Introduction to the Coton de Tulear

by the American Coton Club, Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear

Has the Rare Breed Coton De Tulear caught your fancy? Has the tale of their ancient pirate and shipwreck beginnings completely intrigued you?

Do you think they are the cutest thing you ever laid your eyes on? This delightful "Royal Dog of Madagascar" and companion to the Malagasy Kings & Nobles has absolutely taken over our hearts.

The Coton de Tulear, or "Coton" for short, is a wonderful companion. They make an excellent choice for families with children and are the perfect addition to the family. They are quickly devoted and affectionate making an excellent loving companion. The Coton de Tulear can be quite intuitive and is often used in therapy programs helping those with special needs. They are sturdy and fast making them great in agility which is fun for the Coton and its owner.

Cotons were bred and developed for the sole purpose of being a loyal loving companion dog. They are well suited for this purpose because of their happy personalities, adaptable character, loving attitude, intelligence, entertaining mannerisms and overall cuteness. Cotons tend to adapt to their family’s lifestyle which make them a wonderful pet for a broad spectrum of people. They are happy couch potatoes or thrilled to take a long hike in the mountains with you. Just let them know and they'll happily follow.

Cotons have been referred to as the “anti-depressant” breed because of their general happiness and abilities to cheer the down and out with their smile, funny play or general empathetic personality. The Coton is a happy dog which doesn't get too upset with anything that comes their way. Cotons are a relatively healthy breed and look forward to living a life of 15+ years.

Cotons are very smart and aim to please their owners. When given praise and a yummy treat they catch on quickly to training and new commands. They are always up for a new challenge. They do very well in the show ring with their lovely long white coat flowing as they walk around the ring and Cotons love the attention from people and judges.

Cotons derived their name from their beautiful long cotton coats and from their original Bay of Tulear location on the island of Madagascar. The beautiful Coton coat actually has a purpose by being an excellent insulation from heat and cold. The cotton coat is airy and fluffy allowing for air to circulate creating a cooling effect. A Coton in full coat requires daily care but it’s also possible to keep them in a shorter “puppy cut” for easier maintenance.

The Coton coat color is predominantly white as the FCI standard states but Cotons do have color in their genetic heritage. They also possess a strong color dilution gene which means the coat color fades to white or champagne as a Coton matures. Coton markings can be black, fawn, champagne or a tri-color combination. It it’s not uncommon to see a white adult Coton which was very dark in color as a small puppy.

The Coton de Tulear coat does not shed, thus they are regarded as being “hypo-allergenic” making them an excellent choice for those who may suffer from dog allergies.

Once you are loved by a Coton, there is no turning back from this charming creature which brings great joy and happiness to your life and will warm your heart for many years to come.

Have fun visiting the ACC web site and getting to know the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear. If you have any questions please feel free to contact ACC or one of our ACC Code of Ethics breeders.