Toy group · Madagascar
Coton de Tulear
Also called Coton, Cotie, Royal Dog of Madagascar.
Small dog, moderate energy, quick to learn.
- Charming
- Bright
- Happy-go-lucky
- Affectionate
- Playful
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 4 to 7 kg8 to 15 lb
- Lives
- 15 to 19 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Trains
- High
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Coton de Tulear
Toy breeds. Train them like a dog, not an ornament. Small dogs skip the manners work because they can be picked up.
Eager to Please
Start here
Highly trainable companion breed. Responds beautifully to positive reinforcement.
Separation Anxiety Prevention
Velcro dogs that bond intensely. Practice alone time from puppyhood.
Clownish Behaviour
Natural entertainers who learn tricks easily. Channel this for training success.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Coton de Tulear and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred for company. Small in body, and often bigger in personality than the owner expected.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersHigh
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-45 minutes daily. Play sessions and short walks. Adaptable to owner activity level.
- Grooming
- High maintenance. Daily brushing to prevent matting. Regular professional grooming.
- Drool
- Very Low
- Coat
- Long, Cotton-like, FluffyWhite, White with Champagne, White with Grey, Tricolour
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Luxating Patella
Moderate
Kneecap displacement common in small breeds
Hip Dysplasia
Mild
Less common than in larger breeds but occasionally seen
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Moderate
Inherited eye disease; screening recommended
Where they come from
History
National dog of Madagascar. Name comes from their cotton-like coat and the port city of Tulear. Only Malagasy royalty were allowed to own them until the 1970s.
- Royal Companions · Exclusively owned by Malagasy nobles and tribal royalty for centuries
