The Breed:
Coton De Tulear - "The Royal Dog of Madagascar"
Physical Description: Small, white, long-haired, with
black eyes (if you can find them), black lips (that seem to smile),
and a black button nose. At full size, this dog is 11" (28
cm.) to 12 5/8" (32 cm.) tall and weighs 7.7 lb. (3.5 kg.)
to 13.2lb. (6 kg.) They're soft and fluffy, and truly feel like
a ball of cotton. There are some differences between the standards
recognized for the breed. For example, the CTCA standard allows
for more color in the coat than does the FIC standard for which
significant color would be a disqualification. Weight and height
also varies slightly between the standards.
Characteristics: This dog has hair instead of fur,
so it doesn't shed, has no dander to affect allergies, and if
it gets wet, it doesn't smell. They love kids, and are really
"family" dogs.
Personality: The best description I can give to this
breed is "a clown". They prance around the house looking
for someone to talk to ... and talk they do. The Coton has its
own vocabulary of barks, squeaks, yelps, squeals, etc. which you'll
soon learn to understand. They love to play, or just to lie in
your lap and watch TV while being brushed. And if you tickle their
belly they're in ecstasy.
History: Originally from Madagascar, this breed has
taken Europe by storm. It was introduced into the US in 1976,
and is currently recognized by the American Rare Breed Association.
General Information
