs. The Coton lived in idyllic isolation until the 1960’s, when French tourists discovered this enchanting breed. They were taken back to France where they developed an ardent following and the breed was refined into the Coton de Tulear as we know today.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime.

The average life span is 14 to 19 years.

Temperament
Cotons are stable, very sociable with humans and other dogs, adapting perfectly to many and varied lifestyles. The comical, life loving and outgoing temperament of the Coton de Tulear is paramount.

General Breed Description
The Coton de Tulear, also known as the ‘Royal Dog of Madagascar’, is a hardy, sturdy, small, white, companion dog. The Coton de Tulear is characterised by a natural, long, white, dry, profuse, cotton-like coat and rounded, lively, dark eyes which produce an expressive smile.  They are reasonably long in body.

Coat and Care Requirements
Grooming the Coton puppy is relatively an easy affair. During this time, you should groom him regularly and ensure that he learns to see grooming sessions as a positive time of bonding with his owner. Unless you are going to keep your Coton in a short ‘puppy clip’, your dog will require a great deal of brushing. You must be careful to comb and brush all the way to the skin during daily grooming, or the hair next to the skin will mat. If this matting is too extensive your dog may need to be shaved down.

Size
Height: Males: 26-28cms, Females: 23-25cms

Weight: Males: 4kgs to 6kgs, Females 3.5kgs to 5kgs.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about the breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Coton is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. These may include heart problems, liver shunts, back (disc) problems, and eye complications. Fortunately, these issues are relatively uncommon in the breed.

Suitability
The Coton makes an ideal companion, small, demonstrative and playful.  Most Cotons love meeting new people and are very curious in unexperienced situations. Cotons are easy to train as they are very eager to please. Cotons love to swim, run, and play. They adapt well to any kind of living environment.  However, owners must be willing to devote time to caring for his unique and prolific coat.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs.  With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular, the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/210