Mischievous Cotons

Luc and I are finally settled in our new home. I didn't realize how stressful moving would be for my pets. Getting pulled out of their normal environment and their daily routine was difficult and I'm so glad to see that they are now adjusted and thriving in their new home.

During the transition, there were some behavior issues that popped up that I haven't seen in years - unprovoked barking, house training issues, and separation anxiety. Fortunately, these were quickly resolved once Luc got used to his new surroundings and started feeling safe in his new home and neighborhood. I made sure to spend lots of quality time with him and didn't leave him alone for any length of time.

I know I'm not alone in my experience with sudden behavior changes. I've received several emails lately from perplexed Coton owners who want to know why their usually well behaved dog is suddenly extra naughty.

When you have a new puppy, it's expected that your dog will misbehave since they haven't even learned what good behavior is. But when an adult dog suddenly starts acting out, it's time for us to investigate why.

First, it's important to rule out medical reasons. If your dog suddenly starts peeing in the house or biting or barking excessively, there may be a physical reason.

But many times, the behavior change can be linked to a specific environment change - major changes to daily routine such as a move, new people or pets in the home, being left alone more often, boredom from lack of exercise, play, or mental stimulation, changes in diet, etc.

And of course once you pinpoint the reason for the sudden naughtiness, it's your job to find a solution. Working more hours? You can start doggy daycare or hire dog walkers. New people in the house? Make sure you carve out extra time with you and your Coton so she feels safe and loved. Boredom? Ugh - this is a recipe for disaster. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise, have interactive toys on hand, and socialize your dog by taking him with you as you're out in the world if possible. Changes in diet? Be observant to how your Coton reacts to any new food. When I switched Luc to a homemade anti-inflammatory diet, the changes were dramatic - he had more energy and his joints didn't seem to bother him anymore so he was more active.

There's always a reason for sudden changes in behavior - it's your dog's way of communicating something is wrong. But the good news is that it's usually short term and easily rectified.

Celebrations and Shoutouts

Happy Birthday Wishes:

Happy Birthday to all Cotons who celebrate this month as well as all the birthdays we missed in August since I missed a newsletter).

August

Name	Gender	Home Town	Birth date
Triscuit	Female	Canton, PA	August
Nala	Female		8/1/12
Teddy	Male	Surprise, AZ	8/4/03
Frosty		Peachtree City, GA	8/5/08
Tully	Male	Escondido, CA	8/7/11
Nala	Female	Memphis, TN	8/7/12
Heidi	Female	Tomball, TX	8/8/05
Poppy			8/8/11
Biscuit			8/8/12
Pinkerton	Male	London, UK	8/8/13
Sadie	Female	Parksville, BC, Canada	8/9/11
Sophie	Female	San Juan, PR	8/10
Walter	Male	Belfast, Northern Ireland	8/12/15
Ozzy	Male	Rossville, GA	8/14/09
Mia	Female	Jacksonville, FL	8/14
Petey	Male	Newport News, VA	8/15/11
LuLu Belle	Female	Spartanburg. SC	8/16/10
Casper	Male	Spartanburg, SC	8/16/10
Bailey	Female	Torrance, CA	8/16/10
Pip	Male	Wassaga Beach, Ontario,Ca	8/16/16
Maddie	Female	Glendale, AZ	8/18
Cassidy	Female	Cherry Hill, NJ	8/19/07
Cotton	Female	Florida	8/19/10
Lola	Female	Jordan, NY	8/21/12
Emma	Female	Ontario, Canada	8/22/11
Socrates	Male	Rochester Hills, MI	8/22/14
Connie	Female	England	8/22/11
Socrates	Male	Rochester Hills, MI	8/22/14
Soffee	Female	Grantwood Village, MO	8/27/10
Griffin	Female		8/28/09
Izzie Pierre	Male	La Center, WA	8/28/12
Nina	Female	Riverton, WY	8/29/11
Chewie	Male	Kettering, OH	8/29/12
Hope	Female	La Tuna Canyon, CA	8/29/15

September

Name	Gender	Home Town	Birth date
Daisy	Female	Maryland	9/1/11
Maxwell	Male	Conshohocken, PA	9/4/13
Missy	Female	Powell, OH	9/5/10
Dusty	Female	Kutztown, PA	9/7
Ella	Female	Oaks, CA	9/8/14
Jude and Lucy	Female (sisters)	Durham, NC	9/9/10
Callie	Female	San Francisco, CA	9/12/10
Luci	Female		9/12/09
Jackson	Male	Leeds, ME	9/10/12
Teddy	Male	Brick, NJ	9/13/13
Jingle	Female	Nashville, TN	9/15/10
Mia	Female	Santa Rosa, CA	9/18/10
Lilly	Female	Rogers, AR	9/19/07
Beau (Bojangles)	Male	Illinois	9/20/10
Mati (Mathilda)	Female	Wenatchee, WA	9/21/10
Rosie	Female	Cornelius, NC	9/22/10
Rudy	Male	Newtown, PA	9/22/15
Imy	Female	Austin, TX	9/23/06
Oliver Wendell Holmes	Male	Chatsworth, CA	9/24/10
Izzie	Female	Goodyear, AZ	9/28/10
Webster	Male	Vancouver, WA	9/28/11

Want your Coton to get special birthday attention? It's easy; just join our Birthday Club.

• Happy belated birthday to Sprocket from Hastings, NE. She was one on July 11th and loves the outdoors.

• Nala's mom, Barbara, gives her extra treats on her birthday. She's from Memphis, TN and was born on 8/7/12.

• New puppy, Sunny Boy, was born on 5/18/18 and sister Penny Lane is "a real kisser" but mom, Denise didn't tell us when her birthday is. They're from Interlaken, NJ.

• T-Rex, also a new puppy, was born on 4/17/18. His mom, Sally, is celebrating that her new pup has come to live with her in Oregon.

• Dusty from Kutztown, PA celebrated her birthday on Sept 7th. She loves to do seven tricks daily for her favorite treat.

• Maddie from Glendale, AZ celebrated her birthday on 8/18. She came to her new family after they sadly lost two dogs within 6 months to old age. Mom Susie says "Maddie made/makes us laugh so much and she is so loving. She is just what we needed. Maddie usually gets a pretty nice birthday party as her birthday is the same as mine! August 18th!! She was meant to be ours."

Please let me know if you'd like your dog to get special love and attention in our newsletter or if you'd like your Coton event or meetup group to be shared here.

Coton Meetup Reminder

Wow, over 250 of you have signed up. Has anyone made any connections? Tell us about it on our Facebook page or on the Coton de Tulear Care web site.

You can find the Meetup Page here. The password is cotondog

Don't be shy - reach and contact someone. You know we all love to talk about our dogs, so others will be glad you took the first step to reach out. You can set up play dates or just discuss your favorite "Coton-friendly" local businesses such as vets, groomers, pet sitters, and stores.

Add your dog to the list here.

NOTE: You only need to sign up once

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