Coton de Tulear
From Tulear in Madagascar, where it belonged to the ruling families and nobody else was allowed one. The coat has the texture of raw cotton.
Photo by Pets Adviser from Brooklyn, USA, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Coton de Tulear comes from the port of Tulear in Madagascar, where it was kept by the ruling Merina families and, for a period, forbidden to commoners. The name refers to the coat, which has a genuinely cotton like texture rather than a silky one.
It is one of the longest lived breeds on this shelf, with fifteen to nineteen years a realistic expectation, which is exceptional for any dog.
Temperament
Cheerful, clownish and deeply attached. Cotons are famously good tempered, sociable with strangers and other dogs, and they enjoy performing for attention.
They follow their people from room to room and they are prone to separation anxiety, which is the main behavioural caveat. They are easy to train, soft in temperament, and among the better small breeds for a family with children.
Care and grooming
The cotton textured coat mats readily and needs thorough combing every day or two, plus professional grooming every couple of months. It sheds very little.
The FGF4 retrogene associated with chondrodystrophy and disc disease has been found in this breed, which is worth knowing. Patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy and hip dysplasia also occur.
Living and exercise
Thirty to forty five minutes a day plus play. They suit flats well.
They want company and they are not a breed for a household that is out all day. Given that, they are one of the easiest and longest lived companions available.
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