What Is The Coton De Tulear?

Everyone is familiar with dogs like golden retrievers and poodles. However, there are so many other breeds of dogs out there, including some that most people are unfamiliar with. One of those breeds is the Coton de Tulear.

Coton de Tulear

Most countries have their own native dogs. In the case of the Coton, it's Madagascar. While it's not entirely possible to know exactly how the breed came into existence, the common theory is that a Tenerife dog was somehow brought to the island, perhaps with pirates in the 1500s or 1600s, and that dog, or dogs, bred with a breed of dog that was already native to Madagascar. Dogs were common on ships because they helped to control rats and other vermin. Pirates did find Madagascar to be a haven and established bases in and around the island. Eventually, the breed came to the notice of the royalty of Madagascar, and they were the only people who could legally own these dogs. Now anyone can own them, and they are the national dog of Madagascar. 

History of the Coton de Tulear in the U.S.

While the Coton has been around for centuries, it wasn't until the 1970s that the dogs made it to the U.S. The dog had made it into France a few years prior, and then into Europe. They were recognized by various national kennel clubs in Europe around that time. However, the person who brought the breed into the U.S. didn't want the American Kennel Club to recognize the breed and established his own club. Eventually, in 2014, the AKC recognized the breed, which means, among other things, that the Coton de Tulear can participate in AKC sponsored dog shows and events. 

Breed Appearance

Coton is the French word for cotton. The Coton earns its name because its coat resembles cotton and is fluffy. While the breed standards accept various colors, including white, black and white, and tricolor, the white coat, especially an all-white coat with no black or tan markings, is what most breeders are looking for in show dogs. The Coton is similar in appearance to a Havanese, and they share the medium to long coat. Their coat may be considered to be closer to hair than it is to fur, and it requires frequent brushing. The Coton is also a low-dander dog, which generally means they are more hypoallergenic. 

The Coton de Tulear is a dog breed that many people aren't familiar with, but that is likely to change in the future. 

For more information about the Coton de Tulear breed, talk to companies like Family Puppies.


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