Coton de Tuléar Breed description: Character & Co

Husbandry and education

The Coton de Tuléar is considered a lap dog. Maybe it was in former times. Today's representatives of its breed want to be challenged. Extensive walks and dog sports such as agility courses will please the dog. Subsequent cuddling rounds it will then also demand. However, too much pampering should be avoided, otherwise the dog may develop undesirable behaviors. In addition, it should be considered that the dog does not mind cold and rain, but it reacts very sensitively to heat. In the summer, the early morning or late evening hours are therefore preferable for walking. The education of the dogs should be consistent but affectionate. Regular obedience exercises are advisable.

Care and nutrition

The coat care of the Coton de Tuléar is complex. At least three to four times a week, the coat should be brushed and combed intensively, otherwise it tangles easily. The dog's food should contain a high proportion of meat. Two food rations a day are sufficient for adult specimens. Regular weighing is advised, however, as overweight is not easily detected in this dog due to its lush coat.

Health and life expectancy

The dogs have never been the object of mass breeding. The breeding lines in this breed are therefore pure. Breed-typical diseases have not been noticed so far. Possible, however, is the patella luxation, a knee joint injury frequently occurring in small dogs, in which the dog's kneecap (patella) jumps out of its guide (luxation). This can be caused by nutritional errors or even a movement accident. In the worst case, the injury must be treated surgically. The life expectancy of healthy dogs is 15-17 years.

Worth knowing

The spread of the dogs in Europe took place only about 20 years ago. Before that, the breed was almost unknown, hard to get and quite expensive. Even today, puppies from good breeding cost up to 1,500 Euros. More information about breeding successes, breeders, puppy placement or purchase possibilities can be obtained from VDH member clubs such as the Coton de Tuléar Verein eV (CTV) or the COTON DE TULEAR-CLUB e.V.. The Coton de Tuléar belongs to the non-hairy dogs and is therefore ideally suited for dog hair allergy sufferers.