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Coton De Tulear Facts
- Group
- Other Breed Classes
- Affiliations
- AKC, UKC
- Height
- 8.5" - 12.5"
- Weight
- 8-12 lbs.
- Lifespan
- 14 years | Add yours
- Exercise Requirement
- Training Requirement
- Grooming Requirement
- Colors
- Breed Characteristics
Alternate Names
Royal dog of Madagascar
Origin
This breed originated in Madagascar.
Date Of Origin
The breed developed in the 16th century.
History
Much like its cousin the Bichon, the Coton de Tulear was a companion dog to sailors and pirates. The Coton de Tulear developed on the Island of Madagascar and is still the island's national dog. The Coton's ancestors were brought to Madagascar in the 16th and 17th centuries aboard pirate ships. Madagascar was a haven for pirates, and pirate graveyards can still be seen there. Pirates established the only democratic kingdom for themselves on St. Mary's Island, Madagascar and took Malagasy wives. Whether the dogs were brought along to control rats on the ships, as companions for long voyages, or were confiscated from other ships as booty no one knows. Tulear is a port now also known as Toliara. The Coton is of the Bichon dog type, linked most closely to the now-extinct Bichon Tenerife, and Tenerife Terrier. There have been many stories circulating about the history of the Coton in recent years. Most of them are untrue. The Coton de Tulear was never feral on Madagascar. It did not hunt wild boar or alligators, as its size, strength, and demeanor can disprove easily. It was a companion dog of the Merina (the ruling tribe) in Madagascar. It has very little prey drive, and is not a hunting dog.
The cottony coat may be the result of a single gene mutation. This small, friendly dog caught the fancy of the Malagasy royalty and they were the only people allowed to keep Cotons. When Dr. Robert Jay Russell discovered the breed in Madagascar in 1973 and brought the first ones to America, he coined the phrase the Royal Dog of Madagascar and the name stuck. They were also imported occasionally into France by returning French colonists but weren't officially imported to Europe until the 1970's.
Description
The coton is a small, well muscled dog. It has dark, round eyes and a large, black nose. There are triangular, drop ears, and a medium length, low-set tail. It has a medium length, soft, dense, cotton like coat, for which it was named (coton is french for cotton).
Temperament
The coton is a cheerful, agreeable dog that gets along with almost everyone but is especially bonded with its family. It is friendly with children, strangers and other animals. It is playful and sometimes even clownish.
Uses
It is a companion dog that loves wide open spaced, enjoys swimming, and can follow its master on horseback for many miles.
Health Concerns
eye problems, kidney disease, thyroid problems.
Additional Information
This dog requires daily brushing and consistent grooming.
Sources
The Howell Book Of Dogs
Publisher: Wiley Publishing Inc, 2007
Website: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Author: Liz Palika
Dog Bible
Publisher: BowTie Press, 2005
Website: http://www.bowtiepress.com/bowtie/
Authors: Kristin Meuh-Roe, Jarelle S. Stein
Simon & Schusters Guide to Dogs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster inc, 1980
Website: http://www.simonandschuster.com
Author: Elizabeth Meriwether Schuler
The New Encyclopedia of the Dog
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 2000
Website: http://www.dk.com
Author: Bruce Fogle
The All Breed Dog Grooming Guide
Publisher: Aaronco, 2002
Website: http://www.aaroncopet.com
Author: Sam Kohl
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