Coton de Tulear, Big Name - Little Dog

Finding the perfect dog breed to suit your family can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. How do you find the right size breed, that's not too high maintenance and sturdy enough for the kids without sacrificing breed intelligence and activity level? Maybe the Coton du Tulear is for you.

This medium sized dog is twelve to fifteen pounds full grown. The medium to long, fluffy, cotton like coat is considered hair rather than fur. It's a non-shedding breed with low dander which is perfect for allergy sufferers. And, because there are very low allergic affects the Coton du Tulear is considered hypoallergenic and doesn't have the common doggie smell associated with most dogs. In fact, when properly bathed and groomed the Coton doesn't smell at all.

So why haven't you heard of the Coton de Tulear? Probably because the name is so difficult to say! It's pronounced "co-ton de tweleeyar". This Royal Dog of Madagascar was shipwrecked on the island some 1500 years ago enroute from France. It's a cousin to the Bichon Frise. On Madagascar, it was quickly adopted by the ruling monarchy and ownership was restricted to the monarchy only. In the 1980's they began to be exported and bred in the United States. Their relatively recent rare-breed status means that the breed is still true to form and has not encountered any new genetic mutations.

This playful, affectionate, intelligent breed is generally quiet and has a habit of walking on their hind legs to please people. They're very eager to please and easy to train and are great with kids and other animals. They have webbed feet and love to swim. The Coton is a small dog with a big dog attitude and they adapt well to any kind of living environment. They're generally a healthy breed though they sometimes develop heart problems and back problems later in life.

If you're looking for a small but sturdy dog who's as loveable as he looks, then perhaps the Coton de Tulear is for you.