Coton de Tulear puppies

About the Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear takes their name from the port of Tuléar in Madagascar and from the cotton texture of their coat. They descend from small white bichon type dogs carried on trading ships, and became the companion dog of the island's merchant families. This is a small dog of 3.6 to 6.8 kg standing 23 to 28 cm, with a long soft white coat, a rounded head and dark eyes. The character is clownish and sticky: they follow their people from room to room and prefer not to be left behind.

Exercise is moderate, a daily walk and games indoors. Grooming is the whole job, brushing through to the skin most days or keeping it in a short clip, plus ear checks a couple of times a week. They are quiet for a small dog and easy with children and other pets given ordinary supervision. They suit someone at home much of the day. Brush right down to the skin, or the coat felts underneath and has to be shaved off.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Coton de Tulear puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Intervertebral disc disease, which shows as back pain or hind limb weakness and is confirmed by imaging

Your Coton de Tulear puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Coton de Tulear.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.6 to 6.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.8 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Puppy pads: are they a good idea, and how to pick ones that do not leak
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other toy breeds

More on the Coton de Tulear

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Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Coton de Tulear breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/coton-de-tulear/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: janbystrom, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.