If you're in the market for the addition of a fury little canine buddy into your life, consider your quest fulfilled. The Coton de Tulear is what you're after.
Brief History
Coined as the Royal Dog of Madagascar by Dr. Robert Jay Russell, the Coton de Tulear is a relatively new and somewhat unknown breed, the first ones being brought to America in 1973. These social little critters developed on the island of Madagascar and still are today the island's national dog. The Coton de Tulear was the canine companion of choice for the Merina, or ruling tribe, in Madagascar, and they were the only ones with the privilege of having a Coton.
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| „Dhana“, Coton de Tular (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Appearance
Picture a miniature sheep dog - that's your Coton de Tulear if you let their fur grow out. But it's hardly accurate to call it fur, fluff is a better description. A cotton ball on short puffy legs! It is a hypoallergenic dog which simply means you won't be forever sweeping and vacuuming and picking up tuffs and clumps of hair around the house all day long - that's right, the fluff-ball doesn't shed. That fact alone brings a smile to my face. You also don't get that "doggie smell" with a Coton, which is a big plus for an inside dog, especially one who is allowed to sleep on the bed! My smile just faded to a disconsolate frown as the "sleeping on the bed" issue is a touchy topic between my wife and I... but you know what they say, "happy wife, happy life". So guess who will continue sleeping on the bed?
As far as colour is concerned, the Coton de Tulear come in only a few colour variations: white, white with light spots of brown, black and white, and black; although black is not an acceptable colour.
Temperament
The Coton is an affectionate little clown, both happy and inquisitive. They have an amiable personality, much like a lab, and become attached very quickly to their extended family. They are charmers and pleasers, love people, enjoy playing and are great with kids. These little fluff-al-uffal-gusses (I just coined that term!) love to rip around the yard in boisterous play and in the next instant curl up on your lap for a snooze. The Coton is an attention seeker and very sociable and does not fare so well if left on their own for long periods of time. They are very trainable, but have a fragile personality so you must be sure to incentivize the training with praise instead of punishment.
Health
The Coton de Tulear is, overall, a very healthy breed and has far less disorders than many other breeds, due in large to very little inbreeding. It has only been in recent years that the AKC (American Kennel Club) has recognized the Coton, thus allowing for the breed to remain relatively rare and, in turn, not enduring inbreeding on a large scale - inbreeding being the source of many health issues. The average life span of a Coton de Tulear is 16-21 years.
Size - As governed by the international Federation Cynologique Internationale.
Weight: The male Coton de Tulear should weigh between 4-6 kg (9-13 lbs) and the female 3.5-5 kg (8-11 lbs).
Height: The male should be 25-30 cm (10-12 inches), and the female 22-27 cm (8.5-10.5 inches).
By contrast, the Coton de Tulear Club of America standard specifies the weight as no more than 18 lb (8 kg) with the average being between 11-15 pounds. The standard height is 9 to 13 inches (33 cm), except for the rare Tall Coton, which is 14 to 16 inches (43 cm) high.
The Pros of Coton de Tulears:
Small but tough and sturdy. Doesn't have the feel of "breakable" like a toy breed.
Hypoallergenic - great breed for allergy sufferers.
Doesn't need lots of exercse.
Is social with people and other animals.
The Cons of Coton de Tulears:
Can be prone to "separation anxiety" if left alone for long periods... but hey, so am I!
May show shyness or be suspicious if not socialized enough.
Can sometimes be a challenge to housebreak.
Has a potential for excessive barking.
So, if you secretly consider yourself of noble decent and a fantasized heir to the throne, you would do well to introduce a Coton de Tulear - Canine of Royalty into your kingdom!
I love to write... about anything and everything. Being the privileged owner of a Coton de Tulear, I thought I might write a brief history and description of this intriguing breed. I hope you have found this article both interesting and informative. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Article Source: EzineArticles |
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