Coton de Tuléar

Origin and History

The Coton de Tuléar is a small companion dog from the port of Tuléar in Madagascar and a member of the Bichon family. Its name comes from its cotton-like (coton) coat. Because it was once the dog of Madagascar's nobility, it is known as the "royal dog."

Appearance and Coat

It has a small, well-balanced and adorable body. Its most distinctive feature is its cotton-soft, long, low-shedding coat, which is usually white. It requires regular grooming.

Personality and Temperament

The Coton de Tuléar is cheerful, affectionate and extremely sociable. It is deeply devoted to people and gets along wonderfully with children and other animals. It has a playful, adaptable and comical personality; it follows its owner around and loves to please. It does not enjoy being left alone.

Care, Exercise and Training

Its long, cottony coat needs regular (frequent) brushing to prevent matting; it sheds little. Low to moderate exercise is enough. Intelligent and eager to please, it responds well to reward-based training.

Health

It is generally a sturdy and long-lived breed. Patellar luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (a femoral head disorder), progressive retinal atrophy and, rarely, hereditary ataxia may occur. Regular check-ups are recommended. The Coton de Tuléar is ideal for families looking for an affectionate, cheerful and low-shedding companion.