The Wonderful World of Coton de Tulear's
This lens is going to introduce you to the wonderful world of the Coton de Tulear. This is a breed of small dog that, as far as I'm concerned, is the best on the planet.
Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear breed (pronounced coe-tawn day tul-ee-r) originated in Madagascar. Rumor has it this rare breed was originally on pirate ships in the 1700's. They're known as the "Royal Breed of Madagascar" (because only kings and noblemen were allowed to own them at one point in time) and have only been in the United States since 1976.This breed is bred to be a companion. Their sole purpose in life is to make people happy. Haardlee is a good example of that trait - she knows when my husband or I are upset whether we express it verbally or not. I can be working on the computer, get frustrated with something, not say anything and Haardlee is in my lap and in my face trying to make me laugh. She doesn't give up until I am laughing. It's amazing.
You won't see this breed in any of the AKC (American Kennel Club) dog shows; although you may see their cousin the Havanese. Since the Coton is a rare breed, they are registered with the United Kennel Club (UKC) and will only be found competing in UKC sanctioned events.
The Coton's are intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They are lively, loyal, hardy and friendly. They tend to be very attached to home and master. Haardlee becomes attached to anyone who's in the house for an extended period of time. She loves when we have visitors and she can check on everyone in the morning.
This breed is excellent for people with allergies because they have hair rather than fur. The coat actually feels as soft as cotton. As a result of having hair, they don't have dander and don't get that oily residue when it's time for a bath. The coat sheds very minimally and needs to be brushed on a regular basis. They adapt well to both city and country living because of their size. The breed standard is 9.5-13" in height and the weight generally ranges from 7-13 pounds.
Haardlee and I spent two years volunteering as Pet Partners through the Delta Society. We focused on the elderly and spent time every month visiting Adult Day Care centers. She was a big hit (as were all the pet partner animals)!
They say there are two kinds of dog people in the world - small dog people and dog people who just haven't met the right small dog!
Choosing a Breeder
Regardless of the breed you bring in to your family, it's important you choose a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders feel responsibility toward the breed itself, toward the dogs they breed and to the people who own dogs from their kennel.
When selecting a puppy, the reputable breeder may show you the pedigree and explain the selected bloodlines. More importantly though, you should be allowed to see the mother and puppies in their kennel.
When selecting a puppy, the reputable breeder may show you the pedigree and explain the selected bloodlines. More importantly though, you should be allowed to see the mother and puppies in their kennel.
What to Look for When You Are at the Breeder
- CLEANLINESS. Normal dog odors are unavoidable, but dogs and facilities should be clean. Ask about sanitation practices; a sanitary environment is usually a healthy environment.
- ATTITUDE. Happy, healthy, well-cared for animals are bright-eyed, energetic, and curious about strangers. Lethargic, bleary-eyed dogs that hardly look up when a stranger is present is likely a sign of ill-health.
- APPEARANCE. Are the dogs clean? Well-groomed? Remember that puppies can be quite messy, but extensive filth on the dogs is a sign of neglect.
- BEHAVIOR. Also a health factor; unhealthy or injured animals will always behave differently than the rest of the litter. Don't select the puppy that is "sweet" and "quiet." If the rest of the litter is wrestling, romping and vocalizing, a non-participant may not feel well. The breeder should already have noticed and be willing & able to tell you about each puppy.
- INFORMATION. The breeder should supply all information on the puppy's pedigree not just show a display of ribbons. The mother should not be over bred; find out how old she is and how many litters she's had. Reluctance to provide this type of information may be a warning sign. Make sure the breeder provides you with written feeding instructions and a feeding schedule. The puppy should also come with a pedigree of past three or more generations. The breeder should provide you with the puppy's immunization record and schedule, listing the dates and types of vaccines used. Remember that a pedigree and registration papers do not guarantee health or quality.
Questions to Ask the Breeder
- REFERENCES. Ask for a list of other families who have dogs from the breeder. A reputable breeder should gladly give you several names and numbers. Call all of them. Ask if they would purchase another dog from the same kennel.
- WRITTEN CONTRACTS. The written contract should include names and addresses of parties involved, price, terms and breeders support, date of transaction, & signature of buyer and seller (and witnessess if required by state law.
Be sure to ask what the terms of the contract.
What guarantees do they offer?
What penalties are imposed violation of contract?
What are the conditions of the sale (i.e., do you only get the dog's papers after spay/neuter obligation fulfilled if dog is sold as a pet)?
The Ethical Breeder...
- ...Carefully interviews prospective buyers and has specific requirements that prospective owners must meet (such as spaying and neutering pets, housing the dog in an enclosed yard, agreeing to never let the dog off lead in an unenclosed area, etc.).
- ...Sells by written contract.
- ...Sells puppies with a health guarantee.
- ...Insists upon getting the dog back if the buyer is no longer able to keep the dog.
- ...Does not have more litters than they can keep well-groomed and well-socialized.
- ...Does not have more litters than they can keep housed long term if unable to sell the puppies.
- ...Spends individual time with each dog under their care every day.
- ...Tests their breeding stock for known hereditary diseases and breeds with the aim of decreasing the incidence of such deseases.
- ...Is very concerned with producing puppies with excellent temperaments and health.
- ...Can identify each puppy and chart its growth and development from birth.
- ...Is willing to help educate the novice buyer and happily answers any and all questions about his or her breed and his or her individual dogs.
- ...Is willing and able to show the prospective buyer the health certificates and test results on the sire and dam of the puppies.
- ...Wants to be informed of any health or temperament problems that his or her puppies develop throughout the lifetime of each puppy.
- ...Is available for help, advice, and education to the buyer throughout the life of the puppy.
- ...Is willing to allow a minimum of 48 hours for you to return the puppy, for any reason, and give you a full refund on the purchase price. This time allows you to have the puppy examined by your own veterinarian.
New YouTube vids
Fun Links for your pooch
http://www.cocoton.com/
This is the breeder site where Haardlee hails from0 points
http://members.aol.com/cotonnews/
The Coton de Tulear Club of America site.0 points
http://www.deltasociety.org/home.htm
Become a pet partner with your pet.0 points
http://www.threedog.com/
The best doggy store around!0 points
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-breeds/dog-breed-profiles/Coton_de_Tulear.aspx
More information on the Coton de Tulear.0 points
http://www.arba.org/index.htm
The American Rare Breed Association site.0 points
Welcome to The Barkery: This and that...for dogs and cats!
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