Coton de Tulear
Breed Profile
The Coton de Tulear hails from the island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The breed originates from the French word coton, meaning “cotton,” and from the Madagascan port of Tulear.
Temperament
The Coton is a playful, loving, and smart breed. Although generally quiet, it can become extremely vocal grunting, barking, and making other noises when indulging in fun moments. Cotons are known to be pleasers and have a habit of jumping up and walking on their hind legs just to please people. Most Cotons are very receptive to meeting new folks and display a great deal of curiosity in new situations.
Color & Coat
Coat: The Coton de Tulear sports a medium-to-long, fluffy, cotton-like coat which can be considered hair rather than fur.
Color: The Coton de Tulear comes in three colors: white (sometimes with tan markings; all white is preferred by show breeders), black and white, and tricolor. Nevertheless, whereas the tan and white may become all white, the blacks will often fade to grey or white, and the fur will most likely change throughout puppyhood.
Health
The Coton is in general in good physical condition. However,like in all breeds, they also suffer from some health issues. These include heart problems, liver shunts, back (disc) problems, and eye problems. Fortunately, these are still relatively rare in the breed.