Conflicting Info on the Coton de Tulear

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Conflicting Info on the Coton de Tulear

by Emma
(Canada)

I am not currently able to get a dog right now, but am searching for the right breed. Out of all the breeds I've seen, the Coton De Tulear is the cutest and one that would fit our lifestyle the most.

The only thing is, I'm hearing a lot of conflicting information. I've been told that Coton De Tulears are both good at being house broken (for a small dog with a small bladder) and bad at being house broken. I've heard that the grooming is relatively easy and that the grooming is a daily struggle (though I am unsure if this is only for Coton's without a short haircut like your Luc). What have you heard about this?

Also, I keep on hearing that a black Coton De Tulear is "unacceptable". I'm not sure if that's just for shows or in general. Does that mean that they're rarer then the white/whitetan/whiteblack ones? That they're not wanted/desirable? (and would it be cheaper to get a black one if possible?) Or does it mean something else?

One last question: from your experience, is it true that there isn't as much of a wet dog smell on Cotons?

Thank you for the useful information, and your dog Luc is ADORABLE :)

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Conflicting Info on the Coton de Tulear

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Aug 05, 2011
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by: Ashley

I've read a lot of conflicting information as well, but I've learned quite a bit by being a new owner of my pure black coton, Lola.

House breaking isn't so awful, you just have to kennel train, and take them outside AS SOON as you get back, or wake up. Then lots of praise when she potties outside. Also wait for her to go poop, it may take a while, but in the long run, you and your coton will be much happier. And always take her to the same spot!

And grooming seems to be no problem, I just run a comb through her coat once a day. Takes a whole two minutes at most. So no big deal.

And yes black cotons are rare, and many qualified breeders will sell them at a cheaper rate because of their inability to be shown. But watch out, unqualified phony breeders will make you ooooh and awwww at the beautiful rare black coat and attempt to squander money out of you. I've seen black cotons for ad much as 2500. A complete rip off! But my black coton was a reasonable 700.

To be honest, I love white cotons best, but black is SO much easier to clean. (can't tell when theyre dirty!) haha oh and no cotons don't smell bad! I bathe mine every two weeks however. But they DO have a slight wet puppy smell after a bath.

Hope this helps!! -Ashley

Nov 08, 2010
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Conflicting info
by: Anonymous

We have a 2 year old supposedly purebred Coton we rescued as a puppy. I think a lot of conflicting information comes about because when you rescue a dog you have no idea about ancestry.

Cooper is a great dog, and we love him to death. However, much that I have read about Cotons does not apply to him. He is not a good apartment dog. He is a barker and when he feels like barking he does. We live in a condo and people have complained about his shrill barking more than once. We have tried everything short of a shock collar to discourage this. I'm sure he thinks his name is "quiet!" rather than Cooper.

He needs lots and lots of exercise. A fast paced one hour walk will leave him panting for about ten minutes and then he is ready to go again. He does not like children (who,naturally,love him) and will bark ferociously at them. He seems frightened of all black dogs for some reason we cannot understand. He has to be where ever I am and if I go out for even an hour or two, he will lay in front of the door until I return.

He is quite prone to skin allergies and we must feed him a very expensive dog food and giver him Omega 3 caps to keep him from constant scratching. His coat was a nightmare for the first two years but has seemed to thin some as he gets older and is much easier to take care of.

Even though he was well socialized as a puppy, he does not take to new people. He torments our cats constantly and sometimes fiercely. He licks non-stop, everything from my arms, neck and legs to his own body.

With all this said, one look in those big brown eyes and your heart melts. When he is good he is funny, smart (sometimes too smart) loving and a delight to be around. He loves to do tricks and show off. I can't imagine my life without him.

Oct 27, 2010
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my coton
by: Anonymous

Just from having my coton, My coton is 14 weeks old and I have no problem brushing his hair. his hair is getting longer now, but I find if I brush it everyday at least once, I have no problems. he does not get matted, he loves to have his hair brushed.

Potty training is now a different story. He knows to take a poo outside and will sit and bark at the door when he needs one. But a wee he will go and sit by the door and if you do not see him he will wee in the house, but I do keep paper on the kitchen floor in case of mistakes.

I don't know too much about the color of a Coton but I would think the color of the dog would not make his personality. Just because it is black does not mean it will be cheaper. They are a rare breed therefore are expencive dogs. But My coton is the best thing I could do for our home he is loving and kind. the perfect addition to our home. Hope this helps a little

Oct 02, 2010
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Conflicting Coton Info
by: Gale

Emma, I agree with you about all the conflicting information available about this breed. Some of it is pure misinformation. For instance, there are several websites that report that the Coton only needs to be bathed once a year. Well, anyone with a Coton will tell you that's ridiculous.

But some of the conflicting info is just due to the fact that even within the same breed there are different dog traits, personalities, and experiences. Having said that, let's see if I can answer some of your questions - and I hope other Coton owners will chime in as well .

Housetraining - In my experience, my Coton was extremely easy to train, especially compared to other small dogs I've had. Like any dog, you have to put in the time in the beginning to make sure you've got a well trained dog. Cotons are smart and with proper training, this shouldn't be an issue.

Grooming - Because Luc has allergies and has periods where he scratches a lot, I have to keep in a puppy cut so he doesn't get matted. This is extremely low maintenance. Keeping the hair in the standard long hair doesn't have to be a struggle, but it does require regular brushing. My dog actually loves to be brushed and it's a great way to bond with your dog. The grooming costs can be a factor if you go to a professional groomer every 4-6 weeks.

Black Cotons - The unacceptable status you hear about comes from the show ring. Even that is not all across the board. The CTCA welcomes the all three color varieties of the breeds, but apparently the French do not accept any black markings. Of course, if you don't show your dog, it's not an issue. The black Cotons do seem harder to find and often the black markings will fade or even go away completely by the age of 2.

Wet dog smell - I've read that the Coton is not a "smelly" dog and I can definitely attest to that.

Good luck with your Coton search. Because there's a lot of conflicting info, make sure to ask your breeder lots of questions. Here are some sample breeder questions that may help.

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