The Coton de Tulear is a very healthy, small, sturdy, purebred dog with a very soft medium-to-long stunning cotton coat, not fur, that doesn’t smell or shed. Coton’s have large warm black-rimmed soft dark coloured expressive eyes, prominent black nose and mouth, high set triangular ears with a strong neck. They have small arched feet with black pads, strong slightly arched topline (back) and a low-set tail carried over their back in motion and down at rest.

The Coton is a cute, cuddly, loveable, intelligent, affectionate playful dog that loves to have a chat. Eager to please, the Coton de Tulear adapts to any kind of environment, equally at home in an apartment, backyard or on a boat. Famous for their temperament they are known as the ‘anti-stress’ dog or’ clown dog’, the Coton is always smiling and winning hearts where-ever they go. This long-lived playful dog loves children, make excellent baby sitters, and gets on with other pets, perfect for families who want to be loved. What’s not so well known is their guardian nature, they’ll never leave your side, and, if necessary, they will keep you safe. The Coton, bred as a companion dog dating back to the 14th Century, is involved in Pet Therapy, Pet Assistance, Obedience, Tricks, Agility and Conformation Show Ring and make a wonderful loving member of the family.

This rare, special and intelligent breed is highly biddable and loves to please, making the Coton de Tulear easy to train. Check out what Sylvia and Mean’t To Be achieved within just 2 to 4 weeks of training.

YES, the Coton de Tulear comes in colour! Coton de Tulear’s are predominately white, however they also have a white champagne coloured coat and a white coat with champagne and silver-grey strands in their ears, tails and around their eyes. Often puppies are born with champagne losing this colouring during puppy coat change due to the Coton’s’ whitening gene.

Like humans Coton’s release strands of hair which stays in their coat. Like humans their coat needs brushing to remove these loose strands otherwise the coat can become matted. They need daily brushing during puppy coat change (approx. 6-12 months.) As this can be a challenge some families clip their Coton’s coat into a puppy clip and keep them at this length like Luna shown here. The full-length adult coat is brushed 1-2 times weekly. They don’t smell so great for allergy sufferers and can be bathed weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Douglas, living in Melbourne, goes to the groomer monthly for a brush, bath and a coat and nail clip. After a roll in the mud the wash and wear coat dries leaving a fluffy white soft cotton coat.

Perfect companion! Ready to go anywhere snowboarding, fishing, swimming, sharing lattes/cups of tea or snoozing. Although they don’t require much exercise Cotons are very social dogs who enjoy being with their family at home or out and about. Originating from 14th Century Port Tulear, the Royal Dog of Madagascar’s hereditary roots, as a companion dog, makes this breed the perfect pet, famous for their intelligence they problem solve on their own and learn routines and patterns quickly.